Born:
May 22, 1977
in
Darley Dale, Derbyshire
Best Known For:
Winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.
Early-life:
Tom Stuart Chambers was born in Darley Dale, Derbyshire, on 22 May 1977. He demonstrated a keen interest in performing arts while studying at Repton School, before attending the Guilford School of Acting and the National Youth Music Theatre, where Jude Law and Jonny Lee Miller were also learning their trade. Tom starred in Brit flick Fakers (2004), before a re-enactment of Fred Astaire's tap dance routine with a drum kit in A Damsel in Distress on a video for casting directors landed him a role in Holby City.
Career:
Chambers began playing dishy doctor Sam Strachan in the medical drama in 2006, but became a household name by appearing in, and winning, the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing after beating Rachel Stevens in the final to take the crown. After three years in Holby City, he quit to briefly join the cast of Waterloo Road as no-nonsense headteacher Max Tyler. From August 2011 until February 2013, Chambers played Jerry Travers in the stage production of Top Hat. After initially touring the UK, it found a home at the Aldwych Theatre in London's West End. His recent TV credits include The Great Train Robbery and Father Brown.
Quote:
On Top Hat: "Doing eight shows a week is very demanding, physically and mentally. I constantly felt exhausted."
Trivia:
In 2008, Chambers took part in the Great Walk to Beijing, which was organised by singer Olivia Newton-John in aid of breast cancer awareness.