Sean Biggerstaff
Encyclopedia
Sean Biggerstaff is a Scottish
actor best known for playing Oliver Wood in the Harry Potter
film series.
, Scotland
, growing up with his parents in Maryhill
. He went to Parkview Primary School in Summerston
and joined the local drama group, the Maryhill Youth Theatre, when he was seven.
Biggerstaff landed his first professional acting role at ten, playing the son of MacDuff in a Michael Boyd
production of Macbeth
at the Tron Theatre
, Glasgow. He then joined the Scottish Youth Theatre
and spent six years with the group. In 1996, at the age of 13, Biggerstaff secured his first major TV role, playing Young Darren in the BBC production of The Crow Road
. At 14 he was cast by fellow Harry Potter actor Alan Rickman
in his new movie, The Winter Guest
, as Tom, a mischievous schoolboy. In a 2002 interview, Biggerstaff recalled: "It was while at the Scottish Youth Theatre that I was chosen for The Winter Guest. Alan Rickman (known to most of the kids as "the bad guy from Die Hard") popped along one day looking for two boys to accompany him to the coldest place on Earth, Fife, for two months to make a film. Myself and the suspicious character that is Douglas Murphy were the lucky ones."
Rickman later recommended Biggerstaff to the London acting agency International Creative Management
and Paul Lyon-Maris. Within a week, the Harry Potter
castings were being distributed. During auditions, the directors suggested that he look at the part of Oliver Wood, Biggerstaff looked at the script and agreed. Biggerstaff played the role in the first two films, and returned for a brief appearance in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
.
Biggerstaff's career since the first two Harry Potter fims has included playing Henry, Duke of Gloucester
in the 2004 TV mini-series Charles II: The Power & the Passion; Matt in the world premiere of Sharman MacDonald
's stageplay The Girl With Red Hair; and Ben Willis in the short film Cashback
for which extra scenes were recorded, and the piece was adapted into a feature released in 2006.
In 2007, Biggerstaff played Jeremy Wolfenden
in the BBC4 TV movie Consenting Adults
which was nominated for BAFTA Scotland
's Best Drama Award on 18 November 2007, and won him the BAFTA Scotland's Award for Best Actor – Television.
He appears in the forthcoming film Hippie Hippie Shake.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
actor best known for playing Oliver Wood in the Harry Potter
Harry Potter (film series)
The Harry Potter film series is a British-American film series based on the Harry Potter novels by the British author J. K. Rowling...
film series.
Life and career
Biggerstaff was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, growing up with his parents in Maryhill
Maryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
. He went to Parkview Primary School in Summerston
Summerston
Summerston is a residential area of Glasgow, Scotland. There is a riding school used by Strathclyde Police Mounted Branch. John Paul Academy, one of Glasgow's 11 Roman Catholic secondary schools is in Summerston. 4th Glasgow Beaver Colony and Cub Scout Pack are based in Summerston in Caldercuilt...
and joined the local drama group, the Maryhill Youth Theatre, when he was seven.
Biggerstaff landed his first professional acting role at ten, playing the son of MacDuff in a Michael Boyd
Michael Boyd
Michael Boyd is a British theatre director, and current artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has regularly collaborated with stage designer Tom Piper since they first worked together on a pantomime for the Tron Theatre in Glasgow.-Early years:Boyd was born in Belfast, Northern...
production of Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
at the Tron Theatre
Tron Theatre
The Tron Theatre is located at the corner of Trongate and Chisholm Street, in the Merchant City area of Glasgow, Scotland.From its early years as a theatre club, the Tron has grown into a thriving multi-faceted venue...
, Glasgow. He then joined the Scottish Youth Theatre
Scottish Youth Theatre
Scottish Youth Theatre is Scotland's national youth theatre company for ages 3–25. It is core funded by the Scottish Arts Council.Scottish Youth Theatre has headquarters in Glasgow but work throughout Scotland...
and spent six years with the group. In 1996, at the age of 13, Biggerstaff secured his first major TV role, playing Young Darren in the BBC production of The Crow Road
The Crow Road
The Crow Road is a novel by the Scottish writer Iain Banks, published in 1992.-Plot introduction:Prentice McHoan's life, growing up in a complex but coherent Scottish family with many mysteries is described, seen through his preoccupations with death, sex, relationships, drink and God, with the...
. At 14 he was cast by fellow Harry Potter actor Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman
Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman is an English actor and theatre director. He is a renowned stage actor in modern and classical productions and a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company...
in his new movie, The Winter Guest
The Winter Guest
The Winter Guest was British actor Alan Rickman's debut as a director, and stars Emma Thompson and Phyllida Law.-Plot:Set in Scotland on one wintry day, the film focuses on eight people: a mother and daughter, Elspeth and Frances ; two young boys skipping school, Sam and Tom ; two old women who...
, as Tom, a mischievous schoolboy. In a 2002 interview, Biggerstaff recalled: "It was while at the Scottish Youth Theatre that I was chosen for The Winter Guest. Alan Rickman (known to most of the kids as "the bad guy from Die Hard") popped along one day looking for two boys to accompany him to the coldest place on Earth, Fife, for two months to make a film. Myself and the suspicious character that is Douglas Murphy were the lucky ones."
Rickman later recommended Biggerstaff to the London acting agency International Creative Management
International Creative Management
International Creative Management is a talent and literary agency with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and London. ICM is a full-service agency representing creative and technical talent in the fields of motion pictures, television, fiction and nonfiction publishing, music, live performance,...
and Paul Lyon-Maris. Within a week, the Harry Potter
Harry Potter (film series)
The Harry Potter film series is a British-American film series based on the Harry Potter novels by the British author J. K. Rowling...
castings were being distributed. During auditions, the directors suggested that he look at the part of Oliver Wood, Biggerstaff looked at the script and agreed. Biggerstaff played the role in the first two films, and returned for a brief appearance in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is a 2011 epic fantasy film directed by David Yates and the second of two films based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the eighth and final instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David...
.
Biggerstaff's career since the first two Harry Potter fims has included playing Henry, Duke of Gloucester
Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester
Henry Stuart, 1st Duke of Gloucester was the third adult son of Charles I and his queen, Henrietta Maria of France...
in the 2004 TV mini-series Charles II: The Power & the Passion; Matt in the world premiere of Sharman MacDonald
Sharman Macdonald
Sharman Macdonald is a Scottish playwright, screenwriter, and former actress. She is the mother of Academy Award-nominee Keira Knightley.-Career:...
's stageplay The Girl With Red Hair; and Ben Willis in the short film Cashback
Cashback (film)
Cashback is the name of two films directed by Sean Ellis: a 2004 short film and a 2006 feature film. Both were produced by Lene Bausager, starring Sean Biggerstaff and Emilia Fox. The feature was released by Magnolia Pictures in late 2006 and also starred Michelle Ryan...
for which extra scenes were recorded, and the piece was adapted into a feature released in 2006.
In 2007, Biggerstaff played Jeremy Wolfenden
Jeremy Wolfenden
Jeremy Wolfenden was a foreign correspondent and British spy at the height of the Cold War.-Biography:...
in the BBC4 TV movie Consenting Adults
Consenting Adults (BBC)
Consenting Adults is a 2007 BBC Four television dramatisation of the events of the Wolfenden committee, whose report led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Britain...
which was nominated for BAFTA Scotland
BAFTA Scotland
BAFTA in Scotland is the Scottish branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Formed in 1997, the branch holds an annual awards ceremony, the British Academy Scotland Awards , to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Scottish film, television and video games...
's Best Drama Award on 18 November 2007, and won him the BAFTA Scotland's Award for Best Actor – Television.
He appears in the forthcoming film Hippie Hippie Shake.
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Winter Guest The Winter Guest The Winter Guest was British actor Alan Rickman's debut as a director, and stars Emma Thompson and Phyllida Law.-Plot:Set in Scotland on one wintry day, the film focuses on eight people: a mother and daughter, Elspeth and Frances ; two young boys skipping school, Sam and Tom ; two old women who... |
Tom | |
| 2001 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, released in the United States and India as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, is a 2001 fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. The film is the first instalment in the Harry Potter film series,... |
Oliver Wood | |
| 2002 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a 2002 fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the second instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman... |
Oliver Wood | |
| 2004 | Cashback | Ben Willis | Short (18 minutes) |
| 2006 | Cashback | Ben Willis | Feature based on the 2004 short |
| 2009 | X on a Map | Paul | Short (13 minutes) |
| Voices | Herb Wallace | Short (20 minutes) | |
| 2010 | Hippie Hippie Shake | ||
| 2011 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is a 2011 epic fantasy film directed by David Yates and the second of two films based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the eighth and final instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David... |
Oliver Wood | Cameo |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Crow Road The Crow Road (TV series) The Crow Road was a television miniseries by BBC Scotland in 1996, based faithfully on the complex novel by Scottish novelist Iain Banks. It was directed by Gavin Millar.... |
Young Darren | BBC Scotland BBC Scotland BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who... |
Mini-series |
| 1998 | Bright Sparks Bright Sparks Bright Sparks was a children's television educational series aired on Australian and UK television in 1989. It taught viewers about science and technology... |
CBBC CBBC Channel CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different... |
||
| 2003 | Shada Shada Shada is an unaired serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was intended to be the final serial of the 1979-80 season , but was never completed due to a strike at the BBC during filming... |
Chris Parsons | Voice for webcast animation | |
| 2003 | Charles II: The Power & the Passion | Henry, Duke of Glocester Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester Henry Stuart, 1st Duke of Gloucester was the third adult son of Charles I and his queen, Henrietta Maria of France... |
BBC One BBC One BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution... |
Mini-series |
| 2007 | Consenting Adults Consenting Adults (BBC) Consenting Adults is a 2007 BBC Four television dramatisation of the events of the Wolfenden committee, whose report led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Britain... |
Jeremy Wolfenden Jeremy Wolfenden Jeremy Wolfenden was a foreign correspondent and British spy at the height of the Cold War.-Biography:... |
BBC Four BBC Four BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable.... |
Drama |
| 2009 | Marple Marple (TV series) Marple is a British television series based on the Miss Marple and other murder mystery novels by Agatha Christie. It is also known as Agatha Christie's Marple. The title character was played by Geraldine McEwan from the first to third series, until her retirement from the role. She was replaced... |
Bobby Attfield | ITV ITV ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK... |
Series 4 Episode 3 "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" |
| Garrow's Law Garrow's Law Garrow's Law is a British period legal drama about the 18th-century lawyer William Garrow. The series debuted on 1 November 2009 on BBC One and BBC HD. A second series was announced on 7 July 2010 and aired from 14 November 2010... |
Tom | BBC One | Series 1 Episode 3 | |
Radio
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Shada | Chris Parsons | Big Finish “Doctor Who” audio drama |
| 2008 | The Skull of Sobek The Skull of Sobek The Skull of Sobek is an audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. This audio drama was produced by Big Finish Productions.-Cast:*The Doctor — Paul McGann*Lucie Miller — Sheridan Smith... |
Snabb | BBC “Doctor Who” audio drama |
| 2008 | Time Reef | The Ruhk | Big Finish “Doctor Who” audio drama |
| 2011 | Good With People | Jack | BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the... Afternoon Play |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Macbeth Macbeth The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607... |
Macduff's son Macduff's Son Macduff's son is a character in William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth . His name and age are not established in the text, and, typical of Shakespeare's child characters, the boy is cute and clever... |
Tron Theatre Tron Theatre The Tron Theatre is located at the corner of Trongate and Chisholm Street, in the Merchant City area of Glasgow, Scotland.From its early years as a theatre club, the Tron has grown into a thriving multi-faceted venue... , Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... |
| 2005 | The Girl With Red Hair | Matt | Royal Lyceum Theatre Royal Lyceum Theatre The Royal Lyceum Theatre is a 658 seat theatre in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, named after the Theatre Royal Lyceum and English Opera House, the residence at the time of legendary Shakespearean actor Henry Irving. It was built in 1883 by architect C. J. Phipps at a cost of UK£17,000 on behalf... , Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... Hampstead Theatre Hampstead Theatre Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in the vicinity of Swiss Cottage and Belsize Park, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. In 2009 it celebrates its 50 year anniversary.The original theatre was... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
Awards
| Year | Group | Award | Result | Film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | BAFTA Scotland BAFTA Scotland BAFTA in Scotland is the Scottish branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Formed in 1997, the branch holds an annual awards ceremony, the British Academy Scotland Awards , to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Scottish film, television and video games... |
Best Actor - Television | Won | Consenting Adults Consenting Adults (BBC) Consenting Adults is a 2007 BBC Four television dramatisation of the events of the Wolfenden committee, whose report led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Britain... |
External links
- Sean Biggerstaff Official site
- EyeForFilm.co.uk - Interview about Cashback and Harry Potter