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Andrew-Lee Potts

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Andrew-Lee Potts (born 29 October 1979) is an English actor and director. He is best known for his role as the quirky Connor Temple on ITV's British science fiction programme Primeval and Space's Canadian spinoff Primeval: New World.[3] He also starred as the Hatter on the SyFy mini-series Alice and was a series regular on the long-running programme Ideal. Since 2006, Potts has written and directed short films through his production house, Keychain Productions. In 2008, he directed a documentary about the filming of Primeval called Through the Anomaly.[4]

Andrew-Lee Potts
Potts in 2016
Born (1979-10-29) 29 October 1979 (age 45)
Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
Other namesAndrew Lee Potts
Andrew Potts
Pottsy[1]
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1989–present
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2014; div. 2020)​
Partner(s)Hannah Spearritt (2007–2013)
Katie Sheridan (2021–present)
Children2[2]
RelativesSarah-Jane Potts (sister)
WebsiteKeychain Productions

Early life

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Potts was born and raised in Bradford, West Yorkshire.[5] His parents are Alan and Susan Potts, and he has one sister, actress Sarah-Jane Potts, with whom he attended Bradford's Scala Kids stage school.[6] He studied at Intake High School Arts College, in Leeds, which specializes in performing arts. Potts left school at 16 to pursue acting full-time.[7]

Acting career

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Early appearances

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Potts started in drama classes at age seven and was cast pretty quickly in small shows that were based in Northern England.[7] At ten years old, he made his first television appearance in Children's Ward. When he was 18, he landed a small role in HBO's Band of Brothers.[8] He played Private Eugene Jackson, a character who is killed by a wound from his own grenade. Potts appeared steadily on television after that. In 2003, he appeared on two critically acclaimed programmes: twice on Buried and then the recurring role of Toby in six episodes of Strange. The same year, he appeared as Nero in the feature film Boudica. The following year, he was cast as Jonathan Chadwick for two episodes of Fat Friends. In 2006, Potts played a killer in a two-episode arc of Trial & Retribution. He had a role in the American movie Caffeine playing the ex-boyfriend of Katherine Heigl, an experience playing a stoner in comedy role that filmed prior to Ideal.[7]

Ideal

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Beginning in 2005, Potts joined the cast of the sitcom Ideal as drugged-out Lee, front man of the synth-pop band Silicone Valets (pronounced 'valleys') with a serious messiah complex.[9] The show, which starred Johnny Vegas as a small-time dope dealer, was a cult favourite and ran for over 50 episodes and 7 series.[10][11]

Primeval

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In 2007, Potts originated the role of Connor Temple in the science fiction programme, Primeval. Although critically panned as campy on its debut, it became a hit show and pop cultural phenomenon.[12] The storyline saw a team of scientists battling prehistoric and future beasts falling into the present through anomalies in time. Potts played geeky antihero Connor Temple, the vulnerable and innocent student of lead Nick Cutter (Douglas Henshall).[13] "Connor just came really easy to me. It was something organic that I discovered quite naturally with the character and everyone on Primeval allowed me to run with that."[13] During the course of programme, Potts became romantically coupled with co-star Hannah Spearritt both on-screen and off-screen, which garnered media attention for both the couple and the show.[14][15][16]

Primeval relied heavily on special effects which made it a costly show to produce. It was cancelled due to financial considerations after its third season, despite very high ratings.[17] Following a public appeal, the production company Impossible Pictures partnered with ITV and their corporate competitor, UKTV, to finance a renewal.[18][19]

The show returned with five webisodes in late 2010.[20] Series four and five followed, featuring Potts and Spearritt and co-star Ben Miller with additional new cast members including Ben Mansfield and Ciarán McMenamin. During the break in filming, Potts and Spearritt underwent a physical transformation to conform with the plotline of the programme, which had matured their characters.[21] "I'd played Connor for a few years and in a way he was always kind of the underdog and told what to do. In series four and five, though, he stepped up a bit and wanted to show and prove what he could do and what Cutter believed was in him from the start...I'm very grateful for what the writers gave me to do and I just hope that I did the material justice."[13]

In 2012, Potts reprised the character of Connor in the Canadian spinoff, Primeval: New World as an "organic link between the original mythology and the new series universe".[22] He appeared in 2 of the series' 13 episodes (first and last) which were filmed in Vancouver.[7] The reboot starred Niall Matter as Evan Cross with Crystal Lowe as Toby Nance, the character corollary to Potts' Connor in the original. Despite the popularity of the original in North America, the new programme was cancelled after its initial run. In the finale several plot points were wrapped up, including an allusion that Connor and on-screen partner Abby Maitland married. Pott's acting in this episode was especially well received; "Andrew Lee Potts as Connor continues to light up this episode with a great mix of humour and pathos and really makes the piece."[23]

Alice

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In 2009, Potts played the role of Hatter in the SyFy television miniseries Alice. Nick Willing wrote and directed the re-imagining of the Alice in Wonderland as a fantasy adventure. "Andrew Lee Potts does a fair job as the Hatter, who acts as Alice's guide through the craziness of Wonderland."[21][24] The cast featured Caterina Scorsone in the title role, with Kathy Bates, Colm Meaney, and Matt Frewer. The programme received mixed reviews but Pott's acting in the roguish romantic role was considered a bright spot; "The true standouts here are Potts and Frewer, both of whom are exceptionally funny and charismatic."[25][26] Despite the tepid critical response, Alice was a popular hit with high ratings and a 72% "fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes.[21][27]

2010-present

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In 2009, Potts guest starred on an episode of Inspector George Gently as mixed-race young adult who is the chief suspect in his girlfriend's murder.[28][29] In 2010, Potts appeared in the television adaptation of Kay Mellor's A Passionate Woman as the lead's (Billie Piper) adult son, Mark.[30] In October 2011 he was featured in an episode of Doc Martin as Michael Dunwich; Born with a Shotgun.

Potts starred in the SyFy original movie True Bloodthirst (called Vampyre Nation or Vampire Nation in some markets) which was a "bloody, violent, traditional vampire movie". Pott's character was a descendant of Jonathan Harker, one of the protagonists of Bram Stoker's original Dracula story.[7] It was broadcast in the summer of 2012.

In October 2012 Potts appeared onstage in Dracula with Max Wrottesley and Charlie Bond at the Leicester Square Theatre.[31] Directed by Adam Morley, the drama was part of seasonal horror festival.[32]

In 2013, Potts was cast in the BBC crime procedural By Any Means. The programme, which features Warren Brown, is a 6-parter about a team of elite cops.[33]

In 2018, Andrew completed filming for the role of Barnes on short film Chimera, directed by award winner Patrick Ryder.

In 2019, Andrew was cast to play astronaut Michael Collins in the Netflix series The Crown. [34]

Directing

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In 2006, Potts created Keychain Productions with Alex Moss and Tony Denman. The low-budget production house has released a variety of shorts, including; Blood on Benefits, Idance! and Colour Blind . Two of his films have been nominated for Virgin Media Short Film Awards: Little Larry in 2012 and Atwood Alley in 2013.[35]

In 2008, Potts spent 5 months directing a behind-the-scenes documentary, Through the Anomaly, for Primeval. Potts found the direction of a documentary to be a new challenge; "I started directing. It's something that I want to do. I started directing short films. The producers saw the short films - and the "making of" the year before was quite dry - and came to me, which was funny because I was asking the same question. So they gave me a camera and off I went and never stopped filming, trying to capture as many moments as I could."[36] Produced by Potts and Ross, the documentary was broadcast before being released as part of the Primeval series DVD.[37]

Personal life

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Potts met Hannah Spearritt in 1997 and they dated briefly. In 2006, they were both cast in Primeval, later they rekindled their relationship.[38] Potts proposed while they were on a holiday in Mallorca in 2008.[14] The couple owned a home in London, where they lived with their dog, Stanley.[4][39] However, the relationship ended in early 2013, as confirmed by Potts. In addition to Primeval, the couple collaborated in several Keychain Productions shorts and appeared together at 2013's Midlands Comic Con.[40] On 20 August 2014, Potts married singer Mariama Goodman.[41] He has one step-daughter born to Mariama in 2011.[2][42] The couple have a son Grayson, born on 17 August 2016.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
1989 The Ward Scott TV series
1992 WYSIWYG Philip TV series
1993 Heartbeat Roger Platt TV series (1 episode: "Missing")
1995 The Biz Leo TV series
1997 Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Shane Broderick TV series (1 episode: "Fisticuffs")
1998 Lost in France Craig TV short
1999 Sunburn Darren Priestley TV series (1 episode: "Episode #1.1")
Dalziel and Pascoe Nicholas Richmond TV series (1 episode: "Time to Go")
Rage B–Boy at the Elephant
2000 New Year's Day Jake
Anchor Me Mikey Carter TV movie
2001 The Bunker Pvt. Neumann
Band of Brothers Pvt. Eugene Jackson TV mini-series (1 episode: "The Last Patrol")
2002 High Speed Rafael
The Ride Rafael
Stranded Jacob Robinson TV movie (Part 2 of movie)
Night Flight Tommy Atwell TV movie
The American Embassy Tom Hobert TV series (1 episode: "Driven")
2003 Buried Henry Curtis TV series (2 episodes)
The Poet [fr] Rick
Strange Toby TV series (6 episodes)
Boudica Nero
Absolute Power Jimmy Bart TV series (1 episode: "Mr Fox")
Foyle's War Dan Parker TV series (1 episode: "The Funk Hole")
2004 Fat Friends Jonathan Chadwick TV series (2 episodes)
Rose and Maloney Daniel Berrington TV series (1 episode: "Episode #1.1")
Nature Unleashed: Avalanche Jock Video
2005 Rude Awakenings Jake Short
Twisted Tales Joey TV series (1 episode: "Flat Four")
Dead Fish Abe Klein
Dipper The Dipper Short
Ideal Lee TV series (17 episodes: 2005-2009)
2006 Taggart Samuel Buckland TV series (1 episode: "Law")
Caffeine Mike
Trial & Retribution Michael Summerby TV series (2 episodes: 2006-2007)
2007 Popcorn Kris
Blood on Benefits Lucas Short
1408 Mailbox Guy
Cold Blood Jed Cooper TV series (1 episode: "Dead and Buried")
Return to House on Haunted Hill Kyle Video
2007-2011 Primeval Connor Temple TV series (Main role; 36 episodes)
2008 Heart of a Dragon Don
Freakdog Kenneth Red Mist
2009 Inspector George Gently Jimmy Cochran TV series (Episode: "Gently in the Blood")
Alice The Hatter TV mini-series (2 episodes)
2010 A Passionate Woman Mark TV series (1 episode: "Episode #1.2")
2011 Doc Martin Michael TV series (1 episode: "Episode #33")
2012 / 2013 Primeval: New World Connor Temple TV series (2 episodes: "episode 1.1" and "episode 1.13")
2012 True Bloodthirst Johnathon "Johnny" Harker SyFy Original Movie[43]
2013 By Any Means Thomas Tomkins TV series
Dracula Gabriel Hood TV series (Episode: "Goblin Merchant Men")
2014 The Mill William Greg TV series
Wireless Jacob Crow Web series
2015 Midsomer Murders Gideon Latimer TV series (Episode "Murder by Magic")
2016 Stan Lee's Lucky Man Tim Larson TV series
House of Salem Mr. Downing Movie
2017 The Hatching Tim Movie
2018 Chestersberg DCI Waits Movie
The Innocents Shane TV series (Episode: "Bubblegum & Bleach")
Chimera Barnes Movie
Eve Liam Carroll Movie
2019 The Crown Michael Collins TV series (Episode: "Moondust")
Homeless Ashes PJ Movie
Red Claw Way Bark
2024 Drained Movie
Bogieville John

References

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  1. ^ "About Us". Keychain Productions.
  2. ^ a b MYM Buzz (12 March 2017). "Interview: Andrew Lee Potts on Wireless & Future Projects @ MCM Liverpool". YouTube. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. ^ Bentley, David (30 January 2013). "Primeval duo Andrew Lee Potts and Hannah Spearritt head to Telford's Midlands Comic Con with Star Wars icon Jeremy Bulloch". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  4. ^ a b Eng, Joyce (5 November 2008). "Primeval's Andrew-Lee Potts Geeks Out Over Time Travel and Dinos". TV Guide. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  5. ^ Barnett, David (29 June 2012). "Andrew-Lee Potts filming Canadian version of Primeval". Bradford Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 20 July 2013. Wibsey-born Andrew plays Connor Temple in the show, which is in its fifth season on ITV. But he has been in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, filming a spin-off show which Primeval's creators, Impossible Pictures, are producing for the North American market.
  6. ^ "Pair are class act in TV 'Road' show". Bradford Telegraph & Argus. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Interview with Andrew Lee Potts for Dracula". Love Horror. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  8. ^ Vicki. "Filmography". Andrew Lee Potts Online. Retrieved 7 December 2009. Band of Brothers (2001) Pvt. Eugene Jackson
  9. ^ Duff, Graham (11 June 2011). "An Ideal Who's Who, To celebrate Ideal's 50th episode, series creator Graham Duff lists his 50 favourite characters". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  10. ^ Myers, Ben (28 April 2008). "Why high Ideal gives me the giggles". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Johnny Vegas sitcom Ideal is axed". BBC News. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  12. ^ Bellafonte, Ginia (7 August 2008). "Doomed, Again, by the Space-Time Continuum". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  13. ^ a b c Eramo, Steve (22 March 2012). "Primeval's Andrew-Lee Potts - Best of Both Worlds". SciFi & TV Talk. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  14. ^ a b McAlpine, Fraser (9 November 2011). "Eight British Couples Who Met On-Set". BBC America. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  15. ^ Golder, Dave (20 May 2011). "Primeval: Abby & Connor". SFX.com. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  16. ^ McGarry, Lisa (10 May 2011). "Primeval: Hannah Spearritt thinks her relationship with Andrew Lee-Potts helps the show". Sci-Fi Archives - Unreality TV. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  17. ^ McCaffery, Darren (19 June 2009). "Popular sci-fi drama Primeval has been dropped by ITV after "three very successful series" due to sweeping budget cuts at the channel". Daily Express. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  18. ^ French, Dan (8 April 2010). "ITV confirms new 'Primeval' cast". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  19. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (27 May 2009). "ITV could share cost of Primeval with rival digital channel". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  20. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (15 December 2010). "ITV announces new 'Primeval' webisodes". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  21. ^ a b c Golder, Dae (19 January 2011). "Potts Playing the Hatter in Alice". SFX. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  22. ^ Cullen, Ian M. (March 2012). "Andrew Lee Potts To Guest In 'Primeval: New World' And More..." SciFiPulse. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  23. ^ Lickley, Philip (22 February 2013). "Primeval New World finale review: The Sound Of Thunder (Part 2)". Den of Geek. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  24. ^ Isler, Ramsey (5 December 2009). "Alice: Miniseries Review The rabbit hole isn't very deep in this remake of Alice in Wonderland". IGN. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  25. ^ Lasser, Josh (3 December 2009). "TV Review: Alice (2009)". Blog Critics. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  26. ^ Perkis, Ed (3 March 2010). "DVD REVIEW Alice (SyFy Mini-series)". Cinema Blend. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  27. ^ "Rotten Tomatoes: "Alice"". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  28. ^ Mackie, Drew (20 April 2012). "Investigating 'Gently': 'Gently in the Blood,' Episode Six Recap". KCET. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  29. ^ "Inspector George Gently is back for four new single dramas for BBC One – Gently In The Blood". BBC Press Office. 4 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  30. ^ "A Passionate Woman". Screen Yorkshire. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  31. ^ Hallum, Scott (9 October 2011). "Primeval Star Andrew Lee Potts and Scream Queen Charlie Bond Face Dracula in Terrifying New Play". Dread Central. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  32. ^ Merrifield, Nicola (16 August 2012). "Horror festival announced by Leicester Square Theatre". The STAGE. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  33. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (26 April 2013). "Warren Brown, Andrew Lee Potts for BBC One's 'By Any Means'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  34. ^ Mehmedova, Filiz (22 January 2019). "The Crown season 3 casts Primeval star as it dramatises moon landing". Digital Spy.
  35. ^ "Keychain Productions's Profile". Virgin Media. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  36. ^ Eng, Joyce (5 November 2008). "DVD News Primeval's Andrew-Lee Potts Geeks Out Over Time Travel and Dinos". TV Guide. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  37. ^ Barnett, David (30 May 2008). "Actor in a dinosaur TV feast!". Bradford Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  38. ^ "Our Guide to the couples who will be heading up the aisle next". Daily Mirror. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  39. ^ Spearritt, Hannah [@hannahspearritt] (18 April 2012). "Stanley, Pottsy and I are fundraising for Cancer Research UK using @JustGiving..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  40. ^ Bentley, David (30 January 2013). "Primeval's Andrew Lee Potts and Hannah Spearritt join Star Wars Boba Fett at Midlands Comic Con". The Coventry Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  41. ^ Potts, Mariama [@mariamagoodman] (20 August 2014). "Today I become Mrs Potts #happyunicorn" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 November 2016 – via Twitter.
  42. ^ "Mariama Goodman on the future of the Honeyz". Kettle. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  43. ^ "True Bloodthirst". IMDb. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
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