Matthew David Marsden (born 3 March 1973) is an English-American actor, producer, singer and former model. He has appeared in films such as Helen of Troy, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, Tamara, Resident Evil: Extinction, Rambo, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and Atlas Shrugged. Early life Marsden was born on 3 March 1973 at Hallam Hospital in West Bromwich, West Midlands, England. He grew up on the Yew Tree Estate in Walsall. His father abandoned the family when Marsden was a child, and his mother Ann then brought him up and his sister alone. He attended Manor High School in Wednesbury, before leaving to go to Dartmouth High School in Great Barr, Birmingham. Marsden found work as a model in London, Paris and Milan. He was featured in commercials for products such as Jacobs Coffee, Punica, Vimto and Impulse. He has since commented, "I was at college in London and when you're a struggling student it doesn't take a genius to work out that it's easier to model for a few hours each week and earn thousands of pounds than work in a bar for a pittance. But I hated doing it really." After nearly two years of modelling, he decided to get an agent and find work as an actor. Career Marsden's acting break came in 1995 when he joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, playing the upper crust Daniel Weir, lover of Linda Glover. He remained in the role for three months before the character was written out. He went on to play the role of surfer Philip Kennedy in Island – a Jersey-based ITV miniseries. Marsden also dressed in drag when he appeared in the Jeannot Szwarc French film Les Soeurs Soleil (The Sun Sisters). On 3 March 1997, he joined the cast of Coronation Street as mechanic Chris Collins and he remained with the series until 29 March 1998. The role earned him 1997 National Television Award for Most Popular Newcomer. Following his departure from Coronation Street, Marsden decided on a change of direction and a fleeting career as a pop star followed. He signed a £500,000 record deal with Columbia Records and released his debut single in July 1998 called "The Heart's Lone Desire", which reached number 13 in the UK singles chart. He followed with a second single, a cover of Hall & Oates' "She's Gone", with his label-mates