10 Totally True Facts About… Michael Praed (Emmerdale’s Frank)
YOUR lnside soap BRIEFING ON THE MAN BEHIND EMMERDALE’S FRANK…
1 Michael Praed was born as Michael David Prince on 1 April 1960 in Gloucestershire, to parents Derrick and Kay
Prince. However, he later changed his last name after discovering that the actors’ union Equity already had a ‘Michael Prince’ on its books. He admits he chose another surname from a telephone directory – the name ‘Praed’ is a Cornish word meaning ‘meadow’. 2 Michael is a relatively recent arrival in the Dales, making his debut as Frank Clayton – father of Vanessa and Tracy – in 2016. The character first turned up when Tracy’s boyfriend David visited Frank in prison, hoping to mend the decades-long rift between dad and daughter. Since being released, Frank has romanced Megan and cheated on her with Charity!
3 Michael spent the early years of his life in Iran, where his father worked as an accountant. “I spoke the language,” he says, “and my friends were wide and varied – from the Iranians, to the Americans, English and Dutch!” However, young Michael later returned to England for his public boarding school education at Eastbourne College, which he admits he hated. However, the teen soon became determined to train as an actor… 4 Michael’s first paid work wasn’t that glamorous! “I cleaned the toilets at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne, which obviously wasn’t what I wanted to do!” he recalls. Fortunately, Michael got his big break as Joseph Papp in the 1982 revival of The Pirates Of Penzance in London’s West End. It was this part which led to his role as Robin Hood, in the 80s TV series Robin Of Sherwood.
5 As well as Robin Of Sherwood, Michael made his name on another classic drama of the 1980s era – the American super-soap Dynasty. Ironically, given his real name of Michael Prince, the star played the role of Prince Michael, heir to the throne of the fictional Eastern European kingdom of Moldovia. “If anything was of its time, it was most certainly Dynasty,” laughs the actor. “I imagine that if you watched it now, you’d pee yourself laughing!” 6 Not everything in Michael’s career has been a success, though – including his move to the US to play d’artagnan in a revival of Rudolf Friml’s Three Musketeers musical. Sadly, the show closed after just nine performances, but Michael made his mark during the show’s brief run. “I made my entrance from the back of the stalls on a horse!” he said of his Broadway debut. “And I thought, ‘Whatever happens, it’s been lots of fun!’”
7 Michael married his first wife Karen Landau in 1994, and they had two children. The couple divorced in 2009, and Michael then married actress Josefina Gabrielle – best known for appearing in various West End musicals. In 2014, Michael and Josefina joined forces in a revival of the political farce Two Into One!
8 If you work in a bar or restaurant, make sure you’re nice to Michael if he ever walks into your establishment. The star confesses to being a very generous tipper – and he once bought a waiter a bottle of expensive wine that cost the same amount as the entire rest of the bill combined. What a gentleman!
9 Michael used to have a crippling fear of flying – so to battle his phobia, he started flying lessons and became a pilot! “It was ridiculous, because it was taking control of my life,” admitted Michael. “I took some lessons, and it became apparent that my fear wasn’t of flying, but of someone else being in control. The first time you fly solo in an aeroplane, bloody hell! I was very proud of myself.” 10 The actor has revealed his huge celebrity crush while he was growing up – Grease legend Olivia Newton-john! “Every time she came on the telly, I’d go red because I was besotted with her,” he says. “I’ve never met her, but I met her sister – and no I didn’t tell her about my crush!” We promise that your secret is safe with us, Michael…