Steve Coogan

Birthday: 14 October 1965, Middleton, Manchester, England, UK

Birth Name: Stephen John Coogan

Height: 179 cm

Steve Coogan was born on October 14, 1965 in Middleton, Manchester, England as Stephen John Coogan. He is an actor and producer, known for Philomena (2013), Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013) and Despi ...Show More

[on the Leveson Inquiry into the British press] I got involved in Leveson because I knew no one else Show more [on the Leveson Inquiry into the British press] I got involved in Leveson because I knew no one else in the public eye would. They didn't want to take the risk. I thought the way the press behaved - and yes it was towards me, but also towards a lot of other people who didn't have a voice like me - was just wrong. Hide

I love "The Onion" on YouTube. It's one of the funniest things out there. And I like watching docume Show more I love "The Onion" on YouTube. It's one of the funniest things out there. And I like watching documentaries on BBC4. They don't insult your intelligence. But I have guilty pleasures, too. If I want to really dumb down, I'll watch Banged Up Abroad (2007). It's about people who get into trouble and get locked up in foreign prisons. If you're having a bad day, you look at that and think, you know what, I may be having a bad day, but I'm not locked up in a foreign prison. Hide

The big comic performance is a very obvious thing to do. The bolder, more inventive thing sometimes Show more The big comic performance is a very obvious thing to do. The bolder, more inventive thing sometimes is the subtler, understated performance with minute shades and variations. If you start to disrespect the character you're playing, or play it too much for laughs, that can work for a sketch, it will sell some gags, but it's all technique. It's like watching a juggler - you can be impressed by it, but it's not going to touch you in any way. Hide

I don't want to be someone who's trying to spin this public image of me. I have had some negative ta Show more I don't want to be someone who's trying to spin this public image of me. I have had some negative tabloid press, I'm sure you're aware [I am], but I don't like to portray myself as somehow a nice, well-rounded person. Hide

I like cars. I have about 10 - all British cars. I have a Lotus, Morgan, Aston Martin. I don't reall Show more I like cars. I have about 10 - all British cars. I have a Lotus, Morgan, Aston Martin. I don't really drive them much because I'm scared of damaging them. I just clean them and look at them and sometimes I take them out on a Sunday up and down the road and then I come back and clean them again. Hide

When my life has been the subject of tabloid intrusion, what I have never done is get engaged in jus Show more When my life has been the subject of tabloid intrusion, what I have never done is get engaged in justifying myself. Celebrities who go round apologizing are pitiful, and don't do themselves any favors. Hide

I'm not Mother Teresa, but I'm not Frank Bough either. I'm not Mother Teresa, but I'm not Frank Bough either.

I don't talk about my personal life. I don't go in Hello! magazine to get a free kitchen because I s Show more I don't talk about my personal life. I don't go in Hello! magazine to get a free kitchen because I show them my kitchen. I like to be creative, but I'm not interested in being recognized. Hide

[Dec. 2013] I'm reading is "How To Live: Or a Life of Montaigne," by Sarah Bakewell. It's about this Show more [Dec. 2013] I'm reading is "How To Live: Or a Life of Montaigne," by Sarah Bakewell. It's about this Renaissance writer Michel de Montaigne who wrote essays that together form a kind of manual on how to live your life, only he wrote it in the 1500s. It resonates still today. It's about not having to aspire to live in some perfect way but to somehow embrace your flaws. It's quite liberating and comforting. Hide

I have never wanted to be famous, as such - fame is a by-product. Me, myself, personally, I like to Show more I have never wanted to be famous, as such - fame is a by-product. Me, myself, personally, I like to keep myself private. I have never said I am a paragon of virtue, a model of morality. I simply do what I do. One could argue that there are those who make their career out of being famous and those people do enter into a Faustian pact, where they use the press to raise their profile. They exploit the press for their own ends. They are in the fame game. Hide

I always find it easier to portray myself as being unlikeable and idiotic; to actually play a charac Show more I always find it easier to portray myself as being unlikeable and idiotic; to actually play a character that is likeable and engages the audience is far more difficult. It's a more subtle kind of challenge. Hide

People have made the observation, which is entirely valid, that Steve Coogan's becoming more like Al Show more People have made the observation, which is entirely valid, that Steve Coogan's becoming more like Alan Partridge. It's not actually true. Alan Partridge is becoming more and more like me. Hide

As soon as I see period costume, I turn off. It's like hearing drama on Radio 4. As soon as I see period costume, I turn off. It's like hearing drama on Radio 4.

In comic acting, to improvise effectively is quite difficult. A lot of actors can improvise up to a Show more In comic acting, to improvise effectively is quite difficult. A lot of actors can improvise up to a certain level - an entry level, which is when you see the actors having more fun than the audience. Hide

I don't like modern jazz. I like smoother jazz, but not so smooth that it veers toward Chris De Burg Show more I don't like modern jazz. I like smoother jazz, but not so smooth that it veers toward Chris De Burgh. That would be wrong. Hide

[on his multifaceted contributions to 'Philomena'] It was a cathartic experience for me. Comedy as a Show more [on his multifaceted contributions to 'Philomena'] It was a cathartic experience for me. Comedy as an end in itself is like chocolate - enjoyable and not very nourishing. Why are people so scared of sincerity? I wanted to talk about important things.. I'm not portentous or self-righteous. I've still got prosaic tastes. I like cars! I'm not joyless. Hide

I don't have a Twitter thing. I don't do Facebook. I don't do any of that. I'm holding out. I don't have a Twitter thing. I don't do Facebook. I don't do any of that. I'm holding out.

Actors say they do their own stunts for the integrity of the film but I did them because they looked Show more Actors say they do their own stunts for the integrity of the film but I did them because they looked like a lot of fun. Hide

The 'News of the World' is a misogynistic, single parent-hating, asylum seeker-hating newspaper, and Show more The 'News of the World' is a misogynistic, single parent-hating, asylum seeker-hating newspaper, and it's gone to the wall, and I'm delighted. Hide

Steve Coogan's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (265) as Creator (2)

Steve Coogan: The Man Who Thinks Hes It

Philomena

Steve Coogan'S roles

David Ershon

Paul Raymond

Dr. Bright

Damien Cockburn

Dylan

Martin Sixsmith

Alan Partridge

Paul Michaelson

Hades

Heston

Silas

Ambassador Mercy