Toby Kebbell, a talented actor, was born in 1982 in Pontefract, Yorkshire, and later relocated to Nottinghamshire, where he spent his formative years. At the tender age of 17, he joined the prestigious Central Television Workshop in Nottingham, marking the beginning of his illustrious acting career.
Kebbell's breakthrough came when renowned director Shane Meadows spotted him at the Central Television Workshop and cast him in the pivotal role of Anthony in the critically acclaimed film "Dead Man's Shoes," opposite the talented Paddy Considine. Despite having only three days to prepare for the role, Kebbell delivered a poignant and moving performance as a young individual with learning difficulties, earning him a nomination for the Most Promising Newcomer Award at the British Independent Film Awards.
The success of "Dead Man's Shoes" led to appearances in notable films such as Oliver Stone's "Alexander" and Woody Allen's "Match Point," where Kebbell was cast without an audition after impressing Allen with his performance in "Dead Man's Shoes."
Kebbell's most critically acclaimed role to date is arguably his portrayal of Rob Gretton, the manager of Joy Division, in the 2007 biopic "Control." Directed by Anton Corbijn, the film earned Kebbell the Best Supporting Actor Award at the British Independent Film Awards, beating out esteemed nominees such as Cate Blanchett, Colin Firth, and Samantha Morton. He was also nominated for the London Critics' Circle Best Supporting Actor Award, alongside Albert Finney and Tom Wilkinson.
In 2008, Kebbell took on the title role in Guy Ritchie's "RocknRolla," starring alongside Tom Wilkinson, Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, and Mark Strong. His standout performance as the crack-addicted musician, Johnny Quid, earned him the 2008 Best Actor nod from The Sun, with the publication hailing him as "a star of the future."
In addition to his film work, Kebbell has also made a name for himself in television, with notable roles including the lead character "Paul" in a heart-wrenching episode of Jimmy McGovern's BAFTA-winning BBC series "The Street," and a modern retelling of Macbeth alongside James McAvoy.
On stage, Kebbell has had the opportunity to showcase his talents in productions such as David Hare's rework of Maxim Gorky's "Enemies" at the Almeida, directed by Michael Attenborough, and R.C. Sherriff's classic "Journey's End" at the Playhouse, under the direction of David Grindley.
Kebbell's upcoming projects include the 2009 film "Cheri," directed by Stephen Frears, in which he takes a small role alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, as well as the Jerry Bruckheimer epic "Prince of Persia: Sands of Time," in which he stars alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Sir Ben Kingsley.
