Craig Parkinson

Craig Parkinson (born 11 March 1976) is an English actor and podcaster. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Shaun in the E4 series Misfits, twins Jimmy and Johnny Kray in the ITV series Whitechapel, and DI Matthew "Dot" Cottan in BBC Two's Line of Duty. He has also acted in several independent films, including Control, Soulboy, The Unloved and Four Lions.

Craig Parkinson
Parkinson in May 2018
Born (1976-03-11) 11 March 1976
OccupationActor, podcaster
Children1

Early life

Parkinson was born on 11 March 1976 in Blackpool, Lancashire. He began acting at an early age in school plays.[1] He studied at Blackpool and The Fylde College before moving to London aged 17 to attend the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.[2]

Acting career

Parkinson's early roles were small parts in long-running British television series such as Dalziel and Pascoe, The Bill, and Holby City. He made his film debut in Control (2007), a biopic of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis in which he played the role of Tony Wilson. He starred in the 2008 independent film The Taxidermist, playing The Taxidermist. The film won several awards, including Palm Springs International Short Film Festival 'Best Live Action Film over 15 minutes' and Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival 'Best Short Film'.[3][4]

In 2009 he played the abusive care worker Ben in the television drama The Unloved, the directorial debut of Samantha Morton. Parkinson had previously starred alongside her in Control. The Unloved also featured Lauren Socha, with whom Parkinson would later star alongside in Misfits, as well as his wife, Susan Lynch.

In 2010 Parkinson played twins Jimmy and Johnny Kray in the ITV television series Whitechapel. The role involved a boxing scene which he prepared for by taking boxing lessons and going on a no-carb diet.[5] He played Alan in the film SoulBoy and Cubitt in the film Brighton Rock. Towards the end of 2010 he began playing the probation worker Shaun in the E4 television series Misfits. He continued this role throughout 2011.

In 2011 he starred in the independent film Ghosted, playing the psychotic and violent prisoner Clay. The film also starred John Lynch, Parkinson's brother-in-law, and Martin Compston, with whom Parkinson had previously starred in Soulboy. In the same year, Parkinson played Tommy Flynn in the BBC sitcom In with the Flynns. Parkinson's character was described as "the star of the show" by David Butcher of the Radio Times and "the standout character of the show" by Harry Hamburg of On the Box_.[6][7]

In 2011 Parkinson appeared as the corrupt DS Matt 'Dot' Cottan in the BBC Two series Line of Duty.[8]

In 2012 he appeared as the Reverend Horace in the BBC supernatural thriller The Secret of Crickley Hall, adapted from the novel of the same name written by James Herbert. The Secret of Crickley Hall also featured his wife. Parkinson also starred in the music video for the song "Two Fingers" by Jake Bugg.[9]

In 2013 he starred in the ITV1 comedy drama series Great Night Out as Glyn.[10] He also appeared as Charles Crout in Channel 4 drama The Mill.

He reprised his role as Matt 'Dot' Cottan in 2013 for the second series of Line of Duty, and in 2015 for the third series.

In 2015, he originated the role of Inspector Fry in Martin McDonagh's acclaimed play Hangmen, which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre before transferring to London's West End after a sold-out run, and being broadcast by National Theatre Live. He also played the compassionate missionary Dougie Raworth in Indian Summers.

In 2017, he appeared on the panel show Would I Lie to You?. Parkinson also starred as The Piano Man (Si) in the action/comedy drama Wild Bill.

Podcast

Parkinson hosts the Two Shot Podcast, episodes of which typically feature interviews with actors. The Guardian favourably reviewed the podcast, describing it as the "antithesis of a luvvie-darling discussion" and Parkinson himself as a "natural interviewer".[11] It won best culture podcast at the 2018 British Podcast Awards.[12][13] The podcast is sometimes recorded at live events, such as Paddy Considine's episode at North by Northwich compered by The Charlatans.[14]

Personal life

Parkinson is 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall.[2] He was married to actress Susan Lynch and they have a son.[2][15] They separated in 2019.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001 Dalziel and Pascoe Paul Collingwood Series 6, Episode 2: "Home Truths"
2002 Attachments Darren Series 2, Episode 10: "Logan's Run"
The Bill Detroitz Series 18, Episode 71 and 72
2002–2003 Ed Stone Is Dead Scotty WilmslowSeries 1, Episodes 1, 9, 10, and 11
2003 Holby City Gaz Simpson Series 5, Episode 29: "Desperate Measures"
2004 No Angels Mick Series 1, Episode 1
Hustle Art Tutor Series 1, Episode 5: "A Touch of Class"
Black Books Martin the Tout Series 3, Episode 4: "A Little Flutter"
Born and Bred Eric Series 3, Episode 6: "And Is There Still Honey for Tea?"
2005 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Simon Dawkins Series 4, Episode 1: "In Divine Proportion"
2007 Lead Balloon Simon Russell Series 2, Episode 6: "Debacle"
2008 Lark Rise to Candleford Young Amos Series 1, Episode 3
2010 Whitechapel Jimmy Kray/Johnny Kray Series 2
2010–2011 Misfits Shaun Series 2; Series 3, episodes 1–5
2011 In with the Flynns Tommy Flynn Series 1
2012 The Secret of Crickley Hall Reverend Horace Episode 3
2013 Endeavour Reg Tracepurcel Series 2, Episode 3: "Rocket"
Great Night Out Glyn
The Mill Charles Crout
2014 Prey DI Sean Devlin
2011–2015 Line of Duty DS/DI Matthew 'Dot' Cottan Series 1, 2, 3. Uncredited appearances in Series 4 and 5
2016 Uncle Cyril
Resistance Captain David McLeod
2015–2016 Indian Summers Dougie Raworth Series 1 and Series 2, all episodes
2018 Killed by My Debt Bailiff
Sick of It Neil Series 1, Episode 1
2019 Year of the Rabbit Patrick Levant Series 1, Episode 5
Wild Bill Piano Man Series 1, Episode 2: "Piano Man"
Temple Keith Sullivan Series 1, Episodes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8
2020 The English Game James Walsh Series 1
2020 Sandylands Series 1
2021– Grace Upcoming
2021– Intergalactic Upcoming

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007ControlTony Wilson
Virgin TerritoryTindaro
2008The Other ManGeorge
2009The TaxidermistThe TaxidermistShort film
The UnlovedBenTV film
Desert FlowerNeil
2010Four LionsMatthew 'Matt' Jaggard
SoulBoyAlan
Brighton RockCubitt
2011When the Lights Went OutBrian
GhostedClay
2016 The Flag The Don See IMDB for more.
2018 Black Mirror: Bandersnatch Peter Butler Standalone film from TV series Black Mirror
2019 Wild Rose

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998Martin GuerreEnsemblePrince Edward Theatre[16]
2000Much Ado About NothingWatchmanOpen Air Theatre, Regent's Park.[17]
The Pirates of PenzancePolicemanOpen Air Theatre, Regent's Park.[17]
A Midsummer Night's DreamFrancis FluteOpen Air Theatre, Regent's Park.[17]
2006Measure for MeasureProvostComplicite/National Theatre[18]
2006Everything is IlluminatedAlex Perchov/SofiowkaHampstead Theatre, London. Based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, adapted by Simon Block.[19]
2011EcstasyLenHampstead Theatre, London[20]
2015HangmenInspector FryRoyal Court Theatre and Wyndham's Theatre, London

References

  1. Horn, Matt. "Interview: Craig Parkinson". Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  2. Wolf, Matt. "Craig Parkinson on Standing Tall and Finding Ecstasy on the London Stage". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  3. The Taxidermist at IMDb
  4. "The Taxidermist". Bertie Films. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  5. "Whitechapel Interviews: Craig Parkinson". Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  6. Butcher, David. "In with the Flynns Review: The New My Family?". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  7. Hamburg, Harry. "In with the Flynns: In the Press". Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  8. "Cast announced for new BBC Two drama Line of Duty" (Press release). BBC Press Office. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9XwFecNXyU
  10. "Great Night Out Synopsis". Hat Trick Productions. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  11. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2017/jul/06/line-of-duty-vicky-mcclure-craig-parkinson-two-shot-podcast
  12. http://www.radiotimes.com/news/radio/2018-05-20/british-podcast-awards-2018-cariad-lloyds-griefcast-sweeps-the-board/
  13. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/may/20/the-week-in-radio-mental-health-minute-chris-hawkins-jo-whiley-simon-mayo-daniel-kitson
  14. http://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/16038657.The_Charlatans_announce_four_Northwich_homecoming_gigs/
  15. Tate, Gabriel (26 April 2016). "Line of Duty's Craig Parkinson on playing TV's nastiest man: 'I'm a master at lurking'". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  16. "Cast Details for Martin Guerre".
  17. "Craig Parkinson". Troika Talent.
  18. "Cast Credits for Measure for Measure, National Theatre/Complicite".
  19. "Cast & Creative Team for Everything is Illuminated, Hampstead Theatre".
  20. "Cast & Creative Team for Ecstasy, Hampstead Theatre". Archived from the original on 7 October 2010.
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