22 famous faces that the Black Country like to claim as their own - from acting legends to music stars
Take a look at some of the brightest Black Country stars who hold the torch in showcasing the region's talents.
Sometimes when watching TV and film, it can be difficult to feel represented as most of British media seems dominated by accents by those who grew up down south in the British home counties.
For some of us, these accents may seem alien in comparison to a friendly Black Country accent. That’s why when we hear a sound that’s familiar to us, it is definitely reassuring to hear and can pique our interest.
Now despite, the Black Country making up up over a million people in the UK.
Our voices can feel few and far between in mainstream media.
We thought we'd praise shout up about some of the celebs that make our region special, and who truly represent us on stage and screen - which unfortunately is quite rare for a region of our size.
Here are some of the Black Country's greatest stars:
1. Liam Payne
The former One Direction star was born at New Cross Hospital in the Heath Town district of the city, he unfortunately passed away in October 2024, aged just 31 in South America. But the Black County singer was proud of his roots and he was also known for being a massive West Brom fan.
2. Nigel Slater OBE
The well known food critic has written a column for The Observer Magazine and has also hosted the Channel 4 series Nigel Slater’s Real Food Show, and written books. In 2020, he was included in the New Year Honours for services to cookery and literature.
3. Robert Plant
Legendary rock star is best known as the lead singer of Led Zepplin, was born in West Bromwich in 1948. Despite being known world-wide he has humble beginnings, as he grew up in working-class neighbourhoods in Halesowen and Tipton. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School for Boys in Stourbridge before leaving to pursue music.
4. Dame Meera Syal
She was born in 1961 in a small mining community in Wolverhampton, which became the background for her first semi-autobiographical novel Anita and Me (1996). The 64-year-old was mostly raised in the region and is an alumni of Queen Mary’s High School located in Walsall. Often hailed as a ground-breaking British television star, Meera Syal made waves for British-Asian representation on screen and is known for iconic TV in shows such as The Kumars at No 42 and Goodness Gracious Me.
5. Denise Lewis
A much-celebrated British athlete, Denise was born in West Bromwich, she began her career in athletics, notably in the heptathlon. She won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She is best known nowadays as a TV broadcaster.
6. Kristian Thomas
Born in Wolverhampton, he is a British former artistic gymnast and is best known for being a member of the British team that won gold in the 2012 European Championships team event, and a historic bronze in the same event at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
7. Sir Lenny Henry
Born in Dudley in 1958, Lenny rose to fame through the television shows like New Faces, as well as co-founding the charity Comic Relief. He also has deep ties to Birmingham, serving as the Chancellor of Birmingham City University (2016-2024).
8. Jorja Smith
For many, it was a 2025 song that made them pay attention to the fact that the award-winning artist is actually from the Black Country, more specifically, Walsall, as she embraced her accent in the song ‘Crush’ with London rapper AJ Tracey. Smith attended Aldridge School in Walsall.
9. Nigel Bennett
The actor was born in Wolverhampton in 1949. He is best known for playing the vampire patriarch Lucien LaCroix in the TV series Forever Knight, for which he won the Canadian Gemini Award for best supporting actor in a dramatic series.
10. Don Gilet
The Death in Paradise star was born in 1967 and grew up in Caldmore, Walsall. He attended Whitehall Junior School and Blue Coat Church of England Academy. He trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
11. Dame Julie Walters
Well-renowned British actress, best known for roles in Educating Rita, Billy Elliot, and in Harry Potter has fairly humble beginnings in Smethwick. She was born there in February 22, 1950, and has described her Black Country roots as being key shaping her as a person. She also attended Holly Lodge Grammar School for Girls.
12. Caitlin Moran
The journalist grew up in a three-bedroom council estate in Wolverhampton, and had attended Wolverhampton Girls' High School for three weeks.
13. Steve Bull MBE
Born in Tipton, in 1965, he is best known for being a record-breaking Wolverhampton Wanderers striker.
14. Frances Barber
Acclaimed actress was born in Wolverhampton in 1958. The widely acclaimed English actress known for her extensive work in theatre, film, and television since the early 1980s. She has received Olivier Awards nominations.
15. Anya Chalotra
Anya Chalotra is a British actress born in Wolverhampton, and has starred in The Witcher.
16. Beverley Knight MBE
She is much celebrated soul singer and actress who remains deeply connected to her roots in the Black Country, specifically her hometown of Wolverhampton where she was born in 1973.
17. Jacqui Oatley
The broadcaster has roots in Wolverhampton, she was born at New Cross Hospital in 1975.
18. Frank Skinner
The comedian who has dominated our TV screens for the past three decades was born in West Bromwich in 1957 and was raised in a council house in Oldbury.
19. Antonio Aakeel
The actor is from Wolverhampton and is best known for his roles in Tomb Raider, the BAFTA-winning drama Three Girls (2017), and Apple TV's Slow Horses (2022).
20. Sam Allardyce
The former England and West Brom manager was born in October 1954 on the Old Park Farm Estate in Dudley. A mural of Sam Allardyce appeared in July 2025 in his hometown celebrating his roots.
21. Judith Keppel
This is the first million-pound winner of the UK's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, was born in Wolverhampton, which is a major city in the Black Country.
22. Suzi Perry
A famous British broadcaster and journalist, best-known for her time covering MotoGP and as a BBC Formula One anchor for the BBC. Prior to all of that, Perry was born in RAF Cosford and raised in the Finchfield area of Wolverhampton. Perry was appointed an ambassador for Wolves Foundation.
