Scary movies: 10 actors from Manchester who’ve starred in horror films ahead of Halloween 2022

With Halloween near, here are 10 actors from Greater Manchester who have appeared in horror movies
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Spooky season is well underway and there’s no better way to celebrate than by having a horror movie marathon.

As the nights are drawing in and the temperature begins to drop, it’s the perfect time to light a few candles, pull out the cosy blankets and put on a scary movie.

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What you may not know is that a host of horror movie actors have roots in Greater Manchester.

Films such as The Omen, What Waits Below and Salvage all have actors from Manchester and the surrounding areas.

Here’s 10 actors and actresses from Manchester who have appeared in horror films:

Christopher Eccleston

Christopher Eccleston is from SalfordChristopher Eccleston is from Salford
Christopher Eccleston is from Salford

Christopher Eccleston is a 58-year-old actor, from Salford, who most notably appeared as the ninth incarnation of the Doctor in BBC’s Doctor Who.

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Eccleston has appeared in multiple horror movies including ‘28 Days Later’ and ‘The Others’.

‘28 Days Later’ is a post-apocalyptic horror film where just a month after an incurable virus spreads through the UK, survivors must find sanctuary.

‘The Others’ is a gothic supernatural psychological horror film starring Nicole Kidman who’s character becomes convinced her home is haunted.

Christopher Eccleston first began his acting career in 1991 and in recent years has appeared in BBC’s ‘The A Word’ and ‘Close to Me’.

Kenneth Colley

Kenneth Colley was born in ManchesterKenneth Colley was born in Manchester
Kenneth Colley was born in Manchester
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Kenneth Colley was born in Manchester and the English actor is most known for his role as Admiral Piett in two Star Wars films, ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’.

Colley appeared in ‘The Devils’ which is considered one of the most controversial films of all time and was banned in Finland until 2001.

The film follows Cardinal Richelieu as he attempts to take control of 17th-century France, but needs to destroy Father Grandier who is set up as running a warlock in control of a devil-possessed nunnery.

The 84-year-old actor also starred as Jesus in the Monty-Python movie ‘The Life of Brian’.

Gemma Atikinson

Gemma Atkinson is an actress most famous for her role on Emmerdale. She has also acted in Hollyoaks and Casualty. She attended  Castlebrook High School  in Bury. Gemma Atkinson is an actress most famous for her role on Emmerdale. She has also acted in Hollyoaks and Casualty. She attended  Castlebrook High School  in Bury.
Gemma Atkinson is an actress most famous for her role on Emmerdale. She has also acted in Hollyoaks and Casualty. She attended Castlebrook High School in Bury.
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Gemma Atkinson is an actress and radio presenter, who is from Bury in Greater Manchester.

Atkinson, 37, appeared in ‘13Hrs’ otherwise known as ‘Night Wolf’ which also stars Peter Gadiot and Tom Felton and is a werewolf horror movie.

When Sarah Tyler (Isabella Calthorpe) returns to her family home, a storm causes a power cut and with that brings something horrific, that attacks her family one by one.

Gemma Atikinson currently hosts the drivetime show on the Hits Radio Network but also has spent several years playing Lisa Hunter in Hollyoaks.

Stephen Lord

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Stephen Lord is a 51-year-old actor, who is from Salford and is most known for his roles in ‘EastEnders’ and ‘Shameless’

Lord has appeared in several horror films including ‘LD 50 Lethal Dose’ and ‘Octane’ and multiple thriller television shows including ‘Frozen’ and ‘Sea of Souls’.

In ‘LD 50 Lethal Dose’ a group of animal activisits get more than they bargained for when they enter a lab the location of many recent illegal government experiments on humans.

In 2021, Stephen Lord joined ‘Coronation Street’ as Tez Wyatt and is filmed at ITV’s Media City studios.

Lesley Sharp

Lesley Sharp was born in ManchesterLesley Sharp was born in Manchester
Lesley Sharp was born in Manchester
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Lesley Sharp is a film and television actress who was born in Manchester.

Sharp, 62, has appeared in several productions including ‘Clocking Off’, ‘Bob & Rose’ and ‘Afterlife’.

The actress has also appeared in the British horror movie ‘Whistle and I’ll Come to You’ which is based on the 1904 ghost story.

In ‘Whistle and I’ll Come to You’ retired academic James Parkin (John Hurt) finds a ring on a deserted beach and becomes the victim of supernatural revenge.

Joanne Hartley

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Joanne Hartley is from Oldham and has appeared in ‘This is England ‘86’, ‘Eddie the Eagle’ and Bliss’.

Hartley, 50, has appeared in multiple horror movies including ‘Inbred’ and ‘Slaughterhouse Rulez’ which also stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

‘Inbred’ is described as a British horror comedy splatter film that sees four young offenders and the care workers visiting a small Yorkshire town when a minor incident turns into a blood soaking nightmare.

The actress initially gave up acting at 17 to work at British Aerospace but made her return to the screen, landing her first film role in 2004.

Olivia Cooke

Olivia Cooke is from OldhamOlivia Cooke is from Oldham
Olivia Cooke is from Oldham
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Olivia Cooke is a 28-year-old actress from Oldham, who is most known for her role as Emma Decody in the thriller series Bates Motel and now her role in House of Dragons.

Cooke starred in ‘The Limehouse Golem’ which is a British horror-mystery film starring Bill Nighy and Douglas Booth.

‘The Limehouse Golem’ is a horror-mystery film that follows Scotland Yard as they attempt to hunt down a killer that is behind a series of Jack the Ripper-like murders.

Olivia Cooke has also appeared in several horror and thriller productions including the film ‘Ouija’ and ‘Thoroughbreds’.

David Schofield

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David Schofield is most known for his role as Ian Mercer in multiple Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

Schofield, 70, was born in Wythenshawe and has appeared in numerous horror and thriller films.

The actor has appeared in ‘An American Werewolf in London’, ‘From Hell’, ‘Valkyrie’ and ‘Lord of Tears’.

‘An American Werewolf in London’ is the perfect horror comedy for a movie night and follows two American college students on walking tour of England when they’re attacked by a werewolf that the locals refuse to admit exists.

Andrew Knott

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Andrew Knott is a 42-year-old actor from Salford, who is mostly known for playing Dirtbox in BBC’s ‘Gavin and Stacey’.

Knott began his career in 1993 when he appeared as Dickon Sowerby in ‘The Secret Garden’.

Andrew Knott has appeared in several television programmes but has also appeared in the horror movie ‘The Sickhouse’.

‘The Sickhouse’ sees the horrors inside an old orphanage beneath an abandoned hospital, where a seventeeth century plague doctor has returned to complete his evil masterpiece

Kate Ashfield

Kate Ashfield is from OldhamKate Ashfield is from Oldham
Kate Ashfield is from Oldham
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Kate Ashfield is from Oldham and has appeared in horror movie ‘When the Lights Went Out’.

The 50-year-old actress is best known for her role as Liz in the zombie comedy movie ‘Shaun of the Dead’.

‘Shaun of the Dead’ is a horror comedy movie that stars Sean Pegg and Nick Frost and sees their lives disrupted during a zombie apocaly

Ashfield has appeared in several thrillers including ‘Hangman’ and ‘The Children’.