Mates - Mark with his friend and fellow North-East actor Robson Green .
I ’ M A TEESSIDER AND PROUD OF IT ”
Studying drama at college in Billingham , he faced rejection when he applied for drama school in London when he was 18 , while fellow students enjoyed successful auditions . It was particularly tough to hear barbed comments about his ambitions .
“ A lot of people who went to college with me said , ‘ You ’ ll never make it .’ I just bided my time .”
London . To be honest , I hated it . But I knew that ’ s where I had to be if I wanted to be an actor .
“ I would never have left the area if I hadn ’ t felt so frustrated . Back in the ‘ 80s there were no opportunities on Teesside for budding actors .”
And Mark even worried what fellow Teessiders would think about him dreaming of being an actor .
“ The director only wanted Middlesbrough accents , not Geordies , so most of the actors are from Teesside . It feels like ours .”
The Teesside-born actor had to leave Middlesbrough to earn his big career break but he continues to call Middlesbrough “ home ”.
Throughout his career , he ’ s been proud to represent what will always remain his hometown . “ I ’ m a Teessider and proud of it ,” he states .
In the majority of his roles Mark has retained his accent , honed on the streets of Grangetown , in Middlesbrough , and at Sarah Metcalfe Secondary Modern in nearby Eston – sadly burned down in a fire few years ago .
Although he insists the glamour is only a tiny party of an acting career , his career is a far cry from his years growing up with a dream of becoming an actor , desperately trying to overcome his own doubts as well as those of others who told him he couldn ’ t do it .
As there was a fee for every audition , his parents only had sufficient funds to allow him to try for two drama schools . He chose Central , which his actor uncle and inspiration Jonny ( stage name Michael Gunn ) had attended , and RADA ( Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts ).
While he was rejected by Central , it was the prestigious RADA that gave the young Mark his first big break .
“ Others on my course in Billingham got into drama schools that were easier to get into , while I didn ’ t get in when I was 18 . I wasn ’ t ready at 18 but when I got to 20 I was ready , but I still couldn ’ t believe I ’ d got in RADA , of all places .”
But it wasn ’ t all plain sailing .
“ I was very much a home boy ,” he reflects . “ I loved Middlesbrough and I still do . I missed home and found it really hard living so far away in
In fact , when he went to drama school , Mark fibbed that he ’ d been working away as a bricklayer . “ At the time , it was kind of unheard of to be an actor from Teesside ,” he explains . “ I thought people might think I was a bit weird .”
How wrong he has proved to be . Nowadays he feels only warmth from fellow Teessiders . “ I don ’ t want to sound conceited , but you know , I think they ’ re proud of me , which I love .”
But how does Mark remember his teenage self before he achieved success ? “ I wish I ’ d known some of the things I do now ,” he reflects . “ If I had , I ’ d have believed in myself much more , rather than worrying about everything .
“ Because if you ’ ve got a dream , no matter what that is , it ’ s up to you to get on and do it . To anyone reading this with an ambition for their life , my message is to just go for it .”
He had to leave home to fulfil his own ambitions but Mark is thrilled to hear that Tees Skills is spreading the word about why young Teessiders can stay here to live , study and work .
“ I love to hear about anyone doing well from our area ,” he says . “ Better still if they ’ ve been able to stay on Teesside to do it .
“ I had to leave to follow my career but I love Teesside , I love the people and I love the football team . It ’ s got its faults , of course , but it ’ s where I grew up and I still call Middlesbrough my home . Always will .”