John Simm is a household name thanks to his roles in Life On Mars, Doctor Who and Grace. The 56-year-old, who is currently starring in the drama series I, Jack Wright, on BBC One, shares his love of acting with his wife of 22 years, Kate Magowan.
Kate, 51, is a familiar face on our screens, having appeared in popular TV shows like Silent Witness, EastEnders and Spotless.
Keep reading to find out all you need to know about John's family life.
© UKTV/Des WillieJohn Simm's wife, Kate Magowan
Kate Magowan is an English actress and producer. After graduating from The Actors' Institute in Swindon, she landed her first on-screen role in season two of Dream Team (1998) – Sky 1's first original drama series.
She landed her breakout role in the 2002 film, 24 Hour Party People, before securing a string of big-screen roles, including in Kidulthood (2006), Stardust (2007), and 4.3.2.1 (2010).
© GettyKate and John have shared the screen on various occasions over the years. As well as starring in the films Is Harry On The Boat? (2001) 24 Hour Party People, Devilwood (2006) and Tuesday (2008), both landed roles in the BBC series, Exile, which premiered in 2011.
John and Kate's relationship timeline
John began dating his wife Kate in 2000, having worked together on the 2001 drama, Is Harry On The Boat?
They tied the knot three years later in April 2004 in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
© Ferdaus Shamim/WireImageWhile John tends to keep his private life out of the spotlight, he offered a rare glimpse into his relationship in a 2019 interview with The Times. When quizzed about his on-stage role as Macbeth, and whether his relationship with Kate bore any similarities to the titular character and his wife, Lady Macbeth, John said: "Only in the fact that he worships her, and she is the glue that holds everything together."
John and Kate's children and family life
John and Kate share two children, a son Ryan and a daughter, Mollie. Often posting about their family life on Instagram, Kate revealed in 2020 that they had relocated from London to Brighton, where ITV's Grace is currently filmed. Sharing several photos of their new hometown, she wrote: "Goodbye London, it's been memorable. Hello BRIGHTON!"
It's clear the family are big rock fans, having enjoyed a night out at Wembley Stadium last August to watch Oasis perform. Sharing a montage from the gig, Kate penned: "Last night at Wembley. A family outing. A night of nostalgia and proper rock and roll."
In 2022, Kate and John celebrated 22 years together, and the actress marked the anniversary with a sweet post on Instagram. "22 Years My Valentine," she penned alongside a selfie of the couple.
More recently, Kate shared her pride after John played the lead role in a production of A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic Theatre in 2024. Taking to Instagram, the actress praised her husband's performance. "Truly magical. Beyond proud of my love @johnsimmofficial as Scrooge in this year's @oldvictheatre production of A Christmas Carol," penned Kate, adding: "It really is the most beautiful show, the entire cast, the music, the spectacle ALL of it - just breathtaking!"
John's upbringing
In 2024, John appeared on ITV's documentary series, DNA Journey, where he learnt that his biological father was not his dad Ronald Simm, who passed away in 2015, but a club manager from Lancashire called Terence.
John discovered that his mother, Brenda, met Terence in the 1960s before returning to her serious boyfriend, Ron, who raised John. The actor also learned that he had a half-sister, Karen, whom he met at the end of the episode.
© PhotographerHe later told The Telegraph: "It explained a lot. I always felt guilty for feeling a bit different to my family and for leaving at 16. So when I found out, I felt vindicated. I hadn’t been going mad."
The actor added: "I'm not damaged by it. My dad is still my dad."
