Celebrating Famous Care Leavers: Success Beyond Adversity

A number of remarkable individuals have grown up in care, showing that early challenges don’t define your future. From the arts to sports, politics to literature, care leavers have made an extraordinary impact.

What it means to be a “care leaver” — and why stories matter

When a child grows up in the foster care system or in children’s homes, everything from childhood and identity to opportunity and support can feel uncertain. “Care leavers” — people who spent their childhood in state‑care and then left the system as teenagers — often face stigma, instability and a lack of belonging. Yet many go on to build remarkable lives, and their stories challenge public assumptions about who care‑experienced people can become.

At the heart of our new campaign for care leavers is our Co-Chair, Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey. Her own experience growing up in care in London fuels her passion for driving positive change.

Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey is an independent crossbench peer and a leading voice in culture, education, and social justice. Formerly Professor of Cultural Studies at Middlesex University and Head of Culture at the Greater London Authority, she has also served on the boards of major cultural institutions, including the National Theatre and the Southbank Centre.

Appointed to the House of Lords in 2004, Baroness Young holds honorary doctorates from Middlesex University, the University of the Arts London, and the University of Sussex. Her work continues to champion creativity, inclusion, and opportunity for all.

Below are a few more famous care leavers — whose stories inspire.

Music and Performance

• Goldie, from the West Midlands, transformed drum ‘n’ bass music and released the Top Ten album Timeless in 1995. He is also a skilled break dancer and graffiti artist.
• Seal, a globally acclaimed soul artist, was privately fostered until age four. Known for hits like Kiss From A Rose, he remains an icon of 1990s music.
• Pauline Black, singer and actor, and Tricky, musician and artist, both overcame early care experiences to achieve global recognition.
• Neil Morrissey, actor best known for Men Behaving Badly, spent seven years in care from age 10 to 17 and has had a successful career on stage and screen.

Film, Television, and Theatre

• Samantha Morton, Oscar-nominated actress, began acting at 13 and starred opposite Tom Cruise in Minority Report. She grew up in children’s and foster homes in Nottinghamshire.
• Paul Barber, from Liverpool, starred in Only Fools and Horses and The Full Monty, and later published Foster Kid about his upbringing in care.
• Barry Keoghan, Irish actor acclaimed for The Banshees of Inisherin, experienced multiple foster placements and is hailed as an inspiration by fellow care leavers.
• Hannah Pool, producer, journalist, and author, also experienced the care system and went on to a successful career in media.

Literature and the Arts

• Lemn Sissay, poet, author, and playwright, was placed into care from birth. His work often reflects his search for identity and family, and he is a powerful advocate for care leavers.
• Alex Wheatle, author of novels set in London, grew up in the Shirley Oaks children’s home in Croydon and became a celebrated writer.
• Paolo Hewitt, former NME journalist and biographer, lived in care from an early age and wrote The Looked After Kid about his experiences.
• Jeanette Winterson, award-winning novelist, was adopted after time in care and has spoken about how this shaped her writing.
• Zarina Bhimji, Turner Prize-nominated photographer and filmmaker, entered care at 14 and went on to create internationally recognised work.

Sports

• Kriss Akabusi, Olympic gold medallist, spent time in children’s homes and foster placements before achieving success on the track and later as a TV presenter and motivational speaker.
• Fatima Whitbread, world javelin champion, spent the first 14 years of her life in children’s homes before breaking world records and winning global medals.
• Jamie Baulch, gold-winning athlete and TV presenter, also grew up in care and has inspired young people through sport.
• Leon Reid, Olympic medal winner, is another care leaver who found success through athletics.

Politics, Leadership and Advocacy

• Baroness Leo Blair, fostered as a child and later adopted, became a barrister and university law lecturer, and is the father of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
• Baroness Floella Benjamin, TV producer, presenter, author, and House of Lords member, was fostered in her childhood and has championed children’s rights.
• Mark Steel, comedian, broadcaster, and writer, grew up in care and has used his platform to highlight social justice issues.
• Donna Ludford, who faced a deeply unsettled childhood, went on to become Lord Mayor of Manchester.

Other Notable Figures

• Malcolm X, civil rights leader and spokesperson for the Nation of Islam, spent part of his childhood in foster care and a detention centre.
• Marilyn Monroe, iconic Hollywood actress, grew up in foster homes, demonstrating that resilience can translate into global influence.
• Ronnie Archer-Morgan, Antiques Roadshow expert and author, describes his care experience as “lifesaving.”
• Alex Wheatle, Seal, and Fatima Whitbread—all care leavers who achieved success in their fields—show the extraordinary breadth of talent that emerges from care.

These stories demonstrate that care leavers can thrive and excel in every field, despite the challenges they face. They remind us that early adversity does not limit potential — and that talent, ambition, and resilience can transform lives.

Care leavers continue to inspire, lead, and create — proving that with support, opportunity, and belief, anything is possible.

Further reading and resources:

• Care Leavers Foundation – Inspiring Stories
• Children’s Commissioner – Incredible Care Leavers
• Lemn Sissay Blog – Care Leavers in the UK