Steven Hartley

Steven Hartley starred as 'Bill Sikes' in Oliver!, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Place of birth?
Shipley. West Yorkshire

Did you go to training school, if so which one?
London Academy of music and dramatic Art

As an actor, do you have a preference for stage, tv or film?
Anything with creative rehearsal time.

Your first stage performance?
Hay Fever. Mercury Theatre. Colchester

Career highlight to date?
All of it.

What roles would you most like to play?
Would love to play Macbeth at some point before I am too old. Although Patrick Stewart showed the role can be played by a more mature Actor, he was great.

What's the best advice you've ever received?
Never underestimate the power of a smile.

What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage?
I had to appear naked on stage in the play 'Millfire', for the Bush Theatre and came out in a terrible rash due to nerves, I looked like Michael Gambon in 'The Singing Detective'.

What is the most annoying part about your job?
People who don't care and people who are rude.

Briefly tell us how you became re-involved with Oliver.
I heard the show was going to be revived and contacted Cameron Macintosh and Rupert Goold, I was then asked to work with the TV show 'I'd do anything' to find a 'Nancy'. Then contracted to do the role after I finished my contract with 'Dirty Dancing' and completing the feature film 'Deserter.'

If you had not become a performer, what might you have done instead?
Lawyer.

Favourite after-show haunts
At home with my partner actress Abby Francis or dinner at Sophies Steak house covent garden with Abby.

Who are your favourite actors/actresses/Singer?
Mark Rylance is my favourite stage Actor, he is a genius at the craft. Bruce springsteen is my favourite singer and on film I can watch Al Pacino all day long.

If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be and what would you say to them?
Muhammad Ali. "Why did you not retire sooner, the world needed you"?

What was the last book you read?
I am currently reading 'The History of Modern Britain' by Andrew Marr. I read 2 or 3 books at the same time.

What was the last film you saw, and name some of your favourite movies?
Last film I saw was 'State of Play'. Favourite films ...'Butch Cassidy, The right stuff, The Godfather 1&2,The Natural, Love story (Still makes me cry)

Favourite TV Programmes?
The Soprano's, 24, The Wire.

Favourite holiday destinations?
France.

Do you have any hobbies?
Running, boxing training, cooking

Do you have any superstitions?
No

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you?
Time Machine, a Boat and sun tan lotion