Surrey’s Famous Faces

Photography credit: Steven Scott Taylor Alamy Stock Photo

Plenty of actors, singers and well-known people have grown up in Surrey Many celebrities have been born in Surrey over the years, including Caterham-born Bill Nighy, Epsom-born Warwick Davis and Dame Julie Andrews, of Walton. Take a look at some familiar faces who have lived in our beautiful county.

TOM FELTON

Thomas Andrew Felton is an English actor and musician. He is best known for his role as Draco Malfoy in the film adaptations of the best-selling Harry Potter fantasy novels by J. K. Rowling. Tom was born on 22 September 1987 in Epsom. He was educated at West Horsley’s Cranmore School until age 13, after which time he attended the Howard of Effingham School in Leatherhead for his secondary education. Felton developed an interest in singing during his childhood and subsequently joined school choirs; he was offered a place in the Guildford Cathedral Choir.

ERIC CLAPTON

This musical legend was born in Ripley on 30 March 1945 and went to Ripley Primary School. In 1961, after leaving Hollyfield School in Surbiton, Clapton studied at the Kingston College of Art but was dismissed at the end of the academic year because his focus remained on music rather than art. Around this time, Clapton began busking around Kingston, Richmond, and the West End. In 1962, Clapton started performing as a duo with fellow blues enthusiast David Brock in pubs around Surrey. Eric Clapton is a English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time.

LILY JAMES

Lily James was born on 5 April 1989 in Esher, the daughter of Ninette Mantle, an actress, and James “Jamie” Thomson, a musician. She attended Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and subsequently went on to study acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. James went on to play Natasha Rostova in the television series War & Peace, and starring roles in several films, including Baby Driver, Darkest Hour, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, the musical Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Yesterday and most recently, Rebecca.

DAME JULIE ANDREWS

Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews DBE was born in 1935 in Walton, before settling in Hersham after her parents’ divorce. She married her first husband Tony Walton in Weybridge in 1959, not long before her golden period in the limelight of cinema, playing Mary Poppins in 1964, and Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music in 1965. She has won several awards throughout her life, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA and five Golden Globes.

WARWICK DAVIS

Warwick Davis was born in Epsom, Surrey. He was educated at Chinthurst School and later the City of London Freemen’s School. Warwick is an English actor, television presenter, writer, director, comedian, and producer. He played the title characters in Willow and the Leprechaun film series; several characters in the Star Wars film series, most notably the Ewok Wicket; and Professor Filius Flitwick and Griphook in the Harry Potter film series. Davis starred as a fictionalised version of himself in the sitcom Life’s Too Short. He has also presented the ITV game shows Celebrity Squares and Tenable.

DAVID WALLIAMS

David was born at St Teresa’s Maternity Hospital in Wimbledon, in the London Borough of Merton, in 1971. He is the son of Peter Williams, a London Transport engineer, and Kathleen Williams, a laboratory technician who worked at Sutton Grammar School. Walliams grew up in Banstead, Surrey, specifically in the residential area of Nork, with his mother, father and sister Julie. He was educated at Collingwood Boys’ School in Wallington, and Reigate Grammar School.

PETULA CLARK

This singer, actress and composer was born in Ewell, on 15 November 1932. Both of Clark’s parents were nurses there at Long Grove Hospital. Clark’s mother had Welsh ancestry, and her father was English. Young Sally’s stage name of Petula was invented by her father; he joked it was a combination of the names of two former girlfriends, Pet and Ulla. Clark’s professional career began during World War II, as a child entertainer on BBC Radio. In 1954 she charted with “The Little Shoemaker” — the first of her big UK hits—and within two years began recording in French. International successes included “Prends mon coeur”, “Sailor” (a UK number one), “Romeo” and “Chariot”. She is best known for her upbeat signature song “Downtown”.

MICHAELA STRACHAN

Born in Ewell, Surrey, Strachan grew up in Hinchley Wood and attended Chadsworth Stage School, then Claremont Fan Court School, both in Esher. Later, while at ArtsEd, London, she briefly held jobs as an Avon lady and as a kissogram. After her years at ArtsEd, Strachan performed in theatre, before moving on to children’s television. In 1984, she appeared in the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool. Most recently, Michaela Strachan is known for presenting Springwatch and Autumnwatch alongside Chris Packham who she worked with earlier on in her career on the popular children’s programme, The Really Wild Show.