Ross Boatman

Ross Maxim Boatman (born 3 March 1964) is an English actor, professional poker player and a member of the poker-playing group the Hendon Mob. He is known for the role of firefighter Kevin Medhurst in the ITV drama series London's Burning from 1988 to 1995 and again in 2000. In 2021, he starred in Stay Close on Netflix and then joined the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Harvey Monroe. Acting Boatman was born in Camden, London. After completing his training at RADA, Boatman began his acting career in fringe theatre. He began working as a television actor in 1988, appearing in an episode of The Storyteller ("The Luck Child") and Dramarama, before earning his best-known role as Fireman Kevin Medhurst in the long-running television series London's Burning. Boatman portrayed Medhurst in over 100 episodes between 1988 and 1995, and again in 2000. His other television roles include A Touch of Frost, three episodes of The Bill (in 2006 and 2 episodes in 2009), Murder in Mind, Dream Team, ITV's 2005 drama Planespotting. He appeared in the award-winning West End play Dealer's Choice by Patrick Marber. Boatman starred in a NatWest bank television advertisement in 2015 playing a father who struggled with his utility bills. On the big screen, Boatman has appeared in the gangster film Hard Men and as a rock star in the comedy Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis. He famously turned down a role in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as he had just completed filming Hard Men and feared being typecast. More recently, Boatman has appeared in alongside Clive Owen and Charlotte Rampling in the Mike Hodges film I'll Sleep When I'm Dead. Boatman has maintained he has a preference for acting rather than poker, although he finds poker easier to profit from. In June 2021, his casting on the BBC soap opera EastEnders was announced. Boatman made his debut appearance as Harvey Monroe in July 2021. For his portrayal of the role, he won the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer. Poker