Nico Mirallegro

Nico Mirallegro

Mirallegro in 2013
Born Nico Cristian Mirallegro
(1991-01-26) 26 January 1991
Heywood, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Nationality English, Italian
Education Siddal Moor Sports College
Alma mater Manchester School of Acting
Occupation Actor
Years active 2007–present
Known for Performance in radio drama, television, and film
Notable work

Nico Cristian Mirallegro (English pronunciation: / mɪr.ɑː.'lɛg.roʊ / meer-ah-LEG-roh) (born 26 January 1991) is an English actor. He is best known for his British television roles as Barry "Newt" Newton in the soap opera Hollyoaks (2007-2010), Finn Nelson in My Mad Fat Diary (2013-2015), Joe Middleton in The Village (2013), and Johnjo O'Shea in Common (2014).

Mirallegro is a BAFTA Award-nominated performer who has appeared in television, film, radio drama, and theatre. Recognized in 2012 by Screen International as one of its Stars of Tomorrow, he has been lauded as one of the United Kingdom's "most promising young actors."[1][2] Growing up in Greater Manchester, Mirallegro attended the Manchester School of Acting as a teenager, and came to public attention after being chosen at age sixteen for his role in Hollyoaks.

Among his films are Six Minutes of Freedom (2010), Wheels of Fortune (2011), Spike Island (2012), Anita B. (2014), Shooting for Socrates (2014), Cold Comfort (2014), A Gun (2014), The Pass (2016) (reprising his 2014 stage role), Cardboard Boy (2016), and The Habit of Beauty (2016).

Mirallegro performed major roles in the BBC Radio 4 dramas Orpheus and Eurydice (2015), and 79 Birthdays (2016).

Among his award nominations are those for Best Actor, BBC Audio Drama Awards (2016, for Orpheus and Eurydice), and Best Supporting Actor, British Academy (BAFTA) Television Award (2014, for The Village)".[3]

Personal life

Mirallegro's father is Sicilian, and his mother, Maureen Mclaughlin, is Anglo-Irish.[lower-alpha 1]

He grew up in Heywood, Greater Manchester and for a time attended a boarding school outside the U.K. (at which he was lonely and felt out of place),[5] as well as Siddal Moor Sports College in Heywood, and the Manchester School of Acting.[5][6] "Looking back on his teenage years, he describes himself as 'quite rebellious'. 'I was quite naughty with my mum. We just used to argue and I'd run out of the house and leave home. That was partly why I went to live with my dad in Spain in my early teens. I was a very active child, so when I was bored, I'd let her know.'"[7] Due to Italian being his father's native language, and the time Mirallegro spent living on the continent, he has conversational fluency in Italian and Spanish.[8]

Mirallegro "fell into" acting in his mid-teens after following his sister Claudia to improvisation classes. At one of his first acting classes, he said in an interview, "I was so scared I had to get one of the other lads to say my lines."[9]

He is a supporter of Manchester United F.C.[10]

Career

Television

Mirallegro's first professional acting role came in 2007, after he successfully auditioned to portray Newt, an emo teenager in the long-running British soap-opera Hollyoaks. Although he voluntarily left Hollyoaks after two years at age eighteen to follow other acting projects,[11] Mirallegro was grateful for the opportunity to appear on the show. "Hollyoaks is where I learnt a lot of the craft, being in front of a camera six days a week. . . . That’s certainly an experience you don’t get in drama school."[12]

When filming for Hollyoaks, Mirallegro was also playing Cam Spencer in LOL, a web series which explored sex, drugs and relationships.[13] In 2010 Mirallegro appeared as a gay youngster who suffers bullying in school because of his sexuality; his appearance came in an episode of series two of the BBC drama series Moving On.[14]

Beginning as well in 2010, he appeared as a guest in nine episodes of the regular BBC series Doctors.[15] In the episodes he played the role of an Italian foreign exchange student.

In December 2010, Mirallegro was in series one of BBC One 1930s-period remake of Upstairs Downstairs. He portrayed a young footman called Johnny Proude, who took up a position in service to escape the poverty of the northern mining town where he was born. The BBC re-commissioned the production for a second series[16] in which he appeared again as Johnny. In the second series his character appeared in a boxing tournament, requiring Mirallegro to take boxing lessons for the role.[12]

In 2011 Mirallegro appeared in the BBC's three-part psychological thriller Exile,[17] playing the teenage version of leading character Tom Ronstadt (played by John Simm). Later in the same year Mirallegro played the role of Sam, a gay heroin addict in the BBC drama The Body Farm.[18]

In 2013 he portrayed Finn Nelson, the love interest of the main female character in E4's popular teenage comedy drama My Mad Fat Diary.[19] That same year he also played the role of Joe Middleton in the BBC drama The Village.[20]

In 2014, Mirallegro portrayed a teenager prosecuted for murder under the Joint Enterprise law in the controversial BBC One production Common written by Jimmy McGovern.[21] Called "a bleak, powerful drama thick with political intent," a review continued: "Nico Mirallegro continues to prove himself as the best actor ever to graduate from Hollyoaks,".[22]

The 2015 television film The Ark told the story of Noah from the Hebrew Bible, along with elements from Islamic tradition. Mirallegro portrayed Kenan[lower-alpha 2] Noah's youngest (and extrabiblical) son, whose wish to follow a path different from his father and brothers results in his being swept away in the Great Flood.[23]

Mirallegro also starred in HBO's Virtuoso, directed and partially written by Alan Ball. Set in the 18th century, Mirallegro played a self-taught violin prodigy who travels to Vienna to learn with other young musicians.[24]

Film

Mirallegro's first film was shot in 2009—a short called Six Minutes of Freedom.[25] He starred as a troubled teenager training to be a boxer while his father is in prison. The film was entered into four film festivals, and it won Best New Wave Short Film at the Yellow Fever Independent Film Festival.[26]

In the summer of 2010 Mirallegro finished filming for his role in McQueen the Movie. He played Sam, a Jewish boy who is one of the two main protagonists of the story. The film is set in suburbia in the North of England in the 1990s.

Mirallegro portrayed a teenage lead guitarist in a full-length film set in the 1990s about the Manchester-formed rock band The Stone Roses. The film, Spike Island, was released in 2012.[27][28] The Sun described the performances of Mirallegro and the rest of the cast as "brilliant,"[29] and he called his time making Spike Island "six weeks of pure bliss."[7]

Shooting for Socrates is a 2014 football drama telling "the underdog story of a Northern Ireland team who kick off their world cup against football giants, Brazil. The game is a baptism of fire for [Mirallegro's] character, David Campbell, who makes his Northern Ireland debut in front of 50,000 people . . . the day before his 21st birthday."[30] The film's cast was recognized as talented, but reviews of the script were less positive.[lower-alpha 3]

Stage

In January 2014, Mirallegro appeared at London's Royal Court Theatre in the drama The Pass,[32] in which Russell Tovey is a football player coming to terms with his homosexuality.[33] Mirallegro reprised his comic role as a hotel bellboy in an "irrepressible performance"[34] in a 2016 film version of the work, which premiered at the BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival in March 2016.

Radio

Since 2014 Mirallegro has performed in several BBC 4 radio dramas, including as the eponymous male character in Orpheus and Eurydice; for this role he was nominated Best Actor in the BBC Audio Drama Awards for 2016.

He was later cast as the protagonist in 79 Birthdays (2016), and as the son in Over Here, Over There (2016).[35] Over Here, Over There is a radio drama inspired by the plight of asylum seekers in the U.K.[36]

Charity work and causes

Mirallegro plays in celebrity football matches in different parts of England for charities, including Help For Heroes, and Once Upon a Smile.[37]

Credits

Audio Books

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Nothing but Shadows Narrator Mirallegro demonstrates his facility with Scots and U.S. accents in this recording. [38]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2010 Six Minutes of Freedom Chris Short film; Mirallegro's real-life sister Claudia played his sister in the film [39]
McQueen, The Movie Sam
2011 Wheels of Fortune Ben Short film [40]
2012 Spike Island Dodge [41]
2014 Anita B. David Italian film loosely based on the 2009 autobiographic novel Quanta stella c'è bel cielo (How Many Stars Twinkle in the Sky) by Edith Bruck [42]
Cold Comfort Paul short film [43]
Shooting for Socrates David Campbell [44]
A Gun Durwin Short film [45]
2016 The Pass Harry World premiere at BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival on 16 March 2016 / Reprise of Mirallegro's role in the 2014 stage production. [46]
Cardboard Boy Mark short film [47]
The Habit of Beauty Ian [48]

Music Videos

Year Title Role Ref.
2014 Talking in Tones young Tim Burgess [49]
Tiny Ruins: Carriages Stag [50]

Radio

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2014 My Dad Keith Young Jeff Written by Maxine Peake [51]
2015 Orpheus and Eurydice Orpheus Nominated - BBC Audio Drama Awards Best Actor [52]
2016 79 Birthdays Jimmy [53]
Over Here, Over There Son [54]

Stage

Year Production Role Venue Dates of Run Notes Ref.
2014 The Pass Harry Royal Court Theatre, London 13 January - 1 March 2014 Role reprised in 2016 film production [55]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2007–10 Hollyoaks Barry "Newt" Newton Nominated - The British Soap Awards Best Newcomer
Nominated - The British Soap Awards Best On-Screen Partnership (shared with Marc Silcock)		 [56]
2010 Doctors Giovanni Mannasori Recurring; 7 episodes [57]
Moving On Jamie Episode: "Losing My Religion" [58]
2010–12 Upstairs Downstairs Johnny Proude Series regular [59]
2011 Exile Teenage Tom Series regular [60]
The Body Farm Sam Villiers Episode: 1.2 [61]
2012 Last Tango in Halifax Young Alan Episode: 1.6 [62]
2013 The Village Joe Middleton Main character, Series 1
Nominated - British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actor		 [63]
2013–2015 My Mad Fat Diary Finn Nelson Main character, Series 1-3 [64]
2014 Common Johnjo O'Shea [65]
The Ark Kenan [66]
2015 Virtuoso Franz [67]
2016 Rillington Place Timothy Evans 3-part BBC drama; filming began in March 2016 [68]

Web Series

Year Title Role URL Ref.
2008-2010 LOL Cam Spencer http://www.lolseries.com [69]

Awards and Nominations

Year Result Award Category Work Role Ref.
2008 Nominated The British Soap Awards Best Newcomer Hollyoaks Barry "Newt" Newton [70]
2009 Nominated The British Soap Awards Best On-Screen Partnership (shared with Marc Silcock) Hollyoaks Barry "Newt" Newton [71]
2014 Nominated British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actor The Village Joe Middleton [72]
2016 Nominated BBC Audio Drama Awards Best Actor Orpheus and Eurydice Orpheus [73]

Notes

  1. ↑ “My mum’s originally from Donegal, Malin Head in Donegal, and she moved to Manchester when she was very, very young. My dad’s Sicilian so there’s certainly a fiery mix in there.”[4]
  2. ↑ According to the Quran (Hud v. 42–43), Noah had an unnamed son who refused to come aboard the Ark, instead preferring to climb a mountain, where he drowned. Some later Islamic commentators give his name as either Yam or Kan'an. This drama interprets his name as Kenan.
  3. ↑ "Shooting for Socrates is a "narrative that . . . sells its talented cast short - and that's not merely troublesome. It's fatal. . . . Fine actor though John Hannah is, his Billy Bingham is a blank slate with the wrong accent, and Nico Mirallegro fares little better, despite his best efforts."[31]

References

  1. ↑ "Heywood actor in line for Bafta". ManchesterEveningNews.co.uk. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "Rising British Male Actors Under 30". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "The Village: BAFTA Q&A". lifeofwylie.com. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Playing for the Other Team". theirishworld.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  5. 1 2 "The Ark’s Nico Mirallegro: ‘I was a bit of a nuisance’". www.theguardian.com. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  6. ↑ "Heywood actor in line for Bafta". ManchesterEveningNews.co.uk. 16 April 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Actor Nico Mirallegro: 'I was ready for a new chapter'". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Sue Terry Voice Over Agency". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Why we are watching… Nico Mirallegro". theguardian.com. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "Fanzone News & Blogs". Manchester United. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  11. ↑ "Kym Marsh: 'Hollyoaks is in poor shape' - Hollyoaks News - Soaps". Digital Spy. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  12. 1 2 "The Village actor Nico Mirallegro: ‘I’m a lot more normal in real life’". metro.co.uk. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "LOL Cast - Nico Mirallegro as Cam Spencer". Lolseries.com. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  14. ↑ "BBC One - Moving On, Series 2, Losing My Religion". BBC.co.uk. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  15. ↑ "Ex-'Hollyoaks' actor to guest in 'Doctors' - Doctors News - Soaps". Digital Spy. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  16. ↑ "Press Office - Upstairs Downstairs recommissioned for BBC One". BBC. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  17. ↑ "BBC One - Exile". BBC.co.uk. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  18. ↑ "BBC One - The Body Farm, Episode 2". bbc.co.uk. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "My Mad Fat Diary". Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  20. ↑ "The Village". Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  21. ↑ "Nico Mirallegro: ‘It was hard to leave Hollyoaks, but I’m glad I did’". What's On TV. 1 July 2014.
  22. ↑ "Common review – a bleak, powerful drama thick with political intent". theguardian.com. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  23. ↑ "The Ark (TV Movie 2015)". Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  24. ↑ "Virtuoso (TV Movie 2015)". Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  25. ↑ "Six Minutes of Freedom Trailer". YouTube. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  26. ↑ "Yellow Fever Indie Film Festival". Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  27. ↑ Wright, Jade (26 March 2012). "New film to relive The Stone Roses' classic gig at Spike Island in Widnes - In The Mix Today - News". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  28. ↑ "Nico Mirallegro: From Hollyoaks to Upstairs | Interviews | Upstairs Downstairs | UK Drama | What's on TV". Whatsontv.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  29. ↑ "Stone Roses-inspired film Spike Island will be adored". thesun.co.uk. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  30. ↑ "Playing for the other team". theirishworld.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  31. ↑ ""FILM REVIEW: Shooting For Socrates. This "football film" tries to be topical and timely but sells its cast terribly short"". sis-sightsandsounds.blogspot.com. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  32. ↑ "The Pass, Review". theguardian.com. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  33. ↑ "The Pass - Royal Court Theatre". What's On Stage.
  34. ↑ "'The Pass': Review". screendaily.com. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  35. ↑ "79 Birthdays". bbc.co.uk. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  36. ↑ "Over Here, Over There". bbc.co.uk. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  37. ↑ "Once Upon a Smile Charity Match". FootballforCharity.com.
  38. ↑ "Narrator, Nothing but Shadows". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  39. ↑ "Six Minutes of Freedom". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  40. ↑ "Wheels of Fortune". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  41. ↑ "Spike Island (2012)". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  42. ↑ "Anita B. (2014)". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  43. ↑ "Cold Comfort (2014)". Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  44. ↑ "Shooting for Socrates (2014)". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  45. ↑ "A Gun (2014)". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  46. ↑ "The Pass (2015)". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  47. ↑ "Cardboard Boy". Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  48. ↑ "The Habit of Beauty (2016)". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  49. ↑ "Talking in Tones: Video Premiere". theguardian.com. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  50. ↑ "Tiny Ruins: Carriages". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  51. ↑ "BBC4, My Dad Keith". Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  52. ↑ "BBC4, Orpheus and Eurydice". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  53. ↑ "BBC4, 79 Birthdays". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  54. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 Over Here, Over There". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  55. ↑ "Guardian Review of The Pass". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  56. ↑ "Holloaks (TV Series 1995- )". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  57. ↑ "Doctors (TV Series 2000- )". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  58. ↑ "Moving On (TV Series 2009- )". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  59. ↑ "Upstairs Downstairs (TV Series 2010-2012)". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  60. ↑ "Exile (TV Mini-Series 2011)". Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  61. ↑ "The Body Farm (TV Series 2011- )". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  62. ↑ "Last Tango in Halifax (TV Series 2012- )". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  63. ↑ "The Village (TV Series 2013- )". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  64. ↑ "My Mad Fat Diary (TV Series 2013- )". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  65. ↑ "Common (TV Movie 2014)". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  66. ↑ "The Ark (TV Movie 2015)". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  67. ↑ "Virtuoso (TV Movie 2015)". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  68. ↑ "Tim Roth and Samantha Morton to star in BBC One’s Rillington Place". 20 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  69. ↑ "Lol (TV Series 2008- )". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  70. ↑ "British Soap Awards: Hollyoaks". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  71. ↑ "British Soap Awards (2009)". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  72. ↑ "Television Awards: Nominations Announced BAFTA". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  73. ↑ "BBC 2016 Audio Drama Awards Shortlist". Retrieved 11 March 2016.

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