James Alexandrou

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James Alexandrou

Born	James Alekos Alexandrou Template:Birth date and age 23 Islington, London, England

James Alekos Alexandrou (born 12 April 1985 in Islington, London) is an English actor of Greek descent.

He was educated in Waltham Forest at Chingford Foundation School. He was later a pupil at the Anna Scher Theatre School before landing the role of Martin Fowler in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders in 1996. The character had actually been created shortly after the show's inception in 1985, but the role had become vacant following the departure of previous actor Jon Peyton Price.

Alexandrou also appeared in the short film Blessed Burden and in 2003, won a celebrity edition of The Weakest Link.

On 14 April 2006, it was announced that Alexandrou wished to leave EastEnders in the Autumn of 2007. He and Natalie Cassidy, who played his onscreen wife Sonia Fowler, left on 2 February 2007 (to tie in with the exits of Wendy Richard and Ray Brooks); although the door has been left open for a possible return in the future. He said "I've decided to leave the show to experience other aspects of my industry. Having turned 21, I felt it was a good time to leave. I owe everything to the show and would love to come back one day - that's if EastEnders would have me."

In early 2007, Alexandrou appeared in the play The Homecoming opposite Harold Pinter for BBC Radio 3.

In 2007, he took acting classes at the Central School of Speech and Drama in order to "refresh his skills" after working in serial drama for so long^{[citation needed]}.

Alexandrou toured the UK & Norway with the British Shakespeare Company from June to September 2007. He plays Pistol in Henry V, and Orlando in As You Like It. According to press reports he turned down the chance to replace Daniel Radcliffe in the West End revival of Equus.

In 2008 he appeared in In My Name, new play by Steven Hevey, at the Old Red Lion Theatre produced by Yaller Skunk Theatre Company.

[edit] Personal life

Alexandrou was born to a Greek Cypriot father ^[1] and an English mother. He has a twin sister named Antoinette. His interests include basketball, boxing, football, and playing the guitar.

Alexandrou was in a relationship with Kara Tointon. ^[2]