Inside Grace star Richie Campbell's life including movie role and co-star relationship

Richie Campbell has made a triumphant return to television, captivating audiences as the hit ITV detective drama series heats up, now in its gripping fifth season.

The 42-year-old London-raised actor is bringing his character, Detective Glenn Branson, to life alongside DS Roy Grace, portrayed by John Simm, as they tackle some of the most grisly crimes plaguing their fictional East Sussex Police territory.

The premier of the fifth season recently graced ITV, with fans being treated to instant binge-watching pleasure as all four episodes were simultaneously released on the streaming platform ITVX, catapulting the show to the top of the most watched rankings almost overnight.

Richie, though internationally recognised for his role in the acclaimed crime series, was a significant figure in the film and acting industry well before he stepped into the shoes of Detective Branson.

We delve into the off-camera life of this celebrated actor, shedding light on what exists beyond the lens, reports

Relationship with Co-star John Simm

In an intimate chat with Sussex Live, Richie sung praises for fellow actor John Simm's approach to the craft, revealing the nature of their collaboration and friendship off-set. He stated: "John is a brilliant actor. He is very collaborative which is how I like to work.

"It's that element of being an ensemble and working through things together. I love all of that and we laughed all day long, but when it was time to focus and work we were on it - that goes for all the team. When we finished filming we felt like we wanted to do more, it was so good to do."

Early life and education

Richie discovered his passion for acting at a young age and honed in on his skills at The Anna Scher Theatre, a community drama school. He then pursued A-Level drama and went on to study Communication and Culture at university.

After completing his degree, Richie embarked on a successful West End career before transitioning to screen acting.

Overcoming parental concerns

Initially, Richie's parents were hesitant about his decision to pursue an acting career, instead encouraging him to take a more traditional path to pay off his substantial student loan.

However, after landing a six-month play, Slam Dunk, which would cover his loan repayments, Richie's parents eventually came around to the idea.

In a 2019 interview with Theatre Weekly, Richie recalled: "[The play] was going to pay me enough to be able to pay off my student loan, I knew that's what I wanted to do. My parents are from Guyana, so it was always drummed into us the importance of getting a good education and a secure job."

He shared: "But I went to them with good reasons for doing the play, I think the fact that I had gone to university, and now had a good justification for doing an acting job helped convince them."

Career

Luckily, persuading his parents to let him participate in Slam Dunk opened up a world of opportunities for Richie. He subsequently starred in ITV's The Bill as Dominic Hardy before exiting the series to portray Ndale Kayuni in Waterloo Road, in 2005.

He also took on roles in major dramas such as DCI Banks, The Frankenstein Chronicles, and Liar but most notably, he appeared in Top Boy as Chris from 2011 to 2019.

In 2009, Richie's acting career expanded to the big screen when he featured in the British film Anuvahood as the main town bully Tyrone.

Richie's life off-screen

When it comes to family and relationships, Richie prefers to maintain a low profile, so not much is known about his personal life. However, during a press conference for Grace, he did reveal how fans approach him on the school run about the show.

He commented: "I think the beauty of it is that the audience feels like they're growing with you, and you're growing with them. So there's a real commonality."

Offering a slight glimpse into his life away from the camera, he added: "I always say, I go and do the school run, and there's mums constantly saying, 'Oh, when's Grace? Why did you do that? You're so messy. Why are you living with him?' They feel like they know your character, which is lovely."

The star opened up about his passions beyond acting, revealing his love for fashion and tunes in a candid chat: "Listen, I'm a simple guy. I just need some music. I'm an RandB fan. As long as RandB is playing and I've got one or two movies, I'm all right."

Grace will return to ITV1 on Sunday from 8pm and is on ITVX