Stephen Beckett

Background

Born in London, Beckett was brought up in Brixton and Croydon, and attended Wilson's School in Wallington. He has three sisters. Beckett left school at the age of sixteen to become an actor, and began his career in street theatre in Covent Garden. He later trained at RADA, graduating at the age of twenty three.

Beckett is married to actress Anna Brecon, whom he met when both were cast in a production of The Blue Room at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton. They married in 2002, and have a daughter, Nancy, and a son, Wilfred. They currently live in Brighton.

Career

Beckett won his first professional roles a week after graduating from drama school, appearing in Richard II and Callas at the Oldham Coliseum. He went on to work in regional theatre throughout the UK, and with the National Theatre.

Beckett played the role of PC Mike Jarvis in The Bill for five years. He later played Dr Matt Ramsden in Coronation Street from 2000 to 2002, reprising the role in 2006. Discussing the character and the possibility of a return, Beckett said: "People were really protective of Ashley, and very anti the child-stealing doctor. I don't know about returning to Corrie again, but as long as Ashley is in the show there is a potential kidnap plot." But as the character of Ashley has now been written out with the rest of his on-screen family to follow shortly the return of Dr. Ramsden seems unlikely.

His other television credits include Robin Hood, Doctors and Casualty. In 2006, he guest starred as Richard III in the Doctor Who audio drama The Kingmaker.

Beckett's theatre work includes the original productions of the Alan Ayckbourn plays Drowning on Dry Land and Private Fears in Public Places, Around the World in Eighty Days, The Ghost Train, Murder with Love, Walk Hard, The Business of Murder, The Late Edwina Black and Absurd Person Singular. He has also appeared in pantomime.

Beckett plays Prospero in The Tempest for the 2017 open air Stafford Festival Shakespeare 22 June-8 July 2017.