Russell Brand

Russell Brand was born on 4 June 1975 in Grays, Essex. He built his career in British stand-up comedy and television before moving into Hollywood films. A breakthrough television role came with *Big Brother’s Big Mouth*, the discussion show that accompanied the UK version of *Big Brother*. Brand hosted it from 2004 to 2007, becoming known for fast, elaborate monologues and direct exchanges with the studio audience. His autobiography, *My Booky Wook*, appeared in 2007 and described his childhood, early career, and struggles with addiction.

Brand’s best-known film role is Aldous Snow, the flamboyant rock musician he played in the 2008 comedy *Forgetting Sarah Marshall*. The character returned as the focus of *Get Him to the Greek* in 2010, opposite Jonah Hill. Brand also voiced Dr. Nefario in *Despicable Me* and its 2013 sequel. In 2011, he starred in *Arthur*, a remake of the 1981 comedy, and voiced the Easter Bunny’s son, E.B., in *Hop*. He played Lonny Barnett in the 2012 film adaptation of the musical *Rock of Ages*. These roles drew on the theatrical persona he had developed on stage, though his film work also included voice acting and musical comedy.

His broadcasting career included a BBC Radio 2 programme. In 2008, calls that Brand and Jonathan Ross made to actor Andrew Sachs during a recording prompted a major controversy after they were broadcast. The BBC received thousands of complaints, and Brand resigned from the station. He later returned to stand-up with shows including *Messiah Complex*, a tour that explored public figures, fame, and the idea of revolution.

Brand became increasingly involved in political commentary during the 2010s. He guest-edited an issue of the *New Statesman* in 2013 and discussed voting and political disengagement in a widely watched *Newsnight* interview with Jeremy Paxman. In 2014, he published *Revolution*, a book setting out his criticisms of economic inequality and established politics. He also presented *The Trews*, a web series in which he commented on news coverage and political events. Ahead of the 2015 UK general election, Brand interviewed Labour leader Ed Miliband and encouraged viewers to vote Labour, a change from his earlier public argument against voting.

Brand has continued to write and speak about addiction, a subject rooted in his own account of recovery. His 2017 book *Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions* applies the principles of a twelve-step programme to compulsive behaviour more broadly.