Matt Di Angelo
{{Short description|British actor and singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Matt Di Angelo
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Mario Angelo S Constantinou
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1987|5|1}}
| birth_place = Enfield, London, England
| occupation = Actor, singer
| website =
| years_active = 1997–present
| children = 2
| spouse = {{marriage|Sophia Perry|2021}}
|nationality = British
}}
Mario Angelo Stavrou Constantinou{{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/9a5JYbUFvjzodRsHOO3N95npDEA/appointments |title=Mario Angelo Stavrou CONSTANTINOU personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK }} (born 1 May 1987),{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1738091/ |title=Matt Di Angelo |access-date=5 June 2008 |quote= 1st May 1987, London, UK |publisher=Internet Movie Database }}{{cite news | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/matt-di-angelo-exclusive-284088 | title=Matt di Angelo exclusive | work=Daily Mirror | date=5 January 2008 | access-date=6 October 2015 | author=McCaffrey, Julie}} professionally known as Matt Di Angelo, is a British actor and singer, best known for his role as Dean Wicks in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He also portrayed Sean Kennedy in the BBC drama series Hustle.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00gmxnr |title=Hustle: Episode 1 |access-date=11 January 2009}}
Early life
Di Angelo was born in Enfield, London, England, to parents of Greek and Irish descent. He attended Southgate School, and studied acting, singing and dancing at Boden Studios (Enfield/Barnet), and the Sylvia Young Theatre School.{{cite web |title=Sylvia Young Theatre School (Ex-students) |url= http://www.sylviayoungtheatreschool.co.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=Ex-Students+&pid=102 |publisher=Sylvia Young Theatre School |accessdate=27 September 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110927131843/http://www.sylviayoungtheatreschool.co.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=Ex-Students+&pid=102 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Career
Di Angelo's first acting role was as Robbie in the television series Harbour Lights in the episode: "Rites of Passage" which first aired on 28 May 2000. Then he played Felix in the CBBC musical comedy series I Dream in 2004. This resulted in him making a few appearances in the Sunday morning children's TV show Smile. He appeared in the film Telling Lies in 2006.
That same year he began appearing in his best-known role as Deano Wicks in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, he made his first appearance on 2 January 2006. It was announced on 18 August 2007 that Di Angelo would be leaving EastEnders following the departure of Phil Daniels (who played his on-screen stepfather Kevin Wicks). He described his departure as "a shock".[http://www.myparkmag.co.uk/articles/celebs/tv-news/matt-di-angelo-leaving-enders-is-a-shock.jsp "Leaving Enders is a shock"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20071015153054/http://www.myparkmag.co.uk/articles/celebs/tv-news/matt-di-angelo-leaving-enders-is-a-shock.jsp |date=15 October 2007 }}, MyParkMag.co.uk, 29 August 2007 Di Angelo finished filming EastEnders 12 December 2007 and his last appearance in the series aired on 7 February 2008.
Di Angelo's portfolio includes television commercials and modelling, and he has been a guest on a number of programmes, such as The Paul O'Grady Show, Saturday Kitchen, Ready Steady Cook, Hole in the Wall, Alan Carr's Celebrity Ding Dong, Weakest Link and The Friday Night Project.
From 11 December 2008 until 31 January 2009 he played the character of Hal in the play Loot in north London's Tricycle Theatre, then at Theatre Royal, Newcastle 3–7 February 2009.[http://www.tricycle.co.uk/htmlnew/whatson/show.php3?id=144 Tricycle Theatre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522175807/http://www.tricycle.co.uk/htmlnew/whatson/show.php3?id=144 |date=22 May 2008 }}. Tricycle.co.uk (12 June 2012). Retrieved on 20 June 2012.
He played Sean from series 5 to 8 of the 2009 series of the hit BBC One series, Hustle. He played Fitz Kreiner in the Doctor Who audio play The Company of Friends.
On 20 April 2009, Di Angelo's agent announced on their website[http://79.170.40.230/rossmoremanagement.com/cms_index.php?NewsID=10 Rossmore Management] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706023942/http://79.170.40.230/rossmoremanagement.com/cms_index.php?NewsID=10 |date=6 July 2011 }}. Retrieved on 20 June 2012. that he would be filming a guest role in Casualty. This will be the series two-part finale 'No Fjords in Finland' which is due to air on Saturday 25 July and Saturday 1 August 2009. The agent advised that he was busy recording a new pilot show called Fried Brain Sandwich about a stand up comedian, to be directed by Guy Jenkin (Outnumbered and Drop the Dead Donkey).
On 21 July 2009, Di Angelo's agent announced on their website that he would be playing the lead role of Jack Stradler in the low-budget film Following Footsteps. He films throughout August for Perry Pictures.[http://www.rossmoremanagement.com/cms_index.php?NewsID=2 Film News]. Rossmore Management. Retrieved on 20 June 2012.
Earlier in the year Di Angelo supported 'A Night Less Ordinary' a free ticket scheme for young people launched by Arts Council England in February 2009.[https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/stars-launch-a-night-less-ordinary-104320/ Stars launch A Night Less Ordinary], OfficialLondonTheatre.com
In May 2010, Di Angelo was filming Whiskey Robber for Parallel Pictures and series 7 of Hustle.[http://www.rossmoremanagement.com/index.php?NewsID=10 News]. Rossmore Management. Retrieved on 20 June 2012.
In April 2012, industry trade daily Screen International announced Di Angelo had been cast as the lead in British crime thriller Two Days in the Smoke alongside Stephen Marcus, Alan Ford, Lili Bordán and Velibor Topić.Wilcock, Jessica. (23 April 2012) [http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/matt-di-angelo-to-star-in-two-days-in-the-smoke/5040818.article?blocktitle=Latest-news&contentID=276 Matt Di Angelo to star in Two Days In The Smoke | News | Screen]. Screendaily.com. Retrieved on 20 June 2012.
In April 2014, Di Angelo returned to EastEnders, to reprise the role as Dean Wicks.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eastenders/posts/Deano-returns-from-Down-Under Deano to return from Down Under.] In October 2015, it was announced that he would once again be leaving EastEnders.{{cite web | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a675105/eastenders-star-matt-di-angelo-is-leaving-his-role-as-dean-wicks.html#~prYHWkiY681dI7 | title=EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo is leaving his role as Dean Wicks | publisher=Digital Spy | date=22 October 2015 | access-date=24 October 2015 | author=Fletcher, Harry}} His last episode was on 5 February 2016.
On 30 March 2016, it was announced that Di Angelo had been cast in the second series of Ordinary Lies.{{Cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/ordinary-lies-second-series-casting | title=BBC – Stellar cast announced for second series of hit BBC drama Ordinary Lies – Media Centre}} Filming began in Cardiff, Wales on 21 March 2016.
=''Strictly Come Dancing''=
In 2007, Di Angelo competed as a contestant in series 5 of Strictly Come Dancing, where he was partnered with professional dancer Flavia Cacace. He and Cacace finished the competition as the runners-up, losing to Alesha Dixon and Matthew Cutler. They later competed in the 2007 Christmas special of the show, landing in third place.
They also competed together in the Strictly Come Dancing live arena tour from January to February 2008, and had won more shows than any other couple by coming first overall sixteen times and second ten times.{{cite web|url=http://www.strictlycomedancinglive.co.uk/default.asp?contentID=616 |title=Previous Winners |publisher=Strictly Come Dancing Live! |access-date=16 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321094133/http://www.strictlycomedancinglive.co.uk/default.asp?contentID=616 |archive-date=21 March 2008 }}
{{Accessibility dispute|table|date=October 2024|reason=screen readers can not read content that is hidden}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
| style="text-align:Center; background:#ccc;"
! rowspan="2" | Week # ! rowspan="2" | Dance / Song ! colspan="4" | Judges' scores ! rowspan="2" | Result |
| style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;"
| style="width:10%; " |Revel Horwood | style="width:10%; " |Philips | style="width:10%; " |Goodman | style="width:10%; " |Tonioli |
| style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"
|1 |Cha-Cha-Cha / "Mama Told Me Not to Come" |5 |6 |6 |6 |Safe |
| style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"
|3 |Jive / "Shake, Rattle and Roll" |7 |7 |8 |8 |Safe |
| style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"
|4 |American Smooth / "For Once in My Life" |9 |9 |9 |9 |Safe |
| style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"
|5 |Paso Doble / "Smooth Criminal" |7 |8 |8 |8 |Safe |
| style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"
|6 |Viennese Waltz / "When a Man Loves a Woman" |8 |6 |7 |8 |Bottom two; saved |
| style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"
|7 |Quickstep / "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" |8 |9 |8 |9 |Safe |
| style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"
|8 |9 |10 |9 |10 |Safe |
| style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"
|9 |Tango / "What You Waiting For?" |7 |7 |9 |9 |Safe |
| style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"
|10 |Foxtrot / "Better Together" |4 |6 |8 |8 |Safe |
| style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"
|11 |Argentine Tango / "La yumba" |8 |9 |9 |9 |Safe |
| style="text-align: center; background:#faf6f6;"
|12 |American Smooth / "For Once in My Life" |9 |9 |9 |9 |Runner-up |
Personal life
Di Angelo married professional wedding planner Sophia Perry in 2021;{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a37487194/eastenders-matt-di-angelo-marries-sophia-perry/|title=EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo marries partner Sophia Perry|website=Digital Spy|last=Seddon|first=Dan|date=6 September 2021|access-date=23 January 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fm104.ie/news/buzz/eastenders-star-matt-di-angelo-marries-partner-sophia-perry/|title=EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo marries partner Sophia Perry|website=FM104|last=Flannery|first=Amanda|date=6 September 2021|access-date=23 January 2024}} the couple have twins, a boy and a girl, born in August 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/strictlys-matt-di-angelo-announces-24851626#|title=Strictly's Matt Di Angelo announces birth of twins with wife Sophia Perry|website=Cambridge News|last=Davies|first=Rachael|date=25 August 202|access-date=23 January 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/tv/bbc-strictly-come-dancings-matt-24848008|title=BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Matt Di Angelo announces birth of twins with sweet photo|last=Mwitumwa|first=Monde|date=25 August 2022|access-date=23 January 2024}}
Filmography
=Films=
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Film ! Role |
| | 2008
| Telling Lies | Derek |
| | 2010
| Following Footsteps | Jack Stadler |
| | 2012
| Brad Walker |
=Television=
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Show ! Role ! Notes |
| 2000
| Robbie | 1 episode |
| 2004
| I Dream | Felix | 13 episodes |
| 2006–2008, 2014–2016, 2023–2024 | 406+ episodes |
| rowspan=2|2007
| Contestant | Himself |
| Ready Steady Cook
| Contestant | Celebrity Ready Steady Cook |
| 2008
| Delivery Man | 1 episode |
| 2009–2012
| Hustle | Sean Kennedy | 24 episodes |
| 2009
| Casualty | Tom | 2 episodes |
| 2011
| Darren Moore | 1 episode |
| 2012–2014
| Borgia | 11 episodes |
| 2016
| Fletch | Series 2; 6 episodes |
=Radio=
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Show ! Role ! Notes |
| | 2009
| 1 episode |
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1738091}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Di Angelo, Matt}}
Category:Actors from the London Borough of Enfield
Category:Alumni of the Sylvia Young Theatre School
Category:English male soap opera actors
Category:English people of Greek descent
Category:English people of Irish descent
Category:Male actors from London