Biography

Paul Woodward is a British actor, producer, and filmmaker based in the North West of England. He is co-founder of the creative production company Old Swan Films alongside director Thomas Elliott Griffiths.

Drawn to performance from a young age, Woodward played Fat Sam in a school production of Bugsy Malone. He trained in Theatre and Performance at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and began working professionally by the age of 19 in cabaret and UK pantomime tours. Early screen credits include leading roles in the feature films Treasure of Albion (as Brian) and The School That Roared (as Cosmic Boy).

After stepping away from the industry for nearly a decade, he returned to complete a Master’s degree in Professional Acting at ALRA (Academy of Live and Recorded Arts). He subsequently co-founded Old Swan Films, a company dedicated to powerful, character-driven storytelling, supporting emerging talent, and delivering high production values across narrative shorts, features, and documentaries.

As a producer, Woodward’s credits include the BFI-recognised short Are You Okay?, the satirical thriller short Time to Go, and the globally distributed feature documentary The Little Things (2025). The latter, which examines the work of Derian House Children’s Hospice, secured international distribution through Buffalo 8 and has been released on platforms including Amazon Prime and Tubi. It has been widely praised for its sensitivity and impact.

He made his directorial debut with the short documentary Voice Again (2026), which focuses on bereaved fathers and men’s mental health support at the same hospice. A BAFTA Connect member and Patron of Derian House Children’s Hospice, Woodward continues to work as both actor and producer while advocating for children’s palliative care and related causes. His work with Old Swan Films has involved collaborations with artists including BAFTA-winner Steve Pemberton and others across film and television.
- IMDb mini biography by: Paul Woodward