Steve Robert McFadden (né Reid; born 20 March 1959) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since 1990. He has received accolades including the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement. McFadden was also the presenter of the game show Britain's Hardest (2004).

Early life Steve McFadden was born in Maida Vale, London, on 20 March 1959. He left school in 1975, and had short stints in jobs including labouring, carrot picking, plumbing and working at a builder's merchant. After attending university, McFadden decided that he wanted to become an actor, and was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1984, graduating in 1987.

Career In 1988, McFadden got his first acting role as an uncredited extra in the film Buster. He played his first speaking role as a football hooligan in the 1989 BBC television film The Firm, and this was followed by guest appearances in television series including The Bill, Minder, and Bergerac.

McFadden then began portraying the role of Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, at the beginning of 1990, at the same time as Ross Kemp, who played Phil's younger brother Grant Mitchell.

McFadden then made a brief appearance in the film Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000), and starred in an episode of the BBC anthology series Murder in Mind in 2001.

He presented the reality television series Britain's Hardest, which was an underground competition broadcast on Sky One in 2004. In 2005, he filmed a small part as a detective sergeant in the film Provoked in 2006.

He returned to EastEnders for two episodes in April 2005, and in October 2005, he returned on a permanent basis, after his character was cleared of armed robbery.

He has also appeared as Captain Hook in a pantomime production of Peter Pan from 2010 to 2011 at the Wycombe Swan.

Personal life McFadden has five children. His son Matt McFadden's mother is Sue Marshall, and Angela Bostock is the mother of his daughters Teona and Mollie Jane. Rachel Sidwell gave birth to his daughter Amelie Tinkerbell on 29 June 2009; the couple's relationship ended two months later. A fifth child, a daughter named Frankie, was born to his girlfriend Karen Cairns in June 2016.

In 1996, McFadden was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £1000 plus £350 in costs after pleading guilty to drink-driving after attending a party at a London nightclub.

McFadden is a sailor, and took part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in his motorboat, Barbara. In 2014, he sued the Metropolitan Police and News of the World after a police officer sold details about him to the newspaper. He sued the News of the World after one of their journalists admitted trying to intercept his voicemail messages in the News International phone hacking scandal. News Group Newspapers and the Metropolitan police agreed to pay McFadden substantial damages and his legal costs..

Filmography

Film Year Title Role 1988 Buster Gang Member 1990 Happy Birthday, Coronation Street! Himself 1998 EastEnders: The Mitchells – Naked Truths Phil Mitchell 2000 Kevin & Perry Go Large Bouncer 2 2001 Brit Awards 2001 Phil Mitchell Comic Relief: Say Pants to Poverty 2003 EastEnders: Slaters in Detention Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do 2005 2005 TV Moments Himself 2006 Provoked DS Ron Meyers 2007 The Big Fat Quiz of the Year Himself The 2nd TVNow Awards EastEnders Feuds: The Beales vs. The Mitchells Phil Mitchell 2008 The British Soap Awards 2008: The Party Himself 2010EastEnders Live: The AftermathEastEnders: Last Tango in WalfordPhil Mitchell2011The National Television Awards: Party 2011HimselfEastEnders: Greatest Exits2012Farewell PatPhil MitchellEastEnders: Phil on Remand2016Bobby Beale: The Story So FarEastEnders: Last OrdersHimselfEastEnders – The Last GoodbyePhil Mitchell2018The Best of EastEnders2021Kurupting the Industry: The People Just Do Nothing StoryHimself

Television Year Title Role Notes 1989 Minder Mickey Episode: "It's a Sorry Lorry Morrie" Screen Two Billy Episode: The Firm The Bill Gun Dealer 2 Episode: "Bad Company" Vote for Them Staff Sgt. Ballantine 3 episodes Hard Cases Workman Episode: "Series 2, episode 5" Saracen Nash Episode: "Crossfire" 1990 Bergerac Jones Episode: "Roots of Evil" 1990–2003, 2005–present EastEnders Phil Mitchell Regular role 1993 Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time 2 episodes 1994, 1997, 1999 This Is Your Life Himself 3 episodes 1996, 2005, 2007, 2010–2011 National Television Awards 5 episodes 1998 Best of British Episode: "Barbara Windsor" TFI Friday Episode: "Series 4, episode 13" 1999, 2006–2009, 2017, 2022 The British Soap Awards 7 episodes2001Auntie's BloomersPhil MitchellEpisode: "New Bursting Bloomers"Murder in MindJoe WatermanEpisode: "Flame"2002, 2007–2009, 2012EastEnders RevealedHimself6 episodes2005Comic Relief Does Fame AcademyEpisode: "Series 2, episode 6"2006Sex, Lies & SoapsPhil MitchellEpisode: "Bad Behaviour"2006, 2016Screenwipe2 episodes2006, 2009, 2018This MorningHimself3 episodes2007Would I Lie to You?Phil MitchellEpisode: "Series 1, episode 2"2009Loose WomenHimselfEpisode: "Series 14, episode 6"2009–2010EastEnders RevealedPhil MitchellEpisode: "The Sins of Archie Mitchell"2010Rude TubeEpisode: "Rude Tunes"EastEnders: The Greatest CliffhangersHimselfEpisode: "Series 1, episode 2"Phil MitchellPiers Morgan's Life StoriesHimselfEpisode: "Barbara Windsor"Phil Mitchell2016LorraineHimselfEpisode: "4 October 2016"The One ShowPhil MitchellEpisode: "Peggy Mitchell Special"2018South at SixEpisode: "23 November 2018"2020EastEnders: Secrets from the Square5 episodesThe NoughtiesHimselfEpisode: "2001"2020–2021What We Were WatchingPhil Mitchell2 episodes

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Result Ref.2001 National Television Awards Most Popular Actor British Soap Awards Villain of the Year Inside Soap Awards Best Actor Best Bad Boy 2002 National Television Awards Most Popular Actor British Soap Awards Best Actor Villain of the Year 2003 Best Actor Villain of the Year Inside Soap Awards Best Actor 2006 British Soap Awards Villain of the Year Inside Soap Awards Best Actor 2007 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actor TV Now Awards Male Soap Star 2009 British Soap Awards Best Actor 2010 TV Now Awards Favourite Male Soap Star 2016British Soap Awards Outstanding Achievement Award Best Male Dramatic Performance Inside Soap Awards Best Soap Actor 2017 British Soap Awards Best Male Dramatic Performance 2025 National Film Awards UK Best Actor in a TV Series British Soap Awards Best Dramatic Performance TRIC Awards Soap Actor National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance Inside Soap Awards Best Actor TVTimes Awards Favourite Soap Actor 2026 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Performance

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