Biography for
Steve Coogan

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English actor whose versatile character portrayals, range of voices and gift for mimicry have earned him comparisons with the late Peter Sellers.

Has worked on BBC radio.

Trained as an actor at Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre.

Based the character of Alan Partridge on a radio presenter who interviewed him just as he was becoming famous. Coogan began mimicking the interviewer during the interview and from this came the inspiration for Coogan's most famous creation.

Parents are Irish.

The third of six children.

Younger brother of Brandan Coogan (MUTV presenter) and Martin Coogan (ex-lead singer of The Mock Turtles)

His show, Steve Coogan is The Man Who Thinks He's It, was nominated for a 1999 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Entertainment for the 1998 season.

Aidan McArdle is his cousin.

Has a daughter, Clare, from his relationship with solicitor Anna Cole.

Worked with Jackie Chan in Around the World in 80 Days (2004).

Was considered to play Peter Sellers in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004).

Personal Quotes

"Actors say they do their own stunts for the integrity of the film but I did them because they looked like a lot of fun."

"I always find it easier to portray myself as being unlikeable and idiotic; to actually play a character that is likeable and engages the audience is far more difficult. It's a more subtle kind of challenge."

"As soon as I see period costume, I turn off. It's like hearing drama on Radio 4."

"I don't want to be someone who's trying to spin this public image of me. I have had some negative tabloid press, I'm sure you're aware [I am], but I don't like to portray myself as somehow a nice, well-rounded person."

"In comic acting, to improvise effectively is quite difficult. A lot of actors can improvise up to a certain level - an entry level, which is when you see the actors having more fun than the audience."

The big comic performance is a very obvious thing to do. The bolder, more inventive thing sometimes is the subtler, understated performance with minute shades and variations. If you start to disrespect the character you're playing, or play it too much for laughs, that can work for a sketch, it will sell some gags, but it's all technique. It's like watching a juggler - you can be impressed by it, but it's not going to touch you in any way.

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