Strike star Tom Burke's life from famous family to reconstructive surgery

The popular series Strike is returning for its sixth instalment, The Ink Black Heart. Another novel in JK Rowling's popular series of books, it follows an adaption of Troubled Blood that hit our screens two years ago.

The arrival of the new series of Strike has left fans curious about the life of leading man Tom Burke, who portrays the protagonist Cormoran Strike. Here are some things you might not know about Tom, from his showbiz family to his upcoming projects.

Famous family

Tom Burke, born in London in June 1981, was raised in Kent by parents who were both actors, Anna Calder-Marshall and David Burke. His mother has appeared in shows such as Bodies, Harlots, and Grantchester, while his father played Dr. Watson in Jeremy Brett's adaptation of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

Interestingly, Tom had the opportunity to share the screen with his mother in the fifth season of Strike, where she played the character Janice Beattie. He expressed his admiration for her performance, stating to The Guardian, "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."

Childhood surgery and early acting roles

Tom was born with a cleft lip, which required reconstructive surgery during his childhood, leaving a scar on his lip. Although he has achieved success as an actor, this condition has led to self-doubt regarding potential roles he didn't get.

In an interview with The Independent, Tom revealed that he was once close to landing a part in an "iconic period drama" but ultimately did not receive the role. He said: "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."

He faced challenges from early on, diagnosed with dyslexia as a child which led to academic struggles and him leaving school without completing his A-levels. However, undeterred, Tom ended up attending dance school, and later secured a spot at the prestigious RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) aged 18.

His determination paid off when he got his debut role in 2000 with Dragonheart: A New Beginning. Roles in The Libertine, I Want Candy, Donkey Punch, and Only God Forgives were among his formative projects.

Famous godparents

Tom also drew influence from his godparents, the legendary late Alan Rickman of Harry Potter fame and Pride and Prejudice's Bridget Turner. Alan, renowned for roles in Love Actually, Sense And Sensibility, and Die Hard, passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2016.

Reflecting upon his godfather with The Guardian, Tom expressed: "They were like family really. 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.

"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."

Upcoming projects

Following his role on the series Strike, Tom Burke has several exciting ventures lined up for fans. His IMDb profile lists upcoming appearances including a role in The Winter Of The Crow and the film Black Bag, which stars big names like Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett.

Additionally, Burke is set to feature in the TV series Blade Runner 2099, which is currently listed as being in production.

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