Noel Clarke

Noel Clarke
Noel Clarke at the BAFTA Film Awards 2015.jpg
Clarke at the 68th British Academy Film Awards in 2015
Born
Noel Anthony Clarke

(1975-12-06) 6 December 1975 (age 46)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • writer
  • producer
  • director
Years active1999–present
SpouseIris Da-Silva
Children3

Noel Anthony Clarke (born 6 December 1975) is a British actor, screenwriter, director and comic book writer. Rising to prominence for playing Mickey Smith in Doctor Who (2005–2010), he played Sam in the films Kidulthood (2006), Adulthood (2008) and Brotherhood (2016), which he also wrote and directed. He played Aaron Bishop in the TV series Bulletproof (2018–2021), which he also wrote and produced.

Making his film debut in I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003), Clarke has gone on to star in films including Centurion (2010), 4.3.2.1. (2010), Fast Girls (2012), Storage 24 (2012), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), I Am Soldier (2014), The Anomaly (2014), I Kill Giants (2017), Mute (2018), 10x10 (2018), The Corrupted (2019), Twist (2021) and SAS: Red Notice (2021), some of which he also wrote, directed or produced.

In 2015, Clarke founded the company Unstoppable Film and Television with friend and fellow actor Jason Maza, and they have written, directed and starred in several productions.

Clarke won the Laurence Olivier Award for Most Promising Performer in 2003, the BAFTA Orange Rising Star Award in 2009, and received the BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award in 2021. The latter was suspended on 29 April 2021, however, in the wake of allegations of verbal abuse, bullying, and sexual misconduct by 26 different women.

Early life

Clarke was born in Notting Hill, West London, to Trinidadian parents Gemma (née Clarke), a nurse and part-time laundrette worker, and Alphaeus Baptiste "Alf" Clarke, a carpenter. He has an older half-brother. His parents divorced shortly after he was born, and he was brought up by his mother on a council estate in Ladbroke Grove where his mother still lives. In 2018, when appearing on the BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?, Clarke discovered that his maternal great-grandparents emigrated to Trinidad from Saint Vincent, while his paternal grandmother, Menelvia Clarke (née Bedeau), emigrated there from Grenada.

Clarke studied Media at the University of North London, and worked as a personal trainer before going on to take acting classes at London's Actors Centre.

Career

Clarke has had recurring television roles as Wyman Norris in the revived series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (2002–2004) and as Mickey Smith in the first two series of the revival of the BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who (2005–2006). He became the series' first black companion in the episode "School Reunion", and reprised his role as Mickey in the episode "Journey's End" in 2008 and in 2010 in "The End of Time" Part 2, and also starred in the Doctor Who audio series Dalek Empire: The Fearless, which was released from September to December 2007.

Clarke's other television work includes appearances in Casualty and Metrosexuality. He has also acted on the stage, and won the Laurence Olivier Award for "Most Promising Newcomer" in 2003 for his performance in the play Where Do We Live at the Royal Court Theatre. Clarke starred in the film Doghouse, directed by Jake West and produced by Carnaby Films International. The film was shot primarily in Midhurst, a small town in West Sussex, on the grounds of the old King Edward VII Hospital. He also participated in Neil Marshall's film Centurion, about which Clarke said, "it's about the Roman Legion and I'm one of the soldiers".

Clarke began his writing career in 2005 when he wrote the screenplay for the film Kidulthood which was released in 2006. He also directed and starred in the sequel, Adulthood, which was released in 2008. On directing his first film, Clarke described his experience: "Directing for the first time was definitely a challenge and tiring at times. It was a steep learning curve and if you're willing to do stuff and go with it, then it pays off." Kidulthood earned £1,209,319 during the opening weekend of its release. His other writing credits include "Combat" which is an episode of the Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood, and West 10 LDN, a pilot for BBC Three which is about kids on a rough housing estate.

In 2008, he starred in the video for The Prodigy single "Invaders Must Die".

In 2009, Clarke was awarded a BAFTA award in the category of Orange Rising Star Award. As a result of the success of Kidulthood, Adulthood, and his BAFTA win, he was ranked at number 83 in the MediaGuardian 100, an annual ranking of media people in The Guardian. In 2010, he signed a deal with Icon.

He also played the role of A.J., opposite Jim Sturgess, in Philip Ridley's film, Heartless. Clarke has worked with BBC Blast, a project for teenagers that aims to inspire and get people being creative. Shortly after winning his BAFTA he gave a talk to inspire young people telling them to "broaden your mind".

His next project, 4.3.2.1., a heist movie, was released on 2 June 2010, and starred Tamsin Egerton, Emma Roberts, Shanika Warren-Markland and Adam Deacon. The film was shot in London and New York. He played an uncredited role in 2012's Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance as a priest. The scene was cut from the movie, but can be seen in the Deleted Scenes in the Special Features of the DVD.[citation needed]

He played Thomas Harewood, a family man with a wife and a young daughter, in Star Trek Into Darkness. The film was released on 15 May 2013.

In 2015, Clarke created a short-lived superhero series, The Troop, for Titan Comics. The first issue was released in December 2015, and received critical acclaim.

In 2016, Clarke wrote, directed, and starred in Brotherhood, a sequel to Adulthood that went on to earn £1.98m in its opening week.

Personal life

Clarke lives in London with his wife Iris (née Da-Silva), with whom he has three children.

In 2015, Clarke's former co-star Adam Deacon was banned by West London Magistrates' Court from contacting Clarke after Deacon was found guilty of harassment without violence due to sending a "barrage" of abusive social media messages. The pair reportedly fell out in 2010, and among the messages he sent out, Deacon also accused Clarke of "bullying" him and "sabotaging" his career.

Sexual misconduct allegations

On 29 April 2021, The Guardian published allegations by 20 women of verbal abuse, bullying, and sexual harassment by Clarke; by the following day, The Guardian had spoken to a further six women with allegations against Clarke. One of the accusations is that he filmed a nude audition by Jahannah James without her consent and showed it to a producer who worked for him. The same producer accuses him of exposing his genitals to her in the back of a car and groping her in a lift the next day. The actress Jing Lusi, who appeared with Clarke in the film SAS: Red Notice alleges that he sexually propositioned and threatened her. Other women allege that Clarke pressured them to perform sex scenes nude, and grew angry if they refused.

In response to the claims, BAFTA announced it was suspending both his membership and his Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award. The following day, ITV announced that it would not broadcast the final episode of Viewpoint, in which Clarke starred, and international distribution of the series was suspended. Industry Entertainment declared they would no longer be representing Clarke and Sky immediately halted his involvement in any future productions.

Clarke issued a statement through the PA news agency denying "any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing" but conceding that one allegation was true, that he had repeatedly made remarks on the buttocks of an employee, Helen Atherton, who was art director on Brotherhood. Clarke apologised and said he was seeking professional help "to change for the better".

On 7 May 2021, Clarke was accused by five more women of sexual harassment on the set of Doctor Who and at a promotional event relating to the show. One of these accusations was made by an anonymous actress who said that Clarke "made advances on me" and asked her regularly if she "wanted a piece of his dark chocolate". She explained that when she rejected his advances, Clarke badmouthed her to people in the industry. Clarke denied these allegations. Sky and production company Vertigo Films said they would no longer proceed with further series of Bulletproof.

On 27 March 2022, it was revealed that Metropolitan Police had decided not to proceed investigating the sexual harassment claims against Clarke.

On 7 September 2022, it was reported that Clarke had dropped the legal action he had taken against BAFTA following its suspension of his membership and honorary award.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2003 I'll Sleep When I'm Dead Cyril
2006 Kidulthood Sam Peel Writer
2008 Adulthood Sam Peel Writer and director
2009 Heartless AJ
Doghouse Mikey
2010 Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll Desmond / Sparky
Centurion Macros
4.3.2.1. Tee Writer and co-director
Huge Clark
2011 Screwed Truman
2012 The Knot Peter Writer
Fast Girls Tommy Writer
Storage 24 Charlie Writer
2013 Star Trek Into Darkness Thomas Harewood
Saving Santa Snowy Voice
2014 I Am Soldier Staff Sergeant Carter
The Anomaly Ryan Producer and director
2015 The Throwaways Erik Williamson
2016 The Habit of Beauty Stuart
Brotherhood Sam Peel Writer and director
2017 I Kill Giants Mr. Mollé
2018 Mute Stu
10x10 Dennis Writer and producer
Songbird Larry
2019 Fisherman's Friends Troy
The Corrupted DS Neil Beckett
2020 Bulletproof: The Interrogation Aaron Bishop
2021 Twist Brownlow Producer
SAS: Red Notice Major Bisset

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Metrosexuality Kwame O'Rielly
2000 The Bill Lennie Cox 1 episode
2001 Judge John Deed Adam 1 episode
Waking the Dead Extra Uncredited, 1 episode
Casualty Danny Oldfield 3 episodes
2002–2004 Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Wyman Norris 14 episodes
2003 Adventure Inc. Mike Reed 1 episode
Doctors Jim Baker 1 episode
2004 Holby City Shaun O'Connor 3 episodes
A Touch of Frost Kenny 1 episode
2005–2010 Doctor Who Mickey Smith 17 episodes
2005–2010 Doctor Who Confidential Himself 10 episodes
2006 Doctor Who Ricky Smith 2 episodes
Tardisodes Ricky Smith 1 episode
Jane Hall Steve Heaney 2 episodes
2007 Dubplate Drama Hostel manager
2008 West 10 LDN Michael Writer
2012 What If The Angel
2014 The Assets Mack 2 episodes
2015 Chasing Shadows DI Carl Prior 4 episodes
The Throwaways Erik 4 episodes
2016 The Level Gunner Martin 6 episodes
2017 Urban Myths Muhammed Ali Episode: "The Greatest. Of All Time."
Who Do You Think You Are? Himself 1 episode
2018 Inside No. 9 Gordon Episode: "And the Winner Is..."
2018–2021 Bulletproof NCA Officer Aaron Bishop Co-creator, 15 episodes
2020 The Adventures of Paddington PC Wells Episode: "Paddington Finds a Pigeon"
2021 Viewpoint DC Martin King 5 episodes

Short film

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Native Victor
Take 2 Jamal / Cornelius
2002 The Last Angel Kid
Licks David Writer and producer
2006 Plastic Jock
2009 Reign of Death Joe Digby
2012 What If The Angel
2018 My Butterfly Nathan

Theatre

  • 2003: Where Do We Live at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2003 Laurence Olivier Awards Most Promising Performer Where Do We Live Won
2006 Dinard British Film Festival Best Screenplay Kidulthood Won
2009 BAFTA Awards Rising Star Award Won
2014 Edinburgh International Film Festival Audience Award The Anomaly Nominated
2017 National Film Awards UK Action Brotherhood Won
Best Director Nominated
Screen Nation Film and Television Awards Achievement in Film Production Won

This page was last updated at 2022-09-14 22:50 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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