Jump to content

Steve McFadden

Checked
Page protected with pending changes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steve McFadden
McFadden in 2011
Born
Steve Robert Reid

(1959-03-20) 20 March 1959 (age 65)[1]
Maida Vale, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1988–present
Known forRole of Phil Mitchell in EastEnders
Children5

Steve Robert McFadden ( Reid; born 20 March 1959) is an English actor whose career has spanned three decades. He rose to prominence for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since 1990. Regarded as one of the show's most popular characters, he has received numerous accolades including the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement. McFadden was also the presenter of the game show Britain's Hardest (2004).

Early life

[edit]

McFadden was born in Maida Vale, London, on 20 March 1959.[2] He left school in 1975, and had short stints in jobs including labouring, carrot picking, plumbing and working at a builder's merchant.[3] After attending university, McFadden decided that he wanted to become an actor, and was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1984, graduating in 1987.[3]

Career

[edit]

In 1988, McFadden had an uncredited brief appearance in the film Buster as a gang member. He played a small role in the 1989 BBC television film The Firm, and this was followed by appearances in the television series The Bill, Minder and Bergerac.

McFadden then began portraying the role of Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He joined EastEnders at the beginning of 1990, at the same time as Ross Kemp, who played Phil's younger brother Grant Mitchell. During that time, his character was involved in numerous iconic storylines, such as Sharongate (in which it was revealed that he had an affair with his brother's wife Sharon) in 1994, and the Who Shot Phil? storyline in March 2001, when his character was shot and wounded by a mystery attacker.

McFadden then made an appearance in the film Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000),[4] and starred in an episode of the BBC anthology series Murder in Mind in 2001. He left EastEnders in late 2003 for a one-year break to concentrate on pantomimes. His character was written out of the series after being framed for an armed robbery by Den Watts (played by Leslie Grantham), and going on the run after breaking out of prison.

During his break from EastEnders, he presented the reality television series Britain's Hardest, which was an underground competition broadcast on Sky One. He returned to EastEnders for two episodes in April 2005. In the story, Phil returned to Walford in need of financial help, only to be arrested and returned to prison. In October 2005, he returned on a permanent basis, after his character was cleared of armed robbery. In 2007, he appeared in the film Provoked. He has also appeared as Captain Hook in a pantomime production of Peter Pan from 2010 to 2011 at The Swan.

Personal life

[edit]

McFadden has five children. His son Matt McFadden's mother is Sue Marshall, and Angela Bostock is the mother of his daughters Teona and Mollie Jane. Rachel Sidwell gave birth to his daughter Amelie Tinkerbell on 29 June 2009.[5][6] At the time, she was his partner, but the couple split two months later.[7] A fifth child, a daughter named Frankie, was born to his girlfriend Karen Cairns in June 2016.[8]

In 1996, McFadden was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £1000 plus £350 in costs after pleading guilty to drink-driving after attending a party at a London nightclub.[9]

McFadden is a sailor, and took part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in his motorboat, Barbara.[10][11] In 2014, he sued the Metropolitan Police and News of the World after a police officer sold details about him to the newspaper. He sued News of the World after one of their journalists admitted trying to intercept his voicemail messages in the News International phone hacking scandal. McFadden stated "I am particularly concerned that a police officer sold my privacy to a tabloid newspaper for profit. I consider the payment of damages and public apology will go some way to ensuring respect for my and others' privacy in future. I am glad to have been vindicated and to be able to put this matter behind me".[12]

Cold War Steve

[edit]

McFadden, in his role as Phil Mitchell, is a recurrent character in the satirical collages by Cold War Steve, the Twitter handle of artist Christopher Spencer. Spencer's Twitter feed was originally called McFadden's Cold War and then later renamed as Cold War Steve. McFadden has appeared in over a hundred of the artworks.[13]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role
1988 Buster Gang Member
1990 Happy Birthday, Coronation Street! Himself
1998 EastEnders: The Mitchells - Naked Truths Phil Mitchell
2000 Kevin & Perry Go Large Bouncer 2
2001 Brit Awards 2001 Phil Mitchell
Comic Relief: Say Pants to Poverty
2003 EastEnders: Slaters in Detention
Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do
2005 2005 TV Moments Himself
2006 Provoked DS Ron Meyers
2007 The Big Fat Quiz of the Year Himself
The 2nd TVNow Awards
EastEnders Feuds: The Beales vs. The Mitchells Phil Mitchell
2008 The British Soap Awards 2008: The Party Himself
2010 EastEnders Live: The Aftermath
EastEnders: Last Tango in Walford Phil Mitchell
2011 The National Television Awards: Party 2011 Himself
EastEnders: Greatest Exits
2012 Farewell Pat Phil Mitchell
EastEnders: Phil on Remand
2016 Bobby Beale: The Story So Far
EastEnders: Last Orders Himself
EastEnders - The Last Goodbye Phil Mitchell
2018 The Best of EastEnders
2021 Kurupting the Industry: The People Just Do Nothing Story Himself

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1989 Minder Mickey Episode: "It's a Sorry Lorry Morrie"
Screen Two Billy Episode: "The Firm"
The Bill Gun Dealer 2 Episode: "Bad Company"
Vote for Them Staff Sgt. Ballantine 3 episodes
Hard Cases Workman Episode: "Series 2, episode 5"
Saracen Nash Episode: "Crossfire"
1990 Bergerac Jones Episode: "Roots of Evil"
1990-2003, 2005-present EastEnders Phil Mitchell Regular role
1993 Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time 2 episodes
1994, 1997, 1999 This Is Your Life Himself 3 episodes
1996, 2005, 2007, 2010-2011 National Television Awards 5 episodes
1998 Best of British Episode: "Barbara Windsor"
TFI Friday Episode: "Series 4, episode 13"
1999, 2006-2009, 2017, 2022 The British Soap Awards 7 episodes
2001 Auntie's Bloomers Phil Mitchell Episode: "New Bursting Bloomers"
Murder in Mind Joe Waterman Episode: "Flame"
2002, 2007-2009, 2012 EastEnders Revealed Himself 6 episodes
2005 Comic Relief Does Fame Academy Episode: "Series 2, episode 6"
2006 Sex, Lies & Soaps Phil Mitchell Episode: "Bad Behaviour"
2006, 2016 Screenwipe 2 episodes
2006, 2009, 2018 This Morning Himself 3 episodes
2007 Would I Lie to You? Phil Mitchell Episode: "Series 1, episode 2"
2009-2010 EastEnders Revealed Episode: "The Sins of Archie Mitchell"
2009 Loose Women Himself Episode: "Series 14, episode 6"
2010 Rude Tube Phil Mitchell Episode: "Rude Tunes"
EastEnders: The Greatest Cliffhangers Himself Episode: "Series 1, episode 2"
Phil Mitchell
Piers Morgan's Life Stories Himself Episode: "Barbara Windsor"
Phil Mitchell
2016 Lorraine Himself Episode: "4 October 2016"
The One Show Phil Mitchell Episode: "Peggy Mitchell Special"
2018 South at Six Episode: "23 November 2018"
2020 EastEnders: Secrets from the Square 5 episodes
The Noughties Himself Episode: "2001"
2020-2021 What We Were Watching Phil Mitchell 2 episodes

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Result
2001 National Television Awards Most Popular Actor Nominated
British Soap Awards Villain of the Year Won
Inside Soap Awards Best Actor Nominated
Best Bad Boy Nominated
Most Dramatic Storyline (Who Shot Phil?) Won
2002 National Television Awards Most Popular Actor Nominated
British Soap Awards Best Actor Nominated
Villain of the Year Nominated
2003 Best Actor Nominated
Villain of the Year Nominated
Inside Soap Awards Best Actor Won
2006 British Soap Awards Nominated
Villain of the Year Nominated
Spectacular Scene of the Year (skip crashes onto Phil Mitchell's car) Nominated
Inside Soap Awards Best Actor Nominated
Best Family (Mitchell family) Won
2007 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actor Nominated
TV Now Awards Male Soap Star Won
2008 British Soap Awards Spectacular Scene of the Year (Phil Mitchell's car rolling into a lake) Nominated
Digital Spy Soap Awards Best Single Episode (Phil Mitchell and Stella Crawford's wedding) Won
2009 British Soap Awards Best Actor Nominated
2010 TV Now Awards Favourite Male Soap Star Nominated
Favourite Soap Family (Mitchell family) Nominated
2012 All About Soap Awards Best Mystery (Who's Stalking Phil Mitchell?) Nominated
2016 British Soap Awards Outstanding Achievement Award Won
Best Male Dramatic Performance Nominated
Inside Soap Awards Best Soap Actor Won
2017 British Soap Awards Best Male Dramatic Performance Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Steve McFadden". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Who is Phil Mitchell actor Steve McFadden? EastEnders actor's age and net worth revealed". Heart. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b "EastEnders star to switch on city's Christmas lights". Salisbury Journal. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Profiles: EastEnders Kemp and McFadden". BBC. 3 November 2005. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  5. ^ Martin, Lara (30 June 2009). "'Enders star McFadden welcomes baby girl". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  6. ^ "Steve McFadden 'happier than ever'". MyParkMag. 26 July 2009. Archived from the original on 18 June 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  7. ^ "Mum of 'EastEnders' actor Steve's new baby calls time on their relationship". Hello Magazine. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  8. ^ Corner, Natalie (5 June 2016). "EastEnders' Steve McFadden is 'dad for fifth time with fourth woman, as he welcomes baby daughter'". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Drink-driving soap actor's sentence condemned". 18 June 1996.
  10. ^ Durham, Richard (4 August 2011). "TV star's loathing for gin palaces". Yachting Monthly. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  11. ^ Martinovic, Paul (9 June 2012). "Steve McFadden reunites with Barbara Windsor during Jubilee flotilla". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  12. ^ O'Carroll, Lisa (16 September 2014). "EastEnders star Steve McFadden settles News of the World damages claim". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  13. ^ Male, Andrew (17 July 2018). "When Phil Mitchell met Trump: Coldwar Steve and his Brexit Britain mashups". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
[edit]