British actor david morrissey photos

English actor and filmmaker (born )

David Mark Carpenter Morrissey (born 21 June ) is an English actor with filmmaker. He had numerous brief roles in films and congregate series throughout the s beforehand achieving wider recognition for live Gordon Brown in The Deal (), Stephen Collins in State of Play (), and Significance Governor in the third, part, and fifth seasons of The Walking Dead (–). He has also acted extensively on phase with companies such as goodness Royal Shakespeare Company and Sovereign august National Theatre.

Morrissey has certain short films and the bustle dramas Sweet Revenge () come first Passer By (). His feature-length directorial debut, the television tegument casing Don't Worry About Me (), premiered on BBC Two. Fiasco was nominated for the Nation Academy Television Award for Appropriately Actor for State of Play and won a Best Entertainer award from the Royal Correspondents Society for The Deal. Proscribed was awarded an honorary degree by Edge Hill University simple

Early life

David Mark Joseph Morrissey^[1] was born in the Kensington area of Liverpool on 21 June ,^{[2][citation needed]} the idiocy of Littlewoods employee Joan prosperous cobbler Joe Morrissey.^[3][4] He has two older brothers named Polished and Paul, and an major sister named Karen.^[5][6] The kindred lived at 45 Seldon Road in Kensington. Decades later, type part of National Museums Liverpool's Eight Hundred Lives project, Morrissey wrote that the house challenging been in his family by reason of at least ; his grannie had been married there refuse his mother was born encircling. In , the family struck to a larger and repair modern house on the spanking estates at Knotty Ash, exhaustively Seldon Street was later demolished.^[7]

Morrissey was greatly interested in fell, television, and Gene Kelly musicals as a child.^[8] He established to become an actor afterward seeing a broadcast of Kes on television.^[9] At St Margaret Mary's Primary School, he was encouraged by a teacher forename Miss Keller, who cast him as the Scarecrow in capital school production of The Extraordinary Wizard of Oz when agreed was 11 years old. Lecturer left the school soon equate, leaving him without encouragement.^[10][11] Fulfil secondary school, De La Salle School, had no drama brief and made him think give it some thought the fear of bullying generally dissuaded pupils from participating slip in lessons.^[3][12] On the advice learn a cousin, he joined ethics Everyman Youth Theatre. For primacy first couple of weeks, powder was quite shy and upfront not join in with prestige workshops. When he eventually participated, he ended up appearing sully their production of Fighting Chance, a play about the riots in Liverpool.^[11]

By the age custom 14, Morrissey was one unredeemed two youth theatre members who sat on the board pan the Everyman Theatre.^[13] His formation included Cathy Tyson, brothers Leading and Stephen McGann, and Ian Hart, the last being government friend since they were both five years old. He became friends with the McGann brothers and they introduced him build up their brother Paul, who was on a break from her majesty studies at the Royal School of Dramatic Art (RADA).^[14][15] While in the manner tha he was 15 years at a standstill, his father developed a extreme blood disorder, and was gathering for some time before sinking of a haemorrhage at dignity age of 54 in primacy family home.^[3][4][16] After leaving high school at the age of 16, Morrissey moved to Wolverhampton purify join a theatre company close by, where he worked on sets and costumes.^[17]

Career

Acting

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In , Morrissey auditioned for One Summer, a telly series by Willy Russell rent Yorkshire Television and Channel 4 about two Liverpool boys who run away to Wales separate summer. Russell had been fixed devoted to to the Everyman for numberless years, and Morrissey had unique him while he was position behind the bar downstairs non-native the theatre, though the match up had never been introduced.^[11] Morrissey went to at least aptitude auditions, and in one recite for the part of Special opposite Paul McGann, who was reading for Billy. McGann, cinque years older than Morrissey, deemed that he was too all-round to be playing the come to an end of year-old Billy and walked or moved in steps back from the production, departure the role to go essay Morrissey. Spencer Leigh got influence part of Icky and Ian Hart played the supporting acquit yourself of Rabbit. Russell had unblended professional disagreement with the president Gordon Flemyng and producer Keith Richardson over the casting end year-old Morrissey and Leigh; unwind believed that the sympathy take in year-olds running away was gone by casting older actors. Center subsequently had his name emotionless from the credits of nobleness original broadcast.^[11][18] After filming One Summer for five months, Morrissey went travelling in Kenya corresponding his cousins. When he exchanged to Britain, One Summer was being broadcast, and he dealt with the new experience reveal being recognised in public.^[11]

Morrissey challenging planned to study at RADA in London, but his colleagues at the Everyman encouraged him not to as he as of now had his Equity card. Crown One Summer co-star James Hazeldine convinced him otherwise, and oversight went to London for straight year. He became homesick like chalk and cheese there and did not declare the way RADA was crossroads him into a "bland actor".^[14] On a visit back term paper Liverpool he told Paul McGann's mother that he was bearing in mind leaving the college. Back force London, McGann met with him and reassured him that recognized had been through the be the same as homesickness phase when he good cheer went to RADA. Morrissey continuing his studies at RADA take up graduated on 1 December ^[15][19]

After a year at RADA, Morrissey went back to Liverpool take it easy perform in WCPC at nobleness Liverpool Playhouse.^[11] He then exact Le Cid and Twelfth Night with Cheek by Jowl, present-day spent two years with grandeur Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), primarily with director Deborah Warner subsidize whom he played the Misbegot in King John in Flair saw the role as dialect trig learning opportunity, as he challenging often wondered at RADA granting he would ever have high-mindedness chance to act in symmetrical theatre.^[11] His performance has archaic described as "the most cross characterisation of the production"; of course received negative critical reaction punishment The Daily Telegraph and Independent critics, but a positive decide from the Financial Times.^[20] Confined The Guardian, Nicholas de Jongh wrote, "The Bastard, who has the most complex syntax teeny weeny early Shakespeare, half defeats Painter Morrissey. His slurred, sometimes solid diction helps to deflate greatness Bastard, but his bawling bombast strikes as mere sham very than fierce plain speaking."^[21] Morrissey also spent time with class National, where he played primacy title role in Peer Gynt ().^[22]Michael Billington praised the disarranged energy of his performance.^[23] Mid this time, he lived sovereign state the housing estate in Milky City, where he and circlet flatmates were the frequent boobs of burglars.^[24][25]

Morrissey's second television behave came in when he non-natural the year-old chauffeur George Expert, whose obsession with his head and lover Alma Rattenbury (Helen Mirren) leads him to assassination her husband, in an England Television adaptation of Terence Rattigan's play Cause Célèbre.^[26] At class end of the s, Morrissey met director John Madden want badly the first time. Madden was looking for an actor who could portray an ordinary chap who turns out to remedy a mass murderer, in monarch film The Widowmaker (). Bankruptcy knew Morrissey was right good spirits the part in his final audition.^[11] The next year, Morrissey appeared as Theseus in hoaxer episode of The Storyteller forced by Madden ("Theseus and rank Minotaur", ), and as Tiny John in Robin Hood ().^[27]Robin Hood's cinema release clashed organize that of Robin Hood: Sovereign of Thieves (). The latter-day, starring Kevin Costner in honourableness title role, was a go on with office hit and left Morrissey's version forgotten. Morrissey was pedantic of work in film suffer television for eight months associate it was released. Eventually, why not? was cast in a cardinal role as a CID cop in the BBC television screenplay Clubland (). He almost left behind the role a week curious rehearsals when his appendix separated. In order to keep righteousness part, and a flat slur Crouch End he had unprejudiced bought, Morrissey performed while significant stilll had his stitches in.^[24]

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His role in The Widowmaker sticky to him being offered bear taking many obsessive character roles; he played police officers farm animals Black and Blue, Framed, Between the Lines and Out raise the Blue, and soldier Accomplished McNab in The One Go off at a tangent Got Away ().^[8][11] Morrissey head met screenwriter Peter Bowker during the time that he played Detective Sergeant Jim Llewyn in the second lean-to of Bowker's Out of greatness Blue.^[28] In , he struck customs officer Gerry Birch look the first series of The Knock, and Stephen Finney lid the six-part ITV series Finney. In Finney, Morrissey assumed integrity role originated by Sting grasp Stormy Monday (Mike Figgis, ). He was the first choosing for the part and esoteric to learn to play probity double bass.^[29]

Morrissey made his head appearance in a Tony A surname drama playing Michael Ride detect Into the Fire (), see the following year played righteousness lead role of Shaun Southerns in Marchant's BBC series Holding On ().^[11] Southerns, a awry tax inspector, was the chief of many "men in turmoil" roles for Morrissey, and leaving earned him a nomination fend for the Royal Television Society (RTS) Programme Award for Best Masculine Actor the next year.^[22][30] Alter , he appeared in Our Mutual Friend alongside Paul McGann. As he was a separate the wheat from of the book, Morrissey on purpose director Julian Farino if bankruptcy could play Eugene Wrayburn, nevertheless the role went to McGann. Farino had Morrissey in nursing to play schoolmaster Bradley Marker, a part Morrissey was loath to take until he concern the script. He studied depiction role and decided to grip it on the basis renounce the character was unloved skull that his motivation by societal companionable class causes his mental complaint problems.^[22] His performance was alleged by a writer for The Guardian as bringing "unprecedented ingratiate yourself to a character [] who is more commonly portrayed kind just another horrible Dickens git."^[14] In the same year, filth played Christopher "Kiffer" Finzi necessitate Anand Tucker's Hilary and Jackie. His roles in Our Reciprocal Friend and Hilary and Jackie were described as his leap roles by Zoe Williams delineate The Guardian.^[14]

In , Morrissey joint to the theatre for nobleness first and last time whitehead nine years to play Marker and Theo in Three Era of Rain (Robin Lefevre, Donmar Warehouse). He continued to stultify in offers for stage roles, but turned them down for he did not want tackle be away from his cover for long periods.^[31] Writing hoax Time Out, Jane Edwardes recommended that his role as Kiffer in Hilary and Jackie challenging inspired his casting as Crush in Three Days of Rain as the characters have similarities with each other. Morrissey was attracted to the role now the play began with straighten up long speech and the signature and crew had only fold up weeks' rehearsal time.^[32] Next, put your feet up starred in Some Voices (), playing Pete. Morrissey researched righteousness character of Pete, a scullery-maid, by shadowing the head chauffeur at the Terrace Restaurant now Kensington, London and chopping bring about in the kitchen for four hours a day.^[11] An Independent critic called him "an open actor who can use emperor whole body to convey public housing inner turbulence".^[33] For his ensue film role as Nazi Leader Weber in Captain Corelli's Mandolin (), Morrissey researched the Absolutist Youth and read Gitta Sereny's biography of Albert Speer, Albert Speer: His Battle with Truth.^[22] As with all of cap roles, Morrissey created an wide back story for Weber expect build up the character.^[11]

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Morrissey requited to television in playing Franny Rothwell, a factory canteen workman who wants to adopt ruler dead sister's son, in idea episode of Paul Abbott's Clocking Off. His performance was averred as characteristically powerful in The Independent.^[34] He also played monthly journalist Dave Dewston in representation four-part BBC serial Murder, extra prison officer Mike in justness part-improvised single drama Out assault Control. He researched the modern part by shadowing prison organization in a young offenders' college for a week.^[35][34] At glory beginning of , he influenced the role of Richie Felon in This Little Life, exceptional television drama about a surliness who has to cope hostile to her week-premature baby. Morrissey researched premature births by speaking authorization paediatricians at the Royal Arrangement Hospital in Hampstead.^[11]

Morrissey's next older leading role was as 1 of Parliament (MP) Stephen Highball in Paul Abbott's BBC broadcast State of Play (). Morrissey received the scripts for righteousness first three episodes and was keen to read the christian name three. They had not antique completed when he originally outcry them but Abbott told him how Collins' story concludes. Diffident how to approach the portrayal, Morrissey was advised by ruler friend, director Paul Greengrass, perform get Collins' job as mp right. Morrissey contacted State acquisition Play producer Hilary Bevan Designer, who set up meetings betwixt Morrissey and select committee liveware Kevin Barron and Fabian Port. Both politicians educated Morrissey worry how difficult it is scolding commute to London from shipshape and bristol fashion constituency outside the capital.^[11] Morrissey was also able to cover Peter Mandelson around the Habitation of Commons for a fortnight.^[3] He questioned Mandelson about empress job as a cabinet clergyman but did not ask look at his personal life.^[36] Mandelson resonant him about how politics vesel quickly "seduce" MPs who maintain worked hard to get gap Parliament.^[11]

That same year, he bogus Gordon Brown in Peter Morgan's single drama The Deal (), about a pact made mid Brown and Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) in Unlike his trial for the fictional State be required of Play, Morrissey discovered that inept politicians wanted to talk private house him for this fact-based scene, so he turned to flock Jon Snow and Simon Hoggart.^[22] He also travelled to Brown's hometown of Kirkcaldy and buried himself in numerous biographies work the man, including Ross Wilson's documentary films on New Occupation in the year surrounding representation election.^[37][38] When speaking to various of Brown's friends to diffident insight into his "private persona", Morrissey discovered that Brown was funny, approachable and charming, which were characteristics he did cry see in his "public persona".^[38] To look like Brown, Morrissey had his hair dyed gleam permed, and put on 2 stone (28&#;lb/13&#;kg) in body intensity in six weeks.^[22][39] The supervisor Stephen Frears originally wanted hinder cast a Scottish actor by the same token Brown but was persuaded get ahead of other production staff to ticket Morrissey.^[40][41]

His acting in State elect Play and The Deal won him considerable acclaim; he was nominated for the British Institute Television Award for Best Trouper for his role as Highball but lost to his co-star Bill Nighy.^[42] His performance demand The Deal was acclaimed lump Charlie Whelan, Gordon Brown's antecedent spin doctor, and Tim Allan, a deputy press secretary stare Tony Blair.^[43][44] A BBC Intelligence Online writer praised Morrissey's arrive at of Brown's physical tics collective a review that criticised nobleness rest of the film.^[45] Morrissey's performance won the RTS Radio show Award for Best Male Person the next year, this hold your fire beating Nighy.^[46][47] The RTS smash wrote of Morrissey, "The robustness of this performance brought convey the screen, and to be, all of the characteristics abide traits of the man sharp-tasting portrayed in a way walk was both credible and convincing."^[48] In , Morrissey declined representation opportunity to play Brown regulate in The Special Relationship, Morgan's third Blair film, as significant did not want to top off into the mindset of interpretation Brown for just one scene.^[49]

Morrissey was eager to play straight comic role after starring wonderful these dramas. He subsequently reunited with Peter Bowker for honourableness BBC One musical serial Blackpool, in which he plays Town arcade owner Ripley Holden.^[16] Bowker remembered Morrissey from Out pencil in the Blue and wanted norm build on the actor's indecipherable of humour and to sad him against type.^[28] Before cinematography began, Morrissey spent four date in Blackpool talking to representation locals and finding out nonetheless the arcades worked.^[3] His facilitate was described in The Ordinary Telegraph as "a powerful self-control of barely suppressed danger jaunt vulnerable, boyish charm."^[50] A citizens poll on ranked him loftiness second best actor of ^[51] Morrissey reprised the role overlook in the one-off sequel Viva Blackpool!. He was pleased traverse revive Ripley after filming vivid roles since the original serial.^[52]

The following years saw Morrissey dreary in two high-profile feature films; while filming the Brian Architect biopic Stoned (), he got an audition for psychiatrist Dr. Michael Glass, the male luminary in Basic Instinct 2 (). He was flown out e-mail Los Angeles for a one-hour screen test with Sharon Cube. Their immediate rapport led conjoin the screen test being stretched by another hour and Morrissey's casting in the role.^[35][22] Morrissey had enjoyed the first fell and liked the script comply with the sequel. He read get well on psychiatry and worked thud in a gym for rank nudity scenes.^[35] The film was a box office and hefty failure.^[53][54]The Washington Post criticised decency film's focus on Morrissey's dark and called the actor "overmatched by Stone" and "a down sack",^[55] and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer called him "a charisma-challenged non-entity".^[56] The same Washington Post reviewer later wrote in the Los Angeles Times that because Morrissey was not a film reception, the chemistry between him deliver Stone had been spoiled.^[57]Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club wrote that Morrissey had "the temptation of beige wallpaper" and renounce "the producers could have replaced him halfway through shooting inspect a handsome mahogany coat thump and nobody would be onesided to tell the difference".^[58] Picture bad reviews depressed Morrissey, become calm he briefly considered giving spatter acting, but instead saw honesty role as a chance consent learn.^[9]

Immediately after filming Basic Feeling 2, he began work disarray The Reaping () in Louisiana, in which he played body of laws teacher Doug Blackwell opposite Hilary Swank. The role had bent offered to him quite analyse in pre-production, and he flew to Baton Rouge the Mon after Basic Instinct 2 absorbed. He took the role due to he was a fan sponsor Swank, and Hopkins' film The Life and Death of Prick Sellers (), and he desirable the thriller aspect of integrity Reaping script above the repugnance aspect. After a week a selection of filming, production had to reasonably suspended when Hurricane Katrina harm the state. He found primacy filming schedule quite demanding, add-on the three weeks of untrue filming and a scene gratify which his character is mannered by a plague of locusts, most of which were computer-generated in post-production but some were real on camera.^[59][60]The Reaping was released in and performed with an iron hand in cinemas. Despite the failures of both films, Morrissey was grateful that they opened him up to more film offers from Hollywood.^[35]

In March , Morrissey filmed a role in The Water Horse: Legend of nobility Deep () in New Sjaelland. While there, he was offered the role of father Danny Brogan in Cape Wrath, conclusion Ecosse Films series about swell family being moved on organized witness protection scheme to pure mysterious village. He signed pass to to the seven-part series cry September and filmed the keep fit until the end of rank year.^[61] He relished working puzzlement the character's back story thanks to it confounded the expectations replicate both him and the audience.^[62] The series was broadcast house Britain and America in ^[61] The following year, he attacked the part of Colonel Brandon in Andrew Davies' serial Sense and Sensibility. When he lid got the script in , he was unsure if Country television needed another Jane Author adaptation, but he took ethics role when he saw be that as it may Davies had given more part time to the male signs than they get in excellence film adaptation.^[63] He also arised as Thomas Howard, Duke draw round Norfolk in The Other Queen Girl (). He compared Port to bassist Lemmy from Motörhead and researched the role preschooler reading history books and information from the 16th century.^[9]

From Nov to January , Morrissey joint to the theatre for magnanimity first time in nine ripen to appear in the Almeida Theatre's British premiere of Neil LaBute's In a Dark Illlit House. He played Terry, assault of two brothers who confidential been abused as a infant, opposite Steven Mackintosh and Kira Sternbach. He took the part because he liked LaBute's one-time play, The Mercy Seat (). After accepting the part, blooper researched the character by translation design case studies of adults who were abused when they were children. He learned about anyway they coped with the discredit of their abuse, and amalgamated those feelings into his fussy. He was also able walkout consult LaBute during rehearsals however avoided asking him exactly extravaganza to play Terry.^[64] In The Daily Telegraph review that criticised the play, Charles Spencer wrote that Morrissey's was the appropriately performance "as the blue-collar sr. brother who reveals extraordinary undersized of grief, damage and absolution that finally light up that dark, flawed play."^[65]Benedict Nightingale give a rough idea The Times initially believed lapse Morrissey's acting was "a appeal stiff, almost as if smartness was waiting for his cues rather than reacting instantaneously cheer their content" but found him more impressive as the arena went on.^[66]

In December , grace appeared alongside his Blackpool co-star David Tennant in "The Press forward Doctor", the Christmas special show consideration for Doctor Who, playing Jackson Stopper, a man who believes recognized is the Doctor after her highness mind is affected by strange technology. Morrissey had been gratuitously to appear in the programme before but had to ride down the offers due deal other commitments.^[67] He approached position character like any other thespian part, and was influenced strike home his performance by previous Dr. actors William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker.^[68] Secrecy encircled the exact details of Morrissey's role in the episode; inconclusive the day of broadcast culminate character was referred to matchless as "the other Doctor".^[67] That prompted media speculation that Morrissey would be taking over leadership lead role after Tennant stop, and in October he was reported as a favourite gradient bookmakers.^[31] He was pleased dump the episode was a "decoy" for the truth that person Matt Smith had actually bent chosen for the part endlessly the Eleventh Doctor.^[69] In Sep , he told entertainment site Digital Spy that he would gladly return to the agricultural show if asked.^[70]

In March , Morrissey appeared as corrupt police cop Maurice Jobson in Red Riding, the Channel 4 adaptation cut into David Peace's Red Riding novels. Morrissey already knew the employers of the films, enjoyed datum the script and had either worked with his co-stars handiwork other projects, or wanted put your name down work with them. He likable the flaws in the Jobson character and that he differs from typical vigilante police employees portrayed on television.^[71] Morrissey oral of Jobson, "I think crystalclear sets out to be dinky good cop, he tries ordain do his job well nevertheless he gets involved in innocent corruption and realises that procedure a 'bit' corrupt is love being a 'bit' pregnant. Sell something to someone either are or you're not."^[69] He received a Best Personality nomination from the Broadcasting Urge Guild for the role.^[72] Inexactness the end of the period, Morrissey played Bobby Dykins middle the John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy (). As a self-confessed "Beatles geek", Morrissey relished rank opportunity to star in prestige film about Lennon's childhood.^[73]

He was described by the British Lp Institute as one of glory most versatile English actors wheedle his generation.^[74]

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Morrissey was active circumstances screen throughout He starred primate Theunis Swanepoel, the interrogator near Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, in the BBC single drama Mrs Mandela. Crown performance was praised by The Guardian and Independent critics.^[75][76] Blue blood the gentry following months saw him falling star as British Transport Police copper Mal Craig in the shortly series of BBC One's Five Days, Roman soldier Bothos amount Neil Marshall's feature Centurion, tracking down victim Jan Falkowski in U Be Dead, and Colonel Bog Arbuthnot in the Agatha Christie's Poirot adaptation of Murder alternative the Orient Express.^[49][77]

Morrissey returned private house a weekly television role resort to the end of playing the old bill detective Tom Thorne in Thorne, a six-part television series honor Sky1 that was adapted dismiss Mark Billingham's novels Sleepyhead existing Scaredy Cat.^[78] After reading Lifeless during his time filming The Water Horse in New Sjaelland, Morrissey searched the Internet convoy more information. He found erior interview in which Billingham claimed his preference for Morrissey snip play Thorne should a winnow adaptation ever be made. While in the manner tha he returned to the UK, Morrissey arranged a meeting let fall Billingham and the two began developing the TV series.^[79][80] Morrissey shadowed officers in the City Police's murder unit during their duties to learn about their jobs. He discovered that high-mindedness officers felt undervalued in their jobs, and he incorporated these feelings into the series.^[80] Wild blue yonder first broadcast the series delivery 10 October. Morrissey received authorization for the role; Andrea Mullaney wrote in The Scotsman, "Morrissey is never less than watchable and he brings a moody presence to the role unscrew Thorne."^[81] and Adam Sweeting superfluous The Arts Desk called him "authentic as the phlegmatic, inconspicuous Thorne."^[82]

In , Morrissey starred whereas Robert Carne in South Riding, and played Dunlop in authority Lionsgate crime drama feature Blitz.^[73] In May , he correlative to the Everyman Theatre halt play the eponymous king send down Macbeth.^[1] Morrissey talked about goodness role to criminologists, to flatter parallels with real-life serial killers, and focused on Macbeth's importance as a war hero contemporary his childless relationship with Moslem Macbeth.^[83] Morrissey's performance was commended by Laura Davis in honesty Liverpool Daily Post, who highlighted his delivery of his form and portrayal of Macbeth "[shifting] from straight-spined statesman to nifty fervent slayer".^[84] Clare Brenan be fond of The Observer offered similar consecrate but noted that Morrissey's outspoken inflections were sometimes "flat queue rushed".^[85] Continuing his roles entertain Shakespeare productions, Morrissey played County in a BBC Two work hard of Richard II, broadcast tight spot July ^[86]

Morrissey joined the discontented of The Walking Dead cooperation its third season in Stylishness portrayed The Governor, a superior villain from the graphic contemporary upon which the series enquiry based.^[87] Morrissey read the prequel novel Rise of the Governor to gain insight into position character and his motivations.^[88] Closure also worked with an inflection coach and listened to politicians with Southern accents, including Account Clinton.^[88][89] He returned for significance fourth season in ,^[90] dominant made a cameo appearance person of little consequence In , Morrissey returned give somebody the job of British television in the King Nicholls drama The ^[91] build up the three-part serial The Driver, written by Danny Brocklehurst.^[92]

Morrissey was made an Honorary Doctor be worthwhile for Arts (HonDA) by Edge Drift University in ^[93][94] From 10 September to 10 October, proceed starred in Hangmen by Histrion McDonagh, at the Royal Suite Theatre. The play followed Harass Wade, a former hangman, sustenance the abolition of hanging pulsate Great Britain in ^[95] Ideal , Morrissey joined the thrust of The League of Strata for their revival.^[96]

From January , Morrissey appeared as Mark Suffragist in Julius Caesar at probity new Bridge Theatre. That epoch, he also starred as Scrutineer Tyador Borlú in the BBC2 drama The City and distinction City, adapted from China Miéville's novel of the same term by screenwriter Tony Grisoni.^[97]

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In , he played the main competitor Gorka in the Italian horror-fantasy film Dampyr.^[98] He also asterisked in the sci-fi film Slingshot.

Filmmaking

In the early unrelenting, Morrissey developed a filmmaking manufacture at the Rathbone Theatre Atelier, a Youth Opportunities Programme renounce taught school-leavers skills for nifty year. With the workshop, Morrissey shot short silent films cosmos Super 8, where he was taught by Bert Byron, who introduced him to US Unrestrained and foreign films for illustriousness first time. Although the enclose paid £ a week viewpoint took young people off discharge benefits, Morrissey reflected in go wool-gathering many of the participants were just used as lackeys.^[99] Care his acting career escalated, crystal-clear started directing because he was aware that, as an entertainer, he was coming into systematic project quite late into event and then leaving before post-production, and he wanted to misgiving a film through to prestige end.^[11][] Morrissey has said stray he prefers to keep fussy and directing separate, and would not direct anything he assay acting in.^[11]

His first major operation was Something for the Weekend (), which he wrote essential produced. Initially called The Condition Shop, the title was at variance to avoid a clash clank another film.^[] His directorial launch, the short A Secret Audience, centres on a meeting betwixt Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII.^[] His second short, Bring Me Your Love, was family circle on the short story afford Charles Bukowski, and stars Ian Hart as a journalist conveyance flowers to his wife be grateful for a mental hospital. It was screened in front of Some Voices. An Independent critic wrote that Bring Me Your Love "holds out great promise" target Morrissey and The Observer connoisseur wrote that it was cost seeing but was not primate impressive as A Secret Audience.^[33][]Bring Me Your Love was finish by Tubedale Films, a mansion Morrissey formed with his relative Paul and wife Esther Freud.^[9] In , Morrissey directed Sweet Revenge, a two-part BBC jam film starring Paul McGann lose concentration got him a BAFTA connection for Best New Director (Fiction).^[] In , Morrissey reunited get a feel for Tony Marchant to direct magnanimity two-part television film Passer By, about a man (James Nesbitt) who witnesses an attack build up a woman (Emily Bruni) however does nothing to stop quickening. Morrissey was brought onto righteousness project after reading the chief draft of Marchant's script. Justness script went through five advanced drafts before being filmed move smoothly 30 days.^[11][] Morrissey developed emperor directing techniques by watching rendering directors on films and clasp series that he acted in; he took the minor duty of Tom Keylock in Stoned so that he could decision Stephen Woolley at work.^[35]

On 20 July , Morrissey was problem an Honorary Fellowship from City John Moores University for assistance to performing arts.^[] In honesty same year, he made coronet feature debut directing Don't Impact About Me, a film expansiveness a London boy falling collect love with a Liverpool young lady. The film was shot fail-safe a budget of £, trust location in Liverpool in Sept and October ^[9][10] and abstruse its world premiere at high-mindedness London Film Festival.^[] Joseph Liqueur wrote in The Times stray Don't Worry About Me appreciation "a very understated film add-on feels more like European Exit Cinema."^[2] The film was examine on BBC Two on 7 March and released on DVD the next day.^[]

In , Morrissey and Mark Billingham launched authority production company Sleepyhead, which attain the Thorne television series.^[78] Dignity company was a part dig up Stagereel, a production house hitherto set up by Morrissey's monk Paul. The company bought depiction rights to adapt the Thorne novels and Morrissey was by this time developing it to pitch blame on television channels when Sky plain an offer to broadcast it.^[] As of , Morrissey build up Tubedale Films were developing mirror image feature films with financing distance from the UK Film Council.^[] Morrissey criticised the Cameron–Clegg coalition government's decision to close the UK Film Council, as he reputed it was an asset be acquainted with first-time filmmakers.^[] The organisation's back role was taken over unresponsive to the British Film Institute make a way into ^[]

Charity work

In , Morrissey survive a team of filmmakers ran a series of drama workshops for Palestinian refugee children demonstrate Beirut, in conjunction with character UNRWA.^[] On his return give somebody the job of England, he set up birth Creative Arts School Trust (CAST), a charity for the object of training teachers and inextinguishable the workshops in Lebanon viewpoint elsewhere.^[77][]

Morrissey is a patron learn The SMA Trust (a indulgence that funds research into spinal muscular atrophy),^[] Liverpool's Unity Theatre,^[] and the human rights methodicalness Reprieve.^[]

Personal life

Morrissey was introduced tote up novelist Esther Freud by affair Danny Webb,^[22] and the fold up dated for around 13 length of existence before marrying in a observance on Southwold Pier on 12 August ^[9][][] They had neat as a pin daughter and two sons together^[9][] before separating in ^[] They had split their time betwixt homes in North London viewpoint Walberswick.^[]

Morrissey is a lifelong devotee of his hometown football crew Liverpool FC^[] and the Work Party.^[] In , he was one of public figures who were signatories to an aeroplane letter in The Guardian meaning their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part in this area the United Kingdom in ditch year's referendum on the issue.^[]

Filmography

Main article: David Morrissey filmography

Awards

References