Ross Kemp
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Ross Kemp (born July 21, 1964 in Barking, Essex, England) is an English actor, well known for his portrayal of Grant Mitchell in the popular BBC1 soap opera, EastEnders.
He is 5ft 11in, is tall and stocky, and also enjoys amateur rugby.
Early life
His mother, Jean, was a hairdresser and his father, John, was a policeman with the Metropolitan Police force. He has a brother named Darren who is a documentary producer for the BBC.
Kemp attended Shenfield High School, where he is remembered as an excellent athlete. He wanted to be an actor from a young age and went on to study drama at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. He has rarely been out of work since leaving the academy in 1985, appearing on stage, in films, on television and in various advertisements.
Acting Career
EastEnders
His first credited television appearance was in 1986, playing Graham Lodsworth in Emmerdale Farm (now Emmerdale). But by far his most famous role to date was his award-winning portrayal of hardman Grant Mitchell in the popular BBC series EastEnders.
Kemp debuted as hard-man Grant along with Steve McFadden, who played Grant's brother Phil Mitchell, in February 1990. On-screen, Kemp, as Grant, was often at the centre of EastEnders
Kemp left EastEnders in 1999, on a storyline that had Grant hijacking a drug deal which ended in him crashing his getaway car into the River Thames and presumed dead until a week later when he was seen with daughter Courtney at the airport getting on a plane to Brazil. He then moved from the BBC to ITV for a reported £1.2 million.
After EastEnders
Kemp's first role for ITV was in Hero Of The Hour. During its filming, on October 27 1999, Kemp required treatment in hospital after being shot in the face when a stunt went wrong. He suffered cuts to his chest and face after safety glass shattered and he was hit in the face by a blank round. He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Barnet Hospital in north London. Despite the dramatic-sounding incident Kemp recovered quickly and went back to acting.Kemp was also star of the television series Without Motive and In Defence, in 2000. He continued to play to type in the 2002 series Ultimate Force. He also gained the role of 'Cirra' in the 2004 TV movie remake of the film Spartacus.
In 2005 Kemp starred in an episode of Extras, the second major production by Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant, creators of The Office.
Return to EastEnders
In 2005 the BBC finalised a deal with Kemp to facillitate his return to EastEnders for a three week period, which aired in October 2005. His deal with the BBC was rumoured to involve a substantial pay packet as well as the opportunity for him to direct other BBC shows such as Casualty and Holby City. Kemp's return was an instant ratings success and although his return was brief (due to his contractual requirements with ITV's Ultimate Force), he has subsequently been persuaded to reprise the role of Grant for a 3 month period, which went on air in March 2006.Since his return to the BBC in 2005, Ross has taken part in the annual Children in Need fundraising event.
He won the 'Best Actor' award at the British Soap Awards in May 2006 for his role as Grant Mitchell.
Personal life and Glasgow University association
In 1999 he was elected as Rector of the University of Glasgow as the candidate of the Labour Club. However he resigned in 2001 after the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council passed a motion requesting him to do so, as many students had become dissatisfied with his performance in the role. It was pointed out that, through pressure of work, he had failed for two successive years to deliver the Fresher's Address, perhaps the most important public duty in the rector's calendar. He apparently alleged a vendetta against him by the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association, who he claimed were embittered by the fact that he had beaten their candidate, Ian Hamilton QC. He was succeeded by another actor, Greg Hemphill.He is married to the journalist, Rebekah Wade, editor first of the News of the World and later of The Sun tabloid newspapers.
On 3 November 2005, it was reported that Ms. Wade had been arrested that morning following an alleged assault on her husband. Wade was later released without charge and no further action is to be taken. Kemp refused medical attention for a thick lip.
Cereal
Before he was a well known soap actor in EastEnders, Kemp made a TV commercial for the Kelloggs company for their Fruit and Fibre breakfast cereal. In the commercial, Kemp and two other actors are enjoying playing golf in the Mediterranean, but when they realize "they've had some strange ideas about breakfast through the years", they send for their Fruit and Fibre. Kemp sings a jolly upbeat song in the commercial, which climaxes with the line "Apples, hazelnuts, bananas, raisins, coconuts, sultanas, now our breakfast is really going with a swing!". At the time this commercial was slightly amusing to viewers, however since Kemp's role as Grant Mitchell in EastEnders puts him at odds with the image portrayed in the advert.
External links
| Preceded by: Richard Wilson | Rector of Glasgow University 1999—2000 | Followed by: Greg Hemphill |
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