Christian Cooke
{{for multi|the sound engineer|Christian Cooke (sound engineer)|the lacrosse player|Christian Cook}}
{{short description|English actor (born 1987)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Christian Cooke
| image = Christian Cooke 2008.jpg
| caption = Cooke at the 2008 London Film and Comic Con
| birth_name = Christian Louis Cooke
| birth_date = {{birth date and age |1987|9|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
| relatives = Mel B (cousin)
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|director|producer}}
| years_active = 1999–present
}}
Christian Louis Cooke (born 15 September 1987) is an English actor. He is known for playing Luke Kirkwall in Where the Heart Is, Luke Rutherford in Demons, Dorian Gaudain in Trinity, Freddie Taylor in Cemetery Junction and Len Matthews in the Channel 4 mini series The Promise. Cooke's most recent roles include ex-soldier Graham Connor in Crackle's original drama The Art of More and Mickey Argyll in BBC's three-part adaptation of Agatha Christie novel Ordeal by Innocence.
His other television roles have included Echo Beach (2008), Magic City (2012–13) and Witches of East End (2014). His other film roles have included Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet (2013), Electricity (2014), Love, Rosie (2014) and Drunk Wedding (2015).
Early life and education
Cooke was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire.{{cite web|url=http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=8375846195|title=Christian Cooke Profile|access-date=18 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023070736/http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=8375846195|archive-date=23 October 2012|url-status=dead}} He attended St Mary's Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy.{{cite web|author=Barnett, David|title=Christian is fired up for star TV role|publisher=Telegraph & Argus|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/3992028.Christian_is_fired_up_for_star_TV_role|date=19 December 2008|access-date=22 December 2008}} He has an older brother, Alexander, a younger sister, Gabrielle,{{cite web|author=Hardaker, Andrea|title=Christian Cooke stars in prime time ITV show|publisher=Ilkley Gazette|url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/news_local/4009782.Demons_role_can_shoot_young_Menston_actor_to_fame/|date=2 January 2009|access-date=29 April 2009}} and is a first cousin to Mel B from the Spice Girls through his mother, Di, who is sister to Mel's mother, Andrea Brown.{{cite web|title=Scary's Cousin Alex fits The Bill|publisher=Ilkley Gazette|url=http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/8080065.Scary_s_cousin_Alex_fits_The_Bill|date=2 February 1998|access-date=11 August 2017}}
Cooke began his acting career at the age of 10 when he appeared in a production of Bedazzled at the Bingley Arts Centre.{{Cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/christian-cooke/person/206403/summary.html |title=Christian Cooke – TV.com |access-date=22 December 2008 |archive-date=25 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225072006/http://www.tv.com/christian-cooke/person/206403/summary.html |url-status=dead }} His first television appearance was in a commercial for Birds Eye beef burgers,{{cite web |url =http://www.spotlight.com/7973-0165-6512| title= Christian Cooke Spotlight}} shortly followed by his first lead role as Wilmot Tanner in Granada Television series Wilmot. His career progressed from there.
Career
Cooke played the role of Luke Kirkwall from 2000 to 2006 in the ITV drama Where the Heart Is and guest starred in Doctors, Barking!, The Royal, Casualty & Inspector George Gently. In 2007, he starred in one episode of BBC's Robin Hood as Will Scarlett's younger brother Luke and made his film debut in the short film Wish.[https://vimeo.com/13689362 "Wish"] Vimeo
Cooke also appeared in BBC One's The Chase and played Brae Marrack in the ITV1 soap opera Echo Beach. He guest-starred in the Doctor Who episodes "The Sontaran Stratagem"{{cite episode |title=The Sontaran Strategem |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/?episode=s4_05&action=credits |series=Doctor Who |airdate=2008-04-26 }} and "The Poison Sky",{{cite episode |title=The Poison Sky |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/?episode=s4_06&action=credits |series=Doctor Who |airdate=2008-05-03 }} playing UNIT soldier Ross Jenkins, in 2008.
During 2009, he played the lead roles of Luke Rutherford in ITV1's supernatural drama Demons & Lord Dorian Gaudain in ITV2's eight-part drama Trinity, where he had several rear nude scenes in its first episode,{{cite web |author=Wilkes, Neil |title=2009 TV Preview: ITV2's Trinity |work=Digital Spy |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a138133/2009-tv-preview-itv2s-trinity.html |date=11 December 2008 |access-date=22 December 2008 }} and appeared in Syfy's television film Dark Relic the following year.[http://www.syfy.co.uk/movies/dark-relic "Syfy Movies – Dark Relic"] Syfy He went on to play the lead role of Freddie Taylor in Cemetery Junction{{cite web |title=Ricky Gervais talks Cemetery Junction |work=Indie London |url=http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Film-Review/ricky-gervais-talks-cemetery-junction |access-date=29 April 2008 }} and starred in the critically acclaimed Channel 4 four-part drama The Promise, directed by Peter Kosminsky in 2011.
That same year, Cooke made his directorial debut in Chandide, an independent short film based in London written & produced by Trinity co-star Arnab Chanda, who also starred in the lead role,[https://vimeo.com/87100584 "Chandide"] Vimeo before completing Paramount Pictures' romantic comedy Drunk Wedding.[http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=18435 Paramount Pictures films movie in Nicaragua] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324233201/http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=18435 |date=24 March 2012 }} Business of Cinema. 3 June 2011 The following year, he featured in 1950s Miami-set drama series, Magic City,[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/starz-series-magic-city-full-196563 Starz series Magic City full cast announced] The Hollywood Reporter. 9 June 2011 which came to a close after two seasons in August 2013.[http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/magic-city-cancelled-by-starz-no-season-three-29365/ Magic City cancelled by Starz] tvseriesfinale. 5 August 2013
Cooke's film career has since grown in the form of two collaborations with director Bryn Higgins, titled Unconditional and Electricity, starring alongside Charlie Cox in British independent Hello Carter, playing Mercutio in Carlo Carlei's Romeo and Juliet and starring alongside Lily Collins in British-American romantic comedy Love, Rosie. He also made a return to short films, starring in Nativity-inspired Anomaly[https://vimeo.com/channels/staffpicks/115329271 "Vimeo Staff Pick – Anomaly"] Vimeo before taking the lead in Fare with Maimie McCoy, and has since featured regularly throughout the second season of American television series Witches of East End [http://tvline.com/2014/05/07/witches-of-east-end-season-2-premiere-date-lifetime/ Witches of East End Season 2 premiere date] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117001528/https://tvline.com/2014/05/07/witches-of-east-end-season-2-premiere-date-lifetime/ |date=17 January 2022 }} tvline. 7 May 2014 before Lifetime announced the show's cancellation in November 2014.[http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/11/04/witches-of-east-end-canceled/ Witches of East End cancelled by Lifetime] insidetv. 4 November 2014
Spring 2015 saw Cooke return to British television in BBC two-part book-adaptation drama Stonemouth, the first adaptation of Iain Banks' work since his death in 2013, opposite Sharon Small, Gary Lewis & Peter Mullan,[https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/stonemouth-casting "Stellar cast announced for BBC adaptation of Iain Banks’ Stonemouth"] BBC Television. 21 October 2014 as well as the announcement of Magic City{{'}}s movie adaptation starring alongside Bruce Willis & Bill Murray, reprising his role as Danny Evans.[http://www.cityam.com/210730/christian-cooke "Christian Cooke is one of the UK’s hottest new actors"] City AM. 5 March 2015 On top of his return to British television, his role as Stewart Gilmour in Stonemouth marked his return to a lead role,[http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/tv-news/news/christian-cooke-i-was-waiting-for-a-role-like-stonemouth "Waiting for a role like Stonemouth"] What's on TV. 4 June 2015 and towards the summer of 2015 came the announcement of a return to directing with Peter Mullan & Michelle Fairley taking the lead roles in short film Edith;[http://www.scotsman.com/what-s-on/tv-radio/stonemouth-s-christian-cooke-soldiers-on-1-3795101 "Christian Cooke Soldiers On"] The Scotsman. 7 June 2015 news that was followed by the release of Crackle original drama The Art of More, leading alongside Dennis Quaid & Kate Bosworth, where Cooke starred as ex-soldier Graham Connor.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/stonemouth/christian "Stonemouth Media Pack"] BBC Television. 19 June 2015
The start of 2016 brought in a reunion with Hello Carter director Anthony Wilcox, starring alongside Example, for Instagram-exclusive Shield 5, the first short film to be distributed across this platform.[https://www.instagram.com/shieldfive/ "Shield 5"] Instagram A year later, and Cooke's career grows in the form of a role in the premiere theatre production of Experience by Dave Florez at Hampstead Theatre, appearing in Yaël Farber's production of Knives In Hens by David Harrower at the Donmar Warehouse and collaborating with Edith producers Sara Huxley & April Kelley to co-produce comedy series Annie Waits.[http://miniproductions.co.uk/portfolio/annie-waits/ Mini Productions presents Annie Waits] [http://miniproductions.co.uk/ Mini Productions]
In April 2018 Cooke played the part of Mickey Argyll in Ordeal by Innocence, a role initially portrayed by Ed Westwick, who was replaced by Cooke amid allegations of sexual assault.{{cite web|last1=Archer|first1=Katie|title=Ordeal by Innocence – Who is starring in the Agatha Christie adaptation? Meet the cast and characters|url=http://tv.bt.com/tv/tv-news/ordeal-by-innocence-who-is-starring-in-the-agatha-christie-adaptation-meet-the-cast-and-characters-11364260381673|website=1 April 2018|publisher=bt.com|access-date=1 April 2018}}
Projects currently under way for Cooke include short film Everything You Didn't Say alongside Magic City co-star Olga Kurylenko, a Netflix adaptation of Point Blank and a feature film adaptation of Knives In Hens, titled Embers.
Filmography
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of acting performances in television |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| scope="row"| Wilmot
| align="center"| 1999 | Wilmot Tanner | Main role |
| scope="row"| Where the Heart Is
| align="center"| 2000–06 | Luke Kirkwall | 68 episodes |
| scope="row"| Casualty
| align="center"| 2002 | Mark Booth | "Only The Lonely" |
| scope="row"| Barking!
| align="center"| 2004 | Ryan | "The Big Sausage" |
| scope="row"| Doctors
| align="center"| 2006 | Gary | "Positively Blooming" |
| scope="row"| Casualty
| align="center"| 2006 | Jude Becket | "Sons & Lovers" |
| scope="row"| Inspector George Gently
| align="center"| 2007 | Billy Lister | "Gently Go Man" |
| scope="row"| The Chase
| align="center"| 2007 | Liam Higgins | 9 episodes |
| scope="row"| The Royal
| align="center"| 2007 | Bobby Horrocks | "Starting Over" |
| scope="row"| Robin Hood
| align="center"| 2007 | Luke Scarlett |
| scope="row"| Echo Beach
| align="center"| 2008 | Brae Marrack | Main role |
| scope="row"| Moving Wallpaper
| align="center"| 2008 | Himself | 3 episodes |
| scope="row"| Moving Wallpaper: The Mole
| align="center"| 2008 | Himself | Webisode; Episode 1.4 |
| scope="row"| Doctor Who
| align="center"| 2008 |
| scope="row"| Demons
| align="center"| 2009 | Luke Rutherford-Van Helsing | Main role |
| scope="row"| Trinity
| align="center"| 2009 | Lord Dorian Gaudain | Main role |
| scope="row"| Dark Relic
| align="center"| 2010 | Paul | Television film |
| scope="row"| The Promise
| align="center"| 2011 | Sergeant Leonard Matthews |
| scope="row"| Magic City
| align="center"| 2012–13 | Danny Evans | Main role |
| scope="row"| Witches of East End
| align="center"| 2014 | Main role; Season 2 |
| scope="row"| Stonemouth
| align="center"| 2015 | Stewart Gilmour | Main role |
| scope="row"| The Art of More
| align="center"| 2015–16 | Graham Connor | Main role |
| scope="row"| Ordeal by Innocence
| align="center"| 2018 | Mickey Argyll | BBC Television film (Replacing Ed Westwick){{cite news|last1=Billen|first1=Andrew|title=Ordeal By Innocence: The Christie Mystery that almost got away|work=The Times|issue=72497|date=31 March 2018|location=Saturday Review|pages=4–5|issn=0140-0460}} |
| scope="row"| Barkskins
| align="center"| 2020 | Rene Sel | Main role |
| scope="row"| That Dirty Black Bag
|align="center"| 2022 |Steve |Main Role |
| scope="row"|Rematch
|align="center"| 2024 |
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of acting performances in film |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| scope="row"| Wish
| align="center"| 2007 | Malcolm | Short film |
| scope="row"| Cemetery Junction
| align="center"| 2010 | Freddie Taylor | |
| scope="row"| Unconditional
| align="center"| 2012 | Liam | |
| scope="row"| Romeo & Juliet
| align="center"| 2013 | Mercutio | |
| scope="row"| Hello Carter
| align="center"| 2013 | Eliott | |
| scope="row"| Fare
| align="center"| 2013 | Dominic | Short film |
| scope="row"| Anomaly
| align="center"| 2014 | Oliver Grier | Short film |
| scope="row"| Electricity
| align="center"| 2014 | Mikey O'Connor | |
| scope="row"| Love, Rosie
| align="center"| 2014 | Greg | |
| scope="row"| Drunk Wedding
| align="center"| 2015 | John | |
| scope="row"| Shield 5
| align="center"| 2016 | John Swift | Short film-exclusive to Instagram |
| scope="row"| A Rose In Winter
| align="center"| 2018 | Michael Praeger | |
| scope="row"| Everything You Didn't Say
| align="center"| 2018 | Dylan | Short film |
| scope="row"| Point Blank
| align="center"| 2019 | Mateo Guevara |Netflix's original film |
| scope="row"| Magic City
| align="center"| TBD | Danny Evans | |
| scope="row"| Plainclothes
| align="center"| TBD |Ron |
= Director =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| scope="row"| Chandide
| align="center"| 2011 | Short film |
| scope="row"| Edith
| align="center"| 2016 | Short film |
| scope="row"| Embers
| align="center"| 2019 | |
= Producer =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| scope="row"| Chandide
| align="center"| 2011 | Short film; Co-Producer |
| scope="row"| Edith
| align="center"| 2016 | Short film |
| scope="row"| Annie Waits
| align="center"| 2017 | Television; Co-Producer |
= Theatre =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of acting performances in theatre |
| scope="col"| Play
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Author ! scope="col"| Role ! scope="col"| Theatre ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| scope="row"| Experience
| align="center"| 2017 | Dave Florez | Dan | |
| scope="row"| Knives In Hens
| align="center"| 2017 | Pony William | Directed by Yael Farber |
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|id=0177396|name=Christian Cooke}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooke, Christian}}
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:Male actors from Leeds
Category:People educated at St. Mary's Catholic High School, Menston
Category:20th-century English male actors