Stephen's mother load of modesty!

MUM really is the word for Stephen Graham. The 52-year-old has enjoyed a career most actors could only dream of, with a string of blockbuster movies and hit TV shows under his belt.

- ■by ED GLEAVE, TV Editor

But the Liverpool-born star, who found fame in the ‘90s, says he can’t take all the credit for his success. He reckons he owes a lot to his late mum Mary, who helped him stay humble through everything.

He says: "My mum used to say to me when I was a kid, ‘No one's above you, and no one’s below you’. That's how I like to conduct myself on set. It’s infectious, and it gives everyone areal sense of belonging.

"Without one piece of the jigsaw, we don’t have the final picture."

Mary, who died in 2022, was a big inspiration for Stephen when he was growing up.

He adds: "I dreamed of being an actor since I was a 10-year-old kid living in a flat with my mum and dad. Now I get to sit at the table with the grownups, make decisions and create opportunities for other actors, which is a wonderful position to be in.

"It can be challenging and a struggle at times, but I'm not down the mines, I'm doing what I love. I feel very blessed."