Profile of Jimmy Nail on Famous Like Me

Jimmy Nail is a British actor and singer (born March 16, 1954, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne), famous for his rugged looks, hit singles and a strong Newcastle accent, although sometimes it is weaker, depending on what role he is playing and who he is talking to. His birth name was James Bradford, which he changed to "Nail" after he stepped on a 15 centimeter spike in a glass factory. He rose to fame playing Leonard Jeffrey 'Oz' Osborne in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet in 1983.

Jimmy Nail has also starred in a number of films and had a long musical career, having been a singer before he was picked out at an audition to play Oz.

Nail spent six months in prison on a "grievous bodily harm" sentence following a drunken football match fight in his twenties

After the first two series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Nail found himself typecast and had no more major breaks until the detective series, Spender, which he co-wrote. This was followed by Crocodile Shoes, which also featured Nail as a musician. On the strength of his musical performances in the series he released a number of albums. Mark Knopfler plays guitar on some tracks, a compliment that was repaid with an important plot reference to Oz's being a fan of Dire Straits in the third (revived) series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (2002).

Films in which he has appeared include:

• Morons from Outer Space (1985)
• Evita (1996)
• Still Crazy (1998)

His autobiography Northern Soul is now in publication (Penguin 2004).

Discography (Albums)

• 1986... Take It Or Leave It
• 1992... Growing Up In Public
• 1994... Crocodile Shoes
• 1995... Big River
• 1996... Crocodile Shoes II
• 1997... The Nail File: The Best Of Jimmy Nail
• 1999... Tadpoles In A Jar
• 2001... 10 Great Songs And An OK Voice

Contact Information

Jimmy Nail c/o East West Records Electric Lighting Station 46 Kensington Court London W85DP England

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