Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Jamie Greer

Nine celebrities you might not know are from Merseyside

It's easy to be reminded of the backgrounds of some of our favourite celebrities.

The Scouse accent often give away an upbringing in Liverpool, the strength of the accent being so recognisable across the country. It's very obvious where the likes of Steven Gerard, Jodie Comer, Jamie Webster and Meatball Molly come from, for example.

However, there are many well known stars who, despite their Merseyside origins, you may not know are from the city. Many will be shocked to learn some of the celebrities who were born in and even grew up in Merseyside.

READ MORE: The Crown and House of the Dragon star confirmed for Liverpool Comic Con

With many from the world of acting, here are some well known names who you might not know were born in Merseyside.

Jason Isaacs

Jason Isaacs moved to London aged 11 (PA)

Jason Isaacs is best known for starring as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. What is lesser known is his scouse roots. Jason was born in 1963 in Childwall. He attended the local synagogue of King David High School in Wavertree before his family moved to London when he was 11.

The West Wing actor claimed in 2015 that he ditched his Scouse accent because "everyone took the p***"" out of it in London. He adopted a '"mockney" accent in his teens and at university a posh accent.

He added: “Then I went to university in Bristol to do law, where everyone talked like Hugh Grant. I’d never met anyone who talked that way, but within a week I talked like that. My ability for accents was really a social weakness but a professional asset.”

Peter Serafinowicz

Peter Serafinowicz attended St Francis Xavier's College in Woolton (SHARED CONTENT UNIT)

Peter Serafinowicz has featured in Star Wars, Shaun of the Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy and much, much more. His childhood was spent in Liverpool, first in Belle Vale then Gateacre. During his years St Francis Xavier's College in Woolton, he discovered a passion for impressions.

He admitted to the ECHO in 2011 that his grades "went progressively downhill as I got older and I just started messing around in school". He was also a singer in Liverpool band Hippy Trousers.

Anne Robinson

Anne Robinson was raised in Blundellsands (BBC)

Former Weakest Link host and ECHO journalist Anne Robinson was born in Crosby and raised in Blundellsands. Her upbringing is not known by many. This is likely linked to the fact her mum sent her to Farnborough Hill convent college in Hampshire to get rid of her Scouse accent in the fear it "might jeopardise" her career.

She has since become a divisive figure in the city due to her controversial comments about Scousers.

Rhian Teasdale

Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg was born in Formby (PA)

She was brought up on the Isle Of Wight but Rhian Teasdale from indie band Wet Leg actually born in Formby. She moved with her family moving to the island when she was eight. Rhian has been nominated for four BRIT awards and will be performing at the awards ceremony next month.

Kim Cattrall

Kim Catrall is proud of her scouse roots (Getty Images)

Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall originally hails from Mossley Hill. Her family moved to Canada at when she was just three months old. She returned to the city when she was 11, staying with her auntie in Wavertree and attending St Edmund’s College for Girls in Princes Park, before moving back to Canada a year later.

She is still in touch with her scouse roots. She told the ECHO in 2008 that she is "proud to be a Liverpudlian". She has been a patron of the FACT cinema and is a strong Liverpool supporter.

Elisabeth Sladen

Elisabeth Sladen worked at the Liverpool Playhouse (BBC)

Elisabeth Sladen warmed the hearts of a nation in her role as Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who and the CBBC spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures, starring alongside multiple doctors including David Tennant and fellow scouser Tom Baker. Elizabeth was born in Liverpool in 1946 and started her arts career in the city.

Her first film appearance was as an extra in musical Ferry Cross the Mersey and she excelled as an assistant stage manager at the Liverpool Playhouse. After her untimely death in 2011, the ECHO recalled her lapsing back into her Scouse accent in interviews alongside her tales of meeting Brian Epstein and Liverpool players in the 1970s.

Alison Steadman

Alison Steadman is best known for playing Pam in Gavin and Stacey (PA)

Alison Steadman is best known for her role Pamela Shipman in Gavin and Stracey. Her long acting career started in Liverpool, where her headteacher at Childwall Valley High School for Girls informed her of a free drama course at Liverpool Youth Theatre. After a period working at Walton probation office, she attended East 15 Acting School in Essex.

She admitted in 2017 that she has a "close connection with Liverpool" and still regards the city as her hometown.

Laurence McKenna

Laurence McKenna has ploughed a successful career in YouTube, specialising in football. Many know that Laurence is a huge Liverpool fan but many are not aware he was born in the city.

His dad's side of the family are Liverpool fans, and passed down their support to Laurence as they moved down south. He talked in 2020 about speaking to his dad after Liverpool were confirmed as league title winners for the first time in 30 years. Last year, he produced a documentary about captain Jordan Henderson.

David Morrissey

David Morrissey recently starred in BBC's Sherwood (PA)

The star of Sherwood and The Walking Dead, David Morrisey recently received an honorary degree from Liverpool Hope University. After receiving his degree, he said the city "is a big part of my life and I'm very proud of that."

Many are unaware that he is from Liverpool, despite being born in Kensington and growing up in the city. His breakthrough role was in Scouse writer Willy Russell's One Summer, about two Liverpool schoolboys who run away to Wales.

He also did extensive work at the Everyman theatre, before moving onto prestigious national and international roles, including playing former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in The Deal and The Governor in American series The Walking Dead.

Life through a new lens. We are Curiously. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.