BBC’s medical soap Casualty has been running since 1986 and, in almost 40 years, it’s had many of Hollywood and TV’s biggest names appear at the beginning of their impressive careers

Hospital to Hollywood stars who started on BBC soap Casualty before hitting big time

BBC medical soap Casualty has been a firm favourite with BBC viewers for many years, and has been the starting point for some of the biggest names in film and TV.

From Oscar and BAFTA winning actress Kate Winslet and Minnie Driver to former Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams and on-screen hardman Ray Winstone, many stars have had parts in Casualty at the start of their careers.

We’ve looked back at the BBC archives to find the storylines and the ‘blink and you’ll miss them’ moments that some of Hollywood’s most famous faces came to Casualty’s Accident and Emergency department…

Kate Winslet

She might have bene the star of Titanic and picked up awards at the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys and Golden Globes over her impressive career.

Kate Winslet had a role in Casualty before she hit it big with her lead role in Titanic (Image: PA)

Before she starred as Rose in Titanic in 1997, Kate first picked up a starring role in Casualty in 1993 as a girl whose boyfriend was abusive.

Orlando Bloom

Eventually hitting the big screen in Lord of The Rings in 2001, Orlando Bloom first got an an early start as Noel Harrison in Casualty, appearing in three episodes between 1994 and 1996.

Orlando Bloom starred as Noel Harrison between 1994 and 1996 (Image: PA)
His character Noel was a disturbed labourer who suffered some nasty scrapes after self harming. The same episode also featured early appearances from comedy actor Kevin Bishop and EastEnders actor Nadia Sawalha.

David Walliams

He’s better known for his comedy skills than his acting ones, but Britain’s Got Talent comic David Walliams had a tiny part in Casualty in 2003 as character Jon Fielding – before he struck it big with comedy partner Matt Lucas and their Little Britain series.

David Walliams had a fleeting role in Casualty in 2003 as character Jon Fielding (Image: PA)

Ray Winstone

Whilst he’s known for his tough guy roles in some of TV and Hollywood’s biggest crime dramas, Ray Winstone started off as a tough guy on a smaller level when he played a prisoner called Terry Brennan in Casualty in 1995.

Tough guy Ray Winstone had brief cameo in Casualty (Image: BBC)

Just two years later, he was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Nil by Mouth.

The star has continued to build an impressive acting career with roles in the likes of The Proposition, The Departed and The Sweeney.

Martin Freeman

British actor Martin Freeman has shown off his diverse range of acting skills from Love Actually, Sherlock, The Office and BBC cop drama The Responder.

Martin Freeman, star of The Office and Sherlock, also had an early start in the BBC medical drama (Image: PA)
Yet the actor was given an early start in his career when he played a robber called Ricky Beck who was stabbed during an episode in 1998.

Minnie Driver

Hollywood actress Minnie Driver has had lead roles in films including Good Will Hunting, The Phantom of the Opera and GoldenEye, but it hasn’t always been glamorous and grand.

Over 20 years ago she earned one of her earliest acting credits as a patient called Zena in 1991 who arrived in A&E with a bleeding forehead.

Hollywood’s Minnie Driver appeared in Casualty in 1991 (Image: PA)
Zena was part of a complex storyline as she was suffering with HIV, and staff were unaware and she was treated without any precautions being taken.