Chris Overton is an English actor and filmmaker. He is known for his role as Liam McAllister in the soap opera Hollyoaks, and for directing and co-producing the short film The Silent Child, which garnered him an Academy Award.
Early life and education Chris Overton was born and grew up in Cannock, Staffordshire.
Career In 2010 Overton played Liam McAllister, a former footballer who became a cage fighter, in Hollyoaks.
In 2017 he directed a short film called The Silent Child, about a profoundly deaf four-year-old girl who is taught British sign language by a social worker, played by Rachel Shenton (who was also in Hollyoaks). The film won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
His second short film as a director, Leader, was about climate change, and made using a smartphone. It had its world premiere at the SmartFone Flick Fest in Sydney, Australia.
Personal life Overton married Rachel Shenton, who had co-produced and starred in The Silent Child, in a private wedding in 2018, after being in a relationship since around 2010. They have a son born in April 2025.
Filmography Actor Year Title Role Notes 2003 The Big Read Will Parry Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Video game; voices only 2004 The Brief Ryan Eltham The Phantom of the Opera Young PhantomFeature film Doctors Alex Cummings TV series 2005 Oliver Twist Noah ClaypoleFeature film The Mysti Show Jack 2009 Doctors Nick FenwrightTV series 2010 A Touch of Frost Sean BerlandTV series Hollyoaks Later Liam McAllister TV series Hollyoaks LiamTV series 2011 Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Graham 2012 Casualty James BowmanTV series DCI Banks Tyler JuddTV series 2013 Dalston Heath Finn Short film WPC 56 PC Eddie Coulson Prisoner's Wives Blake Fenner 2014 Pride Reggie Blennerhassett Feature film 2015 Drifters Maggot TV series. Series 3 episode 5: "Plus One" 2019 A Glimpse Alex Short film
Director Year Title Notes 2017 The Silent Child Short film 2022 Leader Short film made on a smartphone
References
External links
Chris Overton at Directors Now (includes interview)