Mark Womack was born on the 9th of January 1961 in Walton, Liverpool and later attended Holt Comprehensive School, latterly known as Childwall Community School, though the School is actually located in Wavertree. He then went to Liverpool College of Art, achieving a BA Honours and came to acting by chance after stumbling into his local community theatre, the Unity Theatre, where such luminaries as David Morrissey, Jimmy McGovern and Willy Russell were honing their craft. Mark recalls, "There was a lot of improvisation going on and some bloke said, 'Do you wanna be in a play?' and I said, 'Okay' and that was that." Mark then went on to study at RADA in London from where he graduated in 1986 and is passionate, not only about his career but also his Liverpool roots, and is one of a growing number of 'northern' actors voicing concerns about elitism in the profession. "I couldn’t get a grant for drama school. Eventually I got a scholarship." After graduating he first appeared on our TV screens in 2 episodes of the mini series 'Piece of Cake' (1988). After an appearance in Willy Russell's 'Dancin' Thru The Dark' (1990), he played Eddie in 6 episodes of the drama series 'Kinsey' (1991). His next big part was as Archie in Jimmy McGovern's series 'Hearts and Minds' (1995), about the trials and tribulations of an idealistic young teacher at a tough comprehensive school in Liverpool which Jimmy says was based in part on the three years he spent as an English teacher at Quarry Bank School, Liverpool. Single appearances followed in a variety of shows before he was in 6 episodes of the BAFTA-nominated British television legal drama series 'Wing and a Prayer' (1997) and in 5 episodes of 'The Vanishing Man' (1998). Then came a role that was to change his life. Produced by Lime Street Productions for ITV, 'Liverpool 1' saw him star in the lead role of this gritty police drama set in the heart of Liverpool's underworld. It also starred Samantha Janus and ran for two series from the 7th of September 1998 to the 25th of October 1999. Both stars were separated, with Samantha divorcing her first husband Junfan Mantovani the same year while Mark split from his wife-of-two years Mary Therese McGoldrick in 1997 with whom he had a son. Mark later married his co-star Samantha in 2009, and they have two children together. In 2018, Mark and Samatha separated but continued living together in their Bedfordshire home with their children, Benjamin and Lili Rose. Samantha has a strong association with the city as she lived here while filming the crime drama, 'Liverpool 1', and she said she "always feels at home in Liverpool." She added: "I love Liverpool. My kids have grown up there partially and I've loved watching this incredible place that's shaped my life grow and change."
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| In Liverpool 1 with Samantha Janus and Paul Usher |
Then in 2000 he was in 4 episodes of the series 'Playing the Field' and later in 2 episodes of 'Judge John Deed' with wife Samantha. There followed 8 episodes of 'Merseybeat (2003-04), playing the part of DI Pete Hammond, as he is highly rated by Mal Young, executive producer on 'Merseybeat', with the two men having worked together on 'Wing And A Prayer'. Six episodes in another police drama 'Murphy's Law' (2005) was followed by a more substantial role in 'Sorted' (2006) and then ''The Runaway (2011) and 'Good Cop' (2012). After 'Babylon' (2014), and following a failed 'Emmerdale' audition for the part of Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) and another failed audition for an unknown role, Mark landed the part of evil DI Mark Malone, a bent police officer in 'Emmerdale' (2020). Mark's latest TV role was in the highly acclaimed police drama television series set in Liverpool 'The Responder' (2022-24).
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| as DI Malone in Emmerdale |
Besides his TV work, Mark has maintained his theatre work and recently appeared for the National Theatre in 'Boys from the Blackstuff' (also at Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick). Other theatre work includes: 'Bouncers' and 'Hope' at Liverpool’s Royal Court; 'The Anniversary' at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse; 'Fast Food' and 'The Lodger' at Hampstead, 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'A View from the Bridge' at the Royal Exchange, Manchester; 'Julius Caesar', 'The Alchemist' and 'The Daughter in Law' at Birmingham Rep, 'Hamlet' at Contact Theatre, Manchester; and 'Clybourne Park' at Colchester Mercury and on tour. Films include, 'Letters from the East' (1995), 'Hillsborough' (1996), 'Under the Skin' (1997), Ken Loach's 'Route Irish' (2010), 'U Want Me 2 Kill Him?' (2013) and the short drama 'Subculture' (2011).
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2024/10/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-paul.html
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