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 an English actor. He has starred in many different types of shows. These include big Hollywood movies, TV dramas, and plays by William Shakespeare. He is perhaps best known for playing the ninth Doctor in the BBC series Doctor Who in 2005.

Eccleston also played Matt Jamison in The Leftovers (2014–2017). He has often worked with famous directors like Danny Boyle and Michael Winterbottom. He first became well-known for playing Derek Bentley in the film Let Him Have It (1991). His TV show Our Friends in the North (1996) earned him his first BAFTA Award nomination. He won an International Emmy Award for his acting in Accused (2010). On stage, he has played lead roles in Shakespeare's Hamlet and Macbeth. Since 2017, he has narrated the TV show Ambulance.

Christopher Eccleston's Early Life

Christopher Eccleston was born on 16 February 1964. He grew up in Langworthy, Salford, Lancashire, England. His parents were 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 a baby. He went to Joseph Eastham High School and was even the head boy there.

When he was 19, Christopher was inspired to become an actor. He liked TV shows like Boys from the Blackstuff. He studied acting at Salford Tech and then at the Central School of Speech and Drama. He was influenced by films like Kes. At 25, he made his first professional stage appearance in A Streetcar Named Desire. Before becoming a successful actor, he worked many different jobs. He worked in a supermarket, on building sites, and even as an artist's model.

Christopher Eccleston's Acting Career

Starting Out in Acting (1991–1994)

Eccleston in May 2012

Christopher Eccleston first got noticed in the film Let Him Have It as Derek Bentley. He also appeared in an episode of Inspector Morse in 1991. The next year, he played Sean Maddox in the BBC show Friday on my Mind. He became widely known in the UK for his role in the crime drama Cracker (1993–94). His character was killed off when he decided to leave the show in 1994. Around the same time, he was in an episode of Poirot.

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, broadcast 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. Christopher Eccleston was even Trevor Hicks's best man when he got married in 2009.

Becoming a Well-Known Actor (1995–2004)

During this time, Christopher Eccleston built on his early success. He appeared in many different films. He worked with famous directors like David Cronenberg on eXistenZ (1999) and Michael Winterbottom on Jude (1996). He also worked with Danny Boyle again on 28 Days Later (2002). He played the Duke of Norfolk in Elizabeth (1998). He was also in Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) and The Others (2001).

He also had many TV roles, mostly in British dramas. These included Hearts and Minds (1995) and Clocking Off (2000). He played a modern version of Iago in Othello (2001). He was also in the religious fantasy show The Second Coming (2003), where he played Steve Baxter, the son of God. He was nominated for Best Actor at the British Academy Television Awards twice during this period. 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 Flesh and Blood.

Playing the Doctor (2005, 2006)

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 show started to play the role. The show began on 26 March 2005. A few days later, the BBC said he would leave after only one series. They said it was to avoid him becoming typecast (only known for one role).

However, the BBC later admitted that this statement was released without Christopher Eccleston's permission. He had agreed with them not to tell the public he only planned to do one series. After he left, David Tennant took over as the Tenth Doctor. For his performance, Christopher Eccleston won a National Television Award.

In 2005, he said his feelings about working on Doctor Who were "mixed". He later explained that he "didn't enjoy the environment or the culture that the cast and crew had to work in". But he also said he was proud of playing the Doctor. He mentioned that his relationship with the show's main bosses "broke down irreparably".

In 2012, Christopher Eccleston spoke positively about his time on Doctor Who. This made people wonder if he would return for the show's 50th anniversary special in 2013. However, after talking with the show's producer, he decided not to return. He later said that the BBC had "put [him] on a blacklist" after he left.

Since 2018, Christopher Eccleston has started attending Doctor Who conventions. He used to be against them, saying he preferred to earn his living by acting. But he has since said that meeting fans at conventions "healed something in [him]".

In 2020, it was announced that he would play the Ninth Doctor again in audio dramas for Big Finish Productions. This was the first time he played the role in 16 years. He has continued to do more audio dramas. He has said it's unlikely he will return to the TV show because his relationship with the BBC "has not healed".

Other Acting Work (2005–Present)

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

In late 2006, Christopher Eccleston starred in Perfect Parents, an ITV drama. In 2007, he joined the cast of the NBC TV series Heroes. He played a character named Claude who can turn invisible. He also appeared as the Rider in the film The Seeker.

In 2009, he starred in a short film called The Happiness Salesman. He also played the villain Destro in the G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra film. He later said working on that film was "horrendous". He did not return for the sequel.

In 2010, Christopher Eccleston played John Lennon in a BBC show called Lennon Naked. In November 2010, he starred in the BBC One show Accused. He won an International Emmy Award for his role. In 2011, he starred in The Shadow Line, a seven-part TV drama.

Eccleston in 2021

On 31 December 2011, he played Pod Clock in a TV version of the children's book The Borrowers. In July 2012, he starred in the political thriller Blackout. That same month, he played Creon in a play called Antigone at the Royal National Theatre. His acting in the play was called "charismatic" and "intense". In September 2012, he starred in the film Song for Marion.

In 2013, Christopher Eccleston played the villain Malekith in Thor: The Dark World, a Marvel movie. He later compared working on that film to having a "gun in your mouth". From 2014 to 2017, he starred as Reverend Matt Jamison in the HBO drama series The Leftovers. He received a lot of praise for his acting in this show.

In 2015, he starred in the TV series Fortitude and Safe House. Later in 2015, he played Leonard "Nipper" Read in Legend, a film about the Kray twins.

In 2016, Christopher Eccleston began appearing as Maurice Scott in the BBC drama The A Word. Maurice is a loving but quirky dad whose grandson has autism. A third series of the show aired in 2020.

In 2018, he played the lead role in the Royal Shakespeare Company's play Macbeth. This play was also shown on BBC Four. In 2018, he 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, he starred in the TV mini-series Close to Me.

His recent projects include playing Fagin in the series Dodger. He also starred in a TV show based on the book My Name is Leon.

Christopher Eccleston's Personal Life

Christopher Eccleston married Mischka, a writer, in November 2011. Their son, Albert, was born in February 2012. Their daughter, Esme, was born in 2013. They divorced in December 2015.

He is a lifelong fan of Manchester United football club. He used to run marathons until 2000.

In 2007, a new theatre at Salford's Pendleton College was named the Eccleston Theatre in his honor.

Christopher Eccleston is an ambassador for the Mencap charity. He also supports the British Red Cross. He helps raise money for research into Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. His father, Ronnie, had vascular dementia before he passed away in 2012.

Christopher Eccleston is an atheist.

His Views on Politics

Christopher Eccleston has spoken out against the Conservative Party. He is worried about opportunities for actors from working-class backgrounds like his own. He believes that the government tries to "destroy working class identity" by limiting their cultural voice.

He supported Labour Party politician Andy Burnham in the 2021 Greater Manchester mayoral election.

Christopher Eccleston is a British republican. This means he supports getting rid of the British monarchy.

Selected Film and Television Roles

Stage Performances

Books Written by Christopher Eccleston

Awards and Nominations

Christopher Eccleston has received several awards and nominations for his acting:

• In 1997, he was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor for Our Friends in the North. He was nominated again in 2004 for The Second Coming.
• He won an International Emmy Award for Best Actor in 2011 for his role in Accused. He was nominated again in 2019 for Come Home.
• For his role as the Doctor in Doctor Who, he won a National Television Award for Most Popular Actor in 2005.
• He also won a Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actor in 1997 for Our Friends in the North.
• In 2003, he won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor for Flesh and Blood.

See also

In Spanish: Christopher Eccleston para niños