Ben Thompson (actor)  Ben Thompson (born 1 June 1992) is an English actor best known for his role as Ryan Connor in the British soap opera "Coronation Street". Brought up in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, Thompson made his screen debut when he appeared in the 2002 film "Re-Inventing Eddie". Shortly before turning 13, he appeared in the 2004 CBBC children's comedy programme "Stupid!". Thompson rose to further prominence when he was cast as teenager Ryan Connor in "Coronation Street" in 2006. As part of the longstanding series, he has been involved in storylines that have dealt with varying topics, including family life, death and coming of age. In addition to his career as an actor, Thompson is also an amateur musician. He is a member of the Rusholme Ruffians, an indie group who are largely influenced by established Manchester bands. Ben Thompson was brought up in Radcliffe, a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. He trained in acting from the age of eight at the Carol Godby Theatre Workshop in Bury. For five years, Thompson was educated at nearby Radcliffe Riverside High School. He later reflected that he enjoyed his time at school, interacted well with his teachers and "never went into one lesson where there wasn't [something] interesting to do". In 2002, Thompson starred alongside John Lynch, Geraldine Somerville, Lauren Cook and John Thomson in the Jim Doyle-directed film "Re-Inventing Eddie". The movie is about a man named Eddie (Lynch), who is hounded by social services and branded a paedophile after an innocent bathtime game with his children is taken out of context. About two years later and shortly before entering teenagehood, Thompson successfully auditioned to feature in the BBC children's comedy programme "Stupid!". Out of around 400 hopeful youngsters, he was one of only a few to be selected to appear in the show. Prior to "Stupid!"'s launch on the CBBC channel in 2004, Thompson commented, "When I first started going to auditions I was quite nervous but now I just get on with it. I go to quite a few and it gets easier." Thompson auditioned in 2006 for the role of Cameron McIntyre in the long-standing British soap opera "Coronation Street". The part would have had him be on-screen friends with Chesney Brown, played by Sam Aston, who Thompson already knew from the Carol Godby Theatre Workshop. Producers for "Coronation Street", however, were so impressed by Thompson that they asked him to audition for a different role.