Patrick Baladi

Patrick Baladi was born on 25 December 1971 and is an English actor. Baladi was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, England. His father is a gynaecologist from Libya, and his mother was a midwife. He was educated at Stonyhurst College where he was the first student to win the Charles Laughtonprize for acting for his roles in Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (he played Pharaoh) and Amadeus (he played Mozart). After school he went on to train as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Baladi is best known for his portrayal of David Brent's suave and charming arch-nemesis, Neil Godwin in the BBC's hit comedy-mockumentary series, The Office. Baladi appeared in the second and final series of the award-winning show, as well as the subsequent The Office Christmas Special. In addition to The Office, Baladi has appeared in various films and television shows including Kidnap and Ransom, as Philip Shaffer, ITV (2011), Alpha Male, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Beyond The Pole,Bodies, P.O.W (TV Series), Lady Audley's Secret, Grafters, Silent Witness, The International, Party Animals, and Mistresses. Baladi portrayed Dodi Al-Fayed in the 2007 television docudrama Diana: Last Days of a Princess. In 2008 he had a small role in the romantic comedy Last Chance Harvey, appearing alongside Emma Thompson. In the BBC drama, Bodies, Baladi played the antagonist Dr. Roger Hurley. He is also a veteran stage actor who has appeared in numerous Royal Shakespeare Company productions such as Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing. He now stars in the comedy No Heroics, where he plays as one of the main characters, Excelsor. In January 2013 he played Inspector Sydney Ressler in BBC One's Ripper Street. Baladi married his long-time girlfriend, Gemma Walker, at Sandals Halcyon Beach in St Lucia on 9 January 2007 and their daughter Ava was born on 3 March 2007. They have since separated. Baladi is also a member of the band Grow Up, along with Keith Allen.