Declan Bennett
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Declan William Bennett (born 20 March 1981) is an English singer-songwriter, actor and playwright. He gained prominence as a member of the band
Point Break ''Point Break'' is a 1991 American action film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by W. Peter Iliff. It stars Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Lori Petty and Gary Busey. The film's title refers to the surfing term " point break", where a ...
, before going on to be a solo musician. He is known on screen for his roles as Charlie Cotton in the soap opera ''
EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...
'' and Jonathan Roberts in the ITV series '' The Long Call''. Bennett is also a noted stage actor performing on Broadway in the musicals ''Rent'' and ''Moulin Rouge''. He's also performed on various London stages in productions of ''Once'' in the original West End cast, ''
Jesus Christ Superstar ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Life of Jesus in the New Testament, Gospels' accounts of Passion of Jesus, the Passion, the work interprets ...
'', ''Carousel'', and '' Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812''.


Early life and education

Bennett was born in
Coventry Coventry ( or rarely ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county, in England, on the River Sherbourne. Coventry had been a large settlement for centurie ...
and has an older brother Kieran. Like his ''EastEnders'' character, Bennett is of Irish descent; his mother Rose is from
Westmeath County Westmeath (; or simply ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It formed part of the historic Kingdom of ...
, and his paternal grandparents are from
Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
and
Wexford Wexford ( ; archaic Yola dialect, Yola: ''Weiseforthe'') is the county town of County Wexford, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the ...
. Bennett attended Christ the King Primary School in Coundon and then Cardinal Newman Catholic School and Community College.


Career


Early ventures

As a teenager, Bennett performed with the Belgrade Youth Theatre and the Coventry Youth Operetta Group (YOG)
Coventry Coventry ( or rarely ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county, in England, on the River Sherbourne. Coventry had been a large settlement for centurie ...
, including appearances in Willy Russell's ''Our Day Out'' in September 1996, and in ''Boy Band'', which featured a number of his own compositions. He also performed with the
National Youth Music Theatre The National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) is an arts organisation in the United Kingdom providing pre-professional education and musical theatre stage experience for young people. Based in London, it is constituted as a private limited company (or ...
, in ''The Kissing-Dance'' 1999.


Music

In May 1999, Bennett was one of nine teenagers chosen to sing live on the ITV morning TV show '' This Morning'' in a feature that put together a boy band. Following his appearance, he was contacted in the studio by another band,
Point Break ''Point Break'' is a 1991 American action film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by W. Peter Iliff. It stars Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Lori Petty and Gary Busey. The film's title refers to the surfing term " point break", where a ...
, which featured Brett Adams and David 'Ollie' Oliver from UK children's TV programme '' Byker Grove'', who were signed to Warner Music, and who were looking for a new member. The band released five singles, four of which made the UK top 20, and an album, which was number one in three countries in South east Asia, including Japan, and made the UK top 40. Bennett left the band in December 2000. In January 2005, Bennett released his first solo album under the pseudonym "Sumladfromcov" entitled ''The Painters Ball'' on his own record label, Covboy Records. This was followed by a limited-edition EP, ''The Kitchen'', in May 2006. Now performing as a singer-songwriter under his own name, Bennett released a five-track iTunes-only EP in March 2007 entitled ''10 Nelson Road''. His second full-length album, ''An Innocent Evening Of Drinking'', was released on 14 April 2008. ''Therapy'', an iTunes-only single packaged with two remixes – Olivia's Mix and New York Live Studio Mix – was released in the U.S. on 27 April 2009 and in the rest of the world on 23 March 2009. On 31 January 2010, Bennett performed on the
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...
with
Green Day Green Day is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Rodeo, California, in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, with drummer Tré Cool joining in 1990. In 1994, their majo ...
as a cast member of the rock opera '' American Idiot'', which ran on Broadway from 20 April 2010 to 24 April 2011. Bennett was a member of the ensemble, understudying and performing the role of Will. Bennett released the album ''record:BREAKUP'' on 25 April 2011 in New York. A live and acoustic version was released on Monday 19 August 2013.


Theatre

In January 2002, Bennett was given the part of Guru Dazzle in
Boy George George Alan O'Dowd (born 14 June 1961), known professionally as Boy George, is an English singer-songwriter and DJ who rose to fame as the lead singer of the pop band Culture Club. He began his solo career in 1987. Boy George grew up in Eltham a ...
's West End show ''
Taboo A taboo is a social group's ban, prohibition or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, offensive, sacred or allowed only for certain people.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...
'', which received four Olivier Award nominations and he later took over one of the lead roles, Billy, playing alongside
Matt Lucas Matthew Richard Lucas (born 5 March 1974) is an English actor, comedian, writer and television host. He is best known for his work with David Walliams on the BBC sketch comedy series ''Little Britain (TV series), Little Britain'' (2003–2006) ...
, Boy George, and Julian Clary among others until the show closed in London in April 2003. Bennett also played the role of Billy in the UK tour of the show from December 2003 to 2004. In September 2006, Bennett took over the role of Roger Davis in the American national tour of Broadway rock opera '' Rent''. He completed a nine-month tour of the United States from September 2006 to May 2007. He reprised the role on Broadway from October 2007 until May 2008. In 2013, Bennett premiered the romantic lead Guy in the West End production of ''
Once Once may refer to: Film, television and theatre * ''Once'' (film), a 2007 Irish musical film by John Carney ** ''Once'' (musical), a 2011 stage adaptation of the film * ''Once'' (TV series), a 2017–2019 Argentine telenovela * Canal Once (Mex ...
'' opposite
Zrinka Cvitešić Zrinka Cvitešić (born 18 July 1979) is a Croatian film, television and theatre actress. Biography The elder of two daughters, Zrinka Cvitešić was born in Karlovac, in the Karlovac County to Ivan and Višnja Cvitešić. Her mother played ...
as Girl at the Phoenix Theatre in London. In March 2016, it was announced Bennett would star in the titular role of ''
Jesus Christ Superstar ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Life of Jesus in the New Testament, Gospels' accounts of Passion of Jesus, the Passion, the work interprets ...
'' at the Open Air Theatre Regents Park Open Air Theatre. He's reprised the role several times since then including in Tokyo, Japan in 2019 opposite
Ramin Karimloo Ramin Karimloo (; ; born ) is a Canadian actor, singer, and songwriter known for his work on the West End theatre, West End and Broadway theatre, Broadway theatre. He has played the leading roles in both of the West End's longest running musica ...
as Judas. In 2019, he starred in '' The View UpStairs'' playing the role of Dale at the Soho Theatre, in London from 18 July to 24 August. In June 2021 it was announced Declan Bennett would be starring as Billy Bigelow in the Regents Park Open Air Theatre summer production of ''Carousel''. This acclaimed show ran from 31 July 2021 to 25 September 2021. Bennett created the one-man show ''Boy Out the City''. It had its work-in-progress showcase in early 2021 before premiering the full thing at the Westival Music + Arts Festival in Westport, Ireland that 24 October, followed by a London premiere at the Turbine Theatre on 9 November. On 8 April 2022, it was announced Bennett would star as the Duke of Monroth in '' Moulin Rouge!'' on Broadway beginning on 10 May 2022, following Tam Mutu, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. He left the show in January 2023. On 17 October 2024, it was announced Bennett would star as Pierre Bezukhov in '' Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812'' at
Donmar Warehouse The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit Off-West End theatre in Covent Garden, London, England. It first opened on 18 July 1977. Sam Mendes, Michael Grandage, Josie Rourke and Michael Longhurst have all served as artistic direc ...
beginning 7 December 2024.


Television and film

After a number of small film and television roles, on 22 January 2014, it was announced Bennett would join the cast of ''
EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...
'' as Charlie Cotton, the long-lost grandson of Dot Branning (
June Brown June Muriel Brown (16 February 1927 – 3 April 2022) was an English actress and author. She was best known for her role as Dot Cotton on the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' (1985–1993; 1997–2020). In 2005, she won Best Actress at the Inside ...
). ''EastEnders'' executive producer, Dominic Treadwell-Collins, questioned whether Charlie (named after Charlie Cotton) would be "kind" like his grandmother or "evil" like his father
Nick Cotton Nick Cotton is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' played by John Altman (actor), John Altman on a semi-regular basis from the soap's debut episode on 19 February 1985. Altman has stated that his initial exit was due t ...
( John Altman). Bennett first appeared on 10 March 2014. In 2015, it was revealed Bennett would exit the series. During his time, he had married Ronnie Mitchell ( Samantha Womack), gotten in a car accident, had an affair with Ronnie's sister Roxy Mitchell ( Rita Simons) and impersonated a cop. On 5 April 2017, it was confirmed that Bennett would reprise his ''EastEnders'' role for the forthcoming season after months of speculation. His first episode back aired on 5 May 2017. Bennett starred opposite Ben Aldridge in the 2021 adaptation of '' The Long Call'' on ITV and
BritBox BritBox is a British Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Video on demand#Subscription models, video on demand Streaming television, streaming service founded by BBC Studios and ITV plc, ITV which operates in eight countries across Australi ...
.


Personal life

Bennett is gay. He lived in New York City and London for a number of years before moving to rural
Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...
, where he currently lives with his husband, fellow actor and singer
Fra Fee Fra Fee (born 20 May 1987) is a Northern Irish actor and singer. He is best known for playing Courfeyrac in Tom Hooper's 2012 film adaptation of ''Les Misérables'', and for his role as Kazi in the Disney+ series ''Hawkeye'', which is set in ...
. Bennett and Fee married on 15 November 2024.


Stage credits


Discography

With
Point Break ''Point Break'' is a 1991 American action film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by W. Peter Iliff. It stars Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Lori Petty and Gary Busey. The film's title refers to the surfing term " point break", where a ...
Solo releases


References


External links

*
Reviews of Our Day Out on Willy Russell's Official-Unofficial website


* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20070205151407/http://www.howardgoodall.co.uk/musicals/kisstext.htm Article and reviews about ''The Kissing-Dance'' on the composer's official site
Theatre's webpage about ''Taboo'' London production

Official Declan Bennett website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Declan 1981 births 20th-century English LGBTQ people 21st-century English LGBTQ people 21st-century English male singers English gay actors English gay musicians English gay writers English LGBTQ composers English LGBTQ singers English LGBTQ songwriters English male singer-songwriters British male soap opera actors English male stage actors English people of Irish descent English pop singers English singer-songwriters Gay composers Gay singers Gay songwriters Living people Male actors from Coventry Musicians from Coventry