Steve McFadden

{{Infobox person

| name = Steve McFadden

| image = Steve McFadden.jpg

| caption = McFadden in 2011

| birth_name = Steve Robert Reid

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|3|20|df=yes}}{{cite web|title=Steve McFadden|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/celebrities/steve-mcfadden/#~oHzc5qVHJ183Ox|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=18 June 2014}}

| birth_place = Maida Vale, London, England

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 1988–present

| known_for = Role of Phil Mitchell in EastEnders

| children = 5

}}

Steve Robert McFadden (né Reid; born 20 March 1959) is an English actor whose career has spanned three decades. He rose to prominence for his role as longstanding character Phil Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since 1990. Regarded as one of the show's most popular characters, he has received numerous accolades including the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement. McFadden was also the presenter of the game show Britain's Hardest (2004).

Early life

McFadden was born in Maida Vale, London, on 20 March 1959.{{Cite news|url=https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/tv-movies/eastenders/phil-mitchell-steve-mcfadden-age-wife-net-worth/|title=Who is Phil Mitchell actor Steve McFadden? EastEnders actor's age and net worth revealed|work=Heart|access-date=6 July 2020}} He left school in 1975, and had short stints in jobs including labouring, carrot picking, plumbing and working at a builder's merchant.{{Cite news|url=https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/11592252.eastenders-star-to-switch-on-citys-christmas-lights/|title=EastEnders star to switch on city's Christmas lights|work=Salisbury Journal|access-date=6 July 2020}} After attending university, McFadden decided that he wanted to become an actor, and was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1984, graduating in 1987.

Career

In 1988, McFadden got his first acting role as a uncredited extra in the film Buster. He played his first speaking role as a football hooligan in the 1989 BBC television film The Firm, and this was followed by guest appearances in television series including The Bill, Minder and Bergerac.

McFadden then began portraying the role of Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He joined EastEnders at the beginning of 1990, at the same time as Ross Kemp, who played Phil's younger brother Grant Mitchell. During that time, his character was involved in several popular storylines, such as Sharongate (in which it was revealed that he had an affair with his brother's wife Sharon) in 1994, and the Who Shot Phil? storyline in March 2001, when his character was shot and wounded by a mystery attacker.

McFadden then made a brief appearance in the film Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000),{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4403694.stm | title=Profiles: EastEnders Kemp and McFadden | publisher=BBC | date=3 November 2005 | access-date=16 July 2015}} and starred in an episode of the BBC anthology series Murder in Mind in 2001. He left EastEnders in late 2003 for a one-year break to concentrate on pantomimes. His character was written out of the series after being framed for an armed robbery by Den Watts (played by Leslie Grantham), and going on the run after breaking out of prison.

During his break from EastEnders, he presented the reality television series Britain's Hardest, which was an underground competition broadcast on Sky One in 2004. In 2005, he filmed a small part as a detective sergeant in the film Provoked which released in 2006. {{cite web | url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/200704041045911/aishwarya-rai-steve/ | title=Bollywood beauty and 'EastEnders' hard man team up | date=3 April 2007 }}

He returned to EastEnders for two episodes in April 2005. In the story, Phil returned to Walford in need of financial help, only to be arrested and returned to prison. In October 2005, he returned on a permanent basis, after his character was cleared of armed robbery. As of 2025, he is one of the longest running characters in the series.

He has also appeared as Captain Hook in a pantomime production of Peter Pan from 2010 to 2011 at The Swan.

Personal life

McFadden has five children. His son Matt McFadden's mother is Sue Marshall, and Angela Bostock is the mother of his daughters Teona and Mollie Jane. Rachel Sidwell gave birth to his daughter Amelie Tinkerbell on 29 June 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a162792/enders-star-mcfadden-welcomes-baby-girl.html|title='Enders star McFadden welcomes baby girl|publisher=Digital Spy|first=Lara|last=Martin|date=30 June 2009|access-date=7 July 2009}}{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/111723-steve-mcfadden-happier-than-ever/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140618182954/http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/111723-steve-mcfadden-happier-than-ever/|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 June 2014|title=Steve McFadden 'happier than ever'|publisher=MyParkMag|date=26 July 2009|access-date=29 July 2009}} At the time, she was his partner, but the couple split two months later.{{cite journal|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/200909152023/steve-mcfadden/dr-rachel-sidwell/split|title=Mum of 'EastEnders' actor Steve's new baby calls time on their relationship|date=15 September 2009|access-date=20 April 2020|journal=Hello Magazine}} A fifth child, a daughter named Frankie, was born to his girlfriend Karen Cairns in June 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/eastenders-steve-mcfadden-dad-fifth-8117039|title=EastEnders' Steve McFadden is 'dad for fifth time with fourth woman, as he welcomes baby daughter' |last=Corner|first=Natalie|date=5 June 2016|work=The Daily Mirror|access-date=5 June 2016}}

In 1996, McFadden was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £1000 plus £350 in costs after pleading guilty to drink-driving after attending a party at a London nightclub.{{cite web |title=Drink-driving soap actor's sentence condemned |date=18 June 1996 |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12115641.drink-driving-soap-actors-sentence-condemned/}}

McFadden is a sailor, and took part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in his motorboat, Barbara.{{cite web | url=http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/529359/tv-star-s-loathing-for-gin-palaces | title=TV star's loathing for gin palaces | publisher=Yachting Monthly | access-date=1 January 2013 | author=Durham, Richard| date=4 August 2011 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a386310/steve-mcfadden-reunites-with-barbara-windsor-during-jubilee-flotilla.html | title=Steve McFadden reunites with Barbara Windsor during Jubilee flotilla | publisher=Digital Spy | date=9 June 2012 | access-date=1 January 2013 | author=Martinovic, Paul}} In 2014, he sued the Metropolitan Police and News of the World after a police officer sold details about him to the newspaper. He sued News of the World after one of their journalists admitted trying to intercept his voicemail messages in the News International phone hacking scandal. McFadden stated "I am particularly concerned that a police officer sold my privacy to a tabloid newspaper for profit. I consider the payment of damages and public apology will go some way to ensuring respect for my and others' privacy in future. I am glad to have been vindicated and to be able to put this matter behind me".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/sep/16/eastenders-steve-mcfadden-settles-damages-news-of-the-world-police-hacking|title=EastEnders star Steve McFadden settles News of the World damages claim |last=O'Carroll|first=Lisa|date=16 September 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=17 September 2014}}

Filmography

= Film =

Year ! Title ! Role
class="wikitable sortable"
1988	Buster	Gang Member
1990	Happy Birthday, Coronation Street!	Himself
1998	EastEnders: The Mitchells - Naked Truths	Phil Mitchell
2000	Kevin & Perry Go Large	Bouncer 2
rowspan="2" \| 2001	Brit Awards 2001	rowspan="4" \| Phil Mitchell
Comic Relief: Say Pants to Poverty
rowspan="2" \| 2003	EastEnders: Slaters in Detention
Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do
2005	2005 TV Moments	Himself
2006	Provoked	DS Ron Meyers
rowspan="3" \| 2007	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year	rowspan="2" \| Himself
The 2nd TVNow Awards
EastEnders Feuds: The Beales vs. The Mitchells	Phil Mitchell
2008	The British Soap Awards 2008: The Party	rowspan="2" \| Himself
rowspan="2" \|2010 \|EastEnders Live: The Aftermath
EastEnders: Last Tango in Walford \|Phil Mitchell
rowspan="2" \|2011 \|The National Television Awards: Party 2011 \| rowspan="2" \|Himself
EastEnders: Greatest Exits
rowspan="2" \|2012 \|Farewell Pat \| rowspan="3" \|Phil Mitchell
EastEnders: Phil on Remand
rowspan="3" \|2016 \|Bobby Beale: The Story So Far
EastEnders: Last Orders \|Himself
EastEnders - The Last Goodbye \| rowspan="2" \|Phil Mitchell
2018 \|The Best of EastEnders
2021 \|Kurupting the Industry: The People Just Do Nothing Story \|Himself

= Television =

Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan="6" \| 1989	Minder	Mickey	Episode: "It's a Sorry Lorry Morrie"
Screen Two	Billy	Episode: The Firm
The Bill	Gun Dealer 2	Episode: "Bad Company"
Vote for Them	Staff Sgt. Ballantine	3 episodes
Hard Cases	Workman	Episode: "Series 2, episode 5"
Saracen	Nash	Episode: "Crossfire"
1990	Bergerac	Jones	Episode: "Roots of Evil"
1990–2003, 2005–present	EastEnders	rowspan="2" \| Phil Mitchell	Regular role
1993	Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time	2 episodes
1994, 1997, 1999	This Is Your Life	rowspan="5" \| Himself	3 episodes
1996, 2005, 2007, 2010–2011	National Television Awards	5 episodes
rowspan="2" \| 1998	Best of British	Episode: "Barbara Windsor"
TFI Friday	Episode: "Series 4, episode 13"
1999, 2006–2009, 2017, 2022	The British Soap Awards	7 episodes
rowspan="2" \|2001 \|Auntie's Bloomers \|Phil Mitchell \|Episode: "New Bursting Bloomers"
Murder in Mind \|Joe Waterman \|Episode: "Flame"
2002, 2007–2009, 2012 \|EastEnders Revealed \| rowspan="2" \|Himself \|6 episodes
2005 \|Comic Relief Does Fame Academy \|Episode: "Series 2, episode 6"
2006 \|Sex, Lies & Soaps \| rowspan="2" \|Phil Mitchell \|Episode: "Bad Behaviour"
2006, 2016 \|Screenwipe \|2 episodes
2006, 2009, 2018 \|This Morning \|Himself \|3 episodes
2007 \|Would I Lie to You? \| rowspan="2" \|Phil Mitchell \|Episode: "Series 1, episode 2"
2009–2010 \|EastEnders Revealed \|Episode: "The Sins of Archie Mitchell"
2009 \|Loose Women \|Himself \|Episode: "Series 14, episode 6"
rowspan="5" \|2010 \|Rude Tube \|Phil Mitchell \|Episode: "Rude Tunes"
rowspan="2" \|EastEnders: The Greatest Cliffhangers \|Himself \| rowspan="2" \|Episode: "Series 1, episode 2"
Phil Mitchell
rowspan="2" \|Piers Morgan's Life Stories \|Himself \| rowspan="2" \|Episode: "Barbara Windsor"
Phil Mitchell
rowspan="2" \|2016 \|Lorraine \|Himself \|Episode: "4 October 2016"
The One Show \| rowspan="3" \|Phil Mitchell \|Episode: "Peggy Mitchell Special"
2018 \|South at Six \|Episode: "23 November 2018"
rowspan="2" \|2020 \|EastEnders: Secrets from the Square \|5 episodes
The Noughties \|Himself \|Episode: "2001"
2020–2021 \|What We Were Watching \|Phil Mitchell \|2 episodes

Awards and nominations

width="20"\| Year ! width="300"\| Award ! width="300"\| Category ! width="10"\| Result
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan="4"\|2001	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actor	{{Nom}}
British Soap Awards	Villain of the Year	{{Won}}
rowspan="2"\| Inside Soap Awards	Best Actor	{{Nom}}
Best Bad Boy	{{Nom}}
rowspan="3"\|2002	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actor	{{Nom}}
rowspan="4"\|British Soap Awards	Best Actor	{{Nom}}
Villain of the Year	{{Nom}}
rowspan="3"\|2003 \| Best Actor	{{Nom}}
Villain of the Year	{{Nom}}
Inside Soap Awards	rowspan="2"\|Best Actor	{{Won}}
rowspan="3"\|2006 \|rowspan="2"\| British Soap Awards	{{Nom}}
Villain of the Year	{{Nom}}
Inside Soap Awards	Best Actor	{{Nom}}
rowspan="2"\|2007	TV Choice Awards	Best Soap Actor	{{Nom}}
TV Now Awards	Male Soap Star	{{Won}}
rowspan="1"\|2009	British Soap Awards	Best Actor	{{Nom}}
2010	TV Now Awards	Favourite Male Soap Star	{{Nom}}
rowspan="3"\|2016 \| rowspan="2"\|British Soap Awards	Outstanding Achievement Award	{{Won}}
Best Male Dramatic Performance	{{Nom}}
Inside Soap Awards	Best Soap Actor	{{Won}}
rowspan="1"\|2017 \| British Soap Awards	Best Male Dramatic Performance	{{Nom}}
2025	British Soap Awards	Best Dramatic Performance	{{win}}