Peter Mullan Actor

Born in Glasgow Scotland in 1959 Peter Mullan is the son of an alcoholic World War 2 veteran and a mother who was doing her best to cope with eight children and not enough money to raise them all. Raised in the working class south side of Glasgow on Moss Park Boulevard, he recalls being dirt poor even though to outward appearances they lived in the best house in the neighborhood, as he puts it the family was "A coat without knickers." He tells of living in this big house with fancy columns out front but no carpets, little furniture and no television on the inside.

The Early Days

The early days of Peter Mullan actor are a far cry from the way his life is now, as a teenager he recalls trying to kill his father at the age of 14 with a cup of tea laced with sleeping pills. By this time in his life his father had become a terrible alcoholic and was subject to becoming violent with his wife and the children, often physical violence was the only way to combat the abuse.

Peter Mullan spent a year hanging out with the Young Car D's a street gang who roamed the streets of Glasgow stealing cars, getting drunk and chasing women. However as he recalls he was asked to quit the gang by other members for trying to get them to do far more crazy and outrageous stunts than they wanted to be involved in, also he claims that because of the big words he used they tended to consider him a bit of a snob.

He went to Glasgow University and studied history and drama where despite the challenges he managed to win top prizes in both classes in his second year. This success brought on a series of nervous breakdowns that caused some problems, however he eventually passed his exams and went on to teach drama and helped to establish many acting troupes along the way.

Moving On

By the late 80s Peter Mullan had appeared in many theater and television productions including Taggart and had landed small parts in several Scottish themed movies including Braveheart and Trainspotting. During this time he began to write and direct his own films including "Fridge" an award winning portrayal of two alcoholics trying to free a boy trapped inside an abandoned refrigerator.

His most successful role has been in Boy A the adaptation of the Jonathan Trigell novel about a young man coming out of prison at the age of 24 after being incarcerated for 14 years for murdering a 12 year old girl. His role as the case worker Terry is one of the best roles he has played to date, however he was awarded the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998 for his role in My Name is Joe.

A varied career and exceptional talent he still considers himself to be a Marxist and prefers to live in a middle class flat some 600 yards away from the slums he grew up in where he lives with his wife and two children.