Craig Fairbrass
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Craig Fairbrass is a leading British actor born in East London who made his feature film debut opposite Academy Award winner Denzel Washington as Challoner in Working Title's powerful British thriller For Queen & Country (1988).
Craig has since gone onto star in some fifty feature films, including the lead role in Twenty independent films in the U.K and U.S as well as award-winning British TV along with lead guest star roles in several major U.S. TV series.
Craig also became one of the most iconic voices within the most successful video game franchise of all time, Call Of Duty Modern Warfare by lending his voice to Gaz, Ghost and Walcroft. Leading roles in the Mo-Cap games Battlefield V and Squadron 42/Star Citizen.
In 2018 Craig won best Actor at The National Film Awards for his strong portrayal of Pat Tate in Rise of Footsoldier 3 and continues to headline this powerhouse British franchise. 2019 the co-lead in the BIFA nominated feature Film Muscle and starring in Warheads the 2020 Olivier nominated stage play along with the critically acclaimed, No 1 Netflix Film Villain. The critics choice in The New York Times. 2022 Craig wins the outstanding performance Award at The National Film Awards for the critically acclaimed A Violent Man.
Craig's father Jack was one of nine kids and was a stevedore, the best you could be as a London docker, his mother Maureen was a machinist dressmaker in Petticoat Lane, she was one of ten kids. Along with his younger sister Lindsey they lived in Stepney where Craig grew up.
It was at Eaglesfield boys secondary comprehensive in Woolwich where Craig became fascinated with films and acting, although struggling from one year to the next and not top of the class academically he found drama an outlet, winning a place with the National Theatre youth company, it was here that he really got the acting bug. After being expelled at 15, he worked as an asphalt roofer's labourer, a job he would return to time and time again in the coming years for support while securing acting roles.
Craig soon realised that to survive he needed a second string to his bow if he was to pursue his dream as an actor, so he returned to roofing in the day and working on the doors of some of S.E. London's less desirable nightspots for the next five years until securing enough money to buy his own business, a sandwich bar in Woolwich market.
After his breakout role in For Queen And Country, television soon followed, with the BBC drama Big Deal (1984) a regular role in LWT's award winning London's Burning (1988) and the highly acclaimed BAFTA /EMMY award-winning TV series Prime Suspect (1991) and Prime Suspect 2 (1992) in which Craig played hard-bitten detective Frank Burkin opposite Helen Mirren.
Craig used this as a calling card in Los Angeles, securing a starring a role in one of the biggest action movies of the 90s, Cliffhanger (1993) with Sylvester Stallone, which opened doors in the U.S independent film arena, starring in the action films, Beyond Bedlam (1994) (aka Nightscare), Galaxis (1995) (aka Terminal Force) and Proteus (1995) before returning to the UK to star in the British thriller Killing Time (1998) and the award-winning horror Darklands (1996), plus a regular role in the ITV comedy series Duck Patrol (1998) opposite Richard Wilson, David Tennant and Jason Watkins.
In 1999 Craig joined the cast of the BBC's flagship show EastEnders (1985) where his recurring character of Dan Sullivan over three years won record viewing figures, and a four-hander Sunday evening special directed by Tom Hooper (Les Miserables) won a TV BAFTA for best drama.
Other strong roles followed, lead villain Ray Betson in the TV movie The Great Dome Robbery (2002), then to Rome to complete his role on Se sarà luce sarà bellissimo - Moro: Un'altra storia (2008) (aka Moro), for controversial award-winning Italian art-house director Aurellio Grimaldi, and next to Vancouver for the Chris Klein comedy The Long Weekend (2005) and the guest lead in BBC Radio 4's afternoon play Fair Maids Are Shining.
Craig's role of the killer Henry Caine opposite Nathan Fillion in White Noise 2: The Light (2007), the sequel to the No. 1 box office hit White Noise reaches no. 5 in the top ten cinema films in London. But it was in 2008 that saw Craig in his most powerful performance to date, that of true life gangster Pat Tate in Rise of the Footsoldier (2007), the gangster epic based on true life events, directed by BAFTA nominee Julian Gilbey, followed by a strong supporting role in The Bank Job (2008), opposite Jason Statham.
Craig returned to L.A to guest-star in U.S TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008), opposite Lena Heady. David Mamet's top rated action drama series The Unit (2006), opposite Dennis Haysbert, Stargate SG1 and the action film Far Cry (2008).
Craig continues to forge a strong position in the independent film arena with lead roles in Freight, Dead Cert and Devils Playground - comedy cameos in The Shouting Men and Just For The Record. 2011 saw Craig in U.S action thriller House Of The Rising Sun opposite Dave Bautista, co-lead in British thriller St Georges Day, U.S actioner Hijacked and Universal's multi-million dollar Vikingdom 3D. Universal's Get Lucky and Bula Quo the Status Quo action comedy and the male lead in Let Me Survive a drama based on the best selling book.
Oct 2012 Craig played the lead role of British mercenary Lex Walker opposite Jason Patric and James Caan in the L.A based U.S action thriller The Outsider, followed by Universal's gangster spoof The Hooligan Factory.
In recent years, Craig has taken the lead role of Alfie Jennings in Jonnie Malachi's violent, stylized contract killer movie Breakdown and Mark McQueens slick revenge thriller London Heist which was also written by Craig and won him best Actor at the Marbella film festival., voice work also continues on the Call of Duty franchise with Infinite Warfare and Modern Warfare remastered.
2018 see's Craig win the best Actor award at The National Film Awards for his powerful portrayal of Pat Tate in Rise of the Footsoldier 3 - The Pat Tate years, which was SKY UK's biggest Premium-VOD release ever at the time of release.
Craig has lead roles in two of the most, eagerly anticipated performance capture, computer games this year the Gary Oldman Squadron 42/Star Citizen and the co lead in "Under no flag" in Battlefield V single player mode.
Rise of the Footsoldier 4 Marbella reaches No 1 on the UK DVD chart and No1 on UK iTunes. The Scott Adkins actioner Avengement releases Theatrically in the US to strong business.
2019 saw Craig return to the Theatre as Captain Deeks in the Olivier nominated, sell out, four star reviewed play Warheads. October sees the World premiere at the BFI London Film Festival of the eagerly awaited psychological thriller - Muscle, from Award winning Director Gerard (HYENA) Johnson and a nomination for the discovery Award at this years BIFA's and in competition at the Tallinn Film Festival.
2020 see's Craig in the lead role of Eddie Franks in the critically acclaimed, London crime thriller Villain. The film reaches No.7 in the Itune's top 10 US films and the Critics choice in The New York Times as well as the No1 Film on Netflix UK.
2022 Craig will next be seen in the the lead role of Steve Mackelson via Vertigo Films in the hard hitting prison drama A Violent Man as well as reprises his iconic role of Pat Tate in the fifth instalment of Rise of the Footsoldier Origins, plus a supporting role in the upcoming urban drama The Sun also Rises. Craig has just completed filming in Cape Town on the new Epic Netflix series 'One Piece" as Red Leg Zeff and will reprise his role of Pat Tate in the stand alone Footsoldier revenge thriller - Tate. 2 Days of Blood.
Craig wins the Outstanding performance Award at this years National Film Awards 2022, for his portrayal of Steve Mackelson in "A Violent Man" 2023 Craig is currently Filming the BBC/Amazon six part, mini series Boat Story. The Drama/Thriller is written and Directed by acclaimed brother's Harry and Jack Williams.
Craig has since gone onto star in some fifty feature films, including the lead role in Twenty independent films in the U.K and U.S as well as award-winning British TV along with lead guest star roles in several major U.S. TV series.
Craig also became one of the most iconic voices within the most successful video game franchise of all time, Call Of Duty Modern Warfare by lending his voice to Gaz, Ghost and Walcroft. Leading roles in the Mo-Cap games Battlefield V and Squadron 42/Star Citizen.
In 2018 Craig won best Actor at The National Film Awards for his strong portrayal of Pat Tate in Rise of Footsoldier 3 and continues to headline this powerhouse British franchise. 2019 the co-lead in the BIFA nominated feature Film Muscle and starring in Warheads the 2020 Olivier nominated stage play along with the critically acclaimed, No 1 Netflix Film Villain. The critics choice in The New York Times. 2022 Craig wins the outstanding performance Award at The National Film Awards for the critically acclaimed A Violent Man.
Craig's father Jack was one of nine kids and was a stevedore, the best you could be as a London docker, his mother Maureen was a machinist dressmaker in Petticoat Lane, she was one of ten kids. Along with his younger sister Lindsey they lived in Stepney where Craig grew up.
It was at Eaglesfield boys secondary comprehensive in Woolwich where Craig became fascinated with films and acting, although struggling from one year to the next and not top of the class academically he found drama an outlet, winning a place with the National Theatre youth company, it was here that he really got the acting bug. After being expelled at 15, he worked as an asphalt roofer's labourer, a job he would return to time and time again in the coming years for support while securing acting roles.
Craig soon realised that to survive he needed a second string to his bow if he was to pursue his dream as an actor, so he returned to roofing in the day and working on the doors of some of S.E. London's less desirable nightspots for the next five years until securing enough money to buy his own business, a sandwich bar in Woolwich market.
After his breakout role in For Queen And Country, television soon followed, with the BBC drama Big Deal (1984) a regular role in LWT's award winning London's Burning (1988) and the highly acclaimed BAFTA /EMMY award-winning TV series Prime Suspect (1991) and Prime Suspect 2 (1992) in which Craig played hard-bitten detective Frank Burkin opposite Helen Mirren.
Craig used this as a calling card in Los Angeles, securing a starring a role in one of the biggest action movies of the 90s, Cliffhanger (1993) with Sylvester Stallone, which opened doors in the U.S independent film arena, starring in the action films, Beyond Bedlam (1994) (aka Nightscare), Galaxis (1995) (aka Terminal Force) and Proteus (1995) before returning to the UK to star in the British thriller Killing Time (1998) and the award-winning horror Darklands (1996), plus a regular role in the ITV comedy series Duck Patrol (1998) opposite Richard Wilson, David Tennant and Jason Watkins.
In 1999 Craig joined the cast of the BBC's flagship show EastEnders (1985) where his recurring character of Dan Sullivan over three years won record viewing figures, and a four-hander Sunday evening special directed by Tom Hooper (Les Miserables) won a TV BAFTA for best drama.
Other strong roles followed, lead villain Ray Betson in the TV movie The Great Dome Robbery (2002), then to Rome to complete his role on Se sarà luce sarà bellissimo - Moro: Un'altra storia (2008) (aka Moro), for controversial award-winning Italian art-house director Aurellio Grimaldi, and next to Vancouver for the Chris Klein comedy The Long Weekend (2005) and the guest lead in BBC Radio 4's afternoon play Fair Maids Are Shining.
Craig's role of the killer Henry Caine opposite Nathan Fillion in White Noise 2: The Light (2007), the sequel to the No. 1 box office hit White Noise reaches no. 5 in the top ten cinema films in London. But it was in 2008 that saw Craig in his most powerful performance to date, that of true life gangster Pat Tate in Rise of the Footsoldier (2007), the gangster epic based on true life events, directed by BAFTA nominee Julian Gilbey, followed by a strong supporting role in The Bank Job (2008), opposite Jason Statham.
Craig returned to L.A to guest-star in U.S TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008), opposite Lena Heady. David Mamet's top rated action drama series The Unit (2006), opposite Dennis Haysbert, Stargate SG1 and the action film Far Cry (2008).
Craig continues to forge a strong position in the independent film arena with lead roles in Freight, Dead Cert and Devils Playground - comedy cameos in The Shouting Men and Just For The Record. 2011 saw Craig in U.S action thriller House Of The Rising Sun opposite Dave Bautista, co-lead in British thriller St Georges Day, U.S actioner Hijacked and Universal's multi-million dollar Vikingdom 3D. Universal's Get Lucky and Bula Quo the Status Quo action comedy and the male lead in Let Me Survive a drama based on the best selling book.
Oct 2012 Craig played the lead role of British mercenary Lex Walker opposite Jason Patric and James Caan in the L.A based U.S action thriller The Outsider, followed by Universal's gangster spoof The Hooligan Factory.
In recent years, Craig has taken the lead role of Alfie Jennings in Jonnie Malachi's violent, stylized contract killer movie Breakdown and Mark McQueens slick revenge thriller London Heist which was also written by Craig and won him best Actor at the Marbella film festival., voice work also continues on the Call of Duty franchise with Infinite Warfare and Modern Warfare remastered.
2018 see's Craig win the best Actor award at The National Film Awards for his powerful portrayal of Pat Tate in Rise of the Footsoldier 3 - The Pat Tate years, which was SKY UK's biggest Premium-VOD release ever at the time of release.
Craig has lead roles in two of the most, eagerly anticipated performance capture, computer games this year the Gary Oldman Squadron 42/Star Citizen and the co lead in "Under no flag" in Battlefield V single player mode.
Rise of the Footsoldier 4 Marbella reaches No 1 on the UK DVD chart and No1 on UK iTunes. The Scott Adkins actioner Avengement releases Theatrically in the US to strong business.
2019 saw Craig return to the Theatre as Captain Deeks in the Olivier nominated, sell out, four star reviewed play Warheads. October sees the World premiere at the BFI London Film Festival of the eagerly awaited psychological thriller - Muscle, from Award winning Director Gerard (HYENA) Johnson and a nomination for the discovery Award at this years BIFA's and in competition at the Tallinn Film Festival.
2020 see's Craig in the lead role of Eddie Franks in the critically acclaimed, London crime thriller Villain. The film reaches No.7 in the Itune's top 10 US films and the Critics choice in The New York Times as well as the No1 Film on Netflix UK.
2022 Craig will next be seen in the the lead role of Steve Mackelson via Vertigo Films in the hard hitting prison drama A Violent Man as well as reprises his iconic role of Pat Tate in the fifth instalment of Rise of the Footsoldier Origins, plus a supporting role in the upcoming urban drama The Sun also Rises. Craig has just completed filming in Cape Town on the new Epic Netflix series 'One Piece" as Red Leg Zeff and will reprise his role of Pat Tate in the stand alone Footsoldier revenge thriller - Tate. 2 Days of Blood.
Craig wins the Outstanding performance Award at this years National Film Awards 2022, for his portrayal of Steve Mackelson in "A Violent Man" 2023 Craig is currently Filming the BBC/Amazon six part, mini series Boat Story. The Drama/Thriller is written and Directed by acclaimed brother's Harry and Jack Williams.
