Steven Robertson

Last updated

Steven Robertson
Born (1977-01-01) 1 January 1977 (age 47)
Alma mater Guildhall School of Music and Drama
OccupationActor
Years active1992–present
Notable work Being Human
Shetland
Inside I'm Dancing
Luther
SpouseCharlotte Allam

Steven Robertson (born 1 January 1977) is a Scottish actor who stars as Detective Sandy Wilson in the BBC One adaptation of Ann Cleeves's Shetland , filmed near where Robertson was born and brought up. He portrayed Michael Connelly, a young man with cerebral palsy, in Inside I'm Dancing , and played Dominic Rook in the popular BBC Three comedy-drama series Being Human . He has had roles in numerous television programs including Luther and The Bletchley Circle .

Contents

Personal life

Robertson grew up in the small village of Vidlin in the Shetland Islands of Scotland, with his two sisters. In his childhood, Robertson battled and overcame severe dyslexia. Before pursuing an acting career, he worked as an odd-job man in his village. Growing up, he was close to the Shetland poet Rhoda Bulter. He stated that she was the trigger for him pursuing a career in performing by telling him old Shetland tales. [1] Robertson attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. While there he met his wife, actress Charlotte Allam. [2] [3] He is also a member of Aya Theatre and has starred in their adaptation of George Orwell's Burmese Days as Flory. [4] He currently lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and daughter. [5]

Career

Robertson's first major film role came in 2004 when he starred alongside fellow Scottish actor James McAvoy in Inside I'm Dancing . [6]

He then went on to play a small part in the 2005 film Kingdom of Heaven as an Angelic Priest. Following this, he had a big role in the 2005 French war film Joyeux Noël in which he played Jonathan, a young man whose brother was shot dead during WW1. [7] Robertson then went on to play characters in numerous TV dramas, including Luther , where he played both of the Millberry twins, a murderous duo who decided their victim's fate on the roll of a dice. [8]

Robertson then played Dominic Rook, a government leader whose department protects the world from supernaturals in series 5 of the British supernatural drama Being Human .

He later worked on series 2 of Utopia , a British conspiracy thriller for Channel 4 where he played the role of Terrence. [9]

Shetland

Robertson returned to his home in Shetland to film the TV series of the same name, where he starred as Constable Sandy Wilson in the BBC One adaptation of the popular Ann Cleeves book series. The show was criticised for its lack of Shetland accents, with Robertson being the only main cast member born and brought up on the islands. However, the series attracted over 6 million viewers and a second series was commissioned featuring, alongside Douglas Henshall and Robertson, actors Brian Cox, Julie Graham and Alex Norton, with Robertson's character now a detective. [10] Robertson stated to Digital Spy that his portrayal of Wilson was a "nice break from playing killers and creeps". A third series, telling a single story, aired in 2016.

Robertson returned as DC Wilson for the fourth series which was broadcast in early 2018, the fifth series which was broadcast in early 2019, the sixth in 2021 and the seventh in 2022. [11]

Filmography

Film

TV

Stage

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References

  1. Mansfield, Susan (16 May 2009). "Up and Coming: Steven Robertson: Writing his own story". The Scotsman. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  2. "Isles actor reflects on Neds role as he stays busy with film and TV - The Shetland Times". Shetlandtimes.co.uk. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  3. "Great Scot, it's Steven Robertson in Shetland". Lep.co.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  4. "StevenRobertson". Ayatheatre.com. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  5. Swarbrick, Susan (11 February 2018). "Shetland star Steven Robertson on his rural childhood and island homeland". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  6. "Inside I'm Dancing - Film - The Guardian". Theguardian.com. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  7. "Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas)". Rotten Tomatoes. 14 November 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  8. "LUTHER 2.04 'Episode 4' - CraveOnline". Craveonline.com. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  9. Arnold, Ben (12 January 2013). "Utopia: inside Channel 4's new unsettling thriller". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  10. "BBC - Brian Cox and Julie Graham join cast of BBC One drama, Shetland - Media Centre". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  11. Porter, David (6 August 2022). "INTERVIEW: Steven Robertson on what the new series of Shetland holds for Sandy Wilson". Grampian Online. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  12. Dougan, Andy (14 October 2004). "Big challenge for young Scot in film debut". Evening Times. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013.
  13. Davies, Serena (21 September 2012). "Parade's End, final episode, BBC Two, review". Telegraph.co.uk.
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  15. The Doctor Who Team (14 January 2015). "Filming Begins on Doctor Who, Series 9". Doctor Who. BBC One . Retrieved 14 January 2015.