Stephen Graham
Biography
Life Story
Stephen Graham was born August 3, 1973, in the small town of Kirkby, Lancashire, to a pediatric nurse mother and a social worker father. His paternal grandfather was Jamaican, and one of his grandmothers was Swedish. After years of small parts, he finally got his big break in an unexpected way, playing the dim-witted Tommy in Guy Ritchie's film, Snatch (2000). Apparently, Graham didn't audition for the role as Tommy--one day, he accompanied a friend to the audition for Ritchie and was asked if he was next. When Graham replied "no", Ritchie told the then-unknown actor, "I like your face", and was asked if he could start work Monday.
So much is to be said of this actor, who started his career with bit parts on ITV (he played Lee Sankey on Coronation Street (2006) in 1999 and was also cast in smaller films like Pit Fighter (2005). Graham also appeared in the critically acclaimed Gangs of New York (2002), directed by Martin Scorsese, and on television, playing Sgt. Myron 'Mike' Ranney in the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers (2001). His acting course also includes brilliant performances in excellent works such as in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), Parade's End (2012) and Taboo (2017).
Family
Trivia
His solid acting work also includes two fine screen portrayals of infamous gangsters, Baby Face Nelson in Public Enemies (2009) and Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire (2010).
Brother of Aston Kelly.
His paternal grandfather was Jamaican, and one of his grandmothers was Swedish. Despite his Afro-Caribbean roots, he portrayed a white nationalist in This Is England (2006).
Personal Quotes
I work to live, not live to work, so my head's at home, not in some showbiz life.
I wouldn't rule out L.A. life, but I love England. I have a lovely house and nice garden, I walk my kids to school - family is most important to me.
I don't need to move to the States; I love our little village, Ibstock.
If I get the walk of a character, that helps me find them. So I'm constantly looking at airports and train stations, registering walks.
I like how TV used to be - 'Boys from the Blackstuff' and 'Play for Today', instead of 'Stars in Your Eyes' and 'Celebrity Come Cook With Me' or whatever. I hate all that stuff.
I did 'Gangs of New York' with Martin Scorsese, and they used to call me 'Little Joe Pesci' on the set.
I'm drawn to dramas that make people think. I want to make an impact.
I'm great at telling stories with the kids. I do all my different accents. We make our own stories up all the time, the four of us, me and Hannah and the kids.
I've become very close with Tom Hardy. I love Tom to bits.
I'm a mixed race lad from Liverpool. I get to play a lot of hard characters, and some people perceive that's what I'm like, but it's great for me 'cos they're always the most interesting characters.
I always try and keep a jacket from everything I do. I've still got my original coat from 'Snatch' and my jacket from 'This Is England'.
When I was 27, I didn't have a clue what was going on! At that age, to have that much power and to have that much ambition is something.
There are always certain things that you tap into, your own personal experiences, and I try to base my characters on someone I know or someone I've seen.
Mum and Dad always wanted me to do whatever I was happy doing. I nearly went to art college at 16, but decided to do a BTEC in performing arts.
I adore my job. I think I'm one of the luckiest people out there. I've worked hard, but I get to mess about every day - that's how I see it.
I'm more of a shirt, jeans and trainers man, and I'll never stop that.
There are moments when you're stepping out of a really nice car on to a red carpet, and you feel inside like, 'This is quite nice,' but I'm never whisked off my feet.
I was going to become a youth worker because I do voluntary work with the kids in the little village where I live. I make little films with them and stuff when I'm not working. I thought, I'll pack it in then, and go and do something I love doing, and get a regular job because I've got two kids and a mortgage.
I like time ticking the way it is.
People in New York are surprised when I open my mouth.
I was 10, and I played Jim Hawkins in 'Treasure Island' at school, and this great Liverpudlian actor called Andrew Schofield - he was Johnny Rotten in 'Sid And Nancy' - came to watch it, and he had a word with my mum and dad afterwards and told them I should have a go at the Everyman youth theatre. I've never looked back.
There has to be something that I like about a character for me to be able to play him.
