Paul Popplewell is a British actor having played Simon in the BBC Two TV film drama Criminal (1994), Happy Mondays' Paul Ryder in 24 Hour Party People (2001), Tyrannosaur, Black Mirror's Fifteen Million Merits (2011), and as Paul Pegg in Casualty (2021–2023).

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;^[1] The film was about a boy who with undiagnosed autism and from a council estate background in Bradford.^[1] 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 was playing a leading role with the Royal Shakespeare Company in their production of Bad Weather at The Other Place (theatre) in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire.,^[2][3]

In 2001, he played Happy Mondays bassist and founder member Paul Ryder in the Michael Winterbottom film 24 Hour Party People.^[1] 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,^[4][5] which was written and directed by Paddy Considine, and also starred Olivia Colman, Peter Mullan and Eddie Marsan.^[5]

From 2021 to 2023, he played the receptionist, Paul Pegg in the BBC One drama Casualty.^[6]

Personal life

Popplewell runs long distance to raise money for charity.^[7]

Filmography

Feature Film

• Scoop (2023)
• Peterloo (2018) – Mill Overseer
• Journeyman (2017) – Jackie
• On the Road (Wolf Alice) (2016)
• ID2: Shadwell Army (2016) – Danny Boy
• The Goob (2014) – Levi
• '71 (2014) – Training Corporal
• The Cost of Living (2013, Short) – Mark
• The Look of Love (2013) – Journalist No. 1
• Spike Island (2012) – Roses' Manager
• Tyrannosaur (2011) – Bod
• The Trip (2010) – Paul
• Dog Altogether (2007, Short) – Pub Youth 1
• The Waiting Room (2007) – Van Man
• Bright Young Things (2003) – Private
• In This World (2002) – (Europe) (voice)
• Heartlands (2002) – Gulliver's Kingdom Soldier (uncredited)
• Morvern Callar (2002) – Cat in the Hat
• 24 Hour Party People (2002) – Paul Ryder
• Club Le Monde (2002) – Dil
• The Man with Rain in His Shoes (1998) – Simon
• I Want You (1998) – Phonebox Man
• FairyTale: A True Story (1997) – Second Soldier

Television

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)

Awards and nominations