Ross Kemp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ross Kemp
Kemp at the 2009 BAFTA Awards
Born	Ross James Kemp (1964-07-21) 21 July 1964 (age 60) Barking, Essex, England
Occupation	Actor author reporter presenter
Years active	1985–present
Spouse(s)	Rebekah Wade ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2009)​ Renee O'Brien ​ (m. 2012)​
Children	4

Ross James Kemp, born on July 21, 1964, is a famous English actor, writer, and TV host. He became very well known for playing Grant Mitchell in the BBC show EastEnders. He also acted in Emmerdale as Graham Lodsworth and in Birds of a Feather as Detective Inspector Monk. Ross also hosted the award-winning TV series Ross Kemp on Gangs.

Early Life and Education

Ross Kemp was born in Barking, Essex, England. His mother, Jean, was a hairdresser. His father, John, was a police superintendent. Ross has a brother named Darren, who makes films for the BBC. Ross went to Shenfield High School. He later studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out in Acting

After finishing drama school, Ross Kemp got his first acting job. He appeared alongside famous actors like John Thaw and Richard Wilson. He also acted in training films for the UK's Ministry of Defence.

Ross then appeared in the TV show Emmerdale as Graham Lodsworth. He had guest roles in London's Burning and Birds of a Feather. In 1987, he had a small part in the movie Playing Away. He also appeared in a Kellogg's cereal advert.

Playing Grant Mitchell in EastEnders

Ross Kemp is most famous for his role as Grant Mitchell in EastEnders. He first appeared in February 1990. His character quickly became a big part of the show. Grant was known for his tough personality and his marriages.

Ross left EastEnders in October 1999 after almost 10 years. His character moved to Brazil. He returned to the show in 2005 for a short time. His co-star, Barbara Windsor, helped convince him to come back. He also returned in 2006 for a few months.

In 2016, Ross came back to EastEnders for a few episodes. This was for the storyline about Grant's mother, Peggy Mitchell, played by Barbara Windsor. He also had more short appearances later that year. It has been confirmed that Ross will return as Grant again in 2025. This will be for the show's 40th anniversary.

Other Acting Roles

After leaving EastEnders the first time, Ross Kemp moved to ITV. He starred in the film Hero of the Hour. In 2000, he was in A Christmas Carol. He also played lead roles in the TV series Without Motive and In Defence.

From 2002 to 2006, he played Staff Sergeant Henry Garvie in Ultimate Force. This show was about the British Special Air Service. In 2004, he played "Cinna" in the TV film Spartacus.

Ross also appeared in an episode of the BBC comedy Extras in 2005. He was a guest host on The Paul O'Grady Show. In 2009, he appeared on Top Gear. He was the "Man in Boot" during a car test.

In 2022, Ross Kemp started hosting the game show Bridge of Lies on BBC One. He also hosts special celebrity versions of the show. Ross has said that TV roles are changing. Actors now do many different types of shows.

Documentary Presenter

In 2004, Ross Kemp began making documentaries. His first was Ross Kemp on Gangs. This series won a BAFTA Award. He then made Ross Kemp in Afghanistan, Ross Kemp in Search of Pirates, and Ross Kemp: Battle for the Amazon. He also presented Ross Kemp: Extreme World.

In 2022, Ross had planned to film a documentary about the Titanic shipwreck. He wanted to dive to the wreck in a special submarine. However, the company making the documentary decided the submarine was not safe. So, the project was stopped. In September 2024, Ross launched a new documentary series called "Mafia and Britain".

Author and Writer

Ross Kemp has written several books. Many of his early books were connected to his TV documentaries. In 2011, he published his first fiction book, Devil to Pay. His novel Moving Target came out in 2012. In September 2023, he released Take Nothing For Granted: Tales from an Unexpected Life. This book looks back at his career.

Political Views (Simplified)

In 1999, Ross Kemp was chosen as the Rector of the University of Glasgow. He later resigned from this role. In 2014, Ross was one of many public figures who wrote a letter. They were against Scottish independence before a big vote.

In 2017, Ross supported the Labour Party in the UK general election. He helped campaign for their candidates. In 2022, he supported a "National Thank You Day" for the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II. In 2023, he publicly supported Keir Mather of the Labour Party. Mather won the election. In the 2024 general election, Ross supported Mark Francois of the Conservative Party.

Personal Life

Ross Kemp married Rebekah Wade in 2002. She was the editor of The Sun newspaper. They divorced in 2009. In 2010, Ross had a son with his partner, Nicola Coleman. Ross married Renee O'Brien from Australia in 2012. They have three children together.

Filmography

Stage Credits

Awards and Recognition