Patrick Baladi


Patrick Bashir Baladi is an English actor. He is best known for playing Neil Godwin in the BBC sitcom The Office, Michael Jackson in the Sky 1 drama Stella, Stephen Holmes in the ITV thriller Marcella, and jailed solicitor Jimmy Lakewell in the BBC drama Line of Duty.

Early life and education

Patrick Bashir Baladi was born in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. His father was a Syrian gynaecologist and obstetrician, and his mother a midwife.
Baladi was brought up in Libya and educated at Stonyhurst College, in Hurst Green, Lancashire. There he played rugby in the First XV, and won the Charles Laughton Prize for acting.
After school he went on to train as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where he became friends with Martin Freeman.

Career

Baladi is known for his portrayal of David Brent's nemesis, Neil Godwin, in the BBC's hit comedy-mockumentary series, The Office. He appeared in the second and final series of the award-winning show, as well as the subsequent The Office Christmas Special.
In addition to The Office, Baladi has appeared in various films and television shows, including Bodies, Kidnap and Ransom, as Philip Shaffer, ITV, Alpha Male, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Beyond The Pole, POW, Lady Audley's Secret, Grafters, Silent Witness, The International, Party Animals, Mistresses, Rev., Sensitive Skin, Privates, Stella, Line of Duty, A Touch of Frost and Midsomer Murders.
Baladi portrayed Dodi Al-Fayed in the 2007 television docudrama Diana: Last Days of a Princess. In 2008 he had a small role in the romantic comedy Last Chance Harvey, appearing alongside Emma Thompson. He is also a stage actor who has appeared in numerous productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company, such as Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing. He starred in the comedy No Heroics as Excelsor.

Personal life

Baladi married Gemma Walker and had one daughter before they divorced.
Baladi remarried to Janie Erith, and the couple had a daughter in 2016.
In 2017, Baladi set up a booth at the Malthouse Emporium, an antiques and furniture centre in Stroud in Gloucestershire.