Simon Russell Beale
Sir Simon Russell Beale CBE (born January 12, 1961) is an English actor. He is known for his appearances in film, television and theatre, and work on radio, on audiobooks and as a narrator. For his services to drama, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2019. He has spent much of his theatre career working in productions for both the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. He has received ten Laurence Olivier Award nominations, winning three awards for his performances in Volpone (1996), Candide (2000), and Uncle Vanya (2003). For his work on the Broadway stage he has received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play nomination for his performance as George in the Tom Stoppard play Jumpers in 2004. For his role as Henry Lehman in The Lehman Trilogy, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play and was nominated for an Olivier Award. Beale has been described by The Independent as "the greatest stage actor of his generation". Beale made his film debut in Sally Potter's period drama Orlando (1992). He continued acting in films such as Persuasion (1995), Hamlet (1996), My Week with Marilyn (2011), The Deep Blue Sea (2011), Into the Woods (2014), and Mary Queen of Scots (2018). In 2017, he starred in Armando Iannucci's dark comedy The Death of Stalin playing Lavrentiy Beria for which he received the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He has also appeared in the television projects The Young Visiters (2003), Dunkirk (2004), and as Falstaff in the BBC made-for-television films Henry IV, Part I and Part II (2012). He was part of the main cast of Showtime's Penny Dreadful.
Known For
Credits
- 2025 ยทDownton Abbey 3as
- 2024 ยทDouglas Is Cancelledas Bently
- 2024 ยทFirebrandas Stephen Gardiner
- 2024 ยทMary & Georgeas Sir George Villiers
- 2024 ยทHome! Home!as Self (narrator)
- 2022 ยทHouse of the Dragonas Ser Simon Strong
- 2022 ยทThor: Love and Thunderas Dionysus
- 2022 ยทOperation Mincemeatas Winston Churchill
- 2022 ยทThe Outfitas Roy Boyle
- 2021 ยทBenedictionas Robbie Ross
- 2020 ยทA Christmas Carolas Scrooge's voice (voice)
- 2020 ยทThe Houras Himself
- 2020 ยทRadioactiveas Professor Lippmann
- 2019 ยทNational Theatre Live: The Lehman Trilogyas Henry Lehman
- 2019 ยทNational Theatre Live: The Tragedy of King Richard the Secondas Richard II
- 2018 ยทMary Queen of Scotsas Robert Beale
- 2018 ยทVanity Fairas John Sedley
- 2018 ยทOperation Finaleas David Ben-Gurion
- 2018 ยทMuseoas Frank Graves
- 2017 ยทThe Death of Stalinas Lavrenti Beria
- 2017 ยทMy Cousin Rachelas Couch
- 2017 ยทRSC Live: The Tempestas Prospero
- 2016 ยทThe Legend of Tarzanas Mr. Frum
- 2016 ยทCunk on Shakespeareas Self - Actor
- 2016 ยทShakespeare Live! From the RSCas Richard II
- 2015 ยทMonteverdi in Mantua - The Genius of the Vespersas presenter
- 2014 ยทInto the Woodsas Baker's Father
- 2014 ยทThe Mysterious Mr Websteras Self - Interviewee
- 2014 ยทPenny Dreadfulas Ferdinand Lyle
- 2014 ยทNational Theatre Live: King Learas Lear, King of Britain
- 2013 ยทLegacyas Hookey
- 2013 ยทLava Land - Glowing Hawaiias Narrator
- 2013 ยทNational Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stageas Hamlet
- 2013 ยทMuse of Fireas Self
- 2012 ยทNational Theatre Live: Timon of Athensas Timon
- 2012 ยทShakespeare's Sonnetsas
- 2012 ยทThe Hollow Crownas Falstaff
- 2012 ยทSimon Schama's Shakespeareas
- 2011 ยทAlice's Adventures in Wonderland (The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House)as The Duchess / Introduced by
- 1999 ยทBlackadder: Back & Forthas Wellington
- Future ยทDe Gaulle โ Partie 1 : La France Libreas Winston Churchill
- 1993 ยทThe Mushroom Pickeras Anthony
- Future ยทDe Gaulle โ Partie 2as Winston Churchill
- 2011 ยทNational Theatre Live: Collaboratorsas Joseph Stalin
- 2011 ยทMy Week with Marilynas Cotes-Preedy
- 2011 ยทSymphonyas
- 2011 ยทThe Deep Blue Seaas Sir William Collyer
- 2003 ยทThe Young Visitersas Prince of Wales
- Future ยทThe Magic Faraway Treeas
- Future ยทThe Choralas
- 2010 ยทA Christmas Historyas Presenter
- 2010 ยทNational Theatre Live: London Assuranceas Sir Harcourt Courtly
- 2010 ยทBBC Proms: Sondheim's 80th Birthdayas Himself - Performer
- 2008 ยทAn Easter Celebrationas presenter
- 2006 ยทDeep Wateras Donald Crowhurst (voice)
- 2004 ยทDunkirkas Winston Churchill
- 2003 ยทThe Gatheringas Luke Fraser
- 2002 ยทSpooksas William Towers
- 2002 ยทSpooksas Home Secretary
- 1999 ยทAn Ideal Husbandas Sir Edward
- 1999 ยทAlice in Wonderlandas King Cedric of Hearts
- 1997 ยทA Dance to the Music of Timeas Widmerpool
- 1996 ยทHamletas Second Gravedigger
- 1995 ยทPersuasionas Charles Musgrove
- 1992 ยทOrlandoas Earl of Moray
- 1988 ยทAmerican Experienceas John Adams (voice)
- 1986 ยทA Very Peculiar Practiceas Mark Stibbs
- 1985 ยทTime and the Conwaysas Party Guest
- 1983 ยทBlackadderas Napolรฉon
- Future ยทHome! Home!as Narrator