- Nigel Harman
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Nigel Harman Born Nigel Derek Harman
11 August 1973 [1]
Purley, London, EnglandNationality British Ethnicity White British Alma mater Dulwich College Occupation Actor Years active 1984–1991, 2002–present Notable works See below Height 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) Television EastEnders Nigel Derek Harman (born 11 August 1973) is an English actor, most famous for his role as Dennis Rickman in the UK soap opera EastEnders. He has worked extensively in theatre, with the stage being described as his "first love".[2] He most recently starred in the final series of Hotel Babylon.
Contents
Childhood and early career
Nigel grew up in Woldingham, Surrey and was educated at Dulwich College. However, he found school difficult: "I was never comfortable sitting down. I always wanted to get involved in something, not just learn and write. I was in so much trouble I had my own desk in detention."[2] His father was a bank manager, but also involved in amateur dramatics including work with CODA (Croydon operatic and Dramatic Association), an interest which was passed on to Nigel. His mother was also involved in the productions; though she died when Nigel was 18.
By the age of 8 he already had a manager and in 1984 he made his first major television appearance in the BBC1 drama series Tenko which was followed by appearances in Alas Smith and Jones (1986) and The Honey Siege (1987). He then turned his hand to larger theatre roles, appearing in productions such as Privates on Parade, Much Ado About Nothing and Summer Holiday. He trained at the Arts Educational School in London and was in the original cast of world hit Mamma Mia!. He also performed in musicals on cruise ships for six and a half months, but told Paul O'Grady that he hated the experience.[3]
Having only worked on the stage and in musical theatre since leaving high school, Nigel determined to expand into television and pursued TV roles.[4] He scored minor parts in in episodes of Red Cap, Doctors and Coupling, but had to support himself by taking jobs at Pizza Hut and as a driver for supermarket chain Sainsburys.[5]
EastEnders
In 2003 he won the role of Dennis Rickman in the BBC soap opera EastEnders for which he is now nationally well known. At the time he won the role, Harman was working for British supermarket Sainsbury's as a delivery van driver.
His first episode portraying Dennis immediately attracted the attention of thousands of ladies throughout the country, and he now has many fansites devoted to him all over the Internet. Many people were devoted to his character Dennis falling in love with and marrying his adopted sister Sharon (Letitia Dean).
His character's first notable bustup was with local hard man Phil Mitchell whom he punched in his very first episode making him the first of his many enemies. A few months later, Dennis was beaten up by some heavies who had been sent around by Phil. Then his long-lost father "Dirty" Den Watts (played by Leslie Grantham) famously returned after being presumed dead for over 14 years and together with Dennis framed Phil for armed robbery causing Phil to flee Walford on the run from police.
Harman left EastEnders on 5 November 2005, and his final episode was aired on 30 December 2005 in which Dennis was stabbed to death in the street by one of Johnny Allen's (Billy Murray) henchman (it was later discovered to be Danny Moon, played by Jake Maskall). Following his stint on Eastenders,he criticised the show for its poor quality.
During his time on EastEnders he won multiple awards such as the following:
- Wins:
- National Television Awards 2003 Most Popular Newcomer
- British Soap Awards 2004 Sexiest Male and Best Newcomer
- Inside Soap Awards 2004 Sexiest Male and Best Actor
- British Soap Awards 2005 Sexiest Male
- Inside Soap Awards 2005 Sexiest Male and Best Actor
- Nominations:
- British Soap Awards 2005 Best Actor
- National Television Awards 2004 Most Popular Actor
- National Television Awards 2005 Most Popular Actor
- Inside Soap Awards 2005 Best Couple (Shared with Letitia Dean)
Theatre
Since leaving EastEnders, he starred as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End alongside Jenna Russell and Nigel Lindsay. He opened alongside Sarah Lancashire who left the production with illness on 4 January 2006. In April 2006, he played Kerry Max Cooke in The Exonerated at Riverside Studio Theatre in Hammersmith, London.
In October 2006, Nigel appeared in the Harold Pinter play The Caretaker at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. In December 2006 Nigel appeared alongside Bonnie Langford in Guys and Dolls at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham as part of the show's UK tour.
In January 2007, Nigel reprised his role as Mick in The Caretaker, starring alongside David Bradley and Con O'Neill for the tour, which continued until mid-April 2007. Other venues of the tour were the Theatre Royal, Brighton and the Richmond Theatre. The tour concluded at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn.
Nigel picked up his hat as Sky Masterson again in May 2007, joining the Guys and Dolls tour at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.
From May 2008 to July 2008 he appeared in The Common Pursuit at the Menier Chocolate Factory for a limited run.
From January to May 2009 he appeared in the play Three Days of Rain at the Apollo Theatre, London with actors Lyndsey Marshal and James McAvoy.
In November & December 2009 he appeared in Public Property by Sam Peter Jackson at the Trafalgar Studios.
During May and early June 2010, Nigel appeared in the stage production of True West alongside John Light at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.
He is currently playing the role of Lord Farquaad in the West End production of Shrek the Musical, which opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 14 June 2011.[6] He stars alongside Amanda Holden, Nigel Lindsay and Richard Blackwood.
Recent work
Harman's success on television and stage has facilitated a move into other television and film roles. In 2006 he played the leading role in an ITV1 one-off drama thriller The Outsiders, co-starring Bond actor Colin Salmon and X2: X-Men United star Brian Cox. Later that year he made a brief appearance in the Hollywood film Blood Diamond. He then had guest roles in episodes of two Channel 4 series: Comedy Showcase and City of Vice as well as an episode of the BBC1 series Lark Rise to Candleford. He is set to play his first major film role (as singer Jess Conrad) in Telstar which releases in 2009. He has also appeared in the series of the Channel 4 sitcom Plus One. He was recently seen in the BBC drama Hotel Babylon as new owner Sam Franklin. He also appears as a "Dealer" in the Channel 4 online educational game 'The Curfew'[7] (produced by littleloud).
Filmography
Films
Year Film Role Notes 2006 Blood Diamond News Reporter 2008 R.I.P. TV Jake Short film Telstar Jess Conrad TV
Year Show Role Notes 1984 Tenko Timmy 1 episode: 3.1 1986 Alas Smith & Jones Uncredited 3 episodes 1987 The Honey Siege George Green 7 episodes The Home-Made Xmas Video Peter 1991 The Bill Macfee 1 episode: The Juggler and the Fortune Teller 2002 Coupling Pizza Man 1 episode: The Girl with One Heart 2003 Red Cap Dan Coulthard 1 episode: Crush Doctors Mike Summers 1 Episode: Black and Blue 2003–05 EastEnders Dennis Rickman Series regular 2006 The Outsiders Nathan Hyde 2007 Comedy Showcase Rich Black 1 episode Plus One 2008 City of Vice Thomas Deacon 1 episode: 1.2 Lark Rise to Candleford Samuel Braby 1 episode: 1.7 2009 The Friday Night Club Ted Plus One Rich Black 5 part series Hotel Babylon Sam Franklin Series regular 2010 Agatha Christie's Marple Jason Rudd 1 episode: The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side External links
References
- ^ Researcha
- ^ a b Dessau, Bruce (24 May 2008). "Life after death for Nigel Harman". The Times. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article3977519.ece. Retrieved 20-10-2009.
- ^ "Nigel Harman interview". The Frank Skinner Show. 2005.
- ^ "Nigel Harman interview". Parkinson. BBC. BBC One. 2004.
- ^ "Nigel Harman interview". Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. BBC. BBC One. 2005.
- ^ Nigel Lindsay and Nigel Harman Join West End Company of Shrek the Musical
- ^ http://www.thecurfewgame.com/play-now.htm
Categories:- 1973 births
- Living people
- People educated at the Arts Educational Schools
- English actors
- English soap opera actors
- English stage actors
- Old Alleynians
- People from Crouch End
- People from Purley, London
- Wins:
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