Ross Kemp was born on July 21st 1964 in Barking, England. He attended Shenfield High School, before studying drama at the Webber Douglas Academy.

His first credited screen role came in 1986 when he played Graham Lodsworth in Emmerdale Farm. He followed that up with appearances on popular television series Birds of a Feather (1989) and London's Burning (1989).

In 1990 he received the call that would change the course of his acting career, and indeed his life. He had been awarded the role of a new character on the BBC soap Eastenders. Grant Mitchell was born, and Ross Kemp was a star.

Ross and his on screen brother Phil, played by Steve McFadden dominated Albert Square, until Ross decided to leave in 1999. In the years which followed, Ross furthered himself as an actor with roles in dramas such as Without Motive (2000) and Ultimate Force (2003-2006).

In 2005 the lure of Grant Mitchell proved too strong for Ross, and he returned to Eastenders in an attempt to revive the flagging show. It's still early days but the BBC's biggest programme does seem to be getting back on track.