BBC Strike star Tom Burke's life from surgery to close bond with Harry Potter actor

Strike: The Ink Black Heart teased in BBC trailer

Strike: The Ink Black Heart is set to hit our screens soon, but what do we know about its leading man Tom Burke?

The latest instalment in JK Rowling's best-selling crime book series Strike is being adapted for television, two years after the fifth book, Troubled Blood, was brought to life.

As Strike returns for a sixth series, fans are eager to learn more about the actor who plays the main character, Cormoran Strike.

Famous family

Born in London in June 1981, Tom Burke hails from a family of actors. His parents are Anna Calder-Marshall and David Burke, both well-known figures in the acting world.

Calder-Marshall has had roles in Bodies, Harlots, Last Christmas, Grantchester and This Is England, while Burke's father played Dr Watson in Jeremy Brett's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

Inside Strike star Tom Burke's life off-screen from childhood surgery to Harry Potter stars family influence (Image: BBC)

Strike star Tom Burke's godfather was Harry Potter star Alan Rickman who died of pancreatic cancer in 2015. (Image: GETTY)

In the fifth season of Strike, Burke acted alongside his mother, who portrayed the character Janice Beattie.

Speaking to The Guardian, he said: "She's fantastic in it. The first scene we had was also with Carol MacReady, who's a wonderful actor.

"Her and my mum go way back and it was a joy to be in a scene with both of them."

Surgery

Burke was born with a cleft lip and underwent reconstructive surgery as a child, leaving him with a scar on his lip.

Despite his successful acting career, this has sometimes caused him to question why he didn't get certain roles.

He once told The Independent that he nearly landed a part in an "iconic period drama", but ultimately didn't get the role.

Burke revealed: "I very nearly got cast but I got told I didn't have the right face for that channel. And I didn't know if it was my cleft lip, or what it was."

Despite being diagnosed with dyslexia in childhood, which led to academic struggles and an early exit from school before completing his A-levels, Burke wasn't deterred from following his acting ambitions.

He honed his craft at a dance school and, remarkably, made it into RADA at 18.

His onscreen breakthrough came in 2000 with Dragonheart: A New Beginning. This success was followed by impressive performances in The Libertine, I Want Candy, Donkey Punch, and Only God Forgives among others.

Actor Tom Burke's dad David Burke played Dr Watson opposite Jeremy Brett in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. (Image: GETTY) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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Famous godfather

It wasn't just his parents who influenced Burke's artistic path; his godparents, Pride and Prejudice actress Bridget Turner and Alan Rickman, of Harry Potter fame, also played pivotal roles.

Rickman, additionally celebrated for roles in Love Actually, Sense And Sensibility, and Die Hard, sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2015.

Burke spoke warmly of his godparents to The Guardian: "They were like family really.

He poignantly recalled Rickman's influence: "When Alan died [in 2016], Juliet Stevenson got it right when she said we've lost a king. You did sometimes feel like you were at Alan's court.

Rickman's enduring legacy, Burke reflected, was evident: "He had a sense of mission about him and was invested in so many people.

"Even if you only met him once, he could become a momentary huge influence in your life.

"He had a way of asking very penetrating questions, often without necessarily meaning to. People would walk away and make quite big life decisions."

What's next

Fans of Tom Burke have much to anticipate as the actor turns the page after his acclaimed role in Strike.

His compelling list of upcoming projects is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

Burke's IMDb teases his involvement with projects including The Winter Of The Crow and Black Bag, offering him a chance to share the screen with cinematic heavyweights Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett.

Moreover, he is set to make waves in the eagerly awaited TV series Blade Runner 2099, which is currently brewing in production.

Strike: The Ink Black Heart premieres on Monday, December 16, at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

BBC Strike star Tom Burke's life from surgery to close bond with Harry Potter actor

BBC Strike star Tom Burke's life from surgery to close bond with Harry Potter actor

BBC Strike star Tom Burke's life from surgery to close bond with Harry Potter actor

BBC Strike star Tom Burke's life from surgery to close bond with Harry Potter actor

BBC Strike star Tom Burke's life from surgery to close bond with Harry Potter actor