Martin Cole
Encyclopedia
Martin Samuel Cole is a British
actor
who began his career early as a child growing up in Cardiff
, Wales
. His first television role was at the age of 11, playing in Sudz on ITV. By the time he reached college (Coleg Glan Hafren
), where he studied performing arts, he had already played lead roles in award winning theatre productions and worked in television and radio.
Whilst still at college Martin became a member of Welsh
rap group "Best Shot". They had success in the UK
charts
before breaking up in 1995.
In 1995 Martin moved to London
to continue pursuing his acting career. Ironically his first big break came in 1997 when he went back to Wales to shoot the BBC Wales
drama series "Tiger Bay
". One year later Martin made his London stage debut in the Roy Williams
multi-award-winning play Starstruck. As the lead character Dennis, Martin shone and his performance and the play received critical acclaim.
Within a couple of years Martin became a familiar face on British television. Appearing in many shows including Casualty
, Spooks
, Dream Team
, Red Cap
, Holby City
and the cult Sky One
show "Mile High
". He also appeared in movies, including: "Buffalo Soldiers
" (2001), with Joaquin Phoenix
and "Dead Cool
" (2004), as the lover of Rosanna Arquette
.
In 2005 he was named by the Western Mail as the 7th sexiest man in Wales.
In 2005 Martin moved to Los Angeles
and started working as the host on various TV shows including: Hollywood Headlines, Hollywood Headlines, Movie Music, Soundtrack News, Hollywood Buzz, Word for Word and 350 degrees.
Appeared in Welsh drama 'Caerdydd
' in 2009.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
who began his career early as a child growing up in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. His first television role was at the age of 11, playing in Sudz on ITV. By the time he reached college (Coleg Glan Hafren
Coleg Glan Hafren
Coleg Glan Hafren is a Further Education college based in Cardiff. The college has over 12,000 students and provides over 800 courses, including A levels , GCSE re-sits and languages; Business and Professional courses such as Law, Marketing and Accounting; Hair and Beauty; Access, ESOL and Open...
), where he studied performing arts, he had already played lead roles in award winning theatre productions and worked in television and radio.
Whilst still at college Martin became a member of Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
rap group "Best Shot". They had success in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
before breaking up in 1995.
In 1995 Martin moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to continue pursuing his acting career. Ironically his first big break came in 1997 when he went back to Wales to shoot the BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
drama series "Tiger Bay
Tiger Bay
Tiger Bay was the local name for an area of Cardiff which covered Butetown and Cardiff Docks. It was re-branded as Cardiff Bay following the building of the Cardiff Barrage which dams the tidal rivers Ely and Taff to create a body of water.-History:...
". One year later Martin made his London stage debut in the Roy Williams
Roy Williams (playwright)
Roy Samuel Williams, OBE is an award-winning English playwright. Williams has many awards including the George Devine Award for Lift Off, the 2001 Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright for his play Clubland, the 2002 BAFTA Award for Best Schools Drama for Offside and 2004 South Bank...
multi-award-winning play Starstruck. As the lead character Dennis, Martin shone and his performance and the play received critical acclaim.
Within a couple of years Martin became a familiar face on British television. Appearing in many shows including Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
, Spooks
Spooks
Spooks is a British television drama series that originally aired on BBC One from 13 May 2002 – 23 October 2011, consisting of 10 series. The title is a popular colloquialism for spies, as the series follows the work of a group of MI5 officers based at the service's Thames House headquarters, in a...
, Dream Team
Dream Team (TV series)
Dream Team is a British television series produced by Hewland International which aired on Sky1 and Sky3 from 1997 to 2007; it chronicled the on-field and off-field affairs of the fictional Harchester United Football Club....
, Red Cap
Red Cap (TV series)
Red Cap is a British television series produced by Stormy Pictures for the BBC and broadcast on BBC One. Two series of 6 episodes each were produced following a feature length pilot. It featured the investigations of an SIB unit of the British Army based in Germany...
, Holby City
Holby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
and the cult Sky One
Sky One
Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
show "Mile High
Mile High
Mile High is a British television drama based on the lives of the cabin crew members of "fresh!", a budget airline based in London. The name of the show comes from the "Mile High Club". The show was broadcast on Sky1 from 2003 to 2005.-Background:...
". He also appeared in movies, including: "Buffalo Soldiers
Buffalo Soldiers (2001 film)
Buffalo Soldiers is a 2001 film, based on the 1993 novel by Robert O'Connor, which follows the rogue activities of a group of US soldiers based in West Germany during 1989 when the fall of the Berlin Wall is imminent...
" (2001), with Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix , formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is an American film actor. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and his family returned to the continental United States four years later...
and "Dead Cool
Dead Cool
Dead Cool is a 2004 British dramedy film. It was written and directed by David Cohen.-External links:*...
" (2004), as the lover of Rosanna Arquette
Rosanna Arquette
Rosanna Lauren Arquette is an American actress, film director, and producer.-Early life:Arquette was born in New York City, the daughter of Brenda Olivia "Mardi" , an actress, poet, theater operator, activist, acting teacher, and therapist, and Lewis Arquette, an actor and director. Her paternal...
.
In 2005 he was named by the Western Mail as the 7th sexiest man in Wales.
In 2005 Martin moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and started working as the host on various TV shows including: Hollywood Headlines, Hollywood Headlines, Movie Music, Soundtrack News, Hollywood Buzz, Word for Word and 350 degrees.
Appeared in Welsh drama 'Caerdydd
Caerdydd
Caerdydd is a Welsh language television programme set in Cardiff made by Fiction Factory for Welsh public service television station S4C...
' in 2009.