Biography
Stuart's enthusiasm for acting began at North Chadderton School under the mentorship of Colin Snell. At just 13, he portrayed Billy Casper in the stage adaptation of 'Kes,' earning the Best Actor under 21 award at the prestigious Grange Arts Centre in Oldham. During this period, he was also a prominent and leading performer at Oldham Theatre Workshop, guided by David Johnson. By age 15, Stuart secured his first television roles as Craig the paperboy in Coronation Street and in BBC One’s children's drama Jossy's Giants.
Throughout his teenage years, he honed his skills in local repertory theatres including the Coliseum Theatre, Contact Theatre, and Library Theatre, participating in a diverse array of productions.
At 17, Stuart landed the role of Bobby Shaw in the BBC film 'My Kingdom for a Horse,' written by John Godber, acting alongside Sean Bean and Sheila Hancock.
In 1989, while filming 'Making Out' for the BBC, Stuart received a call from Granada offering him the role of Mark Casey in Coronation Street. He cherished his time on the show, portraying the character for three years until 1992. A career highlight was performing in the Royal Command Performance in 1990, celebrating the show's 30th anniversary.
Over a 28-year career, Stuart has steadily built his reputation with TV appearances on series such as 'Clocking Off,' 'Fat Friends,' and 'Blue Murder.' More recently, he featured in the critically acclaimed Jimmy McGovern drama 'Accused.'
His film journey began in 1992 when he auditioned for Jim Sheridan and earned a role in the impactful political film 'In the Name of the Father.' Stuart admires British directors like Jim Sheridan, Ken Loach, and Shane Meadows. His passion for film deepened in 2003 when he auditioned for Shane Meadows, landing the role of 'Herbie' in the cult, award-winning movie 'Dead Man's Shoes,' which remains one of his most recognized performances.
Recently, Stuart auditioned once more for Ken Loach, who kindly forwarded his audition tape to his son, Jim Loach. This led to Stuart being cast as Bill in the 2011 film 'Oranges and Sunshine.' Starring Emily Watson and Hugo Weaving, the true-story film has received significant critical acclaim and media attention.
