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Nico Mirallegro

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Nico Mirallegro
Mirallegro in June 2013
Born (1991-01-26) 26 January 1991 (age 33)
Heywood, Greater Manchester, England
OccupationActor
Years active2007–present

Nico Cristian Mirallegro (/ˌmɪrəˈlɛɡroʊ/ MIRR-ə-LEG-roh; born 26 January 1991) is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Barry "Newt" Newton in the soap opera Hollyoaks (2007–2010), Finn Nelson in My Mad Fat Diary (2013–2015), Joe Middleton in The Village (2013), and Johnjo O'Shea in Common (2014). His feature film credits include Spike Island (2012), Anita B. (2014), The Pass (2016), and Peterloo (2018).

Recognised in 2012 by Screen International as one of its "Stars of Tomorrow", he has been lauded as one of the United Kingdom's "most promising young actors".[1][2] Among his award nominations are those for Best Actor at the BBC Audio Drama Awards (2016, for Orpheus and Eurydice) and Best Supporting Actor at the BAFTA Awards (2014, for The Village).[3]

Early life

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Mirallegro was born on 26 January 1991 in Heywood, Greater Manchester. His Italian father is from Sicily, and his Irish mother, Maureen McLaughlin, is from Malin Head.[4] He briefly attended a boarding school outside the UK, at where he was lonely and felt out of place.[5] He also attended Siddal Moor Sports College in Heywood and the Manchester School of Acting.[5][6] His parents are separated, and his father lives in Spain, with Mirallegro having moved there as a teenager to live with him for a time.[7] He is conversational in Italian and Spanish.[8]

Mirallegro says that he "fell into" acting in his mid-teens after following his sister Claudia to improv classes. At one of his first acting classes, he was "so scared [he] had to get one of the other lads to say [his] lines".[9]

Career

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Television

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Mirallegro's first professional acting role came in 2007, after he was cast as emo teenager Newt in the long-running British soap opera Hollyoaks. Although he voluntarily left Hollyoaks after two years at age 18 to follow other acting projects,[10] he was grateful for the opportunity to appear on the show: "Hollyoaks is where I learnt a lot of the craft, being in front of a camera six days a week. That's certainly an experience you don't get in drama school."[11]

When filming for Hollyoaks, Mirallegro was also playing Cam Spencer in LOL, a web series which explored sex, drugs, and relationships.[12] In 2010, Mirallegro appeared in an episode of the BBC drama series Moving On as a gay youngster who suffers bullying in school because of his sexuality.[13] Beginning 2010, he appeared as an Italian foreign exchange student in nine episodes of the regular BBC series Doctors.[14]

In December 2010, Mirallegro was in series one of the BBC One 1930s-period remake of Upstairs Downstairs. He portrayed a young footman called Johnny Proude, who took up a position in service to escape the poverty of the northern mining town where he was born. The BBC re-commissioned the production for a second series,[15] in which he appeared again as Johnny. In the second series, his character appeared in a boxing tournament, requiring Mirallegro to take boxing lessons for the role.[11] In 2011, Mirallegro appeared in the BBC's three-part psychological thriller Exile,[16] playing the teenage version of leading character Tom Ronstadt. Later that year, he played Sam, a gay heroin addict in the BBC drama The Body Farm.[17]

In 2013, he began playing Finn Nelson, the love interest of the main female character in E4's teen comedy-drama series My Mad Fat Diary.[18] That same year, he also played the role of Joe Middleton in the BBC drama The Village.[19] In 2014, Mirallegro portrayed a teenager prosecuted for murder under the Joint Enterprise law in the controversial BBC One production Common, written by Jimmy McGovern.[20] Called "a bleak, powerful drama thick with political intent", a review started that Mirallegro "continues to prove himself as the best actor ever to graduate from Hollyoaks".[21]

The 2015 television film The Ark told the story of Noah, along with elements from Islamic tradition. Mirallegro portrayed Kenan,[a] Noah's youngest (and extrabiblical) son, whose wish to follow a path different from his father and brothers results in his being swept away in the Great Flood.[22] Mirallegro also starred in HBO's Virtuoso, directed and partially written by Alan Ball. Set in the 18th century, Mirallegro played a self-taught violin prodigy who travels to Vienna to learn with other young musicians.[23]

In June 2017, Mirallegro acted in the BBC's BAFTA winning real-life drama Murdered for Being Different, about the murder of Sophie Lancaster in 2007.[24] In 2019, it was confirmed he would be cast as an army soldier in the new series of the long-running BBC One drama Our Girl.

In November 2023, it was announced by Paramount+ that Mirallegro would star in a new original drama series Stags, filming on location in Tenerife and due to be released in 2024.

Film

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Mirallegro's first film, the short film Six Minutes of Freedom, was shot in 2009.[25] He starred as a troubled teenager training to be a boxer while his father is in prison. The film was entered into four film festivals, and it won Best New Wave Short Film at the Yellow Fever Independent Film Festival.[26]

In the summer of 2010, Mirallegro finished filming for his role in McQueen the Movie. He played Sam, a Jewish boy who is one of the story's two protagonists. The film is set in suburbia in the North of England in the 1990s.

Mirallegro portrayed a teenage lead guitarist in a full-length film set in the 1990s about the Manchester-formed rock band The Stone Roses. The film, Spike Island, was released in 2012.[27][28] He called his time making Spike Island "six weeks of pure bliss."[7]

Shooting for Socrates is a 2014 football drama telling "the underdog story of a Northern Ireland team who kick off their world cup against football giants Brazil. The game is a baptism of fire for [Mirallegro's] character, David Campbell, who makes his Northern Ireland debut in front of 50,000 people the day before his 21st birthday".[29] The film's cast was recognized as talented, but reviews of the script were less positive.[b]

Stage

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In January 2014, Mirallegro appeared at London's Royal Court Theatre in the drama The Pass,[31] in which Russell Tovey plays a football player coming to terms with his homosexuality.[32] Mirallegro reprised his comic role as a hotel bellboy in an "irrepressible performance"[33] in a 2016 film adaptation of the work, which premiered at the BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival.

Radio

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Since 2014, Mirallegro has performed in several BBC Radio 4 dramas, including playing the eponymous male character in Orpheus and Eurydice. For this role, he was nominated for Best Actor at the BBC Audio Drama Awards in 2016. He was later cast as the protagonist in 79 Birthdays (2016) and as the son in Over Here, Over There (2016).[34] The latter is a radio drama inspired by the plight of asylum seekers in the UK.[35]

Charity work

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Mirallegro plays in celebrity football matches for charities such as Help For Heroes and Once Upon a Smile.[36]

Personal life

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Mirallegro was born and raised in Heywood, Greater Manchester. He attended Siddal Moor Sports College (since renamed Newhouse Academy) and is a supporter of Manchester United FC.[37]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Six Minutes of Freedom Chris Short film[38]
McQueen, The Movie Sam
2011 Wheels of Fortune Ben Short film[39]
2012 Spike Island Dodge [40]
2014 Anita B. David [41]
Cold Comfort Paul Short film[42]
Shooting for Socrates David Campbell [43]
A Gun Durwin Short film[44]
2016 The Pass Harry [45]
Cardboard Boy Mark Short film[46]
The Habit of Beauty Ian [47]
2017 Murdered for Being Different Rob Maltby [24]
Come Out of the Woods Michael Short film[48]
2018 Peterloo John Bagguley
2020 Re-displacement Leo Short film[49]
Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released

Television

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Year Title Role Network Notes
2007–2010 Hollyoaks Barry "Newt" Newton Channel 4 Nominated – The British Soap Awards Best Newcomer
Nominated – The British Soap Awards Best On-Screen Partnership (shared with Marc Silcock)[50]
2010 Doctors Giovanni Mannasori BBC One 7 episodes[51]
Moving On Jamie Episode: "Losing My Religion"[52]
2010–2012 Upstairs Downstairs Johnny Proude[53]
2011 Exile Teenage Tom[54]
The Body Farm Sam Villiers Episode 1.2[55]
2012 Last Tango in Halifax Young Alan Episode 1.6[56]
2013 The Village Joe Middleton Series 1
Nominated – British Academy Television Awards for Best Supporting Actor[57]
2013–2015 My Mad Fat Diary Finn Nelson E4 Series 1–3[58]
2014 Common Johnjo O'Shea[59] BBC One
2015 The Ark Kenan[60]
Virtuoso Franz[61] HBO
2016 Rillington Place Timothy Evans BBC One 3-part drama[62]
2020 Penance Jed Cousins Channel 5 3-part drama[63]
Our Girl "Prof" BBC One Season 4[64]
2021 Moving On Ben Keane Episode: "Wedding Day"
The Beast Must Die Nicky Toone BritBox 3 episodes
2022 We Hunt Together Rober (Bob) Miller Alibi Recurring
Ridley Callaghan Flannery ITV Episode 4
2023 Spy/Master John Miller Max 4 episodes
2024 Passenger Kane Jackson ITV
2024 Stags Stu Paramount+ 6 episodes

Stage

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Year Title Role Venue Notes
2014 The Pass Harry Royal Court Theatre, London Role reprised in 2016 film adaptation[65]

Music videos

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Year Title Role
2014 The Charlatans – "Talking in Tones" Young Tim Burgess[66]
Tiny Ruins – "Carriages" Stag[67]

Radio

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Year Title Role Notes
2014 My Dad Keith Young Jeff Written by Maxine Peake[68]
2015 Orpheus and Eurydice Orpheus Nominated – BBC Audio Drama Awards for Best Actor[69]
2016 79 Birthdays Jimmy [70]
Over Here, Over There Son [71]
Innocence [72]

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes
2008–2010 LOL Cam Spencer [73]

Audio books

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Nothing but Shadows Narrator [74]
2022 Space Band Narrator [75]
2023 Vulnerable Voices Narrator [76]

Awards and nominations

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Year Result Award Category Work Role
2008 Nominated The British Soap Awards Best Newcomer Hollyoaks Barry "Newt" Newton[77]
2009 Nominated The British Soap Awards Best On-Screen Partnership (shared with Marc Silcock) Hollyoaks Barry "Newt" Newton[78]
2014 Nominated British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actor The Village Joe Middleton[79]
2016 Nominated BBC Audio Drama Awards Best Actor Orpheus and Eurydice Orpheus[80]

Notes

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  1. ^ According to the Quran (Hud v. 42–43), Noah had an unnamed son who refused to come aboard the Ark, instead preferring to climb a mountain, where he drowned. Some later Islamic commentators give his name as either Yam or Kan'an. This drama interprets his name as Kenan.
  2. ^ "Shooting for Socrates is a "narrative that . . . sells its talented cast short – and that's not merely troublesome. It's fatal. . . . Fine actor though John Hannah is, his Billy Bingham is a blank slate with the wrong accent, and Nico Mirallegro fares little better, despite his best efforts."[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Heywood actor in line for Bafta". ManchesterEveningNews.co.uk. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Rising British Male Actors Under 30". IMDb. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  3. ^ "The Village: BAFTA Q&A". lifeofwylie.com. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Playing for the Other Team". theirishworld.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  5. ^ a b "The Ark's Nico Mirallegro: 'I was a bit of a nuisance'". The Guardian. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Heywood actor in line for Bafta". ManchesterEveningNews.co.uk. 16 April 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Actor Nico Mirallegro: 'I was ready for a new chapter'". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Sue Terry Voice Over Agency". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Why we are watching… Nico Mirallegro". The Guardian. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Kym Marsh: 'Hollyoaks is in poor shape' – Hollyoaks News – Soaps". Digital Spy. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  11. ^ a b "The Village actor Nico Mirallegro: 'I'm a lot more normal in real life'". metro.co.uk. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  12. ^ "LOL Cast – Nico Mirallegro as Cam Spencer". Lolseries.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  13. ^ "BBC One – Moving On, Series 2, Losing My Religion". BBC. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Ex-'Hollyoaks' actor to guest in 'Doctors' – Doctors News – Soaps". Digital Spy. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  15. ^ "Press Office – Upstairs Downstairs recommissioned for BBC One". BBC. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  16. ^ "BBC One – Exile". BBC. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  17. ^ "BBC One – The Body Farm, Episode 2". BBC. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  18. ^ "My Mad Fat Diary". IMDb. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  19. ^ "The Village". IMDb. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  20. ^ "Nico Mirallegro: 'It was hard to leave Hollyoaks, but I'm glad I did'". What's on TV. 1 July 2014.
  21. ^ "Common review – a bleak, powerful drama thick with political intent". The Guardian. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  22. ^ "The Ark (TV Movie 2015)". IMDb. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  23. ^ "Virtuoso (TV Movie 2015)". IMDb. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  24. ^ a b "Murdered for Being Different". Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  25. ^ "Six Minutes of Freedom Trailer". Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2012 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ "Yellow Fever Indie Film Festival". Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  27. ^ Wright, Jade (26 March 2012). "New film to relive The Stone Roses' classic gig at Spike Island in Widnes – In The Mix Today – News". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  28. ^ "Nico Mirallegro: From Hollyoaks to Upstairs | Interviews | Upstairs Downstairs | UK Drama | What's on TV". Whatsontv.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  29. ^ "Playing for the other team". theirishworld.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  30. ^ ""Film Review: Shooting For Socrates. This "football film" tries to be topical and timely but sells its cast terribly short"". sis-sightsandsounds.blogspot.com. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  31. ^ "The Pass, Review". The Guardian. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  32. ^ "The Pass – Royal Court Theatre". What's on Stage. 20 January 2014.
  33. ^ "'The Pass': Review". screendaily.com. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  34. ^ "79 Birthdays". BBC. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  35. ^ "Over Here, Over There". BBC. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  36. ^ "Once Upon a Smile Charity Match". FootballforCharity.com.
  37. ^ "Fanzone News & Blogs". Manchester United. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  38. ^ Six Minutes of Freedom at IMDb
  39. ^ Wheels of Fortune at IMDb
  40. ^ Spike Island (2012) at IMDb
  41. ^ Anita B. (2014) at IMDb
  42. ^ Cold Comfort (2014) at IMDb
  43. ^ Shooting for Socrates (2014) at IMDb
  44. ^ A Gun (2014) at IMDb
  45. ^ The Pass (2015) at IMDb
  46. ^ Cardboard Boy at IMDb
  47. ^ The Habit of Beauty (2016) at IMDb
  48. ^ Come Out of the Woods (2017) - IMDb, retrieved 19 March 2024
  49. ^ "Re-displacement". IMDb. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  50. ^ Hollyoaks (TV series 1995– ) at IMDb
  51. ^ Doctors (TV series 2000– ) at IMDb
  52. ^ Moving On (TV series 2009– ) at IMDb
  53. ^ Upstairs Downstairs (TV series 2010–2012) at IMDb
  54. ^ Exile (TV miniseries 2011) at IMDb
  55. ^ The Body Farm (TV series 2011– ) at IMDb
  56. ^ Last Tango in Halifax (TV series 2012– ) at IMDb
  57. ^ The Village (TV series 2013– ) at IMDb
  58. ^ My Mad Fat Diary (TV series 2013– ) at IMDb
  59. ^ Common (TV movie 2014) at IMDb
  60. ^ The Ark (TV movie 2015) at IMDb
  61. ^ Virtuoso (TV movie 2015) at IMDb
  62. ^ "Tim Roth and Samantha Morton to star in BBC One's Rillington Place". 20 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  63. ^ Munn, Patrick. "Channel 5 Sets Premiere Date For 'Penance'". TV Wise. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  64. ^ Munn, Patrick. "BBC One's 'Our Girl' Adds Will Attenborough, Nico Mirallegro, Kaine Zajaz & More". TV Wise. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  65. ^ "The Pass – Review". The Guardian. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  66. ^ "Talking in Tones: Video Premiere". The Guardian. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  67. ^ Tiny Ruins: Carriages at IMDb
  68. ^ "BBC4, My Dad Keith". Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  69. ^ "BBC4, Orpheus and Eurydice". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  70. ^ "BBC4, 79 Birthdays". Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  71. ^ "BBC Radio 4 Over Here, Over There". Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  72. ^ "BBC Radio 4 Blood, Sex and Money". Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  73. ^ Lol (TV series 2008– ) at IMDb
  74. ^ "Narrator, Nothing but Shadows". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  75. ^ "Narrator, Space Band". Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  76. ^ "Narrator, Vulnerable Voices". Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  77. ^ "British Soap Awards: Hollyoaks". IMDb. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  78. ^ "British Soap Awards (2009)". IMDb. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  79. ^ "Television Awards: Nominations Announced". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  80. ^ "BBC 2016 Audio Drama Awards Shortlist". Retrieved 11 March 2016.
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