Jared Francis Harris, a renowned British actor, was born in London, England, to a family of notable Irish and Welsh heritage. His parents, Richard Harris and Elizabeth Harris (Elizabeth Rees),were both esteemed actors, and his brothers, Damian Harris and Jamie Harris, also pursued careers in the entertainment industry. Despite his family's strong ties to the performing arts, Jared initially showed little interest in becoming an actor.
However, his life took a dramatic turn when he was cast in a college production during his time at Duke University in North Carolina, USA, where he was studying drama and literature in the early 1980s. This marked the beginning of his journey as a professional actor.
After graduating, Jared returned to the UK and attended the Central School of Speech and Drama, before joining the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company. He performed in various productions, including Mark Rylance's "Hamlet," "Romeo & Juliet," "The Silent Woman," and "A Clockwork Orange."
Jared's screen debut came in 1989 with the film "The Rachel Papers." He then went on to appear in a range of projects, including the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of "Henry IV, Part 1," for which he received critical acclaim.
In 1990, while on vacation in New York, Jared auditioned for the role of Hotspur in "Henry IV, Part 1," which he played at the New York Shakespeare Festival. He also appeared in the off-Broadway play "Ecstasy," earning him an Obie Award in 1992.
Jared's breakthrough role as Andy Warhol in "I Shot Andy Warhol" (1996) and his portrayal of John Lennon in VH1's "Two of Us" (2000) cemented his status as a talented and versatile actor. He went on to appear in a wide range of films and television shows, including "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992),"Natural Born Killers" (1994),"Smoke" (1995),"Happiness" (1998),"How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog" (2000),"Igby Goes Down" (2002),"B. Monkey" (1998),"Shadow Magic" (2000),"Mr. Deeds" (2002),"Resident Evil: Apocalypse" (2004),and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008).
Jared's impressive body of work also includes his television appearances, such as "The Other Boleyn Girl" (2003),"The Riches" (2007),"Fringe" (2008),"Mad Men" (2007),"The Crown" (2016),"The Terror" (2018),and "Chernobyl" (2019). His performances have been widely praised for their depth, nuance, and emotional resonance.
In his personal life, Jared is married to Allegra Riggio, a talented lighting designer and comedian.
