Paul Popplewell is a British actor who has appeared in BAFTA, BIFA, Emmy, RTS, Sundance and Cannes Palme d'Or winning and nominated Film and TV productions.
Paul is known for his role as Simon in the BBC Two TV film drama Criminal (1994). He has also played Paul Ryder of Happy Mondays in 24 Hour Party People (2001), in Tyrannosaur (2011), and Black Mirror's "Fifteen Million Merits" (2011). He also played Paul Pegg in Casualty (2021–2023).
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Early life and career
Popplewell landed his first role as an actor at age 16, playing lead role of Simon in the drama Criminal as part of Screen Two; The film was about a boy who with undiagnosed autism and from a council estate background in Bradford, for which he won Best Actor at the Golden Chest Film Festival and was nominated for Best Actor at the Royal Television Society Awards. The film won the award for best single drama at Royal Television Society Awards.
At the age of 20, Popplewell played in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Bad Weather at The Other Place in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire.
In 2001, he played Happy Mondays bassist and founder member Paul Ryder in the Michael Winterbottom film 24 Hour Party People. He later made an appearance in the music video for the Oasis single "Lyla" in 2005.
In 2011, Popplewell played the character of Bod in the BIFA and BAFTA winning feature film Tyrannosaur, which was written and directed by Paddy Considine, and also starred Olivia Colman, Peter Mullan and Eddie Marsan.
From 2021 to 2023, he played the receptionist, Paul Pegg in the BBC One drama Casualty.
Personal life
Popplewell runs long distance to raise money for charity.
Filmography
Feature Film
Scoop
Peterloo
Journeyman
On the Road (Wolf Alice)
ID2: Shadwell Army
The Goob
'71
The Cost of Living
The Look of Love
Spike Island
Tyrannosaur
The Trip
Dog Altogether
The Waiting Room
Bright Young Things
In This World
Heartlands
Morvern Callar
24 Hour Party People
Club Le Monde
The Man with Rain in His Shoes
I Want You
FairyTale: A True Story
Theatre
The Last Testament of Lillian Bilocca – City of Culture
The Hypocrite – Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
A Taste of Honey – Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre
Toast – Hull Truck
The Arbor – The Royal Court, London
Harvest – The Royal Court, London
The Shy Gas Man – Southwark Playhouse
Under The Whaleback – Hull Truck
The Modernists – Sheffield Crucible Theatre
American Buffalo – Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre
The Tempest – Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
Bad Weather – Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
Bartholomew Fair – Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
