Robert McCafferty

Robert was born 1965 in the Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland, and grew up in Livingston, near Edinburgh. As a child, Robert attended Knightsridge and Harrysmuir Primary schools and Blackburn Academy where he had enjoyed every opportunity to take part in school productions and anything art orientated. In his final year at Harrysmuir, Robert won a West Lothian wide painting competition, with a theme of Life in a New Town. Eventually an opportunity arose to join local amateur dramatics company, The Livingston Players at The Mews Theatre in Livingston. After receiving great reviews for his performance in Charlie Girl, Robert felt that the seed had been sown and that his future could be in acting. However, his home life was such that his dream had to be put on the back burner whilst he followed the traditional route of 'get a job' and a married life with children with a Management career in retail distribution. Starting off as a Transport Clerk and progressing onto running his own Distribution Centres with a number of Blue Chip companies. When he was in his early 30s, and now a single man, which allowed him the opportunity to follow his ambition to become a professional actor. With two young children to help support, Robert pursued a three year degree course at the University of Hertfordshire as Drama School at that time was financially prohibitive. The course was led by a number of very experienced theatre practitioners (including Max Stafford Clark, former Artistic Director of both the Traverse Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre) and covered all areas of theatre practice and film work. He thrived on working with his fellow students, many of them younger than him, and performed a number of times at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to advance his performance skills and experience further. Robert continued to develop his performance skills by attending many courses at The Actors Centre and an Advanced Film and Television Acting Course at RADA with Colin Bennett. Having worked as a Youth Leader in Livingston, prompted by this love of working with young people, Robert formed the Keystage Drama group, based in Letchworth Garden City which ran successfully from from 2001 until 2010, Inspired by the fresh energy and ideas that working with teenagers brings, Robert continues to teach locally supporting schools with Drama and Media Studies as a cover teacher generally. In recent years his film credits have included: CLOSED CIRCUIT (2013) with Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, Jim Broadbent and BAFTA winning Director John Crowley; THE WEE MAN (2013) with Line of Duty's Martin Compston whom he also worked with on SILENT WITNESS along with Amelia Fox. This year, Robert appears in the delightful romcom LOVE TYPE D (2019) with fabulous up and coming Australian actress Maeve Dermody playing the lead, having previously collaborated with Director, Sasha Collington when she was completing her studies at London Film School with her short, A SMALL TOWN DUET (2009). On the small screen Robert can be seen in many classic television series including: THE INBETWEENERS, EASTENDERS, TAGGART, WATERLOO ROAD, EYES DOWN, DOCTORS and CASUALTY - the latter two being perfect preparation for his forthcoming role in new tv sitcom BEST PRACTICE (2020). Robert has also gained a following across Europe as the lead character in a series of TOYOTA commercials filmed in Amsterdam. His on-screen father-and-daughter with storyline, Hannah Baxter-Eve, looks set to repeat the success of the Papa/Nicole Renault adverts in the 90s. Live theatre remains important to Robert and he is proud to have performed in such diverse productions as ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO's NEST, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, AS YOU LIKE IT, ANNA WEISS and BLOOD WEDDING. Playing a lead role in the Scottish Play (MACBETH) was a life-long ambition and remains one of the highlights of his career. "my English teacher at Inveralmond Community High School, Mr Lee, was an inspirational man, I loved reading this out loud in his class" In his youth Robert was a Mod revivalist and travelled across the UK and through Europe on a Vespa, travelling to Aix les Bain, France and Krems, Austria in the 1980s. He continues to enjoy collecting Vinyl Mod, Soul and Northern Soul records and participating in local Northern Soul dance nights. As a proud Scotsman his other interests include playing golf and following his football team Glasgow Celtic.