Steve McFadden
| Steve McFadden | |
|---|---|
 McFadden at the 2011 British Soap Awards | |
| Born |
Steve Robert Reid 20 March 1959[1] Maida Vale, London, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for |
EastEnders (1990–2003, 2005–) The Bill (1989) |
| Children | 4 |
Steve McFadden (born Steve Robert Reid on 20 March 1959) is an English actor, best known for his role as hardman Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since 1990. He was also the presenter of fighting series Britain's Hardest.
Biography
Early life
McFadden was born Steve Reid in the Maida Vale area of London on 20 March 1959, the only child of Robert and Barbara Mallet Reid. His parents separated soon afterwards and his mother later married a man called John McFadden, from whom McFadden took his surname.
He left school in 1975 and over the next few years had short stints in jobs including labouring, carrot picking, plumbing and working at a builder's merchant. None of these occupations gave him much satisfaction, so he decided to sell his motorbike and hitch-hike around Europe. He spent several months camping out in Montpellier, France, on land earmarked for development as a football stadium. He then returned to London and felt that the city was too repressive for his liking, so he went to a Job Centre and asked for a job "with a meaning".
McFadden's first job after his return to London was on the "Acorn Project", a scheme for blind people which involved attending college. He gained 'O' and 'A' Level passes in Sociology and Politics before enrolling at North London Polytechnic on an Economics course. Just seven weeks after starting, he decided that the course was not for him, and withdrew himself from university. He decided that he wanted to become an actor, got accepted into RADA in 1984, and in his first year there won a prize for creating his own drama piece called "Best Fight" - which included many characters who were based on his own friends from school.
Career
After graduating from RADA in 1987[2] he made his acting debut playing a small role in the 1988 television film The Firm. That same year he had an uncredited brief appearance in the film Buster as a gang member. This was followed by appearances in the television series The Bill, Minder and Bergerac. He has also appeared in Kevin and Perry Go Large where he played a doorman.[3]
McFadden then became famous for playing 'hard man' Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He joined EastEnders at the beginning of 1990, at the same time as Ross Kemp, who played Phil's younger brother Grant Mitchell. During that time, his character has been involved in numerous ratings-pulling storylines such as Sharongate (where it was revealed that he had an affair with his brother's wife Sharon) in 1994, and the most notable Who Shot Phil? storyline in March 2001 where his character was shot and wounded by a mystery attacker. The identity of the attacker was revealed weeks later as Phil's girlfriend Lisa, played by Lucy Benjamin - McFadden's real-life girlfriend at the time.
McFadden made a brief appearance in the film Kevin & Perry Go Large in 2000 and starred in an episode of the BBC One anthology series Murder in Mind in 2001. He left EastEnders in late 2003 for a one-year break to concentrate on pantomimes. His character was written out of the series after being framed for an armed robbery by Den Watts (played by Leslie Grantham), and going on the run after breaking out of prison. During his break from EastEnders he presented the reality television fighting series Britain's Hardest which was an underground competition aired on Sky One. He returned to EastEnders for two episodes in April 2005. In the story, Phil returned to Walford in need of financial help, only to be arrested and returned to prison. In October 2005 he returned on a permanent basis, after his character was cleared of armed robbery after Grant used money to influence witnesses to change their testimony. As of 2015 he is still in the series and is now one of the longest serving members of its cast.
In 2007 he appeared in the film Provoked. He has also appeared in pantomime in 2010/11 at the High Wycombe Swan theatre in Peter Pan playing Captain Hook. In 2012/2013 he appeared at the Orchard theatre Dartford in Aladdin playing Abanazar with a supporting cast including around 16 children who attend The Liz Burville Performing Arts Centre, Old Bexley Kent.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Actor | Nominated |
| British Soap Awards | Villain of the Year | Won | |
| Inside Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | |
| Best Bad Boy | Nominated | ||
| Most Dramatic Storyline (Who Shot Phil?) | Won | ||
| 2002 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Actor | Nominated |
| British Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | |
| Villain of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2003 | Best Actor | Nominated | |
| Villain of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Inside Soap Awards | Best Actor | Won | |
| 2006 | British Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated |
| Villain of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Spectacular Scene of the Year (skip crashes onto Phil Mitchell's car) | Nominated | ||
| Inside Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | |
| Best Family (Mitchell family) | Won | ||
| 2007 | TVChoice Awards | Best Soap Actor | Nominated |
| TV Now Awards | Male Soap Star | Won | |
| 2008 | British Soap Awards | Spectacular Scene of the Year (Phil Mitchell's car rolling into a lake) | Nominated |
| Digital Spy Soap Awards | Best Single Episode (Phil Mitchell and Stella Crawford's wedding) | Won | |
| 2009 | British Soap Awards | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2010 | TV Now Awards | Favourite Male Soap Star | Nominated |
| Favourite Soap Family (Mitchell family) | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | All About Soap Awards | Best Mystery (Who's Stalking Phil Mitchell?) | Nominated |
Personal life
McFadden has four children. His son Matt McFadden's mother is Sue Marshall, and Angela Bostock is the mother of his daughters Teona and Mollie Jane. Rachel Sidwell gave birth to his daughter Amelie Tinkerbell on 29 June 2009.[4][5] At the time she was his partner, but the couple split two months later.[6] He was in a relationship with former EastEnders co-star Lucy Benjamin from 1999-2003. Their offscreen relationship was much publicised in the British tabloid press during their time together on the show.
McFadden is a supporter of Manchester United Football Club. He is also a keen sailor[7] and took part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in his motorboat 'Barbara'.[8][9]
In 2014 he successfully sued the Metropolitan Police and News of the World after a police officer sold details about him to the newspaper. He sued the News of the World after one of their journalists admitted trying to intercept his voicemail messages. Of the case McFadden said "I am particularly concerned that a police officer sold my privacy to a tabloid newspaper for profit. I consider the payment of damages and public apology will go some way to ensuring respect for my and others’ privacy in future. I am glad to have been vindicated and to be able to put this matter behind me."[10]
Filmography
- Television and film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Buster | Gang Member (uncredited) | Film |
| 1989 | Minder | Mickey | TV series (Episode: "It's a Sorry Lorry Morrie") |
| 1989 | Screen Two | Billy | TV series (Episode: "The Firm") |
| 1989 | The Bill | Gun Dealer 2 | TV series (Episode: "Bad Company") |
| 1989 | Saracen | Nash | TV series (Episode: "Crossfire") |
| 1990 | Bergerac | Jones | TV series (Episode: "Roots of Evil") |
| 1990–2003 2005–present | EastEnders | Phil Mitchell | Soap opera |
| 1993 | Dimensions in Time | Phil Mitchell | Children in Need charity special |
| 1998 | EastEnders: The Mitchells - Naked Truths | Phil Mitchell | Spin-off video |
| 2000 | Kevin & Perry Go Large | Bouncer 2 | Film |
| 2001 | Murder in Mind | Joe Waterman | TV series (Episode: "Flame") |
| 2003 | Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do | Phil Mitchell | TV movie |
| 2006 | Provoked | DS Ron Meyers | Film |
| 2010 | EastEnders: Last Tango in Walford | Phil Mitchell | Spin-off video |
References
- ↑ "Steve McFadden". DigitalSpy. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ↑ "Eastenders actor Steve McFadden hopes to show a ‘softer’ side of Phil Mitchell". Ham&High News. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ↑ "Profiles: EastEnders Kemp and McFadden". BBC. 3 November 2005. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
- ↑ Martin, Lara (30 June 2009). "'Enders star McFadden welcomes baby girl". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
- ↑ "Steve McFadden 'happier than ever'". MyParkMag. 26 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ↑ Pollard, Chris (14 September 2009). "Mum of Ender tot in pieces after split". The Sun (London).
- ↑ Durham, Richard. "TV star's loathing for gin palaces". Yachting Monthly. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ↑ Robertson, Colin. "Phil’s a diamond geezer". The Sun. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ↑ Martinovic, Paul (9 June 2012). "Steve McFadden reunites with Barbara Windsor during Jubilee flotilla". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ↑ O'Carroll, Lisa (16 September 2014). "EastEnders star Steve McFadden settles News of the World damages claim". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
External links
- Steve McFadden at the Internet Movie Database
- Guardian Article
- Steve McFadden helps out at Charity Premiere