Christian Cooke

Christian Louis Cooki​e is an English actor, director, and producer whose career has spanned more than two decades, beginning with a stage role at age ten in a production of Bedazzled at the Bingley Arts Centre and quickly moving to television with a Birds Eye commercial and a lead role in Granada Television’s Wilmot. Born on 15 September 1987 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, he was educated at St Mary’s Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy and grew up in a family that included an older brother, Alexander, a younger sister, Gabrielle, and a famous cousin, Spice Girls singer Mel B, through his mother Di. Cooke’s early breakout came with the ITV drama Where the Heart Is (2000‑2006), where he portrayed Luke Kirkwall, followed by guest appearances on series such as Doctors, The Royal, Casualty, and Inspector George Gently, establishing him as a versatile young talent. In 2008 he entered the Doctor Who universe, playing UNIT soldier Ross Jenkins in the two‑part story “The Sontaran Stratagem”/“The Poison Sky,” a role that cemented his presence in British sci‑fi fandom. His film debut arrived with the short Wish (2007) and escalated to feature‑length parts including Freddie Taylor in Cemetery Junction (2009) and Mercutio in Carlo Carlei’s lavish Romeo & Juliet (2013). The actor further diversified by starring as Garry Kasparov in Disney+’s acclaimed mini‑series REMATCH and as Ron in the Sundance‑award‑winning film Plainclothes (2025). Beyond acting, Cooke made his directorial debut with the independent short Chandide (2011) and later co‑produced projects such as Edith and the comedy series Annie Waits. Recent work includes a role in AMC’s That Dirty Black Bag, a performance as Mickey Argyll in Ordeal by Innocence (2018), and ongoing collaborations on short film Everything You Didn’t Say and adaptations of Point Blank and Knives In Hens.