Kearns starred in the film The Mark of Cain, for Film4 Productions, based on British soldiers' abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
The episode "Trust", directed by Illy, tells the story of Kearns's character Jack, who is caught trying to burgle the house of elderly ex-boxer Eddie, played by Roy Marsden.
He has also made several appearances in The Accrington Pals, a play by Peter Whelan, portraying the character Ralph, a young volunteer officer during the First World War.
He also starred opposite Matthew Kelly in the West End play Sign of the Times.
[3] From Mossley,[4] near Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, he was educated in Oldham at St Augustine's Catholic School.