When Stephen Graham scooped a Critics Choice Award for his role in Adolescence, his wife Hannah Walters was the first person he mentioned.
Taking to the stage, he left the A-list crowd in hysterics when he mused ‘I‘m the only person I don’t recognize in this room.’
Receiving a hearty laugh from the audience, Stephen teased: ‘See! I told you it was a good joke, Hannah!’, prompting another chuckle as the camera cut to his wife playfully rolling her eyes.
Viewers were quick to point out it was one of many sweet moments Stephen has shared with Hannah in recent months, taking to X/Twitter to note: ‘Stephen Graham just turned awards season into a love letter.’
Yet it’s unsurprising that Stephen has had nothing but kind words to say about Hannah – previously crediting her with saving his life.
During his acceptance speech at the Emmys, Stephen became emotional as he thanked his loved ones for their support, saying of his wife: ‘You are my rock, you are my world, you are my soulmate, and you know and I know, without you I would be dead.’
How Stephen Graham’s wife Hannah Walters saved his life and sacrificed her career so he could get ahead – as the Adolescence star turns his awards season speeches into a ‘love letter’ for her (pictured at Sunday night’s Critics Choice Awards)
Stephen has been open about his struggles with mental health and previously told how Hannah had helped him through a particularly tough period in his early 20s
Stephen has been open about his struggles with mental health and previously told how Hannah had helped him through a particularly tough period in his early 20s.
Speaking on a 2019 episode of Desert Island Discs, he revealed that Hannah had been by his side following his suicide attempt.
The Liverpool-born father-of two explained that he had attempted to hang himself while he was in the grip of a severe breakdown aged 20 – and only survived because the rope snapped.
He recalled: ‘This is kind of where Hannah came into my life properly. She knew what had happened. She was always in close contact with my mum.’
Stephen and Hannah met in the Nineties when they were starting out as trainee actors at Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in Sidcup, Kent.
While he hadn’t initially realised how much he cared for Hannah, Stephen explained that when she announced she was moving to Spain he realised his true feelings.
He shared: ‘She went to Spain for a little bit and I couldn’t see her, and she was going to move out there. She came back and we hadn’t been on a date in these five years, six years, just talking lots. And I said “can I take you on a date?”
‘She went “what?” And we went to see Saving Private Ryan, had a bite to eat in Greenwich and we were at New Cross train station and I said “please don’t go to Spain.”
‘She asked “why?” and I said “Well, I love you.” She said she’d been waiting five years for me to say that. And the next day we moved in together. And we’ve been together ever since.’
Stephen has been recognised for his role as Eddie Miller in Netflix hit Adolescence but has been sure to mention his doting wife during his acceptance speeches
Viewers were quick to point out it was one of many sweet moments Stephen has shared with Hannah, noting: ‘Stephen Graham just turned awards season into a love letter’
It was a connection that would only deepen over the years, particularly when they worked together on This Is England in 2006.
By then, their bond had strengthened, and just two years later, on June 6, 2008, they tied the knot.
Speaking about their on-screen collaboration, Hannah once remarked that she landed the role thanks to their ‘quite good chemistry,’ before joking: ‘It would have been shocking if we didn’t!’
The couple went on to welcome their children Grace, 19, and Alfie, 17, and settled in Ibstock, Leicestershire, close to Hannah’s family, where they are well-liked in the community and live in a modest £450,000 four-bedroomed semi.
Yet they soon realised that the unstable salaries of two actors would not help when it came to raising their children.
Speaking to The i Paper in 2022, Hannah revealed that it was she who sacrificed her career for the sake of their family.
She explained: ‘I’ve always kind of taken a little bit of a backseat.
‘Stephen has had more of a prolific career, and when we were both starting out, one of us needed to get a normal job. Acting doesn’t help pay the mortgage when you’re young.’
Hannah revealed she who sacrificed her career for the sake of their family. She explained: ‘One of us needed to get a normal job. Acting doesn’t help pay the mortgage when you’re young’
Yet Hannah – who reads Stephen’s scripts to him because of his dyslexia – insisted that she has no regrets and that she loves their dynamic (pictured in 2012)
Yet Hannah – who reads Stephen’s scripts to him because of his dyslexia – insisted that she has no regrets and that she loves their dynamic.
She continued: ‘I love the fact we’re a bit of a unit.
‘I’m sure he wouldn’t mind it if it was the other way around. There’s no resentment in any way, shape or form.’
Stephen, for his part, has always been his wife’s biggest fan.
The couple starred together in 2021 prison drama Time, and discussing his wife’s role in the series, he previously gushed: ‘I watched Hannah back in the day at drama school and always thought she was brilliant.’
It was Stephen who suggested Hannah for the part – a move that she was not initially pleased with.
‘I was quite cross when he suggested it,’ Hannah confessed. ‘I want to get parts on my own merit and not – let’s be candid about it – because of Stephen.
‘So I made him go through proper channels. I put myself on tape and I got it off my own back. But can you imagine if they said we had no chemistry?’
Stephen, for his part, has always been his wife’s biggest fan. The couple starred together in 2021 prison drama Time – with Stephen putting her forward for the role
Hannah has also been instrumental in many of Stephen’s projects. She plays a pivotal role in their joint production company, appropriately named Matriarch Productions
Hannah was key to getting the production of their Disney+ drama, A Thousand Blows off the ground (L-R Stephen, Steven Knight, Erin Doherty, Hannah, and Malachi Kirby)
Hannah has also been instrumental in many of Stephen’s projects.
She plays a pivotal role in their joint production company, appropriately named Matriarch Productions.
Their collaboration brought forth the multi-BAFTA-nominated film Boiling Point in 2021, where Hannah not only served as an executive producer but also appeared on screen.
The film – like each episode of Adolescence – was remarkably filmed in one single take.
Hannah was also key to getting the production of their Disney+ boxing drama, A Thousand Blows, off the ground as she presented the story to Peaky Blinders creator, Steven Knight, who was fascinated by the idea.
Notably, the couple’s production company also produced Adolescence – with Hannah therefore taking to the stage herself during its incredible awards season success.
The actress and producer also made a cameo in episode two as Mrs. Bailey – a teacher at Bruntwood Academy.
Adolescence became the most watched streaming television show in the United Kingdom in a single week upon its release and has dominated awards season in recent months.
the couple’s production company also produced Adolescence – with Hannah therefore taking to the stage herself during its incredible awards season success (pictured with Erin Doherty, Ashley Walters, Emily Feller, Christine Tremarco, Nina Wolarsky and Owen Cooper)
Stephen has been recognised for his role as Eddie Miller but has been sure to mention his doting wife during his acceptance speeches.
Taking to social media on Sunday night after Stephen referenced his wife again at Critics Choice, fans penned: ‘Look how he turned it to a space for just them both’;
‘he is so real for this’; ‘With pure heart, Stephen Graham just made awards season feel like a tender love letter.’
‘Peak Graham charm effortless humor wrapped in wholesome love for Hannah’;
‘It made the moment feel way more real than some polished speech.’
