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James Alexandrou

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James Alexandrou
Born
James Alekos Alexandrou

(1985-04-12) 12 April 1985 (age 39)
Hackney, London, England
OccupationActor
Known forEastEnders (1996–2007)

James Alekos Alexandrou (born 12 April 1985) is an English actor and filmmaker. He is known for portraying the role of Martin Fowler in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders from 1996 to 2007. He was also the presenter of Bizarre Crime on BBC Three.

Early life

Alexandrou was born in Hackney, London, to a Greek Cypriot father[1] and an English mother. He has two sisters, one older, one a twin, as well as a younger brother.[2] He was educated at Chingford Foundation School in Waltham Forest, as well as at Anna Scher Theatre School.[2]

Career

Alexandrou's acting career began in 1996, when he auditioned successfully for the role of Martin Fowler in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders. The character was created shortly after the show's inception in 1985, with the role becoming vacant following the departure of actor Jon Peyton Price in 1996. Alexandrou appeared as Grant in the short film Blessed Burden in 1999.

In July 2003 he participated in a "Soap Stars Special" edition of The Weakest Link. Over Christmas of 2005, Alexandrou starred in the crime caper, Who Stole The Snowman? On 14 April 2006, it was announced that Alexandrou would leave EastEnders in Autumn 2007. He and Natalie Cassidy, who played his on-screen wife Sonia Fowler, left on 2 February 2007 (to tie in with the exits of Wendy Richard and Ray Brooks).[3] When asked about his departure Alexandrou said, "I've decided to leave the show to experience other aspects of my industry. Having turned 21, I felt it was a good time to leave. I owe everything to the show and would love to come back one day - that's if EastEnders would have me."[4] On 12 October 2014, it was announced that actor James Bye would be taking over playing the role in the character's return to Albert Square. According to BBC News, Alexandrou was said to have "given his blessing to the recasting of the role."[5] When interviewed, Alexandrou implicitly stated that he had turned down the opportunity to return to the show.[6]

In early 2007, Alexandrou appeared in the play The Homecoming opposite Harold Pinter for BBC Radio 3.[7]

Alexandrou toured the UK and Norway with the British Shakespeare Company from June to September 2007. He played Pistol in Henry V,[8] and Orlando in As You Like It.[9] It was incorrectly reported that he turned down the chance to replace Daniel Radcliffe in the West End revival of Equus in 2007.[10]

In 2008 he appeared in In My Name, a new play by Steven Hevey, at the Old Red Lion Theatre, produced by Yaller Skunk Theatre Company. The play transferred to the Trafalgar Studio 2 from 1 to 19 July 2008.[11] In October 2008, Alexandrou appeared in All Quiet on the Western Front at the Nottingham Playhouse, prior to a UK tour of the production.[2]

In March 2009, he played the part of Romeo in the Globe Theatre's production of Romeo and Juliet.[12] In October 2009, Alexandrou joined up with EastEnders cast members, Natalie Cassidy (Sonia Jackson) and Nina Wadia (Zainab Masood), to star in comedy shorts for BBC Raw Words.[13]

In 2010 Alexandrou filmed his first feature film, Semper Fidel in Cuba. The film was released in 2014.[14] He appeared in the role of The Man in John Goodrum's play The Black Veil a thriller adapted from a Charles Dickens short story.[13]

In 2011 Alexandrou took part in the BBC Learning project, Off By Heart Shakespeare, where he played Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet delivering the speech; "'tis not so deep as a well".[15]

In 2012 Alexandrou toured theatres throughout the United Kingdom, with the Hull Truck Theatre starring as Phil, in the play DNA.[16]

In April 2014, as part of the Shakespeare 450 celebrations, he played the Iago in Grassroots Shakespeare London's production of Othello at Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End[17] and also performed sonnets at the Guildhall with Damian Lewis. Rehearsals were recorded by BBC World Service and James Alexandrou's performance as Iago featured in their programme The Why Factor.[18]

In February 2015, Alexandrou appeared in Silent Witness as Carl Parry.[19] and in 2022 as Ronnie Reynolds in Call the Midwife.

Personal life

Alexandrou was in a relationship with EastEnders co-star Kara Tointon which began in April 2006. Their split was reported in November 2007.[20]

Filmography

Year Show Role Notes
1996–2007 EastEnders Martin Fowler Series regular, 708 episodes
2010 Cannabis: What's the Harm Presenter Documentary
Missing Andy Garsdale 1 episode #2.5
2011 Semper Fidel Unnamed Film
Cannabis: What's the Harm? Narrator BBC documentary
2012 Bizarre Crime Presenter 7 episodes
2013 You, Me & Them Phil 1 episode
2015 Casualty Franny 1 episode
2017 The Prey Unnamed Boyfriend 1 episode
2022 The Confessions of Frannie Langton Constable Meek
2023 Call the Midwife Ronnie Reynolds 1 episode

References

  1. ^ "EastEnders Cast Live Chat". BBC. Archived from the original on 2 March 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Interview: James Alexandrou". Nottingham Post. Local World. Retrieved 11 September 2016.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "EastEnders' Martin to Leave Soap". BBC. 15 April 2006. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  4. ^ "So This Is What The *Old* Martin Fowler Is Up To Now". Time Inc. (UK) Ltd. August 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  5. ^ "EastEnders' Martin Fowler Returning to Albert Square". BBC News. BBC. 12 October 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  6. ^ "James Alexandrou reveals why he didn't return to EastEnders as Martin Fowler". Digital Spy. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Pinter to Appear in His Own Play". BBC. 22 February 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Shakespeare in Performance: Character Pistol". Internet Shakespeare Editions. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Shakespeare in Performance: Character Orlando de Boys". Internet Shakespeare Editions. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  10. ^ "From Bored to Bard". Yorkshire Evening Post. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  11. ^ ""EastEnders" Star Alexandrou to Appear in In My Name at London's Trafalgar Studios". Playbill Inc. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  12. ^ "Playing Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet [2009]". The Shakespeare Globe Trust. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  13. ^ a b "EastEnders Star Takes on Dark Thriller from Dickens". Bristol Post. Local World. Retrieved 11 September 2016.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "James Alexandrou to Star as Iago in Othello". www.LondonTheatre1.com. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  15. ^ "Schools - Teachers - Off By Heart Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet "No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a"". BBC. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  16. ^ Savage, Wayne (29 February 2012). "DNA, by Dennis Kelly, Hull Truck, the New Wolsey, Ipswich, February 28". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  17. ^ "EastEnders' James Alexandrou to play Iago in Othello". The Independent. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  18. ^ "Envy, The Why Factor - BBC World Service". BBC. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  19. ^ "One of Our Own". BBC. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  20. ^ "'EastEnders' lovebirds decide to split". Digital Spy. 4 November 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2007.
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