Steve Speirs facts for kids

Steve Speirs (born Steven Roberts on February 22, 1965) is a Welsh actor and writer. He is known for his roles in popular films like Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. He has also appeared in many TV shows.

Early Life and Education

Steve Speirs was born Steven Roberts in a village called Troed-y-rhiw in Wales. When he was at Afon Taf High School, he discovered his love for acting. He joined the National Youth Theatre of Wales and later studied drama at Loughborough University. He chose his stage name, Speirs, from one of his college lecturers.

Acting and Writing Career

After finishing university, Steve Speirs began his acting career. He has played many different characters in films and on television.

Famous Film Roles

Steve Speirs has been in some big movies. He played Captain Tarpals in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, which was released in 1999. He also had a small part in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest in 2006. In the movie Eragon, he played a character named Sloan.

Television Appearances

Speirs has been a familiar face on TV. He worked with comedian Ricky Gervais in the show Extras, where he played a character called Dullard. He liked this role so much that he sometimes uses "Dullard" as his own nickname. He also appeared in Gervais and Stephen Merchant's film Cemetery Junction in 2010.

From 2011 to 2013, he starred in the CBBC show Sadie J as Sadie's dad, who was a mechanic. He also played Big Alan Williams in the British TV series Stella from 2012 to 2015.

In 2013 and 2014, Speirs played Mr. Gareth Barber, a geography teacher and caretaker, in the BBC One sitcom Big School. He also appeared in TV adaptations of books by David Walliams. He was PC McClintock in Gangsta Granny (2013) and played Dad in The Boy in the Dress (2014).

More recently, from 2016 to 2020, he played Richard Burbage in the BBC One comedy series Upstart Crow. Richard Burbage was a real actor and leader of William Shakespeare's acting company. Steve Speirs also created, wrote, and starred in the show The Tuckers for BBC Wales and BBC iPlayer, which ran from 2018 to 2022.

Writing and Other Work

In 2008, Steve Speirs wrote his first film, Caught in the Act. He also starred as the main character in the movie. The story was based on his own childhood memories of growing up in south Wales.

He also appeared in the music video for the Super Furry Animals song Ice Hockey Hair in 1998.

Personal Life

Steve Speirs used to live in Brighton, England, but now he lives in Rhiwbina, Cardiff, South Wales. He has two sons, Jack and Lewes, from his first marriage. He later married his second wife, Joanna, and they have a son and a daughter together. His brother, Jeffrey Lloyd Roberts, is an opera singer.

Film and TV Roles

Here are some of the films and TV shows Steve Speirs has been in:

Films

Television Shows