Porter Flynn was born in Harrow, England on the ides of March. He was raised in Bracknell, Berkshire and attended John Hampden Grammar, a technical school in Buckinghamshire. He has one brother, Benjamin Flynn, a BAFTA winning artist working on computer games and film.

Though coming from a theatrical family Porter only began training as an actor in his 30’s after a career in Hospitality. His work in Hospitality spanned everything from the Ministry of Sound to Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons (the latter also marking his first appearance on television serving a guest on an episode of the BBC’s Holiday programme).

Despite a lifelong interest in acting it was only after the death of his godmother, the theatre director Olive Hurford-Porter, and an inheritance she left him that prompted and enabled him to attend LAMDA and from there embark on an acting career.

Upon discovering his given name was already taken at Equity he decided to take a stage name in honour of his godmother. Initial toying with Hurford Porter he finally decided on Porter Flynn.