How Stephen Graham’s wife Hannah Walters saved his life and sacrificed her career so he could get ahead – as Adolescence star turns awards season speeches into a ‘love letter’ for her

When Stephen Graham won the Critics’ Choice Award for his role in Adolescence, the first person he mentioned was his wife, Hannah Walters.

When she took the stage, she left the A-list crowd in hysterics as she thought, ‘I am.’‘I’m the only person in this room I don’t know.’

Drawing a hearty laugh from the audience, Stephen quipped: ‘To see! “I told you it was a good joke, Hannah!” he said, prompting another giggle as the camera cut to his wife playfully rolling her eyes.

Viewers were quick to point out that it was one of the many sweet moments Stephen has shared with Hannah in recent months, writing on X/Twitter: ‘Stephen Graham has turned awards season into a love letter.’

It’s no surprise, though, that Stephen only has kind words for Hannah and credits her with saving his life before.

Stephen became emotional during his acceptance speech at the Emmys as he thanked his loved ones for their support, saying of his wife: ‘You’re my rock, you’re my world, you’re my soulmate and you know and I know, I would die without you.’

Stephen has spoken openly about his mental health struggles and has previously told how Hannah helped him through a particularly difficult time in his early 20s.

Stephen has opened up about his mental health struggles and has previously told how Hannah helped him through a particularly difficult time in his early 20s.

Speaking on a 2019 episode of Desert Island Discs, he revealed that he stood by Hannah following her suicide attempt.

The Liverpool-born father of two said that he tried to hang himself when he had a serious crisis when he was 20 years old and only survived because the rope broke.

She recalled: ‘This is kind of where Hannah literally came into my life. He knew what happened. ‘He was always in close contact with my mother.’

Stephen and Hannah met in the nineties when they started as trainee actors at the Rose Bruford College of Theater and Performance in Sidcup, Kent.

Although he didn’t initially realize how much he cared for Hannah, Stephen said he realized his true feelings when she announced she was moving to Spain.

She shared: ‘He went to Spain for a while and I couldn’t see him and he was going to move there. He came back and we hadn’t gone on a date in these five, six years, we were just talking a lot. And I said, “Can I take you on a date?” I said.

“What?” he asked. We went to see Saving Private Ryan, had something to eat in Greenwich, were at New Cross train station and I said “please don’t go to Spain”.

“From where?” he asked. and I said, “Well, I love you.” He said he’d been waiting five years for me to say this. And the next day we moved in together. And we’ve been together ever since.’

Stephen is best known for his role as Eddie Miller in the Netflix hit Adolescence, but he also made sure to mention his doting wife during his acceptance speeches.

Viewers were quick to note that this was one of the many sweet moments Stephen shared with Hannah, noting: ‘Stephen Graham turned awards season into a love letter’

It was a bond that deepened over the years, especially when they worked together on This Is England in 2006.

By then their bond had strengthened and they married just two years later, on June 6, 2008.

Speaking of their on-screen collaboration, Hannah once stated that she got the role because of their ‘pretty good chemistry’, before joking: ‘It would have been shocking if we didn’t!’

The couple went on to welcome children Grace, 19, and Alfie, 17, and settled in Ibstock, Leicestershire, close to Hannah’s family; They are well-liked in the community here and live in a modest four-bedroom flat worth £450,000.

However, they soon realized that the two players’ unstable salaries would not help them raise their children.

Speaking to The i Paper in 2022, Hannah revealed that she was the one who sacrificed her career for the sake of her family.

He explained: ‘I’ve always been a bit in the background.

‘Stephen had a more productive career and when we both started work one of us needed to find a regular job. ‘Acting doesn’t help you pay the mortgage when you’re young.’

Hannah revealed who it was who sacrificed her career for the sake of her family. He explained: ‘One of us had to find a regular job. ‘Acting doesn’t help you pay the mortgage when you’re young’

But Hannah, who read Stephen’s scripts to him due to her dyslexia, insisted she had no regrets and loved their dynamic (photo taken in 2012)

But Hannah, who read Stephen’s scripts to him due to her dyslexia, insisted she had no regrets and loved their dynamic.

He continued: ‘I like that we have a bit of unity.

‘I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if it were the other way around. There are no hard feelings in any way, shape or form.’

Stephen, on the other hand, has always been his wife’s biggest fan.

The couple starred together in 2021 prison drama Time and, discussing his wife’s role in the series, he previously said: ‘I watched Hannah at drama school once and always thought she was amazing.’

It was Stephen who suggested Hannah for the role; This was a move he didn’t like at first.

“I was pretty pissed when you suggested that,” Hannah admitted. ‘I want to be cast on my own merit, let’s be clear about that – not because of Stephen.

‘So I made sure it went through the proper channels. I recorded myself on tape and put it off my own back. But can you imagine if they said our chemistry didn’t match?’

Stephen, on the other hand, has always been his wife’s biggest fan. The couple starred together in the 2021 prison drama Time, with Stephen putting her forward for the role

Hannah was also instrumental in many of Stephen’s projects. He plays a pivotal role in their co-production company, aptly named Matriarch Productions.

Hannah played a key role in kick-starting production on Disney+ drama A Thousand Blows (LR Stephen, Steven Knight, Erin Doherty, Hannah and Malachi Kirby)

Hannah was also instrumental in many of Stephen’s projects.

He plays an important role in their co-production company called Matriarch Productions.

Their collaboration resulted in 2021’s multiple BAFTA-nominated film Boiling Point; where Hannah not only served as executive producer but also starred on the big screen.

The film, like every episode of Adolescence, is remarkably shot in a single take.

Hannah also played a key role in launching production on Disney+’s boxing drama A Thousand Blows, while pitching the story to Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. He was very impressed by this idea.

Notably, the couple’s production company also produced Adolescence; that’s why Hannah took to the stage herself during her incredible awards season success.

The actress and producer also took on the role of Miss Bailey, a teacher at Bruntwood Academy, in the second episode.

Adolescence became the most-watched television series in the UK within a single week of its release and has dominated awards season in recent months.

the couple’s production company also produced Adolescence — so Hannah made an appearance in person during the incredible awards season success (pictured alongside Erin Doherty, Ashley Walters, Emily Feller, Christine Tremarco, Nina Wolarsky and Owen Cooper).

Stephen became known for his role as Eddie Miller, but during his acceptance speeches he made sure to mention his doting wife.

After Stephen referenced his wife again on Critics’ Choice on Sunday night, fans took to social media to write: ‘Look how he turned it into a space for just the two of them’;

‘so real for this’; ‘With his pure heart, Stephen Graham made awards season feel like a tender love letter.’

‘Peak Graham captivates with effortless humor wrapped in a wholesome love for Hannah’;

‘It made the moment feel much more real than a flashy speech.’