Paul Popplewell is a British actor having played Simon in the BBC Two TV film drama Criminal (1994), Happy Mondays' Paul Ryderin24 Hour Party People (2001), Tyrannosaur (2011), Black Mirror's "Fifteen Million Merits" (2011), and as Paul Pegg in Casualty (2021–2023).
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 WeatheratThe Other PlaceinStratford-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]
Popplewell runs long distance to raise money for charity.[7]
| Group | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Arrows Craft Awards | Best Actor | Kick it Out | Won |
| Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards &TVAwards | Best Supporting Actor | American Buffalo | Nominated |
| Golden Chest International TV & Film Festival | Best Actor | Criminal | Won |
| Royal Television Society Awards (RTS Awards) | Best Actor | Criminal | Nominated |