Famous People Born In Bristol

Bristol's Most Famous

As a pretty awesome city Bristol has it’s fair share of famous Bristolians. We take a look at the most famous people who were born in and around Bristol.

1. Russell Brand

Russell Joseph Howard (born 23rd March 1980) is an English comedian, television and radio presenter and actor, best known for his TV show Russell Howard's Good News and his appearances on the topical panel TV show Mock the Week. He won "Best Compère" at the 2006 Chortle Awards and was nominated for an if.comedy award for his 2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe show. Howard cited comedians Lee Evans, Richard Pryor, Frank Skinner as influences.

2. Banksy 

Hollywood actor Brad Pitt once quoted about Banksy "He does all this and he stays anonymous. I think that's great. These days everyone is trying to be famous. But he has anonymity." The reason why Banksy chooses to remain unknown is for one simple reason, his graffiti is a crime.

3. Ben Collins, aka The Stig

The Stig is a character on the British motoring television show Top Gear. Previously played by Londoner Perry McCarthy (2003-2004), he was up until 2010 played by Bristolian Ben Collins.

4. JK Rowling 

Born in Yate in 1965, to a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer. She found fame when she wrote the first Harry Potter novel in 1995, which went on to be sold worldwide and has had eight movies shown on the big screen. Since leaving Bristol as a child, she has gone on to become one of the most successful and popular and most richest novelist ever. 

5. John Challis

Though he is known for being a Londoner Car Salesman called Boycie in the BBC sitcom Only Fools As Horses, he was born in Bristol, in 1942, though he was raised in South East London.

6. Cary Grant

Born Archibald Alec Leach on January 18, 1904, he might be one of the most famous Bristolians of all time. Cary Grant was a definitive leading man in Hollywood during its classical era. Born in Horfield he eventually became an American citizen in 1942, but regularly visited to see his mother at Glenside Hospital (a mental institution).

7.  Judd Trump

Born in 1989, Bristol’s most famous snooker player has hit more than 450 century breaks during his career.

8. Maisie Williams

Educated at Norton Hill School in Midsomer Norton, Williams is best known for her role as Arya Stark on the HBO fantasy television series Game of Thrones.