Acclaimed actor Michael Wildman plays Al Chapman in the long-running soap Emmerdale.
Al has been ruining marriages and getting involved in underhand schemes ever since his first appearance on the show.
Currently, Al the village villain, is causing havoc in a dramatic blackmail plot to try and seize control of the iconic Woolpack pub.
The Mirror Online reported that Michael has assured fans that he is “pretty sure” he doesn’t share any traits with his sleazy on-screen character who he has played since 2019.
He added how fans normally are supportive when he meets them in public and can fortunately tell the difference between fact and fiction.
He said: “Everyone is really supportive of what I am doing on the show and they know who I am.”
(Image: ITV)
Away from the cameras, Michael has a five-year-old son with his Welsh wife Ceri Ann Gregory, who is a singer and actress.
Due to Michael filming Emmerdale in Yorkshire, the actor has had to go away for long periods for the first time in his career, leaving his young son struggling with anxiety.
He told Loose Women: “My son had a little bit of anxiety issues when I first started the job,
“When they come into consciousness, around four or five, [before] I could leave and do two weeks away…shoot stuff and come back and “daddy’s back!” Now he’s asking, “how many sleeps?” and it’s hard.”
“The first month on the job he was crying when I left and I hadn’t experienced that before” he said.
Michael had a successful television career before he headed to the Dales. He appeared alongside Hollywood superstar Samuel L Jackson in the classic comedy Extras.
We haven’t been able to get him off our TV screens as he has also been in Miranda, Family Affairs, Peep Show, Casualty, Primeval, Being Human, Holby City, Plebs and Death in Paradise.
Most recently, he appeared in the BBC crime series Rellik, playing DI Martin Brook and as DI Michael McCoy in last year’s series of ITV drama Liar.
The actor had roles in Hollywood films such as The Bourne Ultimatum, London Has Fallen, Ready Player One and the Fast & Furious spin-off movie Hobbs & Shaw.
Michael also appeared as the heavily CGI-ed centaur Magorian in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
However, Michael’s role in Emmerdale is what his mum is most proud as she is a self-confessed super fan of the soap.
(Image: Internet grab)
He explained how his mother doesn’t push him for Emmerdale spoilers despite being a super fan, Michael said: “She is very good. She doesn’t ask me at all. She wants to watch it and see how it plays out herself.”
According to Michael, his role in Emmerdale has been the most demanding despite being in the industry for 25 years.
He said to the Loose Women: “You go in and you work 12-13-hour shifts and it is relentless,”
He added: “It’s like having a new job every week which is great because I never know what’s coming. It’s one of the hardest jobs you’ll do in the game.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
