Biography

"One of the greatest actors of his generation"

I am a professional award-winning actor with over 30 years of experience working at the very highest level in theatre, radio, TV and film.

I was a leading actor in the company that opened the now legendary Globe Theatre in 1997, played leads in seven productions at one of the greatest theatres in the world, the Royal National Theatre in London and over a 10-year period at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) played most of Shakespeare's iconic roles: Hamlet, Macbeth, Richard III, Richard II, Prospero, Malvolio, Puck and many others.

For my performances as Richard II and Richard III I was nominated for Best Actor for the Evening Standard Award in 2008 and in 2009 was part of the company that won the Olivier Award for Best Ensemble for the RSC’s productions of the History Cycle. A ground-breaking project where one company undertook all eight of Shakespeare’s History plays.

I have worked with every possible style of writer, from Beckett to Brecht, Miller to Mamet, the ancient Classicism of Euripides to the blistering modernism of Sarah Kane. I have also helped develop new plays with writers including the late, incomparable Tom Stoppard on his opus trilogy, The Coast of Utopia and with Mike Bartlett on his recent play, Juniper Blood.

I have starred in musicals, including the original West End production of Urinetown and in 2015 the role of Willy Wonka in Sam Mendes’ production of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory which I played for two years.

On TV and film I have worked with some of the most legendary names in the business: Heath Ledger, Ewen McGregor, Kevin Hart, Michael Gambon, David Tennant, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Jane Birkin, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Timothy Spall, Rafe Spall, Matthew Mcfadyen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anne Marie Duff, Johnny Harris, Michaela Cole, Sarah Lancashire to name just a few.

I can currently be seen starring with Sophie Turner in the Amazon Prime series STEAL.

I have taught at East 15 Acting School and privately.
Along with Dame Judi Dench, Sir David Hare, Dame Maureen Lipman and Dame Elaine Paige, I am a patron of the Masterclass Theatre Trust, an organisation set up to support and inspire the next generation of theatre makers.

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