Michael Mears was born in Wood Green, London, and grew up in sight of Alexandra Palace. With over four decades experience as a professional actor, in theatre, film and television, he has worked for major UK theatre companies, including the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Peter Hall Company, performing in London’s West End on numerous occasions.

Theatre credits include: You Never Can Tell (West End); The Woman in Black (West End); Fagin in Oliver!; Jonas Chuzzlewit in Martin Chuzzlewit (Belgrade Theatre); Conversations With My Father (Old Vic); Hamlet (Young Vic); Measure For Measure and Henry IV parts 1 and 2 (Theatre Royal, Bath); Harper Regan (National Theatre); Twelfth Night (Actors Tourin Company, UK and international tour); The Tempest (Queens Theatre, Hornchurch); Rats Tales (Royal Exchange, Manchester).

TV credits include: Sharpe’s Rifles, The Lenny Henry Show, Parades End, Sanditon, The Crown, Ghosts, Industry, Too Much, Fleabag and The Colour of Magic.

Film credits include: Four Weddings and a Funeral, Little Dorrit, The Good Soldier Schwejk, Last Night In Soho, The Running Man, The Old Curiosity Shop and Private Peaceful.

Writing credits include: Soup (Edinburgh Festival – winner of Scotsman Fringe First Award); This Evil Thing (UK and US Tour); The Mistake (Edinburgh Fringe, Arcola Theatre, UK, US and Japanese tour).

He has written seven solo plays for BBC Radio 4.