Darius Campbell Danesh spoke of his desire to return to Scotland and how he felt "blessed" in an emotional final interview. In the last week, tributes have poured in for the reality star-turned West End favourite from celebrities, friends, and fans - following his untimely death at aged 41.
While their words were emotional and clearly full of love for the pop star, it's his final words which are probably the most heart-breaking. Speaking to the Daily Mail, the former Pop Idol contestant reminisced on how fortunate he was to have such a great life
Bearsden-born Darius, who also revealed his plans for the future and everlasting love for Scotland, said: "I've been really blessed. I've been really lucky to have had an amazing life", he said.
He added: "I'm looking to form a new relationship with a country that I love coming back to, an extraordinary gem of a country that has contributed more to science and the arts and inventions than many countries could ever dream of. I'm coming back to give back and to establish a base in Scotland."
He added: "When you get to the peak of achievement, of doing all the things that you love, it's all about giving back."
On Tuesday, August 11, Darius Campbell was found dead in his US apartment room in Rochester, Minnesota. As of now, his cause of death remains un-known.
Since the news broke, tributes have poured in from celebrity friends who were heartbroken to hear of his early passing. Stars who shared sympathies include Coldplay, Ant and Dec and fellow Scots actor Gerard Butler.
Darius was full of plans, including hints of new music in the future. While he spoke of his showbiz achievements, he also had plans for a Scottish charity-based project - which would bring him back to his beloved home country to "give back" after his success.
Darius said: "Everyone I'm speaking to is all about partnership-driven projects: giving back to our community, elevating those that are in need, focusing on the health and happiness of the people that matter most to us – our family first, then our community and then our country."
His passion for giving back is rooted in his upbringing in Bearsden, thanks to mother Avril Campbell Danesh, a GP, and Iranian father Dr Booth Danesh, a gastroenterologist.
Both parents endured serious illnesses - as his father miraculously beat cancer after being given three months to live. A decade later, his mum was diagnosed with breast cancer and recovered thanks to surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Darius said: "The longest study in human happiness is at Harvard University and has been running for over 80 years. And do you know what the number one driver of happiness is? Health, love, friendship and doing things for others. It's the quality of our relationships and giving back. Giving back is something that I learned from mum and dad."
He added: "If we had a hierarchy of achievement, really the pinnacle of that is giving back and that's why I'm back because I've been really blessed and really lucky to have had an amazing life of achievement in music and theatre and now in film.
"And now I'm in a position where I really want to be able to bring those activities together, and focus on how game-changing technology – like my father's invention of the heart-lung-kidney machine – can provide the answers for the greatest challenges that the world faces.
"And so many of those breakthroughs came out of Scotland – from penicillin to cathode ray tubes, from our health to our entertainment, and the celebrations of so much art and architecture and Mackintosh. There are so many things that have come out of this great country.
"I miss Scotland so much because the minute the plane touches, my breathing changes. We walk out the plane. I mean, beyond the fact that the Scottish air is better. Not only that, everything is better. We can drink water out the tap. I'm coming back to establish a base in Scotland that brings award-winning content and cutting-edge charitable projects together."
On his plans, he said: "What I want to do is bring award-winning content, and the opportunity to connect that with really cool charitable projects that increase efficiency."
Darius' final unpublished interview, which took place in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic, clearly echos the love for his family, which spurred his name change from Danesh to Campbell and back again.
He revealed that he went by Darius Danesh after Simon Cowell referred to him as 'Mr Danesh' when first offering him a record deal. But it was on a poignant trip home that he decided to make a change.
He said: "My grandfather died and I came home to Scotland. And I was lowering the casket. I could see his home, his workplace, where his wife, my grandmother, was born. I could see his life literally on the cemetery overlooking me and I could see his entire life unfolded before me. I thought, wherever I go in the world, I always want people to know I'm Scottish. And I don't want people to not know that.
"So out of respect for my grandfather, I asked professionally to be known as Campbell. Dad was so supportive. My dad calls himself an adoptive Scot and sees himself as Scottish. He's lived here for more of his life than anywhere else. And Dad said, 'Go for it'."
Darius, who added Danesh back into his name out of respect for his father, said: "Every time I look at my name, it reminds me of the ancestry I came from, and the responsibility that we all have once we've achieved a level of success to give back. And what better way of every time I write my name down, I want to be reminded of that and also to honour my father who is for me, he's my number one hero. My dad's my hero. So I want to do this."
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