Sean Cernow was born in Oldham, Lancashire on June 3rd 1977 and grew up on both the Abbeyhills and Holts Estates, Oldham. He attended Saint Anne's Primary School, Greenacres and Saint Damian's RC High School, Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire from 1988 to 1993. Sean attended the Higginshaw School of Performing Arts in Shaw, Oldham, Tameside College of Drama in Ashton and North West College of London followed by Salford University's Media Performance Course. After leaving this course prematurely Sean made his film debut as the Gunman Little Pel in Michael Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People and his television debut in World Productions' BAFTA Winning ultra realistic prison drama, Buried.