Tristan Sturrock

Tristan Sturrock (born 1968) is a British theatre, television and film actor best known for his role as Officer Colin Hedges in the prison drama series Bad Girls. He is currently appearing in the role of Zacky Martin in Poldark. He is an avid theatre performer and has appeared in many productions including Brief Encounter and Mayday, Mayday, an autobiographical solo project which he wrote and performed in for his theatre company, Theatre Damfino.

Early life and career

Tristan Sturrock was born in 1968 and raised Upton Cross, Cornwall, England.

Sturrock's career commenced in theatre in 1986 when he joined the international touring theatre group, Truro-based Kneehigh Theatre. Throughout his stage career, he as performed in several countries appearing on Boradway, the West End and National Theatre having starred in productions such as Brief Encounter which is perhaps one of his most notable performance. In addition to Brief Encounter, Sturrock has performed in many productions including A Matter of Life and Death, The Riot, Tristan and Yseult, The King of Prussia, Tregeagle, Ship of Fools, Peer Gynt, The Ashmaid, Danger My Ally, Windfall and Don John.

Sturrock first appeared on television in 1996 when he had guest role on the British detective series Wycliffe. Following this, he made appearances on Liverpool 1, The New Adventures of Robin Hood, The Bill, Rescue Me, Holby City and The Royal. In 2002, Sturrock was cast in the leading role of Officer Colin Hedges on the ITV prison drama series Bad Girls, and first appeared on-screen in the first episode of Season Five in May 2003. Initially, his character was seen as devious and corrupt and it soon became evident that Colin was a drug addict. Soon, a softer and more caring side was seen to the character. Sturrock appeared in the series until Season Seven in 2005. Following his departure from Bad Girls, he has been cast in several guest roles including a second appearance on The Bill, Garrow's Law, The Borgias, and notable roles as Zacky Martin in Poldark and Danny Steel in Doc Martin.

Sturrock is co-artistic director at the Theatre Damfino where he has worked and performed my shows with the company, one in particular was the autobiographical piece which he wrote and performed; a solo project, Mayday, Mayday, which was based on the true events of an accident in which he suffered a broken neck and the months which took him to recover. The basis of the play was to raise awareness for spinal injury charity, Aspire. The first showing in August 2012, premiered in Edinburgh and later the West End and Broadway. Sturrock continues to perform in the show which, in May 2015 has been developed and adapted as a BBC Radio 4 play by Becky Ripley. Initially, the play went under the working title Frankenspine - My Big Break which was developed at the Bristol Old Vic. His performance for Mayday, Mayday has earned him an International Fringe Review Award.

Personal life

Sturrock is married to actress Katy Carmichael, with whom he has three children; a son, Hector (born 2004) and two daughters (born 2006 & 2010).

In May 2004, Sturrock broke his neck after falling from a wall during the 'Obby 'Oss festival in Padstow, Cornwall. He was airlifted to the Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. He underwent an operation three weeks following the accident and took him several weeks to learn how to walk again. After a three-month duration in hospital, Sturrock was discharged to his parents home in Bodmin Moor and attended physiotherapy sessions as an outpatient and twelve months later, he made a remarkable improvement, however, nerve damage has left him with permanent numbness in his fingers, arms, shoulders and feet.

Filmography