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 (2011), Black Mirror's "Fifteen Million Merits" (2011), and as Paul Pegg in Casualty (2021–2023).

Early life and career

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 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]

Personal life

Popplewell runs long distance to raise money for charity.^[7]

Filmography

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: "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 – Hull 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)

Awards and nominations

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

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "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.
^ ^a ^b "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.