Stewart Wright

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Stewart Wright
Stewart Wright.jpg
Born
Stewart Alec Weatherley Wright

(1974-01-12) 12 January 1974 (age 50)
Hammersmith, London, England
Alma mater Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActor
Years active1996–present
SpouseCelia Wright
Children2

Stewart Wright [1] (born 12 January 1974) is an English film, television and stage actor.

Contents

Wright started appearing on screen in 1997, after graduating from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. His breakthrough came in 1999 playing the role of Nick Levick in award-winning BBC mockumentary series People Like Us.  Among his television credits are Black Books, Smack the Pony, Rescue Me, Wild West, Doc Martin, Bonkers, Love and Marriage and I Want My Wife Back. His film work includes Bridget Jones's Diary, Ali G Indahouse, A Good Year, Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey? and Bollywood film, Jungle Cry.

Early life

Wright was born in 1974 in Hammersmith, London, the son of two doctors. He attended Wellington College, Berkshire in the early 1990s where his passion for rugby led to his captaining the Wellington College 1st XV, going on to captain Martin Corry for Surrey Rugby Football Union Under 18s. Wright went on to complete a BA in Acting at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama graduating in 1996. Wright relocated to Bristol in 2005, where he now lives with his family. [2]

Career

Film and Television

Wright has played a wide variety of roles in film and TV for over twenty years, since his debut in Fierce Creatures, starring John Cleese and Jamie Lee Curtis.

His breakthrough came playing Nick Levick in the award-winning mockumentary series People Like Us in 1999. Since then he has starred in other acclaimed comedies including Black Books, Smack The Pony and Bridget Jones's Diary. He played the lead role of Eddie Chisolm alongside Sally Phillips in the BBC comedy drama Rescue Me, written by David Nicholls (writer), and starred opposite Dawn French and Catherine Tate in BBC sitcom Wild West. For two series, he was Martin Clunes' foil, PC Mark Mylow, in the worldwide hit Doc Martin. In October 2019 his character was brought back for a one-off special. He went on to star in Love & Marriage, alongside Ashley Jensen, Alison Steadman and Celia Imrie. He has acted in a number of television dramas such as Armadillo, The Nightmare Worlds of H. G. Wells and Dirty Filthy Love, working alongside Michael Sheen, Shirley Henderson, Ray Winstone and Stephen Rea. In 2019 he worked with Steve McQueen (director) playing Mr Bains in the ‘Education’ episode of the critically acclaimed and multi award-winning series Small Axe (miniseries) for BBC/Amazon. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Wright's film work includes British comedy classics Bridget Jones's Diary & Ali G Indahouse, as well as reuniting with Martin Clunes to star as Uncle Henry in the improvised comedy Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey? He plays a central role in Bollywood film Jungle Cry which premiered at Cannes in 2019. The film tells the real-life story of a group of Indian street kids who surprised the world in 2007 when they came to the UK and won the junior Rugby World Cup. He plays Paul Walsh, the man who inspired the team to play. [7] [8] Wright has gone on to become an Ambassador for Walsh's charity, the Jungle Crows Foundation. [9] [10] [11] [12]

Theatre

In 2001 Wright became recognised as a stage actor after playing Frank Lubey in the Royal National Theatre production of All My Sons, directed by the Olivier Award-winning Howard Davies (director). Since then he has maintained a theatre career alongside his screen work, playing roles varying from the Prince of Wales in The Madness of George III at the Leeds Playhouse (2003) to Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Bristol Old Vic (2003) and Angus in Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s Neville’s Island (2005).

In 2010 he was in Tom Morris' production of Swallows & Amazons, playing “the seven-year-old Roger to hilarious comic effect.” [13] [14] [15] [16] Originally at the Bristol Old Vic, it then transferred to the West End. Wright's roles since have included Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, at the Rose Theatre Kingston (2018) [17] [18] and the pantomime dame at the Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith) (2014). [19] [20] His performance of Frank in The Memory of Water at the Nottingham Playhouse was lauded by Michael Billington of The Guardian, who called it ‘beautifully played’. [21]

Other Projects

Wright has co-written and performed in two six part radio series. His first commission for BBC Radio 4 was Strangers on Trains (2008) in which he played 28 characters. This was later repeated on BBC Radio 4 Extra. He went on to write Earls Of The Court with Perrier Award winner Will Adamsdale, which aired on Radio 4 in 2010. A hit with listeners, the pair played two Australians lost in London. The final episode was ‘Pick of the Week’ in the Radio Times. These characters were developed into a short film, Knights Of The Realm which won Best comedy/dramedy short at the LA Film Festival and Best Dramedy at the LA Shorts Fest.

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Wright wrote and co-created three shows in association with Tobacco Factory Theatres. 'BS3 Santa' (2020) was described as "street theatre meets travelling Santa’s grotto" and toured a mini Christmas show to people's doorsteps in Bristol. Proving to be incredibly popular, 'BS3 Santa' returns in 2021 in a different form, touring the show to entire Bristol streets rather than individual homes. In August 2021, Date Night in association with Tobacco Factory Theatres toured to people's doorsteps in Bristol, described as "a travelling, pop-up comedy performance for your doorstep, driveway or garden".

In October 2021, Wright started a podcast with two friends whom he worked alongside in the theatre industry, Adam Peck and Tom Wainwright. Of Spice and Men [22] celebrates the joy of friendship, with the three men using the ritual of chatting over an Indian meal to navigate the perils of midlife, offering each other camaraderie, counsel, fun and a sprinkling of conflict to spice things up along the way.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1997 Fierce Creatures Octopus Security Guard
2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Stage ManagerThe film was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best British Film, the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and the Satellite Award for Best Film – Musical or Comedy.
2001 High Heels and Low Lifes Officer
2001 Dog Eat Dog Eastwood
2002 Ali G Indahouse Cameraman
2004 If Only Mike
2005 The Best Man Harry
2006 A Good Year Broker #1
2007World of WrestlingMr. KendoShort film
2008 Incendiary Charlie
2014 Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey? Uncle Henry
2016Hit and RunGeorgeShort film
2017Knights of the RealmLloydyWon Best comedy/dramedy short at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and Best Dramedy at the LA Shorts Awards
2019Jungle CryPaul Walsh
Television
YearTitleRoleOther notes
1997 Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round VariousSeries 1, Episode 4
1997 Chalk Policeman # 1Episode: "The Star Pupil"
1999 People Like Us Nick LevickEpisode: “The Estate Agent”

Rose D'Or Light Entertainment Festival, Winner, Silver Rose Comedy 2000. Royal Television Society, Winner, Best Situation Comedy/Comedy Drama 2000. Nominated Best Comedy BAFTA awards 2000

2000 The Vicar of Dibley Local TV newsreaderEpisode: "Summer"

Winner; National Television Awards 1998, Royal Television Society 1998, TV Quick Awards 2005, Rose d’Or Light Entertainment Festival 2007

My Hero CricketerEpisode: "Thermoman's Greatest Challenge"
Doctors Dave DarwinEpisode: "Mum's The Word"
Smack the Pony GroomSeries 2, Episode 4

In 1999 and 2000, the first two series of Smack the Pony won the Emmy Award for the 'Best Popular Arts Show', and all three series were nominated for Bafta awards.

Black Books Second CustomerEpisode: “Manny’s First Day”

Black Books won the BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy in 2001 and 2005, and won a Bronze Rose at the Festival Rose d'Or of Montreux in 2001. It also received nominations for British Comedy Awards and the Irish Film and Television Awards

I Saw YouMistaken date Granada series
2001 So What Now? Terry
Murder in Mind SteveEpisode: "Neighbors"
World of Pub Various CharactersEpisodes: "Caine", "Sixties", "Drink", "Queen"
ArmadilloMarius Van Meer3 part drama
Coupling HarryEpisode “Dressed”   

Winner Best TV Comedy, British Comedy Awards 2003, Winner, Silver Rose, Rose D'Or Light Entertainment Festival 2001

2002 Rescue Me Eddie ChisholmLead role
Celeb MatthewEpisode: "The Assassin"
2003 Ready When You Are, Mr McGill Geoff 1st ADTelevision film
2004 Wild West PC AlanLead role

Nominated for a Primetime Emmy

Dirty Filthy Love RhodriTelevision film

Won Best Single Drama at the RTS Awards 2005

Doc Martin PC Mark MylowSeries 1 and 2

Winner, Best TV Comedy Drama, British Comedy Awards 2004

2006 Spooks Thames Barrier GuideSeries 5, Episode 10
2007 Bonkers John LewisLead role
2008 Love Soup JeffEpisode: "The Menaced Assassin"
Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story MalcolmTelevision film
2013 Love and Marriage Kevin ParadiseLead role; ITV series
2014 The Nightmare Worlds of H. G. Wells Clarence ClintTelevision film - Sky Arts
2016 Marley's Ghosts Sergeant HatfieldSeries 2, Episode 1
I Want My Wife Back Curtis (Murray's Boss)Lead role; BBC series
2017 Doctor Who AlanEpisode "The Lie of the Land" (S10 E08)
2019 Casualty Len HartmanSeries 33, Episode 21
2019 Doc Martin Sergeant Mark MylowSeries 9, Episode 4
2020 Doctors Keith GilmartinEpisode 78
2020 Small Axe Mr BainesEpisode: "Education"
2023 Midsomer Murders Shawn DawlishSeries 23, Episode 4

Stage

YearTitleRoleVenue
1998 The Magistrate Constable Harris Savoy Theatre / Chichester Festival Theatre
JackieBobby Kennedy Queen's Theatre
An Audience with the QueenJimmy Riverside Studios
1999Love and The Art of WarProfessor Baldwin King's Head Theatre
2001 All My Sons Frank Lubey Royal National Theatre
2003 The Madness of George III The Prince of Wales Leeds Playhouse
A Midsummer Night's Dream Nick Bottom Bristol Old Vic
2005Neville's IslandAngus Birmingham Repertory Theatre
2007Earls of the CourtLloydy Edinburgh Fringe
2008The Nothing ShowOne man show Jacksons Lane
2009MuscleDan Bristol Old Vic / Hull Truck Theatre
2010MisconceptionNoel Assembly Rooms
2011 Swallows and Amazons Roger Walker Bristol Old Vic / Vaudeville Theatre
2012 Wild Oats John Dory Bristol Old Vic
2012Does My Society Look Big In This?Various Bristol Old Vic
2014World Cup Final 1966Jimmy Greaves Bristol Old Vic
2014Dick Whittington And His CatDame Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith)
2017The Railway ChildrenPerksExeter Northcott
2018 Much Ado About Nothing Dogberry Rose Theatre Kingston
2019The Memory of WaterFrank Nottingham Playhouse

Radio

YearTitleRoleOther notes
2000Love and the Art of WarProfessor Baldwin BBC Radio 4 production
2009Strangers on Trains28 characters BBC Radio 4 production
2010Earls of the CourtLloydy BBC Radio 4 production
2013Strangers on Trains28 characters BBC Radio 4 Extra - repeat
2018TracksTimBBC Radio Drama
2018Nights At The CircusColonel KearneyBBC Radio Drama

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References

  1. ↑ Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.; at ancestry.com
  2. ↑ Cork, Tristan (15 August 2021). "Bristol Cool List 2021: The city's 60 coolest people right now". BristolLive. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  3. ↑ Clark, Ashley (11 November 2020). "In 'Small Axe,' Steve McQueen Explores Britain's Caribbean Heritage". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  4. ↑ Midgley, Carol. "Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Christmas Fishing review — comic babble and the odd catch in the throat". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  5. ↑ Murray, Robin (13 December 2020). "Bristol actor takes Deliveroo job as Covid killed off acting work". BristolLive. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  6. ↑ Victoria Segal; Edward Porter; Andrew Male; Patricia Nicol. "TV and radio picks of the week: Small Axe: Education; The Happy Prince and more". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  7. ↑ Arts Correspondent, David Sanderson (17 May 2019). "Amazing tale of scrumdog world-beaters hits Cannes". The Times. ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  8. ↑ "'Indians have a problem of over-commitment': Prashant Shah". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  9. ↑ "Jungle Crows Ambassador". Jungle Crows. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "Bristol Bears". Jungle Crows. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Bears announce partnership with Kolkata Jungle Crows". Bristol Bears. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Bristol Bears and Jungle Crows team up for rugby with a cause". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  13. ↑ Spencer, Charles (21 December 2011). "Swallows and Amazons, Vaudeville Theatre, review". ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  14. ↑ "Swallows and Amazons, Vaudeville - review". Evening Standard. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  15. ↑ Kellaway, Kate (8 January 2012). "Swallows and Amazons – review". The Observer. ISSN   0029-7712 . Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  16. ↑ "Theatre review: Swallows and Amazons at Vaudeville Theatre". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  17. ↑ "Review: Much Ado About Nothing at Rose Theatre Kingston". Surrey. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  18. ↑ "Interview with actor Stewart Wright – soon to play Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing at The Rose Theatre Kingston". 5 Things To Do Today. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  19. ↑ Culbertson, Alix (24 October 2014). "TV's Stewart Wright is Lyric Theatre's Christmas dame". getwestlondon. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  20. ↑ "Dick Whittington and his Cat, Lyric - theatre review: 'Wacky". Evening Standard. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  21. ↑ Billington, Michael (8 May 2019). "The Memory of Water review – bickering sisters stir up family ghosts". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  22. ↑ Men, Of Spice and. "Of Spice and Men - Episode 1 Safety blankets and two front teeth". Google Podcasts. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
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