Steven Graham biography, photos, personal life, wife and children, height 2025

Stephen Graham Biography

Stephen Graham is one of Britain's most recognizable and talented actors working today, captivating audiences with his chameleon-like ability to transform into vastly different characters, from hardened gangsters to everyday working-class guys.

Thanks to films like Snatch (2000), This Is England (2006), and series like Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014) and Adolescence (2025), this compact Liverpudlian with Jamaican-Swedish roots has become a genuine star, though he's never chased fame for fame's sake.

Actor Stephen Graham in a black sweater against a white background — Stephen Graham

Childhood and Family

Stephen Graham was born on August 3, 1973, in the small town of Kirkby in Merseyside. His childhood unfolded in a typical working-class family. As he puts it: "I'm just a mixed-race kid from a council estate in a place called Kirkby."

His biological father, Stephen Kelly, who had Jamaican roots, left the family early on. Stephen was raised by his mother Mary, a social worker. Later, a stepfather entered the picture – Mike Fazackerley, who initially worked as a mechanic before transitioning into healthcare.

Stephen has been open about what it was like being a light-skinned person of mixed race. As a child, peers would bully him because of his heritage, sometimes even calling him the n-word. But when Mike came into his life – a man born in Africa – he helped the boy learn to brush off the taunts and take pride in his background.

Collage of childhood photos of Stephen Graham with his mother — Stephen Graham as a child

When Stephen was eight years old, local actor Andrew Schofield spotted him in a school production of Treasure Island, where the boy played Jim Hawkins, and suggested he seriously pursue acting.

Education

Stephen attended Overdale Primary School, then continued his education at Ruffwood Comprehensive School. At 14, he began performing at Liverpool's Everyman Youth Theatre, which became a real-life training ground for him.

Later, Graham enrolled at Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance, where he met his future wife, Hannah Walters.

Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters in their youth — Stephen Graham in his youth (pictured with his wife)

Acting Career

Stephen's acting journey began in 1990 with small television roles – he appeared in series like "The Bill," "Coronation Street," and "Heartbeat." His early film work was equally modest: "Blonde Fist" (1991) and "The Full Monty" (1997).

The breakthrough in his career happened in 2000, and it was completely unexpected. Stephen was simply accompanying a friend to an audition for Guy Ritchie's "Snatch." The director thought he was also auditioning, and when Graham said "no," Ritchie replied: "I like your face" and offered him to start work on Monday.

That's how Stephen landed the role of naive Tommy, one of the main characters who gets caught up in a whirlwind of criminal events. He works with a team of small-time crooks and, alongside his partner Turkish (Jason Statham), heads to a pikey settlement to buy a caravan. Step by step, they get drawn into the world of underground boxing matches and major criminal showdowns.

Steven Graham and Jason Statham, wearing coats, stand among men — Steven Graham in "Snatch"

After "Snatch," the actor worked with Martin Scorsese himself in "Gangs of New York" (2002), where Graham held his own alongside stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz.

Stephen truly became a star thanks to Shane Meadows' film "This Is England" (2006), where he played Combo – a role he later reprised in three miniseries: "This Is England '86," "'88," and "'90."

Combo was radically different from naive Tommy in "Snatch." He's an aggressive skinhead leader who's returned from prison and tries to radicalize a group of teenagers. He's a man with deep psychological trauma and far-right views. The role of Combo earned Stephen Graham a British Independent Film Award nomination.

Bald Steven Graham in a white shirt and suspenders stands with his arms spread wide — Steven Graham in "This Is England"

Among his other standout roles:

Al Capone from HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" (2010-2014);
Baby Face Nelson in the crime drama "Public Enemies" (2009);
Scrum from "Pirates of the Caribbean" (2011 and 2017);
Tony Provenzano from "The Irishman" (2019), Martin Scorsese's monumental drama;
Noel Finch from the drama "The Ipcress File" (2012);
John Corbett from the fifth season of crime series "Line of Duty" (2021);
Hayden Stagg, one of the antagonists to Cillian Murphy's character in the sixth season of "Peaky Blinders" (2022).

Interesting fact: Stephen actually discovered actress Jodie Comer's talent, recommending her to his agent after working together on "The Good Cop."

Stephen's Personal Life

In 2008, Stephen married actress Hannah Walters after years of dating – they'd first met back in drama college. As he puts it: "I watched Hannah in drama school and always thought she was amazing." The couple has two children: daughter Grace (2005) and son Alfie (2007).

Stephen has dyslexia, and his wife helps him read scripts and decide whether to take on roles. In 2020, the couple founded their production company, Matriarch Productions.

Stephen Graham, his wife Hannah and their children Grace and Alfie pose on the red carpet — Stephen Graham with his wife and children

The family lives in the village of Ibstock in Leicestershire. Stephen doesn't drink alcohol and openly discusses his battle with depression. In the early 2020s, he even attempted suicide but was fortunately saved by chance.

Stephen Graham Now

2025 turned out to be a triumph for Stephen Graham. The main event was his Netflix project "Adolescence" – a powerfully impactful four-part miniseries that he not only created and co-produced with Jack Thorne but also starred in as the father of a 13-year-old boy accused of murder.

Each episode was shot in one continuous take – an incredibly complex technical challenge. "One of our aims was to ask the question: 'What's happening to our young people these days, and what pressure are they under from their peers, the internet, and social media?'" Graham explained the series' concept.

At the 2025 Emmys, "Adolescence" received 13 nominations. In one night, Stephen Graham won three awards: Best Actor in a Miniseries, Best Writing, and Best Miniseries. In his speech, he said: "Things like this don't usually happen to guys like me."

Stephen Graham in a black suit holds three golden Emmy statuettes in his hands, smiling widely — Stephen Graham at the 2025 Emmy Awards

Also in 2025, the series "A Thousand Blows" premiered – a historical boxing drama from "Peaky Blinders" creator Steven Knight. In this new project, Graham played one of the key roles. For this role, the actor seriously transformed his physical condition, saying: "It's wrong to be able to get yourself in that kind of shape at 50."

Among upcoming projects worth noting are the "Peaky Blinders" feature film, where he'll return as Tommy Shelby, and a biographical film about Bruce Springsteen, in which Graham will play the musician's father.

Fun Facts

Graham is a lifelong Liverpool fan and regularly appeared on Sky Sports' "Soccer AM" show.
The actor stands just 5'5", which often becomes a topic of discussion but has never stopped him from playing strong, charismatic characters.
In 2023, Stephen was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama – he dedicated the honor to his mother's memory, who passed away in 2022.
Graham has appeared in music videos for Arctic Monkeys' "Fluorescent Adolescent" and "When the Sun Goes Down," as well as videos for Sam Fender and Noel Gallagher.