Revealed: Actor Stephen Graham offered to adopt child co-star after family tragedy
Revealed: Actor Stephen Graham offered to adopt child co-star after family tragedy
Actor Stephen Graham offered to adopt his This Is England co-star Thomas Turgoose when his mother tragically died of cancer.
Line of Duty star Stephen, 50, and Thomas, now 31, starred alongside each other in the 2006 film This Is England, when Thomas was 13 years old.
Thomas played the character of Shaun Fields who fell afoul of a local gang, while Stephen played antagonist Andrew ‘Combo’ Gascoigne.
Shortly after they wrapped filming, Sharon died, meaning she never saw her son in the film.
And Stephen promised Sharon he would look after Thomas, as Thomas explained it to former Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing Genitals podcast: ‘My mother died of lung cancer after I finished filming This Is England. She never saw the finished film.”
Touching gesture: Actor Stephen Graham, 50, offered to adopt his This Is England co-star Thomas Turgoose, 31, when his mother tragically died of cancer when Thomas was a teenager (Stephen pictured last month)
Acting: Stephen played antagonist Andrew ‘Combo’ Gascoigne in the drama which was a hit at the cinemas
Star: Line of Duty star Stephen, 50, and Thomas, now 31, starred alongside each other in the 2006 film This Is England, when Thomas was 13 years old (Thomas pictured in 2017)
Thomas was due to live with his father Rob after his mother died, but the couple did not know each other well at the time.
This led to Stephen and This Is England director Shane Meadows offering Thomas a place to stay.
Thomas said: ‘When my mum died I moved in with my dad and I didn’t know him, so Shane Meadows and Steven Graham were going to adopt me if things didn’t work out with my dad.’
It comes after Stephen received royal honors at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace earlier this year.
The actor was awarded an OBE for services to drama and he dedicated the honor to his mother, whose death he announced on December 31 last year.
Stephen shared a beaming photo of himself on Instagram as he proudly showed off his medal.
Alongside the post he wrote: ‘For you, mother and for every child who was ever told to get a good job.’
Stephen also shared on Twitter: “I feel so honored and proud to share this with her. An OBE for both of us, Mum.’
On screen: Thomas played the character of Shaun Fields who fell afoul of a local gang in the 2006 film This Is England (depicted in the film)
Child: In addition to Stephen This Is England, director Shane Meadows also offered his home to Thomas after his mother died (Thomas, left, and Shane, right, pictured in 2016)
Proud moment: It comes after Stephen received royal honors at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace earlier this year
Tribute: He dedicated the honor to his mother, whose death he announced on December 31 last year
The star shared the heartbreaking news of his mother’s death late last year.
He wrote in the caption, “A few days ago… this incredible, inspiring warrior woman with the purest heart… my mother passed away.
‘Her words as a child ‘no one is above you and no one is below you… everyone is equal’ have stayed with me my whole life.
‘I feel so honored and proud to share this with her… An OBE for both of us, mother.’