Stuart's passion for acting began at North Chadderton School under the guidance of Colin Snell. At a young age, he showcased his talent by starring in the stage version of 'Kes' as Billy Casper, winning the Best Actor under 21 award at the renowned Grange Arts Centre - Oldham at the age of 13.
As a leading actor at Oldham Theatre Workshop, under the direction of David Johnson, Stuart was involved in various productions. At 15, he landed his first television role as Craig the paperboy in Coronation Street and also appeared in the BBC One children's drama Jossy's Giants.
Throughout his teenage years, Stuart honed his craft in local repertory theatres such as the Coliseum Theatre, Contact Theatre, and Library Theatre, appearing in a wide range of productions. At 17, he landed a role in the BBC film 'My Kingdom for a Horse' written by John Godber, starring opposite Sean Bean and Sheila Hancock.
In 1989, Stuart's big break came when he was cast as Mark Casey in Coronation Street, a role he played for three years until 1992. His highlight during his time on the show was being asked to perform at the Royal Command Performance in 1990 as part of the show's 30th anniversary.
Stuart's 28-year career has seen him work on numerous television shows, including 'Clocking Off', 'Fat Friends', and 'Blue Murder'. More recently, he appeared in the critically acclaimed Jimmy McGovern drama 'Accused'.
Stuart's film career began in 1992 when he auditioned for Jim Sheridan and won a role in the powerful, political film 'In the Name of the Father'. He is a huge fan of British directors such as Jim Sheridan, Ken Loach, and Shane Meadows. In 2003, he was lucky enough to audition for Shane Meadows, landing the role of 'Herbie' in the cult, award-winning film 'Dead Man's Shoes', which has become one of his most recognized roles to date.
Stuart recently auditioned for Ken Loach, who kindly sent his audition tape to his son Jim Loach, leading to his casting in the 2011 film 'Oranges and Sunshine', where he played the character Bill. The film, a true story, starring Emily Watson and Hugo Weaving, is receiving great reviews and media attention.
