London is the UK’s cultural epicentre and home to countless actors striving to be a part of the scene, but Birmingham – aka the UK’s second city – has produced a wealth of well-known actors too. From BAFTA winners to presenters to stage stars, their journeys prove that being from London isn’t a prerequisite for success.
Whether they started in local youth theatre or began their acting journeys after moving away to chase their dreams, these actors all share one thing in common: their hometown. Here we explore how they made it – and what aspiring actors can learn from their paths.
1. David Harewood
Known for: Homeland, Supergirl, Ten Percent
David Harewood grew up in Small Heath. He persevered after being turned down by the Birmingham Youth Theatre, joining the National Youth Theatre and, at the age of 18, winning a place at RADA, where he is currently the president. “It was really exciting,” Harewood told Birmingham Living of his time at the National Youth Theatre. “It was the first time I’d been surrounded by like-minded nutters, and I had a whale of a time. My parents were worried. There were no Black actors on TV, and it just seemed like a crazy thing to do. But they could see I was passionate about it and supported me.”
He was the first Black actor to play Othello at the National Theatre, in 1997. And in 2025, he is due to return to the role. ”I was very conscious of being the first Black actor to play it at the National,” he told The Guardian. “I think I was carrying perhaps a little bit more of the history than I was aware of at the time.”
His success has carried over onto screen, where many know him as David Estes on Homeland (2011–2012), Joel Steadman in The Night Manager (2016), and Nelson Mandela in the BBC drama Mrs Mandela (2010).
Harewood continues to show his love for his hometown through his support of Birmingham City F.C.
2. Felicity Jones
Known for: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Theory of Everything
This Bournville-born actor has transformed into a Hollywood star. At 12, she made her radio debut in The Archers as Emma Grundy. “I remember sitting in the green room surrounded by people of all different generations and different walks of life,” Jones told The Guardian of her time on the show. “I learned a lot about being an adult in that room.” The same year, she was cast in The Treasure Seekers, before getting her TV break at age 14 in the ITV adaptation of The Worst Witch.
She later studied at Oxford and got involved in student theatre. Her breakout role came in the Sundance-winning Like Crazy in 2011. From there, she played Stephen Hawking’s partner Jane in The Theory of Everything (2014) and starred as Jyn Erso in Rogue One (2015). In 2024, she earned an Oscar nomination for her performance as Erzsebet Toth in The Brutalist.
3. Adil Ray
Known for: Citizen Khan, Ackley Bridge, Good Morning Britain
Adil Ray, a proud Birmingham actor and broadcaster, was born in Moseley. He’s now probably best known for his comedy series Citizen Khan, but Ray initially studied marketing at the University of Huddersfield. With no acting background, he started presenting a late-night show on the BBC Asian Network in 2002. While there, he began creating characters, including Mr. Khan.
Ray scored a meeting with BBC Three controller Danny Cohen, who passed him on to a casting director at the channel. That eventually led to his being cast on Bellamy’s People, a new show from Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson.
Eventually, he got a slot for Citizen Khan, which ran for five series from 2012 to 2016 and centred on Mr Khan (played by Ray), a Sparkhill-based Muslim, and his long-suffering family. At its peak, it averaged 5 million viewers an episode. Of the “I’m not writing Asian jokes for Asian people,” Ray told The Independent of the show. “I want everyone to enjoy them.”
Acting remains a key part of Ray’s career. He played Imran Khan in the 2021 miniseries Stephen and in 2019 was cast as Murad Beg on Beecham House, directed and produced by Gurinder Chadha.
4. Joe Lycett
Known for: Late Night Lycett, The Great British Sewing Bee
Before becoming a comedian and household name, Joe Lycett trained in drama at the University of Manchester. Before that, he grew up in Hall Green.
While in Manchester, he visited the city’s Comedy Store to watch a show – and the night inadvertently inspired his career. “The performer asked, ‘Does anyone in the audience want to come up onstage and give it a go?’ I was pissed, to be honest, and I thought, why not?” Lycett told Birmingham Living. “Later, when I had sobered up, I thought to myself that I enjoyed it and could maybe do comedy.”
Lycett began grafting on the UK comedy circuit, and in 2012 took his debut show up to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he was nominated for the best newcomer award.
He stuck with it, breaking into TV and eventually hosting his own shows, including Channel 4’s Late Night Lycett, and presenting The Great British Sewing Bee (Series 5 to 7).
5. Julie Walters
Known for: Educating Rita, Billy Elliot, Harry Potter
Arguably one of the most beloved actors from Birmingham, Dame Julie Walters grew up in Smethwick and studied English and drama at Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University). Before that, she trained as a nurse at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
In 1974, she joined Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre and performed alongside Bill Nighy, Pete Postlethwaite, and Matthew Kelly. It was there that Walters first worked with writer Willy Russell, who went on to pen the play Educating Rita. When the play was adapted for the screen in 1983, it gave Walters her breakthrough opposite Michael Caine and earned her an Oscar nomination. Walters has since starred in Hollywood movies such as Mamma Mia! (2008), the Harry Potter series (2001–2011), and Billy Elliot (2000).
She remains a national treasure, recognised not only for her talent, but also for her down-to-earth charm and sharp wit. Walters has worked extensively in television, winning multiple BAFTA awards for roles in series such as Mo (2010) and The Canterbury Tales (2003), as well as a fellowship from BAFTA in 2014. Despite her global success, she continues to be a proud Brummie, even urging people to save her local park, Warley Woods.
6. Arthur Darvill
Known for: Doctor Who, Once, Oklahoma!
Arthur Darvill has made no secret of his Birmingham background. During his Olivier Award acceptance speech, he thanked his youth theatre, Stage 2, where he spent nine years. “I went to an amazing youth theatre in Birmingham called Stage 2, and I have a lot to thank them for,” he said. He also gave a heartfelt nod to his drama teacher at Bromsgrove School.
After leaving Birmingham, Darvill trained at RADA. He made his professional stage debut playing the condemned criminal Harrison in Edmund White’s Terre Haute, and steadily built a theatre career. His big break onscreen came in 2010 when he was cast as Rory Williams, the lovable companion in Doctor Who, a role that brought him international recognition.
Darvill went on to star in ITV’s hit crime drama Broadchurch (2013–2017), and has continued to shine onstage. He earned rave reviews and his first Olivier Award for playing Curly in Daniel Fish’s 2022 London revival of Oklahoma!.
