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Ashley David Artus. Born Newcastle-on-Tyne 28th January 1971. Is an English actor, known for playing a variety of roles on stage and screen.

He studied Theatre,Communication and Art at Derwentside college in County Durham.{Being awarded the Rotary Prize for Dramatic Art} He then trained at the Guidford school of Acting winning the choreographic prize and the School Cup for Best Actor. EARLY LIFE He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in the north east of England to a working class family. Sylvia his mother, Heidi & Wendy his sisters, and younger brother Daniel.His grandparents were very influential is Ashleys life Sheila Greener {Fail} and Edward Fail from Ashington and Morpeth. When Ashleys father left home, his mother and siblings were raised by his stepfather Tony Artus. Ashley was always involved in performing from an early age and knew he wanted to become an Actor.

CAREER

After graduating drama school Ashley went into Repertory Theatre and began working in Television and Film. His first role was the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz at Cheltenham Everyman. His first Television was a Screen One with Julie Walters and Jim Broadbent "Wide eyed and legless{aka usa title the Wedding Gift} His first film Judge Dredd with Sylvester Stallone. Artus has played a variety of roles and enjoys the freedom to work in every genre.

Early work Includes The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole at Sheffield Crucible 1992 then television drama Harry with Michael Elphick. He played the MC [Emcee} in Cabaret the musical at Bolton Octagon and was nominated for a Manchester Evening News drama award in 1993. More tv drama for Granada TV The last Tango. He Played Tulsa In Gypsy at West Yorkshire Playhouse with Sheila Hancock as Rose and Michael Cashman as Herbie. Shakespeare's Henry VI for the BBC & Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet for Neil Bartlett at the lyric Hammersmith london. He played Pyotr in the western premiere of Fortunes Fool at Chichester Festival Theatre with Sir Alan Bates then Tales From The Crypt for HBO in 1997.

He was in Chris Monks groundbreaking production of the Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance with Nicola Blackman Julie Jupp and Bridgid Zengeni.

He won the role of the vampire gang leader in the film The Wisdom Of Crocodiles ( aka Immortality} with Jude Law. More theatre, Shopping and F**king for Max Stafford Clarke and Mark Ravenhill {Out Of Joint Royal Court production} He had a role working with Mike Leigh on his film Topsy Turvy, then back to the stage playing Geoff in Shelagh Delaneys A Taste Of Honey opposite Gemma Craven, Kaye Wragg and Patrick Baladi. More film Kiss kiss Bang Bang with Stellan Skarsguard and Chris Penn and The Emperors New Clothes with Sir Ian Holm.

He won a craft advertising finalist award for his work in Reeboks international commercial cinema campaign reebok escape the sofa.

Another film Lighthouse Hill the BBC crime drama In deep then back to Shakespeare Launce in Two Gents Of Verona at the Northcott Exeter. Sir Trevor Nunn then directed him in the original production of Skellig at the Young Vic London. He then played Walden Mcnair Deatheater in the movie Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. More BBC drama Holby City, God On Trial & Vexed. The Bill then the film Attack of The Gryphon. Sir Cameron Mackintosh cast him as Thenardier in the new 25th anniversary international tour of Les Miserables he features on the CD recording of the 25th anniversary production.

He played semi regular character Detective Inspector Berkeley in BBC's Casualty. Sir Cameron Mackintosh then cast him as Mr Sowerberry in the UK tour of Oliver! when the original actor fell ill.

Ashley played Jonathon Priestly in Film 4 Flytopia followed the Pawnbroker in the film version of Les Miserables. Sinibaldi in the series Borgia.Suntrap with Kayvan Novak and The Dumping Ground both for BBC television. He was recently back in London's West End playing Zazu in The Lion King. He continues to work in every genre enjoying a variety of different roles.

Personal. His brother Daniel commited suicide in 2001 and his Sister died suddenly, in 2015. "Trauma is unfortunately part of life it can make one grow" Ashley Artus.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0037973/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1