The Cage's Michael Socha: Famous sister, plucked from obscurity as a teen, reason he rejected Hollywood, and 'violent childhood'
He plays Matty in the new BBC One drama
Michael Socha returns to our screens in The Cage this month, playing a “good person doing bad things”, and it’s yet another brilliant performance from the Derbyshire-born actor.
Anyone who has followed Michael’s career will know he rarely appears in anything that isn’t top class. And the casino-set The Cage, also starring Sheridan Smith, is no exception.
From This Is England to Showtrial, Michael’s TV and films appeal to all. And he’s not the only famous person in his family… Here’s everything you need to know about The Cage star Michael Socha, including details about his new role, what he’s been in before, and why he shunned Hollywood after a bad experience.
Who does Michael Socha play in The Cage?
Actor Michael Socha portrays Matty in Tony Schumacher’s latest drama The Cage on BBC One. Matty is a likeable loser, who struggles to keep his [bleep] together. A gambling addict, with a daughter he barely sees, working in a casino isn’t the wisest move – with temptation all around. So it’s no surprise it gets himself into deep doo-doo.
Turns out the casino manager is robbing from the safe at work. And he’s not the only one… He discovers that cashier Leanne, played by Sheridan Smith, is also cooking the books.
Both Matty and Leanne have serious money problems, and unite to continue stealing money from the casino’s safe. But what they don’t know – yet – is that the casino is being used to launder money by some pretty nasty gangsters. So they aren’t just dicing with the law, they are dicing with death.
Talking about his character, Michael told us: “Matty is the manager of the Envoy Casino. He’s an alcoholic and also addicted to gambling and is in quite a lot of debt from it. He’s just trying to keep his head above water at the beginning, and it feels like the whole world is against him, both inside and outside the casino. Matty is not doing himself any favours. Everybody is against Matty, including himself.”
Was The Cage’s Michael Socha in This Is England?
Michael Socha came from humble beginnings, not RADA, and was plucked from obscurity as a teenager. A rebellious pupil at school, who often bunked off, his mother encouraged her kids to try acting. However, when he lost out on a role in a musical, Michael became determined to prove his teachers wrong.
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After appearing in some local productions, Michael subsequently won the role of a lifetime when Shane Meadows chose him to appear in This is England. It’s arguably one of the best TV series on the planet – and launched the careers of Stephen Graham, Vicky McClure, and Joseph Gilgun.
The breakthrough role in 2006 came when Michael was still just a teenager. He was cast as school bully Harvey in Shane Meadows‘ skinhead subculture film. He reprised the role in the subsequent TV series This Is England ’86, This Is England ’88, and This Is England ’90.
Michael later sent on to appear in Shane Meadows’ BBC Two drama The Gallows Pole in 2023. Michael played the lead character of Hartley, who assembled a gang of weavers and land-workers for a criminal enterprise – counterfeiting coins. It was based on the true story of Cragg Vale Coiners.
What TV and films is Michael Socha famous for?
After finding fame in This Is England, Michael went on to prove himself in both comedy and drama. Between 2011 and 2013, Michael portrayed werewolf Tom McNair in supernatural drama Being Human.
The actor went on to play Lewis in the mini-series The Aliens, Mikhail in Chernobyl, and Kenny Meadows in the sublime prison drama Time.
After portraying David Hartley in The Gallows’ Pole, Michael’s career changed shape as he started getting coveted primetime roles. These include Dave Chapman in DI Ray, PC Justin Mitchell in Showtrial series 2, Peter in Toxic Town, and Steve in What It Feels Like for a Girl.
He’s been in tonnes of films, too, including Better Things, The Unloved, Stone Roses drama Spike Island, and Papillon.
Why did he leave Once Upon a Time?
Between 2014 and 2015, Michael Socha portrayed Will Scarlet – aka The Knave of Hearts – in Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. Based in famous fairy tales, it was set in Victorian England, and followed “the young and beautiful Alice” who found a “new land that exists on the other side of a rabbit hole”.
He went on to reprise the role in Once Upon a Time from 2015 to 2015. At the time, it was seen as a big move. The American fantasy-drama series aired on ABC and starred big names such as Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Carlyle, Jamie Dornan, Mckenna Grace, and Sebastian Stan.
But, Michael’s big breakthrough wasn’t as glamorous as it seemed. And he subsequently rejected Hollywood… He spent a tough couple of years living in Canada, appearing on the fantasy series. However, they didn’t use him as much as he’d been promised, and he felt isolated. He told The Guardian: “The first year, I was fine, I was working a lot. The second year, I lost my mind.”
The experience cured him of any ideas of Hollywood. He said: “I’m not bothered about that at all. I just want to do what I genuinely want to do.”
Who are the parents of Lauren and Michael Socha?
Michael Socha’s parents are mum Kathleen Lyons, and dad Robert Socha. The family lived in Littleover, a suburb of Derby, and Michael attended St Benedict Catholic School in the Darley Abbey area of the city.
When Michael was 12, his mum Kath suggested he try out for a local play, and his relationship with acting began.
Meanwhile, Michael’s dad suffered a long history of alcohol abuse, and he separated from his wife Kath. Sadly, in 2004, Robert Socha died of an alcohol-related heart attack. Both Kathleen and Michael believe Robert’s death made his son very independent.
Does Michael Socha have a wife or girlfriend?
The Cage star Michael Socha is very private about his personal life. And has not spoken about his relationship status publicly. Although he has appeared on the red carpet with a woman.
The actor has revealed that he is a father-of-three. His eldest child, Elis, still lives in Derby, while his younger children are based in south London.
Talking about parenthood, he told the Telegraph: “My mum’s never been impressed by a film set. I think she’s just happy that I’m a good father to my kids.”
How old is he, and where is he from?
The Cage actor Michael Robert Socha was born in 1987 in Derby, Derbyshire, where he still lives.
The actor is currently 38 years of age.
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