Paul David Ridley

Paul David Ridley was born 13th May 1965, in Ilford, Essex to Jill and Martin Collis Hurndall Ridley. His father enjoyed amateur dramatics and was in several productions, but his mother does not like the limelight at all. At age 8, the family (including his only sibling, Jane Martine Ridley - 3 years older) moved to Romford, Essex after the devastating death of his maternal grandfather. Paul attended Rise Park Junior School and was involved in various school productions. His "debut" was as a traffic warden in a musical. It was only a small part, but the lights, greasepaint and enjoyment of the audience made its' make and he determined that he wanted to be an actor/entertainer. He then went on to Marshalls Park School in Romford and joined the choir, drama group and was in several productions, both dramatic and musical as both background singer and soloist. Paul also became involved in performing arts outside of school and studied Theatre and Acting at the Queens Theatre in Hornchurch, Essex for two years and appeared in various productions there. After leaving school at the age of 16, Paul enrolled at the Havering College of Adult Education and furthered his education in Acting and another course in Stage Management. Again, during this time, he appeared in productions in and around Essex. In 1981, he had the leading role of Jesus in THE PASSION, (a musical of the last few days of the life of Christ). Not only did he sing in this, but was also involved in the creating of many of the props used. The Passion went on a small tour in 1981 and Paul also sang and acted "On The Fringe" at the Greenbelt Music Festival. His father enjoyed seeing him act and sing and helped him accumulate his first makeup box. Unfortunately, his father had a massive heart attack and died when Paul was just 17 years old, which was a huge shock to the whole family, but to honour his father, he was performing just six weeks later in Hastings. Paul then founded Seed Productions and wrote and directed as well as acted in their productions. In 1984 Paul was invited to travel to Los Angeles to be part of a drama troop for six weeks. During this time, he acted, helped to write scripts and direct the productions, but was also touched by the poverty of many of the areas around Los Angeles and committed to going back there a year later to work with homeless and desperate people. In the year between going back to Los Angeles, he continued to lead Seed Productions and also read and helped produce the local newspaper for the blind, and also appeared in a couple of commercials for French Television. In 1985, he went back to Los Angeles and again, worked in drama and music whilst also working with young people and volunteering at the LOS ANGELES MISSION. Whilst there he also married his wife of 17 years, and continued to sing, act and work in Radio, Television and Theatre, travelling to Chicago, Illinois and Canton, Ohio. In 1997, Paul and his family moved to Houston, Texas continuing to sing, act, work in Radio and Television. Shortly after his marriage fell apart in 2002, he worked with Glen Sharp in some small productions. He moved back to Romford in 2003 and was having a short break from acting and auditioned for the first series of The X Factor but was in a road traffic accident in March of 2004 just days before the recording which caused him to become disabled and had to pull out of it. Paul never lost his love of acting and entertaining and his knowledge and experience in drama helped him cover the deep depression he was suffering as a result of the break-up of his marriage and disability. In 2013 he was at the absolute depth of depression and was going to take his own life, but AUGUST RUSH was playing on the television and just as he was about to end it, JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS (Paul's favourite actor) spoke some lines which stopped him from doing so and realised how powerful acting could be in his campaigning against bullying and inequality. Paul owes his life to Jonathan Rhys Meyers and was able to thank him in person on October 2014 and has been actively involved in acting, teaching and campaigning since then. In March 2015 he was part of an Anti-Bullying Film with Ditch The Label and Lucky Tooth Productions and has also filmed a comedy pilot called KNOBS. Paul also volunteers at an all inclusive theatre charity group called THE HABBIT FACTORY. This is a wonderful charity which works with children of all abilities and backgrounds. Paul has more work in the pipeline and will be continuing to volunteer at HABBIT FACTORY. In January of 2016, Paul will be returning to the Queens Theatre in Hornchurch with the children of the HABBIT FACTORY in a behind the scenes role, of a play written by the charity itself called "THE MAGIC OF THE MUSICALS"