Steve McFadden

Steve Robert McFadden (né Reid; born 20 March 1959) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since 1990. He has received accolades including the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement. McFadden was also the presenter of the game show Britain's Hardest.

Early life Steve McFadden was born in Maida Vale, London, on 20 March 1959. He left school in 1975, and had short stints in jobs including labouring, carrot picking, plumbing and working at a builder's merchant. After attending university, McFadden decided that he wanted to become an actor, and was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1984, graduating in 1987.

McFadden then began portraying the role of Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, and starred in an episode of the BBC anthology series Murder in Mind in 2001.

He returned to EastEnders for two episodes in April 2005, and in October 2005, he returned on a permanent basis, after his character was cleared of armed robbery. , the couples relationshipended two months later. A fifth child, a daughter named Frankie, was born to his girlfriend Karen Cairns in June 2016.

In 1996, McFadden was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £1000 plus £350 in costs after pleading guilty to drink-driving after attending a party at a London nightclub.

McFadden is a sailor, and took part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in his motorboat, Barbara. In 2014, he sued the Metropolitan Police and News of the World after a police officer sold details about him to the newspaper. He sued the News of the World after one of their journalists admitted trying to intercept his voicemail messages in the News International phone hacking scandal. News Group Newspapers and the Metropolitan police agreed to pay McFadden substantial damages and his legal costs..

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Result Ref.2001 National Television Awards Most Popular Actor British Soap Awards Villain of the Year British Soap Awards Best Dramatic Performance TRIC Awards Soap Actor National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance Inside Soap Awards Best Actor TVTimes Awards Favourite Soap Actor 2026 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Performance