Biography for
Alec Newman More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

27 November 1974, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Birth Name

Mark Newman

Height

5' 9" (1.75 m)

Mini Biography

Alec Newman was born in Glasgow on the 27th of November 1974. Raised both in Scotland and England he joined the National Youth theater at 17 after injury ruled out a career in soccer. There he played various roles most notably Iago in Shakespeare's Othello. Upon finishing his training both at the NYT and then at LAMDA, Newman went straight to work both on television and in the theater, appearing in the obligatory Scots cop show Taggart and playing leading roles at Edinburgh's Royal Lyceum. Playing guest leads in several of Britain's leading network shows led Newman to his debut feature G:MT Greenwich Mean Time (1999), where he won critical acclaim for his performance. However, he has consistently returned to the British theater, working with Cate Blanchett in the West end production of "Plenty", and leading a revival of Max Frisch's "Andorra" at London's Young Vic. Continued screen appearances included a reprisal of Paul Atreides in "Children of Dune" (2003) and the title role in "Frankenstein" (2004) alongside Luke Goss, Donald Sutherland, and Julie Delpy. The hard hitting independent, The Principles of Lust (2003), hit screens in early 2004, further assurance of Newman's presence in British film after an appearance in Stephen Fry's debut Bright Young Things (2003).Both films were selected to play in competition at the 2004 Sundance Film festival.

2004 was also the year Newman played the lead in a John Wells pilot for a remake of the cult 60's show "Dark Shadows".His first foray into series television,Wells himself had fought with the network for his choice and won.Alec beat off the competition for that years most coveted role in television.The pilot was not selected for the 2004 season however.In interviews Newman seemed to be hinting at the "destructive politics" of the American television world.

Whatever the real behind the scenes drama was,the actor reacted assertively and quickly, firing into more film work including Constellation (directed by award winning Jordan Walker Pearlmain),and Moonlight Serenade,opposite Academy Award nominee Amy Adams.His role in "The Fifth Patient" marked somewhat of a departure for Alec-he plays a British doctor,(having consistently realized American roles in most of his prior work.)The film also stars Nick Chinlund and Peter Bogdanovich.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Ray Jones

Trivia

His father is Sandy Newman of the 70s Scotish group, 'Marmalade'.

Father moved his family from Glasgow, Scotland to London, England when Alec was 3.

Considered a life as a football player before breaking his leg

He joined the NYT at the age of sixteen and left in 1995.

Appeared in Frank Herbert's Dune on television, and Plenty on stage in England, with Cate Blanchett. Both had previously been made as movies with Sting in a supporting role.

Played the character of Des in the unsuccessful London musical Desperately Seeking Susan, which featured songs from Blondie.

Personal Quotes

I Went to the gym every day, I was terrified I'd look fat. The guy playing Feyd, Matt Keeslar (Feyd has a pivotal fight with Paul) is incredibly fit. So I figured, 'If I'm going to be half-naked opposite this guy, then don't eat that chocolate. And stay off the beer.' Didn't quite manage that last one. - On getting in shape for Dune 2000