{{Short description|English actor (born 2001)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use British English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Zak Sutcliffe | birth_name = Zachary William Sutcliffe | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|06|16|df=y}} | birth_place = Bradford, West Yorkshire, England | occupation = Actor | years_active = 2015–present | television = ''4 O'Clock Club'' <br /> ''Waterloo Road'' }}
'''Zachary William Sutcliffe''' (born 16 June 2001) is an English actor. He began his career as a child actor, appearing in the films ''Peter and Wendy'' and ''Grimsby''. Then, following various television appearances including ''No Offence'', ''Butterfly'' and ''Doctors'', he was cast as Evan in the CBBC series ''4 O'Clock Club''. Sutcliffe has since portrayed Schumacher 'Schuey' Weever in the BBC school drama series ''Waterloo Road'' and Bobby Costello in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', as well as film roles including ''Shortcut'', ''Ali & Ava'' and ''The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die''.
==Life and career== Sutcliffe was born on 16 June 2001 in Bradford, West Yorkshire.<ref name="IS">{{cite news |title=Zak Sutcliffe |url=https://gb.readly.com/magazines/inside-soap-uk/2025-08-12/689a79bddd44330de3429388 |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Inside Soap}}</ref> He grew up on the Holme Wood estate and attended Tong High School.<ref name="Tong">{{cite news |title=Bradford schoolboy lands roles in two major films |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/12963735.bradford-schoolboy-lands-roles-in-two-major-films/ |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Telegraph and Argus}}</ref> He simultaneously attended the Yorkshire School of Acting. Aged 13, he was cast in his first professional acting roles, two films: ''Peter and Wendy'' (2015) and ''Grimsby'' (2016).<ref name="Tong" /> Whilst auditioning for ''Grimsby'', he did not fit any of the pre-existing character profiles, but impressed with Sutcliffe, they created a new role for him.<ref name="Tong" /> In 2017, he was cast in the recurring role of Kim Garvey in the Channel 4 procedural series ''No Offence''.<ref name="TresA">{{cite news |title=Zak Sutcliffe |url=https://tresamagazine.com/2021/10/11/zak-sutcliffe/ |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=TresA |archive-date=15 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260115085355/https://tresamagazine.com/2021/10/11/zak-sutcliffe/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A year later, he appeared in an episode of the BBC medical drama series ''Casualty'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Episode 7 - Casualty (Archive) Series 33 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bmf87b |publisher=BBC |access-date=25 February 2026 |archive-date=3 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203152131/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bmf87b |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as two episodes of the ITV1 series ''Butterfly''.<ref name="Italy">{{cite news |title=Rising star Zak, 17, has just shot action movie in Italy |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/17407535.rising-star-zak-17-just-shot-action-movie-italy/ |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Telegraph and Argus}}</ref>
In 2019, Sutcliffe appeared in an episode of the BBC daytime soap opera ''Doctors''.<ref name="IS" /> That same year, he was cast in the main role of Evan on the CBBC series ''4 O'Clock Club''. He appeared until 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Star roles on festive TV for young Bradford actors |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18118962.bradford-actors-zak-sutcliffe-joel-mcveagh-tv-christmas/ |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Telegraph and Argus |archive-date=20 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420095930/https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18118962.bradford-actors-zak-sutcliffe-joel-mcveagh-tv-christmas/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, he starred as Reggie in the Italian horror film ''Shortcut''.<ref name="Italy" /> A year later, he was cast in the film ''Ali & Ava'', which was shot locally to Sutcliffe.<ref name="TresA" /> Also in 2021, he appeared as Tommy Bradshaw in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. His storyline involved being a victim of physical abuse at the hands of his step-father.<ref name="Die">{{cite news |title=Exclusive: Hollyoaks' Zak Sutcliffe breaks silence on heartbreaking Bobby twist |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a65487667/hollyoaks-spoilers-zak-sutcliffe-bobby-death-twist/ |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Digital Spy |archive-date=22 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222173119/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a65487667/hollyoaks-spoilers-zak-sutcliffe-bobby-death-twist/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He next appeared in the film ''The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die'' (2023), in which he portrayed Edmund I.<ref name="Builder">{{cite news |title=Hollyoaks and Waterloo Road star Zachary Sutcliffe stuns fans as he reveals he's still working as a builder |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/hollyoaks-waterloo-road-actor-zachary-sutcliffe-builder-b1253080.html |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Evening Standard}}</ref>
In 2024, it was announced that Sutcliffe would be joining the cast of BBC's school drama series ''Waterloo Road''.<ref>{{cite news |title=“schuey is becoming a better person!” - 30 Sep 2025 |url=https://gb.readly.com/magazines/inside-soap-uk/2025-09-30/68db24c7b54a90a22be771d0 |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Inside Soap}}</ref> He has portrayed student Schumacher 'Schuey' Weever since the thirteenth series.<ref>{{cite news |title=Waterloo Road confirms five new characters and spoilers for next series |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/waterloo-road/a44389457/waterloo-road-series-13-cast-trailer/ |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Digital Spy |archive-date=18 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218182911/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/waterloo-road/a44389457/waterloo-road-series-13-cast-trailer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His initial storyline is centred around his "bad boy" persona masking a deep history of neglect and abuse from his father.<ref>{{cite news |title=Waterloo Road airs upsetting Schuey scene as his home life is revealed |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/waterloo-road/a46674546/waterloo-road-schuey-home-life-dad/ |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Digital Spy |archive-date=28 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251128174451/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/waterloo-road/a46674546/waterloo-road-schuey-home-life-dad/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Later storylines for Sutcliffe's character have involved Schuey finding joy in Christianity, getting a stable home life from foster parents and developing a relationship with Agnes Eccleston (Niamh Blackshaw).<ref>{{cite news |title=Waterloo Road star Zak Sutcliffe admits nerves over Hollyoaks role |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/waterloo-road/a65791539/waterloo-road-zak-sutcliffe-hollyoaks-bobby/ |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Digital Spy |archive-date=22 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222173114/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/waterloo-road/a65791539/waterloo-road-zak-sutcliffe-hollyoaks-bobby/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2025, he returned to ''Hollyoaks'', this time in the role of Bobby Costello.<ref>{{cite news |title=Exclusive – Hollyoaks casts Waterloo Road star as new-look Bobby Costello |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a64672172/hollyoaks-waterloo-road-zak-sutcliffe-bobby-costello/ |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Digital Spy |archive-date=1 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251101123312/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a64672172/hollyoaks-waterloo-road-zak-sutcliffe-bobby-costello/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He portrayed Bobby for two episodes before his character was killed off by serial killer Jeremy Blake (Jeremy Sheffield). Prior to being cast, Sutcliffe was aware the character was to be killed off so soon and was excited to portray death scenes.<ref name="Die" /> At the 2025 ''Inside Soap'' Awards, Sutcliffe was nominated for accolades for his roles in both ''Waterloo Road'' and ''Hollyoaks''.<ref name="IS" /> He also continues to work as a builder alongside his acting roles.<ref name="Builder" />
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2015 | ''Peter and Wendy'' | Peter Pan | Film |- | 2016 | ''Grimsby'' | Luke | Film |- | 2016 | ''Sweet Maddie Stone'' | Tyke | Short film |- | 2017 | ''No Offence'' | Kim Garvey | Recurring role |- | 2017 | ''Bang'' | Sam | Guest role |- | 2018 | ''Casualty'' | DJ | 1 episode |- | 2018 | ''Butterfly'' | Aaron | Recurring role |- | 2019 | ''Doctors'' | Darrell Christie | Episode: "The Phone" |- | 2019–2020 | ''4 O'Clock Club'' | Evan | Main role |- | 2020 | ''Shortcut'' | Reggie | Film |- | 2021 | ''Hollyoaks'' | Tommy Bradshaw | Guest role |- | 2021 | ''Ali & Ava'' | Rob | Film |- | 2023 | ''The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die'' | Edmund I | Film |- | 2023 | ''Youthless'' | Az | Short film |- | 2023 | ''Your Move'' | Joe Mainst | Short film |- | 2024–present | ''Waterloo Road'' | Schumacher 'Schuey' Weever | Main role |- | 2025 | ''Hollyoaks'' | Bobby Costello | Guest role |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Ceremony ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | rowspan="2" | 2025 | rowspan="2" | ''Inside Soap'' Awards | Best Drama Star | ''Waterloo Road'' | {{nom}} | rowspan="2" align="center" | <ref>{{cite news |title=Inside Soap Awards 2025 confirms final shortlist - but which soap stars made the cut? |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a67999254/inside-soap-awards-2025-final-shortlist/ |access-date=25 February 2026 |work=Digital Spy}}</ref> |- | Best Newcomer | ''Hollyoaks'' | {{nom}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|7341833}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutcliffe, Zak}} Category:2001 births Category:21st-century English male actors Category:English male child actors Category:English male film actors Category:English male soap opera actors Category:English male television actors Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Bradford