Stephen Graham's early life was marked by his upbringing in the small town of Kirkby, Lancashire, where he was raised by his mother, a pediatric nurse, and his step-father, a social worker, after his biological father, of Jamaican and Swedish descent, was not a part of his life.
Graham's entry into the acting world was humble, with years of small parts and bit roles, including appearances on ITV, where he played Lee Sankey on Coronation Street in 1999, and in films like Pit Fighter in 2005.
However, his big break came unexpectedly, when he was cast as the dim-witted Tommy in Guy Ritchie's film Snatch in 2000. Graham did not audition for the role, but instead accompanied a friend to the audition, where he was asked if he was next. When he replied that he was not, Ritchie told him, "I like your face," and asked if he could start work the following Monday.
This marked the beginning of Graham's successful career, which has included critically acclaimed performances in films like Gangs of New York, directed by Martin Scorsese, and on television, where he played Sgt. Myron 'Mike' Ranney in the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers in 2001.
Graham's impressive range has been showcased in a variety of roles, including his performances in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in 2011, Parade's End in 2012, and Taboo in 2017, among others.
