Paul_Popplewell
Paul Popplewell
British actor
Paul Popplewell is a British actor having played Simon in the BBC Two TV film drama Criminal (1994), Happy Mondays' Paul Ryder in 24 Hour Party People (2001), Tyrannosaur, Black Mirror's "Fifteen Million Merits" (2011), and as Paul Pegg in Casualty (2021–2023).
Popplewell landed his first role as an actor at age 16, playing lead role of Simon in the drama Criminal as part of Screen Two;[1] The film was about a boy who with undiagnosed autism and from a council estate background in Bradford.[1] for which he won Best Actor at the Golden Chest Film Festival and was nominated for Best Actor at the Royal Television Society Awards. The film won the award for best single drama at Royal Television Society Awards.
At the age of 20, Popplewell was playing a leading role with the Royal Shakespeare Company in their production of Bad Weather at The Other Place (theatre) in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire.,[2][3]
In 2001, he played Happy Mondays bassist and founder member Paul Ryder in the Michael Winterbottom film 24 Hour Party People.[1] He later made an appearance in the music video for the Oasis single "Lyla" in 2005.
In 2011, Popplewell played the character of Bod in the BIFA and BAFTA winning feature film Tyrannosaur,[4][5] which was written and directed by Paddy Considine, and also starred Olivia Colman, Peter Mullan and Eddie Marsan.[5]
From 2021 to 2023, he played the receptionist, Paul Pegg in the BBC One drama Casualty.[6]
Popplewell runs long distance to raise money for charity.[7]
Feature Film
- Scoop (2024)
- Peterloo (2018) – Mill Overseer
- Journeyman (2017) – Jackie
- On the Road (Wolf Alice) (2016)
- ID2: Shadwell Army (2016) – Danny Boy
- The Goob (2014) – Levi
- '71 (2014) – Training Corporal
- The Cost of Living (2013, Short) – Mark
- The Look of Love (2013) – Journalist No. 1
- Spike Island (2012) – Roses' Manager
- Tyrannosaur (2011) – Bod
- The Trip (2010) – Paul
- Dog Altogether (2007, Short) – Pub Youth 1
- The Waiting Room (2007) – Van Man
- Bright Young Things (2003) – Private
- In This World (2002) – (Europe) (voice)
- Heartlands (2002) – Gulliver's Kingdom Soldier (uncredited)
- Morvern Callar (2002) – Cat in the Hat
- 24 Hour Party People (2002) – Paul Ryder
- Club Le Monde (2002) – Dil
- The Man with Rain in His Shoes (1998) – Simon
- I Want You (1998) – Phonebox Man
- FairyTale: A True Story (1997) – Second Soldier
Television
- Kids Court (1992, BSKYB)
- Criminal (1994, BBC) – Simon
- Out of The Blue (1995, BBC) – Eddie Locke
- Island (1996, ITV)
- Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1997, BBC) – Frank Starling
- Peak Practice (2000, BBC) – Greg Crinham
- The League of Gentlemen (2000, BBC) – Collier
- Heartbeat (2000, ITV) – Gary
- Doctors (2000, BBC) – Jamie Farrell
- The Bill (2001, BBC) – Patient
- Alan Partridge (2001, BBC)
- Rehab (2003, BBC Movie) – Phillip
- Gifted (2003, ITV Movie) – Sean Dwyer
- Totally Frank (2005, Channel 4) – Television Producer
- The Somme (2005, Channel 4) – Greenhalgh
- The Ghost Squad (2005, BBC) – DC Richard Ellis
- The Royal (2005–2009, ITV) – Marlon Barratt / Chris Nugent
- Simon Schama's Power of Art – Caravaggio (2006, BBC) – Caravaggio
- The Wedge (2006, ITV)
- Saxondale (2007, BBC) – Freaky Dan
- Emmerdale (2008, ITV) – Keith Lodge
- The Trip (2010, BBC) – Paul
- Waterloo Road (2011, BBC) – Callum Pearson
- Black Mirror's Fifteen Million Merits (2011, Channel 4) – Dustin
- Inside Men (2012, BBC) – Tom
- Accused (2012, BBC) – Gary
- Shameless (2012, Channel 4) – Eddie
- Frankie (2013, BBC) – Tony Preston
- Moving On (2013, BBC) – Nathan
- A Young Doctor's Notebook (2013, Sky Arts Playhouse Presents) – Yuri
- Our World War (2014, BBC) – Sergeant Mitchell
- The Salisbury Poisonings (2020, BBC) – DI Ben Mant
- Save Me (2020, Sky Atlantic) – DC Mark Harper
- Casualty (2021–2023, BBC) – Paul Pegg
Theatre
- The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca – City of Culture
- The Hypocrite – Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
- A Taste of Honey – Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre
- Toast – Hull Truck
- The Arbor – The Royal Court, London
- Harvest – The Royal Court, London
- The Shy Gas Man – Southwark Playhouse
- Under The Whaleback – Hull Truck
- The Modernists – Sheffield Crucible Theatre
- American Buffalo – Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre
- The Tempest – Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
- Bad Weather – Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
- Bartholomew Fair – Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
| Group | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Arrows Craft Awards | Best Actor | Kick it Out | Won |
| Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards & TV Awards | Best Supporting Actor | American Buffalo | Nominated |
| Golden Chest International TV & Film Festival | Best Actor | Criminal | Won |
| Royal Television Society Awards (RTS Awards) | Best Actor | Criminal | Nominated |
- "Paul Popplewell: From 24 Hour Party People to Journeyman". lwlies.com. 29 March 2018.
- "'Bad Weather' Play performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, UK 1998 – 07 May 2020". shutterstock.com. 7 May 1998.
- "RSC Performances Bad Weather". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. 7 May 1998.
- "2011 Winners and Nominees". British Independent Film Awards. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- "liveforfilms.com Talks To 'Tyrannosaur' Star Paul Popplewell". liveforfilms.com. 18 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2011.
- Dainty, Sophie (5 June 2021). "Casualty spoilers and questions after tonight's episodes". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- "Paul Popplewell – My Story". tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com. 8 January 2023.