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Actor David Morrissey receives honorary award

Widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation, David Morrissey has received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire.

With his career spanning more than 30 years, he has appeared in television dramas including The Walking Dead and Red Riding, worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre, and starred in films such as Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Basic Instinct 2.

Born in Liverpool, David is also a director, producer and screenwriter. Film Production Course Leader at the University, Freya Billington, began working with David’s charity, The Creative Arts Schools Trust, 2011. She created and ran film making workshops with children in refugee camps in Tyre, Lebanon, and the Finetown Township, Johannesburg, in South Africa.

Presenting him with his award at Gloucester Cathedral, Freya said: “I am absolutely delighted the University has chosen to bestow this honour on David since I have had the genuine privilege of working with him through CAST and find him inspirational, as an artist, a teacher and an activist. When he came in to talk to Film Production students last year, he shared the passion he has for his craft but also gave an insight into the absolute commitment and hard work he puts into each project he undertakes. David is someone who genuinely believes in helping others with actions not just words, even though he says them pretty well too.”

David said: “I am delighted to be receiving this award, and the time I spent with the students at the University of Gloucestershire was so inspiring.”

Every year, the University confers honorary awards on distinguished individuals who have made an outstanding contribution locally, nationally or internationally or who have supported the University in some way.

They join around 2,000 graduating students at ceremonies in Cheltenham and Gloucester.