Alex Avery

Alexander Richard Avery was born on 6 August 1971 in Bristol.^[1] Avery's family has been involved in wine trade for over 200 years.^[2] In 1999, Avery made his television debut in the first series of the BBC medical drama series Holby City. He portrayed the recurring role of Carl until the second series.^[3] A year later, he made his film debut in Quills, as well as beginning his stage career, appearing in Another Country.^[4] He also appeared in A Tender Prayer at the Bristol Old Vic later in 2000.^[5] In 2001, he appeared in four episodes of The Bill as Special Constable Knowles. His character died at the end of Avery's stint.^[6] Then in 2004, he was cast in the BBC project Dunkirk.^[7] In December 2006, Avery made his first appearance in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors. This marked the first of numerous of Avery's appearances in the soap.^[8]

Avery appeared in two Royal Shakespeare Company productions in 2004: The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Julius Caesar.^[9][10][11] Then in 2007, he starred in a West End theatre production Kean as the Prince of Wales.^[12] The production later toured the UK.^[13] A year later, Avery was cast in the recurring role of Simon Ackroyd on the BBC soap opera EastEnders. His character was introduced as Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) and Ben Mitchell's (Charlie Jones) teacher. He appeared again in 2014 and 2016.^[14] Throughout the early 2010s, Avery made various film appearances, including: The Grind (2012), What You Will (2012), National Theatre Live: War Horse (2014) and The Ones Below (2015).^[15] In 2019, Avery portrayed the titular role in Rose Theatre Kingston's production of Macbeth.^[16][17] In 2024, Avery returned to the BBC soap Doctors, but this time was cast in the recurring role of Graham Elton.^[18][19] At the time of his casting, Avery was unaware that he had been cast as a villain.^[6]