Christopher Eccleston facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christopher Eccleston
Eccleston in November 2019
Born	(1964-02-16) 16 February 1964 (age 61) Salford, Lancashire, England
Education	University of Salford Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1989–present
Known for	Let Him Have It, Cracker, Gone In 60 Seconds, Ninth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who
Spouse(s)	Mischka Eccleston ​ ​ (m. 2011; div. 2015)​
Children	2
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Christopher Eccleston (born 16 February 1964) is a famous English actor. He has starred in many different types of shows and movies. These include big Hollywood films, TV dramas, and plays by William Shakespeare.

He is best known for playing the Ninth Doctor in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who in 2005. He also played Matt Jamison in the TV series The Leftovers from 2014 to 2017. Christopher Eccleston has often worked with directors like Danny Boyle and Michael Winterbottom.

Eccleston first became well-known for his role as Derek Bentley in the 1991 film Let Him Have It. He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for his TV performance in Our Friends in the North (1996). He received another nomination for The Second Coming (2003). In 2010, he won an International Emmy Award for his acting in Accused. On stage, he has played lead roles in Shakespeare's Hamlet and Macbeth. He has also appeared in plays like Miss Julie, A Doll's House, and Antigone. Since 2017, he has narrated the documentary series Ambulance.

Early Life and Acting Dreams

Christopher Eccleston was born on 16 February 1964 in Salford, England. His parents are Elsie and Ronnie Eccleston. He has two older twin brothers, Alan and Keith. His family lived in a small house before moving to Little Hulton when he was seven months old. He went to Joseph Eastham High School and became the head boy there.

When he was 19, TV shows like Boys from the Blackstuff made him want to become an actor. He studied acting at Salford Tech and then at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Early films like Kes and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning also inspired him. He soon began performing in classic plays by writers like William Shakespeare and Molière.

At 25, he made his first professional stage appearance in A Streetcar Named Desire. After college, he worked many different jobs. He worked at a supermarket, on building sites, and as an artist's model.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Roles and Breakthroughs (1991–1994)

Eccleston in May 2012

Christopher Eccleston first gained attention in 1991. He played Derek Bentley in the film Let Him Have It. He also appeared in the Inspector Morse episode "Second Time Around." In 1992, he played Sean Maddox in the BBC miniseries Friday on my Mind.

He became widely recognized in the UK for his role as DCI David Bilborough in the crime drama Cracker (1993–1994). His character was written out of the show in October 1994 when he decided to leave. Around the same time, Eccleston was in the Poirot episode "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe."

In 1994, he starred with Ewan McGregor in the film Shallow Grave. He also got the part of Nicky Hutchinson in Our Friends in the North. This show, which aired in 1996, made him a household name in the UK. In 1996, he also starred in the TV film Hillsborough. He played Trevor Hicks, who lost his daughters in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Becoming a Well-Known Actor (1995–2004)

During this time, Eccleston continued to build on his success. He appeared in many films and worked with famous directors. He worked with David Cronenberg in eXistenZ (1999) and Michael Winterbottom in Jude (1996) and 24 Hour Party People (2002). He also worked again with Danny Boyle on 28 Days Later (2002).

He played the Duke of Norfolk in Elizabeth (1998). He also appeared in Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) and The Others (2001). Eccleston took the main role in Revengers Tragedy (2002). He also starred in independent films like A Price Above Rubies (1998) and The Invisible Circus (2001).

He had many TV roles, mostly in British dramas. These included Hearts and Minds (1995), Clocking Off (2000), and Flesh and Blood (2002). He also starred in a modern version of Othello (2001). In the religious fantasy The Second Coming (2003), he played Steve Baxter, the son of God. He made guest appearances in Linda Green (2001) and The League of Gentlemen (2002). In 2002, Eccleston performed in Hamlet at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds. He returned to the venue in 2004 for a play called Electricity.

Eccleston was nominated twice for Best Actor at the British Academy Television Awards. He won the Best Actor award at the 1997 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for Our Friends in the North. In 2003, he won the Royal Television Society Best Actor award for his role in Flesh and Blood.

Playing the Doctor (2005)

On 2 April 2004, the BBC announced that Christopher Eccleston would play the Ninth Doctor in the new Doctor Who series. He was the first actor born after the original series began to play the Doctor. The show started on 26 March 2005.

A few days later, the BBC released a statement saying Eccleston would leave after one series. They said he wanted to avoid being typecast (only known for one type of role). However, the BBC later admitted this statement was released without his permission. They had agreed not to say publicly that he only planned to do one series. After he left, David Tennant took over as the Tenth Doctor.

For his performance, Eccleston won a National Television Award. He was also nominated for a Broadcasting Press Guild Award and a BAFTA Cymru Award.

In 2005, Eccleston said his feelings about working on Doctor Who were "mixed." He later explained that he "didn't enjoy the environment or the culture" of the show. However, he was still proud of playing the Doctor. He said his relationship with the show's main producers "broke down irreparably" during filming. He was voted "Most Popular Actor" at the 2005 National Television Awards.

In 2012, Eccleston spoke positively about his time on Doctor Who. This led to talk that he might return for the show's 50th anniversary special in 2013. However, after discussions, he decided not to return. In 2018, he said the BBC had "put [him] on a blacklist" after he left.

Eccleston began attending Doctor Who fan conventions in 2018. He had previously been unsure about attending. He has since said that meeting fans at conventions "healed something in [him]" and changed his view of the series.

In August 2020, it was announced that Eccleston would play the Ninth Doctor again in audio dramas for Big Finish Productions. These audio stories began releasing in May 2021. This was the first time he had played the role in 16 years. He has continued to appear in more audio dramas. He has said it is unlikely he will return to the TV show because his relationship with the BBC "has not healed."

Other Projects (2005–Present)

Eccleston at the premiere of Thor: The Dark World in 2013

In October 2005, Eccleston appeared on stage in the play Night Sky in London. In December 2005, he traveled to Indonesia for BBC Breakfast news. He reported on how people were rebuilding their lives after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

In 2006, he starred in Perfect Parents, an ITV drama. Eccleston joined the cast of the NBC TV series Heroes in 2007. He played Claude, a character who can turn invisible. Eccleston also appeared as the Rider in a film based on the novel The Dark Is Rising.

In 2009, Eccleston starred in a short film called The Happiness Salesman. He also played the villain Destro in the G.I. Joe film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. He did not return for the 2013 sequel.

Eccleston played John Lennon in the BBC production Lennon Naked, which aired in 2010. In November 2010, he starred in the first episode of the BBC One drama Accused. He won an International Emmy Award for this role. In May 2011, he starred as Joseph Bede in The Shadow Line, a seven-part TV drama.

On 31 December 2011, Eccleston played Pod Clock in a BBC One adaptation of The Borrowers. In July 2012, he starred in the political thriller Blackout. That same month, he played Creon in Antigone at the Royal National Theatre. His performance was praised as "charismatic" and "intense." In September 2012, Eccleston starred in the film Song for Marion.

Eccleston in 2021

In 2013, Eccleston played the villain Malekith in Thor: The Dark World. This film is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Later that year, he played John Aspinall in Lucan. From 2014 to 2017, Eccleston starred as Reverend Matt Jamison in the HBO drama series The Leftovers. He received much praise for his acting in all three seasons.

In 2015, Eccleston starred in Fortitude as a scientist. He also played Robert in Safe House, a series about a married couple who own a guest house. Later in 2015, Eccleston played Leonard "Nipper" Read in Legend, a film about the Kray twins.

In 2016, Eccleston began playing Maurice Scott in the BBC drama The A Word. Maurice is a unique and caring dad whose daughter has an autistic son. The show aired its third series in 2020.

Eccleston played the lead role in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Macbeth in 2018. This play was also shown on BBC Four. In 2018, Eccleston also starred in two films: Dead in a Week or Your Money Back and Where Hands Touch. That same year, he appeared in King Lear and the TV mini-series Come Home. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Actor for Come Home. In 2021, Eccleston starred in the six-part TV mini-series Close to Me.

His recent projects include playing Fagin in the series Dodger and appearing in a TV adaptation of the novel My Name is Leon.

Personal Life and Interests

Christopher Eccleston married Mischka in November 2011. They had a son named Albert in 2012 and a daughter named Esme in 2013. They divorced in December 2015.

Eccleston is a lifelong fan of Manchester United football club. He used to be a regular marathon runner until 2000.

In September 2007, a new 260-seat auditorium at Salford's Pendleton College was named the Eccleston Theatre in his honor.

Eccleston became an ambassador for the Mencap charity in 2005. He also supports the British Red Cross. He helps research for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. His father, Ronnie, had vascular dementia from 1998 until his death in 2012.

In his autobiography, Eccleston shared that he has struggled with his mental health. He has worked through challenges like depression. He was hospitalized in 2016 for severe clinical depression. He is an atheist.

Views on Society

Eccleston has spoken about his concerns regarding opportunities for actors from working-class backgrounds. He believes it is important for everyone to have a voice in culture.

He supports the Labour Party and endorsed Andy Burnham in the 2021 Greater Manchester mayoral election. Eccleston is also a British republican, meaning he supports ending the British monarchy.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage Performances

Performances with Unknown Dates

• Woyzeck – Birmingham Repertory Theatre
• The Wonder – Gate Theatre
• Encounters – National Theatre Studio

Short Films

Music Videos

Radio and Narration

Audio Dramas

Books

Awards and Nominations

BAFTA Awards

BAFTA TV Awards

BAFTA Cymru Awards

International Emmy Awards

Other Awards

See also

In Spanish: Christopher Eccleston para niños