Sean Biggerstaff

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sean Biggerstaff
Born Sean Biggerstaff
March 15, 1983 (1983-03-15) (age 25)
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Occupation Actor
Years active 1993 – present

Sean Biggerstaff (born 15 March 1983) is an award-winning Scottish actor best known for playing Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch team captain and keeper, who coaches Harry, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Biggerstaff was born in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. As a child, he lived with his parents in a small area of Glasgow called Maryhill. Sean went to school in Milngavie just outside of Glasgow and joined the local drama group, the Maryhill Youth Theatre, when he was just seven years old. By the age of 10, Sean was committed to acting. Encouraged, Sean auditioned for the roles of Macbeth, Tiny Tim, a Gay Producer and joined the renowned Royal Company at age 11, where he spent six years with the Scottish Youth Theatre.[1]

In 1996, at age 13, Sean landed his first major role, playing “Darren” in The Crow Road. However, it was in 1997, at the age of 14, when he got his break. Alan Rickman had watched Biggerstaff perform in Macbeth. Rickman was so impressed; he cast Biggerstaff in his new movie, The Winter Guest (starring Emma Thompson) as “Tom”, a mischievous schoolboy. Soon afterward, Rickman recommended Sean to the London acting agency International Creative Management and Mr. Paul Lyon-Maris. Within a week, the Harry Potter castings were being distributed. During auditions, the directors suggested that he look at the part of Oliver Wood, Sean looked at the script and agreed.[2]

Since then, Biggerstaff has had other roles, including: Henry, Duke of Glocester in the 2004 TV mini-series Charles II: The Power & the Passion;[3] “Matt” in the world premiere of The Girl With Red Hair (a play by Sharman MacDonald who also wrote The Winter Guest); and “Ben Willis” in the short film Cashback. Based on the success of Cashback, Biggerstaff recorded extra scenes, and the piece was adapted into a feature released in 2006. In 2007, Sean played Jeremy Wolfenden in the BBC4 TV movie Consenting Adults which was nominated for BAFTA Scotland’s Best Drama Award on November 18, 2007, and Sean won the BAFTA Scotland’s Award for Best Actor – Television for this role.[4] He is currently shooting Hippie Hippie Shake, in London.[5] Sean also starred in a movie as Rovo, about drugs, drink and smoking, made for schools in Scotland.

[edit] Early life and education

Born in Glasgow to a fireman and a community education worker, Biggerstaff grew up in Maryhill. He joined Maryhill Youth Theatre at age seven, and was a member for five years. Biggerstaff later acted with the Scottish Youth Theatre for six years. When he was ten, Biggerstaff got his first professional role in Macbeth (as the son of MacDuff), directed by Michael Boyd at the Tron Theatre. Alan Rickman, impressed by Biggerstaff's acting skills, chose him for his film The Winter Guest when Biggerstaff was 14.[6] He regularly performs at nice n' sleazies open mike night.

[edit] Early career

Biggerstaff also took Rickman's advice on getting an agent in London. Rickman recommended Biggerstaff to Paul Lyon-Maris, Rickman's own agent, at London acting agency International Creative Management. A week after that were auditions for Harry Potter, where Biggerstaff successfully auditioned for the role of Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch team captain and keeper. Biggerstaff worked on the first two movies, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (title in USA)[7] and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,[8] but his character wasn't written into Prisoner of Azkaban or subsequent films, although there was a petition out for him to return for his final year.[9]

[edit] Critical success

Sean Biggerstaff was nominated and won Best Actor – Television in the British Academy of Film & Television Arts in Scotland (BAFTA Scotland) Awards on Nov. 18, 2007, for his role as Jeremy Wolfenden in the BBC4 TV movie Consenting Adults, a program which was also nominated for Best Drama.[10]He now lives in Scotland with his Girlfriend Elishia Kenny.

[edit] Film

Year Title Role
1997 The Winter Guest Tom
2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Oliver Wood
2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Oliver Wood
2004 Cashback (Short) Ben Willis
2006 CHEM087 Sluts Of Trust 'Piece O' You' (Music Video)
2006 Cashback (Feature) Ben Willis
2008 Hippie Hippie Shake

[11]

[edit] Theatre

Year Title Role Theatre
1990 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Augustus Gloop Maryhill Youth Theatre
Macbeth Scottish Youth Theatre
Sleeping Beauty Scottish Youth Theatre
Peter Pan Man Scottish Youth Theatre
Much Ado About Nothing Scottish Youth Theatre
Hamlet Scottish Youth Theatre
Two Weeks with the Queen Scottish Youth Theatre
Beauty and The Beast Scottish Youth Theatre
1997 Macbeth son of MacDuff Tron Theatre, Glasgow
2005 The Girl With Red Hair Matt Edinburgh and London

[12]

[edit] Radio and television

Year Title Role Episode
1996 The Crow Road Young Darren TV mini series
1998 Bright Sparks BBC children’s program
2003 Shada Chris Parson BBC animated “Doctor Who” webcast
2004 Charles II: The Power & the Passion Henry, Duke of Glocester TV mini series
2007 Consenting Adults Jeremy Wolfenden BBC4 drama
2008 The Skull of Sobek BBC “Doctor Who” audio drama

[13][14]

[edit] Awards

Year Group Award Result Film
2007 BAFTA Scotland Best Actor - Television Won Consenting Adults

[15][16]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Andy Dougan: “Glasgow Boys Clash Swords in the Biggest Box Office Duel for Years; Billy Swotted to be Laird of the Rings,” Glasgow Evening Times, Oct. 26, 2001.
  2. ^ Scotland Sunday Times: “Culture: From Hogwarts to Bigger Stuff,” Scotland Sunday Times, Jun. 18, 2004
  3. ^ Charlotte Cripps: “Preview: Glasgow Film Festival, Various Venues, Glasgow - Local Hero Joins Global Movie Stars,” The Independent Online, Feb. 12, 2007
  4. ^ [1] BAFTA Scotland Awards 2007
  5. ^ Larry Richman: "Sean Biggerstaff in Obscenity Drama Hippie Hippie Shake", Pro-Networks.org, Sep. 20, 2007
  6. ^ Deborah Young: “The Winter Guest,” Variety.com, Sep. 14, 1997
  7. ^ Andy Dougan: “Glasgow Boys Clash Swords in the Biggest Box Office Duel for Years; Billy Swotted to be Laird of the Rings,” Glasgow Evening Times, Oct. 26, 2001
  8. ^ Andy Dougan: “Sean Biggie-star,” Glasgow Evening Times, Oct. 31, 2001
  9. ^ BBC Newsround: “Web Campaign Starts to Save Oliver Wood,” BBC Newsround, Mar. 10, 2003
  10. ^ [2] BAFTA Scotland Awards 2007
  11. ^ [3]ImDb
  12. ^ [4] Sean Biggerstaff Official site
  13. ^ [5]ImDb
  14. ^ [6] Sean Biggerstaff Official site
  15. ^ [7]ImDb
  16. ^ [8] Sean Biggerstaff Official site

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Biggerstaff, Sean
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Scottish actor
DATE OF BIRTH 15 March 1983
PLACE OF BIRTH Glasgow, Scotland, UK
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH