Steve Robert McFadden (né Reid; born 20 March 1959) is an English actor whose career has spanned three decades. He rose to prominence for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since 1990. Regarded as one of the show's most popular characters, he has received numerous accolades including the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement. McFadden was also the presenter of the game show Britain's Hardest (2004).
Steve McFadden | |
|---|---|
 McFadden in 2011 | |
| Born | Steve Robert Reid 20 March 1959[1] Maida Vale, London, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Role of Phil Mitchell in EastEnders |
| Children | 5 |
Early life edit
McFadden was born in Maida Vale, London, on 20 March 1959.[2] He left school in 1975, and had short stints in jobs including labouring, carrot picking, plumbing and working at a builder's merchant.[3] After attending university, McFadden decided that he wanted to become an actor, and was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1984, graduating in 1987.[3]
Career edit
In 1988, McFadden had an uncredited brief appearance in the film Buster as a gang member. He played a small role in the 1989 BBC television film The Firm, and this was followed by appearances in the television series The Bill, Minder and Bergerac.
McFadden then began portraying the role of 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 was involved in numerous iconic storylines, such as Sharongate (in which it was revealed that he had an affair with his brother's wife Sharon) in 1994, and the Who Shot Phil? storyline in March 2001, when his character was shot and wounded by a mystery attacker.
McFadden then made an appearance in the film Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000),[4] and starred in an episode of the BBC 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 series Britain's Hardest, which was an underground competition broadcast 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. In 2007, he appeared in the film Provoked. He has also appeared as Captain Hook in a pantomime production of Peter Pan from 2010 to 2011 at The Swan.
Personal life edit
McFadden has five 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.[5][6] At the time, she was his partner, but the couple split two months later.[7] A fifth child, a daughter named Frankie, was born to his girlfriend Karen Cairns in June 2016.[8]
McFadden is a sailor, and took part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in his motorboat, Barbara.[9][10] In 2014, he sued the Metropolitan Police and News of the World after a police officer sold details about him to the newspaper. He sued News of the World after one of their journalists admitted trying to intercept his voicemail messages in the News International phone hacking scandal. McFadden stated "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".[11]
Drink driving conviction edit
In 1996, McFadden was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £1000 plus £350 in costs after pleading guilty to drink-driving after attending a party at a London nightclub.[12]
Cold War Steve edit
McFadden, in his role as Phil Mitchell, is a recurrent character in the satirical collages by Cold War Steve, the Twitter handle of artist Christopher Spencer. Spencer's Twitter feed was originally called McFadden's Cold War and then later renamed as Cold War Steve. McFadden has appeared in over a hundred of the artworks.[13]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Buster | Gang Member (uncredited) | Film |
| 1989 | Minder | Mickey | Episode: "It's a Sorry Lorry Morrie" |
| 1989 | Screen Two | Billy | Episode: "The Firm" |
| 1989 | The Bill | Gun Dealer 2 | Episode: "Bad Company" |
| 1989 | Saracen | Nash | Episode: "Crossfire" |
| 1990 | Bergerac | Jones | Episode: "Roots of Evil" |
| 1990–2003, 2005–present | EastEnders | Phil Mitchell | Series regular |
| 1993 | Dimensions in Time | Phil Mitchell | Children in Need charity crossover between Doctor Who and EastEnders |
| 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 | Episode: "Flame" |
| 2003 | Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do | Phil Mitchell | Television film |
| 2006 | Provoked | DS Ron Meyers | Film |
| 2010 | EastEnders: Last Tango in Walford | Phil Mitchell | Spin-off video |
Awards and nominations edit
| 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 | 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 | TV Choice 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 |
| 2016 | British Soap Awards | Outstanding Achievement Award | Won |
| Best Male Dramatic Performance | Nominated | ||
| Inside Soap Awards | Best Soap Actor | Won | |
| 2017 | British Soap Awards | Best Male Dramatic Performance | Nominated |
References edit
- ^ "Steve McFadden". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ^ "Who is Phil Mitchell actor Steve McFadden? EastEnders actor's age and net worth revealed". Heart. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- ^ a b "EastEnders star to switch on city's Christmas lights". Salisbury Journal. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- ^ "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. Archived from the original on 18 June 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ "Mum of 'EastEnders' actor Steve's new baby calls time on their relationship". Hello Magazine. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ Corner, Natalie (5 June 2016). "EastEnders' Steve McFadden is 'dad for fifth time with fourth woman, as he welcomes baby daughter'". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- ^ Durham, Richard (4 August 2011). "TV star's loathing for gin palaces". Yachting Monthly. 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.
- ^ "Drink-driving soap actor's sentence condemned".
- ^ Male, Andrew (17 July 2018). "When Phil Mitchell met Trump: Coldwar Steve and his Brexit Britain mashups". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
External links edit
- Steve McFadden at IMDb
- Steve McFadden discography at Discogs
