Born in Surrey, England, a renowned British actor began his journey in the world of theatre after receiving training at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was a founding member of the innovative Red Shift theatre company, established by Jonathan Holloway, and appeared in all their early productions, including a critically acclaimed performance as Bosola in their 1983 Edinburgh Festival production of 'The Duchess of Malfi', which cemented their reputation as a groundbreaking company.
After leaving Red Shift, the actor embarked on a long and distinguished career as a stage performer, appearing in numerous productions across the UK and Europe. Some of his most notable roles include the title character in 'Cyrano de Bergerac', Atticus in 'To Kill a Mockingbird', Casy in 'The Grapes of Wrath', and Bernard Nightingale in 'Arcadia'.
In recent years, he has been a regular fixture in London's West End, starring in productions such as 'Yes, Prime Minister' and 'The Audience', alongside Helen Mirren and Kristin Scott Thomas. He has also appeared in numerous productions at the Royal National Theatre, including 'The Doctor's Dilemma', 'Emil and the Detectives', 'Home', 'Our Country's Good', 'As You Like It', and 'Absolute Hell'.
In addition to his stage work, the actor has also made a significant impact in film and television. His film credits include the NT Live production of 'The Audience', 'The 12', 'The Name of the Prime Minister', and 'The Shriving'. On television, he has appeared in popular shows such as 'The Crown', 'Casualty', 'Not Going Out', and 'The Scandalous Lady W'. He has also had a recurring role in the soap opera 'Canary Wharf', playing the character of Barry Brennan, a showbiz newspaper columnist.
In addition to his acting work, the actor has also made a name for himself as a voice artist. He has provided voiceovers for the computer game 'Runescape', as well as numerous audio book titles available on Audible, including the last two Erast Fandorin novels by Boris Akunin. He has also worked on radio dramas for the BBC and the Audible thriller serial 'Six Degrees of Assassination', starring Andrew Scott and Freema Agyeman.
In 2000, the actor made his directorial debut with the feature-length comedy thriller 'Weyback'. Since 2015, he has been researching and developing a documentary film investigating the mysterious story of a supposedly cursed long-lost 1930s British comedy film.
