FIVE people born in Worcestershire went on to become household names, from performing on some of the world’s biggest stages to starring in blockbuster films.
From a legendary Led Zeppelin drummer to stars who have topped charts around the world, a surprising number of famous faces started life in the county.
READ MORE: Celebrities living in Worcestershire and the areas they chose
Some stayed local during their childhood, while others moved away at an early age before going on to find international fame.
Here are five celebrities born in Worcestershire who went on to become major names in Hollywood and in music.
Mark Williams
PICTURE: Great Witley Church’s reverend David Morris, a keen cyclist, pictured with his bike alongside Mark Williams as Father Brown, known for getting about on his bike (Image: Supplied)
Harry Potter fans may recognise Mark Williams instantly as Arthur Weasley, but the actor’s life began much closer to home.
He was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, before attending North Bromsgrove High School and later studying English at Brasenose College, Oxford.
Mark Williams became widely known as a performer on the BBC comedy series The Fast Show before taking on his famous role as Arthur Weasley in seven Harry Potter films.
His other credits include 101 Dalmatians, The Borrowers, Doctor Who and Stardust.
Since 2013, he has also played the title character in the BBC series Father Brown, which still films scenes across Worcestershire.
Becky Hill
Becky Hill has gone from her Worcestershire roots to become one of the biggest names in British dance music.
The singer was born in Bewdley in 1994 and started making music at the age of 14, performing with a band called Shaking Trees.
Her breakthrough came when she appeared on the first series of The Voice UK in 2012, reaching the semi-finals.
Two years later, Becky Hill became the first contestant from The Voice UK to score a UK number one when her collaboration with Oliver Heldens, Gecko (Overdrive), topped the chart.
She later won the BRIT Award for Best Dance Act in both 2022 and 2023.
John Bonham
One of rock music’s most celebrated drummers also started life in Worcestershire.
John Bonham was born in Redditch on May 31, 1948 and developed a passion for drumming from a young age, receiving his first full drum kit when he was 15.
After playing in groups including Band of Joy alongside Robert Plant, he joined Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Robert Plant in Led Zeppelin in 1968.
His powerful style helped shape the band’s distinctive sound, and his influence continued long after his death in 1980 at the age of 32.
John Bonham was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Led Zeppelin in 1995, while Rolling Stone named him the greatest drummer of all time in 2016.
Cher Lloyd
Before performing in front of millions on The X Factor, Cher Lloyd was growing up in Malvern.
The singer was born in the Worcestershire town on July 28, 1993 and attended schools in the area, including The Chase and Dyson Perrins.
She shot to fame on the seventh series of The X Factor in 2010, eventually finishing fourth.
Following the competition, she signed a record deal and released her debut single Swagger Jagger, which reached number one in the UK.
Other songs including Want U Back helped Cher Lloyd gain an international following.
Harry Styles
Perhaps the biggest surprise on the list is global pop superstar Harry Styles.
While he is closely associated with Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, where he grew up, Harry Styles was actually born in Redditch, Worcestershire, on February 1, 1994.
He rose to fame after competing on The X Factor in 2010 and becoming part of One Direction, which went on to become one of the world’s biggest boy bands.
After the group went on hiatus, Harry Styles launched a highly successful solo career.
His 2022 album Harry’s House won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, while his acting credits include Dunkirk, Don’t Worry Darling and My Policeman.
