|
Coronation Street
Background:
“Growing up on the Yew Tree I had dreams of becoming an
actor but when I used to say that people would just laugh at me. But
my mum and my friends always believed in me though. I've had loads of
knock backs, and especially after Corrie people seemed desperate for
me to fail but you just have to get on with it. “ Matthew
Marsden (about his acting career)
British actor and singer Matthew Marsden became famous in his
native for playing Chris Collins in the hit soap opera “Coronation
Street” (1997-1998), from which he took home a National
Television Award. He went on to establish a career as a singer and
produced two hits with the singles “The Heart's Lone Desire”
(#13) and “She's Gone” (#24) before heading to America,
where he is now most recognized as a movie actor. Marsden's more
recent and upcoming credits include “Black Hawk Down”
(2001), “Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid”
(2004), “DOA: Dead or Alive” (2006), “Resident
Evil: Extinction” (2007), “Rambo” (2008), “The
Lost Gold of Khan” (2008) and “Transformers: Revenge of
the Fallen” (2009). He has starred as Paris in the USA
networks epic miniseries “Helen of Troy” (2003).
“I live like a hermit. In the insanity that can be Hollywood
it is great to have your own little castle. There is nothing more
important than your family.” Matthew Marsden (on life in L.A)
Currently, 6' 2” Marsden resides in Los Angeles, California
with his wife Nadine Micallef, whom he has been married to since
2005, and their 2-year-old son, Finn. He is also the father of
10-year-old Connor, who was mother by former companion Rachel John.
Marsden and Rachel parted ways in the late 1990s. Marsden's love life
has also been linked to singers Heavenli Abdi and Dannii Minogue ,
cosmetic model Carley Carter and model Nadine Gordon.
Marsden is a passionate biker. He learned to race superbikes under
Ron Haslam. Marsden has been a qualified PADI Divemaster since 2004
and is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Father of 2
Childhood and Family:
Matthew Marsden was born in West Bromwich, West Midlands, England,
on March 3, 1973. His father left his mother when Matthew was 10
years old to marry other woman. After this, he and his older sister,
Leanne, were raised by their mother in Walsall.
Matthew attended Dartmouth High School in Great Barr. A great
admirer of the English football team West Bromwich Albion, he applied
as a football player for the club after leaving school, but was
declined. He then turned his attention to acting and joined the
National Youth Theater. As for college, Matthew attended Middlesex
University to pursue performing arts degree. At the time, he
supported himself by working at his uncle's shoes stall at Birmingham
Market.
Matthew married wife Nadine Micallef, a former ballerina, in 2005.
The couple has a son named Finn (born in 2006). Matthew also has a
son named Connor (born 1998), with ex-girlfriend Rachel John.
The Lost Gold of Khan
Career:
After an unsuccessful attempt of becoming a football player with
the English team West Bromwich Albion, Matthew Marsden made a switch
to acting and became a member of the renowned National Youth Theater.
It was modeling, however, that gave the former shoes seller his first
taste with fame. Signed with Models 1, Marsden soon became one of the
most sought-after models thanks to his noted appearance in an
advertisement for Impulse body spray. After two years, he quit
modeling to pursue acting professionally.
Marsden made his film acting debut in a bit part as Mayfair party
in the British crime/drama “The Young Americans” (1993),
starring Harvey Keitel and Iain Glen. Two years later, he broke into
the small screen with a regular role in the ITV soap opera
“Emmerdale,” playing Linda Glover's boyfriend, Daniel
Weir. His character was written out of the show after three months.
Next, Marsden was cast in the starring role of Philip Kennedy, a
surfer, in the teen drama “Island” (1996) and appeared in
the French movie “The Sun Sisters” (1997). However, it
was his subsequent TV assignment that brought the actor true fame.
Playing mechanic Chris Collins on the long-running soap “Coronation
Street” from 1997 to 1998, he was handed a 1997 National
Television for Most Popular Newcomer and emerged as one of the soap
opera's major pin-ups.
Upon his departure from “Coronation Street,” Marsden
branched out to music. Signed with Columbia Records, he released his
first single, “The Heart's Lone Desire,” in July 1998 and
it went on to peak at No. 13 on the UK charts. The sophomore effort
“She's Gone,” a cover of Daryl Hall's soul classic,
followed in later that same year in November, with backing vocals
from label-mates Destiny's Child. It reached No. 24 in the UK charts.
A third single, “Walk My Way,” and a debut album, “Say
Who,” had been recorded, but Marsden had to put his singing
career on the back burner following his leaving from his record
label.
Back to acting, Marsden took the supporting role of Eddie 'Golden
Boy' Simpson in the boxing film “Shiner” (2000), starring
Michael Caine and Martin Landau and directed by John Irvin, and a
two-episodic part in the Brit series “North Square” (also
2000). After relocating to America, he was cast opposite Josh
Hartnett, Ewan McGregor and Tom Sizemore in “Black Hawk Down”
(2001), a box office hit actioner helmed by Ridley Scott, starred as
Sam Maddux in the made for-TV film “The Legacy” (2002)
and had the memorable turn as Paris in the Emmy nominated mini-series
“Helen of Troy” (2003), opposite Sienna Guillory as
Helen.
Marsden continued to star as Dr. Jack Byron in “Anacondas:
The Hunt for the Blood Orchid” (2004), the installment of
“Anaconda,” Bill Natolly in the Jeremy Haft-directed
“Tamara” (2005), along side Jenna Dewan, and Max in “DOA:
Dead or Alive” (2006), with Jaime Pressly. He supported Milla
Jovovich for “Resident Evil: Extinction” (2007), in which
he played Slater. Marsden also guested in “CSI: Miami,”
“Emily's Reasons Why Not, “Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal
Investigative Service” and “Ghost Whisperer.”
Recently appearing with Sylvester Stallone in “Rambo”
(2008), as schoolboy, the 25-year-old performer will portray Yukon
Millier in “The Lost Gold of Khan” (2008), an adventure
helmed by Mark Roemmich, and Graham in Michael Bay's “Transformers:
Revenge of the Fallen” (2009).
“I was the first actor to be cast for the film and Sly told
me to build up my stamina and work on my forearms as I would be
lugging a huge gun around. And he wasn't wrong, it was enormous and
so heavy.” Matthew Marsden (on his role in “Rambo”)
Awards:
|
