MATTHEW GURNEY (Mark) was born in Oxford in 1975. He was educated at the Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate and at Oxford College for Further Education, where he studied Media Arts and Design. After several spells of presenting work for VeeTV (Maverick for Channel 4) Matthew made a huge impact when he was cast as bad boy Adam in the BBC's Switch. This (apart from playing 'Donkey' in the school nativity play and carrying the Virgin Mary on his back!) was his first acting role but still earned him a nomination as 'best actor' in the 2005! Remark Film & Television Awards. In 2006 he featured in the BBC television drama, Soundproof.
In 2007 Matthew appeared in the Rebecca Atkinson/ Deafinitely Theatre production of 'Playing God' at the Soho Theatre in London. This was followed by a UK tour and the Edinburgh Festival.
Playing the lead role of Mark in 'Coming Home' was, says Matthew, 'a fantastic opportunity. Mark is a character who is in high emotional gear virtually the whole way through the drama. That's a real stretch for me as an actor but I love challenges. I don't want to play the same 'bad boy' part all the time'
Coming Home also gave Matthew the opportunity to work with more experienced actors. 'It was wonderful', said Matthew 'to act with Bruce and Isabelle - or just to watch them working. Unlike them - or Sophie - I've haven't had much formal training. I suppose my acting is instinctive but I've learned something from every job I've done and every director I worked with. I want to keep learning, keep pushing myself, keep getting better.'
In September 2009 Matthew will be rejoining the Deafinitely company at the Soho Theatre to play the lead in 'Double Sentence' which examines the experience of a deaf man in prison. This London run will be followed by a short UK tour.