Sean Biggerstaff (born 15 March 1983) is an award-winning Scottish actor best known for playing Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch team captain and keeper, who coaches Harry, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Biggerstaff was born in Glasgow, Scotland growing up with his parents in Maryhill. Sean went to school in Milngavie and joined the local drama group, the Maryhill Youth Theatre, when he was just seven years old. By the age of 10, Sean was committed to acting. Encouraged, Sean auditioned for the roles of Macbeth, Tiny Tim, a Gay Producer and joined the renowned Royal Company at age 11, where he spent six years with the Scottish Youth Theatre. He is of Scottish and Polish descent.
In 1996, at age 13, Sean landed his first major role, playing "Darren" in The Crow Road. However, it was in 1997, at the age of 14, when he got his break. Alan Rickman had watched Biggerstaff perform in Macbeth. Rickman was so impressed; he cast Biggerstaff in his new movie, The Winter Guest as "Tom", a mischievous schoolboy. Soon afterward, Rickman recommended Sean to the London acting agency International Creative Management and Mr. Paul Lyon-Maris. Within a week, the Harry Potter castings were being distributed. During auditions, the directors suggested that he look at the part of Oliver Wood, Sean looked at the script and agreed.
Since then, Biggerstaff has had other roles, including Henry, Duke of Glocester in the 2004 TV mini-series Charles II: The Power & the Passion; "Matt" in the world premiere of The Girl With Red Hair (a play by Sharman MacDonald who also wrote The Winter Guest); and "Ben Willis" in the short film Cashback. Based on the success of Cashback, Biggerstaff recorded extra scenes, and the piece was adapted into a feature released in 2006. In 2007, Sean played Jeremy Wolfenden in the BBC4 TV movie Consenting Adults which was nominated for BAFTA Scotland's Best Drama Award on November 18, 2007, and Sean won the BAFTA Scotland's Award for Best Actor – Television for this role. He is currently shooting Hippie Hippie Shake, in London. Sean also starred in a movie as Rovo, about drugs, drink and smoking, made for schools in Scotland.
Theatre
Radio and television
Awards
References
