Actor / Director Profile

Stephen Graham was born August 3, 1973, in the small town of Kirkby, Liverpool, England, UK. 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 even audition for the role as Tommy--he accompanied a friend to an audition for Ritchie one day 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 great actor, who started his career with bit parts on ITV (he played Lee Sankey on "Coronation Street" (1960) in 1999, and smaller films like Pit Fighter (2005). Graham has also appeared in the critically acclaimed Gangs of New York (2002), directed by the great Martin Scorsese, and has been on television, playing Sgt. Myron 'Mike' Ranney. Alhough his acting career hasn't been all good, Graham has vowed never to return to his hometown of Kirby after a vicious, unprovoked attack outside a pub in the town just after the release of Snatch. (2000). Obviously, some people took his role as Tommy a little too seriously. This actor, though still relatively unknown, is climbing the ladder to the top, very quickly. With roles in some of the most groundbreaking film and television projects, it's only natural that Stephen Graham will soon be a household name.