Michael Socha is captivating BBC viewers with his portrayal of David Hartley, the leader of the Cragg Vale Coiners, in the new drama, The Gallows Pole.
But did you know that Michael isn't the only famous face in his family? His sister is a BAFTA-winning actress. Find out all about her here...
Who is Michael Socha?
Michael Socha is a 35-year-old actor from Derby. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the This Is England television series, the BBC supernatural drama, Being Human, and the fantasy series, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.
Michael shares his son, Elis, with his former girlfriend, who welcomed their child in 2012.
© Dean RogersSpeaking about his upbringing in a new interview with The Guardian, Michael revealed that he and his friends would get into trouble while hanging around town in Derby. When asked if he fell in with the wrong crowd, he said: "No, I was the wrong people. Me and my lot, it was very violent. A lot of fighting, drink and drugs around, it weren't a very nice place. None of us were from conventional families, we'd all been in the [expletive].
© Dean Rogers"Our childhoods were just general violence, a place where you couldn't back down from a fight, you had to fight. It was constant, all the [expletive] time: battles here, or that bloke's after you, or called you whatever, and you'd have to sort that out. Derby was a battleground."
Who is Michael Socha's famous sister?
Michael Socha's sister is actress Lauren Socha.
The Derby native won her first BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the tender age of 19 after appearing in Samantha Morton's directorial debut, The Unloved.
© Dave M. BenettMORE: The Gallows Pole: fans saying same thing about new BBC drama
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In the same year, she rose to fame after playing Kelly Bailey in the E4 comedy-drama series Misfits, for which she won a BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Lauren, 33, has a number of comedy credits to her name, having appeared in the hit series, Catastrophe, as babysitter Anna, as well as the sitcom, The Other One, in which she played Cat.
© Joseph ScanlonWhile she is mostly known for her various TV roles, she may also be recognised for starring in Arctic Monkeys' music video for their 2006 single 'When the Sun Goes Down', which she appeared in at the age of 15.
Lauren likes to keep her personal life out of the spotlight, so not much is known about her current relationship status or family life. Although, we do know that Lauren and her boyfriend welcomed their first child together in 2016, a baby girl named Reenie-Rae Rainsford.
What is The Gallows Pole about?
© Dean RogersBased on the books by Benjamin Myers, the story follows the rise of David Hartley and the Cragg Vale Coiners in the 18th century.
Set in the moorland hills of Yorkshire, the three-part series follows David Hartley as he assembles a gang of weavers and land-workers to embark upon a revolutionary criminal enterprise that will capsize the economy.
