Gerard McCarthy

Infobox actor
name = Gerard McCarthy

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imagesize =200px
caption = Gerard McCarthy
birthname = Gerard McCarthy
birthdate = birth date and age|1981|3|31|age 27
birthplace = Belfast, Northern Ireland
occupation = Television actor
yearsactive = 2005-present
website = http://www.gerardmccarthy.co.uk/

Gerard McCarthy (born 31 March 1981) is a BS award nominated Northern Irish actor, known for his work on British television.

He is best recognised for his BS award nominated role as Kris Fisher in the British TV drama "Hollyoaks". [ [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/H/hollyoaks/cast/boys/krisfisher/ Cast » Hollyoaks » Channel 4 ] ]

Career

McCarthy's acting career began when he was awarded Kenneth Branagh’s Renaissance Scholarship to train at Laine Theatre Arts, graduating in 2002 [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/5294602.stm |title=Actor becoming new soap 'bad boy' |accessdate=2007-06-05 |format=stm |author=BBC News Online] . He made his professional debut in Perth Repertory Theatre’s production of "Carousel" before joining the cast of the smash hit West End musical Mamma Mia! [cite web |url=http://www.actuallyactors.com/gerard/career.htm |title= Gerard McCarthy official website (carrer) | format= | work= ] before transferring into the West End production of Saturday Night Fever, directed by Arlene Philips.

McCarthy is also an ambassador for the NSPCC and The Northern Ireland's Children Hospice and on 6th October he overcame his fear of heights whilst doing an abseil in Belfast to raise funds.

He gave an electric live musical performance with soul legend Sheila Ferguson as part of Children in Need 2006 [cite web |url=http://www.gerardmccarthy.co.uk/ |title=Who is Gerard McCarthy |accessdate=2007-06-05 |format= |work= ] and performed a Marc Bolan medley with Hollyoaks co-stars Kevin Sacre, Loui Batley & Summer Strallen as part of Children in Need 2007..

He won the Best Irish TV Actor gong at the 2007 Irish Entertainment Awards and was shortlisted for Best Newcomer in the 2007 The British Soap Awards. He was also nominated in the Best Newcomer category at The Inside Soap Awards 2007.

Gerard's work as a presenter includes Mobile Bites for Virgin, BBC One's "Inside Out", Rave On Air 2006 - LIVE! and he co-hosted this year's V Festival at Chelmsford with Claire Anstey.

Other notable appearances in 2007 include: guest judging "Dancing On Ice- The Tour" when it skated into Belfast's Odyssey Arena, he was also a resident on the judging panel of the Belfast CityBeat contest Young Star Search, made an appearance on Big Brother's Little Brother with Dermot O'Leary, filmed a Most Haunted Halloween Special and appeared as a guest on Katie & Peter: Unleashed with co-star Roxanne McKee.

He is currently contracted to Hollyoaks until Dec. 2008.

Awards and Nominations

2007 Irish Entertainment Awards - Best Actor (Winner)

2007 British Soap Awards - Best Newcomer (Nominated)

2007 Inside Soap Awards - Best Newcomer (Nominated)

Personal life

Although not confirmed, he is thought to be dating Blue Peter's Zoe Salmon and was seen sitting beside her at An Audience without Jeremy Beadle.

He has been previously linked to a number of Hollyoaks stars, including Jennifer Biddall, who played his on-screen love interest Jessica Harris, and Loui Batley, who plays Sarah Barnes. It was later confirmed that Gerard & Loui dated for 5 months.

Whilst on Big Brothers Little Brother, Dermot O'Leary asked him what it was like to play a cross dresser. Gerard told him that he was pleasantly surprised at girl's reactions and said that his fellow "Hollyoaks" star Roxanne McKee loved men in make up.

Gerard has also been linked to TV star Ulrika Jonsson [cite web |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music-gigs/news/article2408319.ece |title= Dirty dancing |accessdate=2007-06-05 |author=The Belfast Telegraph |work= ] and Coronation Street's Kym Ryder. [cite web |url=http://www.people.co.uk/showbiz/showbiz/tm_headline=kym-and-her-hollyblokes&method=full&objectid=20413486&siteid=93463-name_page.html|title= Kym And Her Hollyblokes |author=The People |work= ] He is very good friends with Ryder, but denies they ever had a romantic relationship. [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a130388/hollyoaks-kris-hopes-for-corrie-part.html] He has known "Hollyoaks" co-star Glen Wallace since they were teenagers. [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/H/hollyoaks/interviews/previous/glenwallace.html]

Controversy

McCarthy supports Stonewall's campaign to stop gay bullying in schools and he hit the headlines during August 2008 after he called for the resignation of MP Iris Robinson following her anti-gay comments in which she said “There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children.” McCarthy said her opinions were "simply anacceptable in a modern democracy". He went on to say that she was ruining the lives of young people struggling with their sexuality and claimed that she had breached the MPs' Parliamentry Code of Conduct. [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a121688/hollyoaks-star-involved-in-anti-gay-row.html]

References

External links

* [http://www.GerardMcCarthy.co.uk Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/officialgerardmccarthy Gerard McCarthy] MySpace
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2490263/ IMDB Profile]