# Patrick Baladi
**Patrick Baladi** (full name Patrick Bashir Baladi) is an English actor best known for playing Neil Godwin, David Brent's suave new boss, in the BBC sitcom *[The Office](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-office-british-tv-series)*, Michael Jackson in the Sky 1 comedy-drama *Stella*, and Stephen Holmes in the ITV thriller *Marcella*[1](https://waf.themoviedb.org/person/43019-patrick-baladi). Born in 1971 in the West Midlands of England to an English mother and a Syrian father, he has worked across television, film, and stage, including productions by the [Royal Shakespeare Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-shakespeare-company)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/) • [1](https://waf.themoviedb.org/person/43019-patrick-baladi).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971, Birmingham, West Midlands, England[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/patrick-baladi) |
| Breakthrough role | Neil Godwin in *The Office* (BBC), 2002–2003, 8 episodes[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/) |
| Signature TV roles | Michael Jackson in *Stella* (2014–2017); Stephen Holmes in *Marcella* (2016); Darren in *Breeders* (2020–2023, 22 episodes)[4](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2115024/) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/fullcredits) |
| Notable films | *Rush* (2013) as John Hogan; *The International* (2009); *Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason* (2004)[1](https://waf.themoviedb.org/person/43019-patrick-baladi) |
| Stage work | Royal Shakespeare Company productions including *Hamlet* and *Much Ado About Nothing*; National Theatre alongside Martin Freeman[1](https://waf.themoviedb.org/person/43019-patrick-baladi) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/) |
| Music | Member of the rock band Grow Up with actor Keith Allen[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/) |
| Recent work | *Little Disasters* (2025); Steven Moffat's Channel 4 series *Number 10* (post-production)[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/fullcredits) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/news/) |
## Early life and training
Baladi was born in Birmingham, West Midlands[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/patrick-baladi). His father was a Syrian gynaecologist and obstetrician, and his mother was English; according to his IMDb biography, his father was once the gynaecologist to the wife of Colonel Gaddafi[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/) • [1](https://waf.themoviedb.org/person/43019-patrick-baladi). He was brought up in Libya and educated at [Stonyhurst College](https://www.edgepedia.org/stonyhurst-college), a Jesuit boarding school in [Lancashire](https://www.edgepedia.org/lancashire), where his first experience of performing came when he played Nancy in a boys-only version of *Oliver!*[1](https://waf.themoviedb.org/person/43019-patrick-baladi) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/). After school he trained as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama[1](https://waf.themoviedb.org/person/43019-patrick-baladi).
In a 2007 interview with *The Independent*, Baladi described the most surprising thing that had happened to him as being bombed by America in Libya while visiting his father[7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/the-5minute-interview-patrick-baladi-actor-765698.html).
## Television career
After drama school he joined the National Theatre, where he acted alongside [Martin Freeman](https://www.edgepedia.org/martin-freeman), who would later be his co-star in *The Office*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/). His role as Neil Godwin, the manager of the Swindon branch who becomes [David Brent](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-brent)'s polished rival, appeared in the second and final series of the award-winning [mockumentary](https://www.edgepedia.org/mockumentary) and in the subsequent Christmas special[1](https://waf.themoviedb.org/person/43019-patrick-baladi).
**Genre range.** Following *The Office*, he appeared in British police dramas including *A Touch of Frost*, *Midsomer Murders*, *Line of Duty* (as Jimmy Lakewell, 2017), and *Ripper Street*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/) • [8](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-153837/filmographie/). Romantic and comedic parts followed in *Mistresses* (as Richard, 2008–2010) and *Consuming Passion* (2008)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/). He played the title character's boyfriend [Michael Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-jackson) across four series of the Sky 1 comedy-drama *Stella* from 2014 to 2017, and Stephen Holmes in the ITV thriller *Marcella* (2016)[4](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2115024/) • [8](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-153837/filmographie/).
His later television credits include Darren in the sitcom *Breeders* (2020–2023, 22 episodes), John Wingsnight in *Ted Lasso* (2021–2023), DI Patrick Holden in *DI Ray* (2021–2024), Tilson in *Douglas Is Cancelled* (2024), and Andrew in *Little Disasters* (2025)[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/fullcredits). He is cast in *Number 10*, [Steven Moffat](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-moffat)'s first project for [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4), a political drama set at 10 [Downing Street](https://www.edgepedia.org/downing-street) starring Rafe Spall as Prime Minister Harry Douglas[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/news/).
## Film career
Baladi portrayed Dodi Al-Fayed in the 2007 television docudrama *Diana: Last Days of a Princess*, a role *The Independent* described as controversial[1](https://waf.themoviedb.org/person/43019-patrick-baladi) • [7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/the-5minute-interview-patrick-baladi-actor-765698.html). His film work includes Martin White in the thriller *The International* (2009) opposite [Clive Owen](https://www.edgepedia.org/clive-owen) and [Naomi Watts](https://www.edgepedia.org/naomi-watts), Mr. Harding in *StreetDance* (2010), Richard in *Now Is Good* (2012), and John Hogan in the Formula 1 drama *Rush* (2013)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/). On Rotten Tomatoes, *Rush* is his highest-rated film at 88 percent from critics, and *Demons Never Die* (2011) his lowest at 13 percent[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/patrick-baladi).
## Stage and music
Baladi has appeared in numerous Royal Shakespeare Company productions, including *Hamlet* and *Much Ado About Nothing*[1](https://waf.themoviedb.org/person/43019-patrick-baladi). He is also a musician and a member of the rock band Grow Up with actor Keith Allen[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/).
## Personal life
He is married to the actress and dancer Gemma Walker, and they have a daughter, Ava, born in 2007[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/).
## References
1. [Patrick Baladi – The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://waf.themoviedb.org/person/43019-patrick-baladi)
2. [Patrick Baladi – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/)
3. [Patrick Baladi Movies & TV Shows List – Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/patrick-baladi)
4. [Patrick Baladi – elCinema](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2115024/)
5. [Patrick Baladi – IMDb full credits](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/fullcredits)
6. [Patrick Baladi – News – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049346/news/)
7. [The 5-minute Interview: Patrick Baladi, Actor – The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/profiles/the-5minute-interview-patrick-baladi-actor-765698.html)
8. [Patrick Baladi : Filmographie – AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-153837/filmographie/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames A to Ba*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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