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Nigel Harman

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Nigel Harman
Born
Nigel Derek Harman

(1973-08-11) 11 August 1973 (age 51)[1]
London, England
NationalityBritish
EducationDulwich College
Arts Educational Schools, London
OccupationActor
Years active1984–1991, 2002–present
Notable workSee below
TelevisionEastEnders
Downton Abbey
Casualty
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
SpouseLucy Liemann
Children1

Nigel Derek Harman (born 11 August 1973) is an English actor. Beginning his career as a child actor, he has played various roles across theatre, stage and television, including as Sky Masterson in Michael Grandage's revival of Guys and Dolls and as Lord Farquaad in the original London production of Shrek the Musical, for which he received an Olivier Award.[2]

Harman rose to prominence for his portrayal as Dennis Rickman in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2003–2005). The role earned him a National Television Award, three British Soap Awards, and four Inside Soap Awards. [3] He has landed other acting roles in The Bill, Downton Abbey, Doctors, Mount Pleasant, and Casualty.

Early life

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Harman grew up in Woldingham, Surrey, and was educated at Dulwich College. However, he found school difficult: "I was never comfortable sitting down. I always wanted to get involved in something, not just learn and write. I was in so much trouble I had my own desk in detention."[4] His father was a bank manager, but also involved in amateur dramatics including work with Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association (CODA), an interest which was passed on to Harman. His mother was also involved in the productions, but she died when Harman was 18.

Career

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Early career

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By the age of eight, Harman had a manager, and in 1984, he made his first major television appearance in the BBC One drama series Tenko, which was followed by appearances in Alas Smith and Jones (1986) and The Honey Siege (1987). He then turned his hand to larger theatre roles, appearing in productions such as Privates on Parade, Much Ado About Nothing and Summer Holiday. He trained at Arts Educational Schools in London and was in the original cast of Mamma Mia!. Harman also performed in musicals on cruise ships for six and a half months, but later told Paul O'Grady that he hated the experience.[5] Having only worked on the stage and in musical theatre since leaving school, Harman was determined to expand into television, and pursued TV roles.[6] He had minor parts in episodes of Red Cap, Doctors and Coupling, but had to support himself by taking jobs at Pizza Hut and as a driver for supermarket chain Sainsbury's[7]

EastEnders

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In 2003, he was cast in the high-profile role of Dennis Rickman in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. At the time, Harman was working as a delivery driver for supermarket chain Sainsbury's when he learned he had got the role.[8] Harman left EastEnders on 5 November 2005, and his final episode was aired on 30 December 2005, in which Dennis was stabbed to death in the street by one of Johnny Allen's (Billy Murray) henchmen,[9] later revealed to be Danny Moon.

Theatre work

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After leaving EastEnders in December 2005, Harman appeared as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre,[10] in the West End, alongside Jenna Russell and Nigel Lindsay. He opened alongside Sarah Lancashire, who left the production with illness on 4 January 2006. He himself left the show in March 2006. In April that year, he played Kerry Max Cooke in The Exonerated at Riverside Studio Theatre in Hammersmith, London.[10]

In October 2006, Harman appeared in the Harold Pinter play The Caretaker at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield,[10] starring alongside David Bradley and Con O'Neill. The production toured from February to April 2007. The tour venues were the Theatre Royal, Brighton, Richmond Theatre and the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn.[10]

Harman resumed the role of Sky Masterson, joining the Guys and Dolls tour at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham in December 2006, and the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton in May 2007.[10] From May to July 2008, he appeared in The Common Pursuit at the Menier Chocolate Factory for a limited run. From January to May 2009, he appeared alongside actors Lyndsey Marshal and James McAvoy in the play Three Days of Rain at the Apollo Theatre in London.[10]

In November and December 2009, Harman appeared in Public Property by Sam Peter Jackson at the Trafalgar Studios. In May and June 2010, Harman acted in the stage production of True West at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.[10] From May 2011 to February 2012, he played Lord Farquaad in the West End production of Shrek the Musical, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.[11] For his performance, he won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical and Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.[10]

From September 2012 to January 2013, Harman he starred alongside Rob Brydon and Ashley Jensen in Alan Ayckbourn's A Chorus of Disapproval at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End.[12]

In August 2013, it was announced Harman would play the role of Simon Cowell in the West End musical I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical,[13] which opened in February 2014 at the London Palladium. Despite positive reviews, the musical closed in May.[14] The same year, Harman was revealed as the director for the UK tour of Shrek The Musical,[10] which opened in July in Leeds and finished in February 2016 in Salford. The tour resumed in Edinburgh in December 2017.[10]

In October 2016, he directed a double-bill of Lunch and The Bow of Ulysses by Steven Berkoff at the Trafalgar Studios.[10] From January to February 2017, Harman starred alongside Sarah Hadland, Jamie Glover, Olivia Poulet and Raymond Coulthard, in the French comedy What's in a Name? at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.[10] Harman directed the London premiere of the musical Big Fish, starring Kelsey Grammer, which played at The Other Palace in November and December 2017.[10]

From February to April 2019, Harman toured the UK opposite Mark Benton in David Mamet's play Glengarry Glen Ross.[10] Harman played the lead as Robert Langdon in the stage adaptation tour of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, which opened in January 2022 in Bromley.[15]

Film and television work

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Harman's success on television and stage has facilitated a move into other television and film roles. In 2006, he played the leading role in the one-off drama thriller The Outsiders,[10] co-starring actors Colin Salmon and Brian Cox. Later that year, he made a brief appearance in the Hollywood film Blood Diamond.[10]

In 2007 and 2008, he made guest appearances in the Channel 4 series Comedy Showcase and City of Vice,[10] as well as an episode of the BBC drama series Lark Rise to Candleford.[10] He also achieved his first major film role (as singer Jess Conrad) in Telstar.[10]

In 2009 he appeared in the series Plus One,[10] and took over from Max Beesley as the new male lead in the BBC drama Hotel Babylon playing new owner Sam Franklin.[10] He also appeared as a "Dealer" in the Channel 4 online educational game The Curfew.[16]

In 2011, Harman appeared in an episode of Agatha Christie's Marple.[10] In 2013, he appeared in the fourth series of Downton Abbey, playing the role of a visiting valet named Mr Green.[17] From 2013 until the series ended in 2017, he played Bradley Dawson in Mount Pleasant.[10]

The BBC announced in February 2023 that Harman had joined the cast of Casualty as Dr Max Cristie, the new clinical lead of the emergency department. Harman made his debut that same month.[18]

In August 2023, it was announced that Harman would appear as a contestant on the twenty-first series of Strictly Come Dancing.[19] He was partnered with Katya Jones. He had to step down from the competition due to an injury hours before the quarter final on 2 December 2023.[20]

Personal life

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Harman married actress Lucy Liemann in 2011. The couple have a daughter.[21]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Blood Diamond News Reporter #1
2008 R.I.P. TV Jake Short
Telstar Jess Conrad

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 Tenko Timmy 1 episode
1986 Alas Smith and Jones Uncredited 3 episodes
1987 The Honey Siege George Green 7 episodes
The Home-Made Xmas Video Peter
1991 The Bill Macfee Episode: "The Juggler and the Fortune Teller"
2002 Coupling Pizza Man Episode: "The Girl with One Heart"
2003 Red Cap Dan Coulthard Episode: "Crush"
Doctors Mike Summers Episode: "Black and Blue"
2003–2005 EastEnders Dennis Rickman Regular role; 321 episodes
2006 The Outsiders Nathan Hyde
2007 Comedy Showcase Rich Black Episode: "Plus One"
2008 City of Vice Thomas Deacon 1 episode
Lark Rise to Candleford Samuel Braby 1 episode
2009 The Friday Night Club Ted
Plus One Rich Black Main role
Hotel Babylon Sam Franklin Main role
2011 Agatha Christie's Marple Jason Rudd Episode: "The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side"
2013 Downton Abbey Green Main role
2013–2017 Mount Pleasant Bradley Main role
2018 Cuckoo Lloyd Episode: "Ken's New Friend"
2020 We Hunt Together Simon Goodbridge 1 episode
2022 Tell Me Everything Gareth Recurring role
2023–2024 Casualty Max Cristie Main role
2023 Strictly Come Dancing Himself Contestant; Series 21

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2003 9th National Television Awards Most Popular Newcomer EastEnders Won [22]
2004 British Soap Awards Best Newcomer EastEnders Won [23]
2004 British Soap Awards Sexiest Male EastEnders Won [23]
2004 Inside Soap Awards Best Actor EastEnders Won [24]
2004 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Male EastEnders Won [24]
2004 10th National Television Awards Most Popular Actor EastEnders Nominated [25]
2005 British Soap Awards Best Actor EastEnders Nominated [24]
2005 British Soap Awards Sexiest Male EastEnders Won [24]
2005 Inside Soap Awards Best Couple (shared with Letitia Dean) EastEnders Nominated [24]
2005 Inside Soap Awards Best Actor EastEnders Won [24]
2005 Insids Soap Awards Sexiest Male EastEnders Won [24]
2005 11th National Television Awards Most Popular Actor EastEnders Nominated [26]
2006 British Soap Awards Sexiest Male EastEnders Nominated [24]
2023 Inside Soap Awards Best Drama Star Casualty Won [27]

References

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  1. ^ Researcha [dead link]
  2. ^ "Nigel Harman's journey, from EastEnders bad boy and thespian to Strictly 2023". The Independent. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Nigel Harman's journey, from EastEnders bad boy and thespian to Strictly 2023". The Independent. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  4. ^ Dessau, Bruce (24 May 2008). "Life after death for Nigel Harman". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  5. ^ "Nigel Harman interview". The Frank Skinner Show. 2005. ITV.
  6. ^ "Nigel Harman interview". Parkinson. 2004. BBC. BBC One.
  7. ^ "Nigel Harman interview". Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. 2005. BBC. BBC One.
  8. ^ Gilby, Ryan (2 December 2003). "Nigel Harman: Cockney rebel". The Independent. London. Retrieved 20 December 2009.[dead link]
  9. ^ Morris, Grace (20 February 2023). "Nigel Harman reveals SHOCK reason Dennis Rickman was killed off in EastEnders". What to Watch. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Nigel Harman Theatre credits include". theatrclwyd.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  11. ^ Nigel Lindsay and Nigel Harman Join West End Company of Shrek the Musical Archived 7 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "London Theatre News, Reviews, Interviews and more | WhatsOnStage". Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  13. ^ "Nigel Harman cast as Simon Cowell in new X Factor musical by Harry Hill". Daily Mirror. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  14. ^ "'I Can't Sing': Harry Hill reveals name of his X Factor musical". express.co.uk. Daily Express. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  15. ^ "The Da Vinci Code stage adaptation tour reveals lead casting". whatsonstage.com. October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  16. ^ "The Curfew". Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  17. ^ "Cast comings and goings at 'Downton Abbey' announced for the British drama's 4th season – The Washington Post". The Washington Post. 2 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  18. ^ "Nigel Harman joins cast of Casualty as Dr Max Cristie". BBC Media Centre. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Nigel Harman is the thirteenth celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023". BBC Media Centre. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  20. ^ Hayden Vernon (2 December 2023). "Nigel Harman withdraws from Strictly Come Dancing". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  21. ^ "What happened to EastEnders FITLORD Nigel Harman aka Dennis Rickman?". Closer. 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  22. ^ "EastEnders dominates awards". BBC News. 28 October 2003. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  23. ^ a b "EastEnders wins battle of soaps". BBC News. 8 May 2004. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h "British Television Soap Awards". thecustard.tv. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  25. ^ "National Television Awards". thecustard.tv. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  26. ^ "National TV Awards nominations". The Guardian. 11 October 2005. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  27. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 July 2023). "Inside Soap Awards 2023 announces full list of nominees". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
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