Rob James-Collier
Encyclopedia
Robert James-Collier is a British actor and model. He is known for his roles as Liam Connor
in Coronation Street
and as Thomas on Downton Abbey
.
, Greater Manchester
. He has two degrees; he studied business at Huddersfield and marketing at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology.
. Stars Ricky Tomlinson
and Denise Welch
were convinced by his talent, and he got the part of the womanising pub landlord. In 2006 he appeared in New Street Law
and played a small part as Stud in Shameless
series 3, episode 5 under the name of Rob Collier.
In 2006 he joined Coronation Street as one of the brothers buying a share of the local underwear factory. He left the show in October 2008. In an interview in early 2008, James-Collier announced he was leaving the soap but was planning to come back in the future. However, in June 2008, it was reported that the character of Liam was set to be 'brutally' killed off in the soap as part of a murder-mystery plotline where three well known residents would fall under suspicion for the crime. One of these would be Tony Gordon
played by Gray O'Brien
, who is in a relationship with Carla Connor
played by Alison King
in the show.
Since leaving Coronation Street, James-Collier has had a leading role in Downton Abbey
and has appeared in the West End stage version of Calendar Girls
.
, where he appeared in the Autumn/Winter 2007 and Spring/Summer 2008 catalogues.
He won the Sexiest Male award at the 2007 and 2008 British Soap Awards
in addition to "Best Exit" at the 2009 British Soap Awards
. He won Sexiest Male and Best Newcomer at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards
.
Liam Connor
Liam Barrington Connor is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, played by Rob James-Collier from 2006 to 2008.-Creation:...
in Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
and as Thomas on Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey is a British television period drama series, produced by NBC Universal-owned British media company Carnival Films for the ITV network. The series is set during the late Edwardian era and the First World War on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in Yorkshire, and features an...
.
Background
James-Collier was born in StockportStockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
. He has two degrees; he studied business at Huddersfield and marketing at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology.
Acting career
Having no experience as an actor, James-Collier auditioned for the series Down To EarthDown to Earth (UK TV series)
Down to Earth was a BBC One television series first broadcast in 2000 about a couple who start a new life on a Devon farm. The early episodes of the series were based on a series of books written by Faith Addis about their real-life move from London to Devon.The music in the series was composed by...
. Stars Ricky Tomlinson
Ricky Tomlinson
Eric Tomlinson , known by his stage name Ricky Tomlinson, is an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and James "Jim" Royle in The Royle Family....
and Denise Welch
Denise Welch
Jacqueline Denise Healy is an English actress, dancer and television presenter.-Early life:Denise Welch was born in Ebchester, County Durham, to father Vin and mother Ann and has a younger sister Debbie...
were convinced by his talent, and he got the part of the womanising pub landlord. In 2006 he appeared in New Street Law
New Street Law
New Street Law is a British legal drama television series produced by Red Production Company in association with One-Eyed Dog Ltd for BBC One. The series was created by G. F. Newman and Matthew Hall, and starred an ensemble cast headed by John Hannah and Paul Freeman...
and played a small part as Stud in Shameless
Shameless
Shameless is a British television drama series set in Manchester on the fictional Chatsworth council estate. Produced by Company Pictures for Channel 4, the first seven-episode series aired weekly on Tuesday nights at 10pm from 13 January 2004...
series 3, episode 5 under the name of Rob Collier.
In 2006 he joined Coronation Street as one of the brothers buying a share of the local underwear factory. He left the show in October 2008. In an interview in early 2008, James-Collier announced he was leaving the soap but was planning to come back in the future. However, in June 2008, it was reported that the character of Liam was set to be 'brutally' killed off in the soap as part of a murder-mystery plotline where three well known residents would fall under suspicion for the crime. One of these would be Tony Gordon
Tony Gordon
Anthony "Tony" Gordon was a fictional character in the itv soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by actor Gray O'Brien. The character first appeared on screen on 16 September 2007 and making his final appearance on 9 June 2010 after deciding to sacrifice himself in the Underworld fire. He is a...
played by Gray O'Brien
Gray O'Brien
Gray O'Brien is a Scottish television and film actor, best known for his portrayal of the villainous Weatherfield businessman Tony Gordon in the popular British soap opera Coronation Street from 2007 to 2010, and as Dr Richard McCaig on Casualty from 1996 to 1998.O'Brien was born in Stewarton,...
, who is in a relationship with Carla Connor
Carla Connor
Carla Connor is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional town of Weatherfield. She is portrayed by actress Alison King. Carla was created by producer Steve Frost as part of the new Connor family....
played by Alison King
Alison King
Alison King is an English actress. She has had major television roles as Lynda Block in the Sky One television series Dream Team, and as Carla Connor in Coronation Street since 2006.- Early life and education :...
in the show.
Since leaving Coronation Street, James-Collier has had a leading role in Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey is a British television period drama series, produced by NBC Universal-owned British media company Carnival Films for the ITV network. The series is set during the late Edwardian era and the First World War on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in Yorkshire, and features an...
and has appeared in the West End stage version of Calendar Girls
Calendar Girls
Calendar Girls is a 2003 comedy film directed by Nigel Cole. Produced by Buena Vista International and Touchstone Pictures, it features a screenplay by Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi based on a true story of a group of Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia...
.
Modelling career
James-Collier modelled for ArgosArgos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
, where he appeared in the Autumn/Winter 2007 and Spring/Summer 2008 catalogues.
He won the Sexiest Male award at the 2007 and 2008 British Soap Awards
British Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
in addition to "Best Exit" at the 2009 British Soap Awards
British Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
. He won Sexiest Male and Best Newcomer at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards
Inside Soap Awards
The Inside Soap Awards is a yearly award ceremony run by Inside Soap magazine since 1996. The awards celebrate the British and Australian soap operas and their actors. Until 2007, EastEnders had won the award for "Best Soap" on every occasion...
.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Perfect Day Perfect Day (TV film) Perfect Day was a two hour television movie, initially broadcast on Five in December, 2005.Centered around a group of university friends who reunite five years later for the wedding of Tom and Amy , it tells the story of old loves rekindled, marriages falling apart and the problems of career women... |
Alex | TV movie |
| Down To Earth Down to Earth (UK TV series) Down to Earth was a BBC One television series first broadcast in 2000 about a couple who start a new life on a Devon farm. The early episodes of the series were based on a series of books written by Faith Addis about their real-life move from London to Devon.The music in the series was composed by... |
Nicky Christy | TV series (Series 5) | |
| 2006 | Shameless Shameless Shameless is a British television drama series set in Manchester on the fictional Chatsworth council estate. Produced by Company Pictures for Channel 4, the first seven-episode series aired weekly on Tuesday nights at 10pm from 13 January 2004... |
Stud | TV series (1 episode: "Episode #3.5") |
| 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... |
Martin Stonewall | TV series (1 episode: "Secrets and Lies") | |
| Dalziel and Pascoe Dalziel and Pascoe (BBC TV series) Dalziel and Pascoe is a popular British television crime drama based on the Dalziel and Pascoe books by Reginald Hill, which was first broadcast in March 1996. It is set in Yorkshire, and is about two detectives... |
Simon Thewlis | TV series (1 episode: "The Cave Woman: Part 2") | |
| Coronation Street Coronation Street Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960... |
Liam Connor | TV series (330 episodes: 2006–2008) Won – Best Exit – British Soap Awards Won – Sexiest Male (2008) – Inside Soap Awards Won – Sexiest Male (2007) – Inside Soap Awards |
|
| 2010-present | Downton Abbey Downton Abbey Downton Abbey is a British television period drama series, produced by NBC Universal-owned British media company Carnival Films for the ITV network. The series is set during the late Edwardian era and the First World War on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in Yorkshire, and features an... |
Thomas | TV series |
| 2011 | Mercenaries Mercenaries (film) Mercenaries is an action-adventure war film directed by Paris Leonti, his second film after Daylight Robbery. Aimed at a UK release date in January 2012, and an international release following, the film stars Billy Zane, Rob James-Collier and Kirsty Mitchell... |
Callum |