Alec Newman
Encyclopedia
Alec Newman is a Scottish
stage, television and film actor. He was born in Glasgow
on 27 November 1974. Prior to joining the National Youth Theatre
in London
at age 17, he considered becoming a professional footballer
. He trained at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
.
His highest profile appearances are tied to science fiction
works.
in the Sci Fi Channel
2000 miniseries adaptation
of Frank Herbert
's Dune
and reprised the role in its 2003 sequel
, Children of Dune. Newman has had guest appearances on U.S. television series Angel
, Star Trek: Enterprise
and Tru Calling
. He has recently had a guest appearance on the British spy drama Spooks
and played the Rebus-inspired Jim Buchan in BBC 4's Reichenbach Falls
. He also took the title role of "Victor Frankenstein
" in the 2004 Frankenstein
US TV miniseries.
Newman played the lead role in the award winning short film "Staring at the Sun" which premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival
, went on to play at over twenty other festivals around the world and won "Best Horror Short" at Stan Winston's "Screamfest LA
" in 2005.
In 2004, he starred as "Barnabas Collins
" in a pilot
for a revival series of Dark Shadows
on the WB Network that was not picked up. He played the role of Christian in The Gene Generation
in 2007, and in 2008 guest-starred in the Dark Shadows
audio dramas Clothes of Sand
and The Ghost Watcher
for Big Finish Productions
. In 2010 he starred as Peter Carmody in "Run", a two part episode from series 13 of Silent Witness
.
Newman starred in the BBC One series Hope Springs
as Euan Harries. He also played the recurring role of Robert Ludlow in Casualty
.
Newman voiced The Exiled Prince, Sebastian Vael in the Dragon Age
sequel Dragon Age 2. He will also appear in the British thriller A Lonely Place to Die
, opposite Melissa George
and Ed Speleers
.
In 2010/11 he played Edmund
in the Donmar Warehouse
production of Shakespeare
's King Lear
.
On 30 May 2011, it was announced that Newman has joined the cast of BBC One drama series Waterloo Road
in the role of the new head teacher, Michael Byrne. He appeared on-screen on screen since the Spring Term started.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
stage, television and film actor. He was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
on 27 November 1974. Prior to joining the National Youth Theatre
National Youth Theatre
The National Youth Theatre is a registered charity in London, Great Britain, committed to creative, personal and social development of young people through the medium of creative arts....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at age 17, he considered becoming a professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He trained at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art is a leading British drama school in west London. LAMDA's president is Timothy West and its new principal is Joanna Read, who recently succeeded Peter James...
.
His highest profile appearances are tied to science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
works.
Career
Newman starred as Paul AtreidesPaul Atreides
Paul Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Paul is a prominent character in the first two novels in the series, Dune and Dune Messiah , and returns in Children of Dune . The character is brought back as two different gholas in the Brian Herbert/Kevin J...
in the Sci Fi Channel
Sci Fi Channel (United States)
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
2000 miniseries adaptation
Frank Herbert's Dune
Frank Herbert's Dune is a 2001 3D video game based on the 2000 Sci Fi Channel miniseries of the same name. The game was not a commercial or critical success, and was the last product by Cryo Interactive, which went bankrupt shortly after the game's failure.As Paul, the son of the Duke Atreides's...
of Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert
Franklin Patrick Herbert, Jr. was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful American science fiction author. Although a short story author, he is best known for his novels, most notably Dune and its five sequels...
's Dune
Dune (novel)
Dune is a science fiction novel written by Frank Herbert, published in 1965. It won the Hugo Award in 1966, and the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel...
and reprised the role in its 2003 sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
, Children of Dune. Newman has had guest appearances on U.S. television series Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
, Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
and Tru Calling
Tru Calling
Tru Calling is an American television supernatural drama series that premiered on Fox Network on October 30, 2003. It ran for two seasons before being canceled....
. He has recently had a guest appearance on the British spy drama Spooks
Spooks
Spooks is a British television drama series that originally aired on BBC One from 13 May 2002 – 23 October 2011, consisting of 10 series. The title is a popular colloquialism for spies, as the series follows the work of a group of MI5 officers based at the service's Thames House headquarters, in a...
and played the Rebus-inspired Jim Buchan in BBC 4's Reichenbach Falls
Reichenbach Falls (film)
Reichenbach Falls is a 2007 British thriller television film directed by John McKay and starring Alec Newman, Alastair Mackenzie and Nina Sosanya. In modern Edinburgh, DI Buchan investigates a hundred year old case. It was based on a short story by Ian Rankin.-Cast:* Alec Newman ... Jim Buchan*...
. He also took the title role of "Victor Frankenstein
Victor Frankenstein
Victor Frankenstein was born in Napoli, is a Swiss fictional character and the protagonist of the 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, written by Mary Shelley...
" in the 2004 Frankenstein
Frankenstein (US TV miniseries)
Frankenstein is a 2004 U.S. television miniseries based on the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It follows the original book more closely than other adaptions.The miniseries was edited into a film.-DVD:...
US TV miniseries.
Newman played the lead role in the award winning short film "Staring at the Sun" which premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, went on to play at over twenty other festivals around the world and won "Best Horror Short" at Stan Winston's "Screamfest LA
Screamfest Horror Film Festival
Screamfest Horror Film Festival is the largest horror film festival in the United States. Some of the largest horror online publications have called it the "Sundance of Horror". Previously held at Loews Universal Studios Cinemas, Universal CityWalk, the festival is now held annually at the...
" in 2005.
In 2004, he starred as "Barnabas Collins
Barnabas Collins
Barnabas Collins is a fictional character, one of the feature characters in the ABC daytime serial Dark Shadows, which aired from 1966 to 1971. Originally played by Canadian actor Jonathan Frid, Barnabas Collins is a 200-year-old vampire who is in search of fresh blood and his lost love, Josette...
" in a pilot
Dark Shadows (2004)
Dark Shadows is a one hour pilot that was a remake of the 1966–1971 series Dark Shadows. The pilot was commissioned by The WB Television Network and produced in 2004. Directed by P. J. Hogan, it was filmed at the Greystone Mansion, which also served as the Collinwood Mansion for the previous...
for a revival series of Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
on the WB Network that was not picked up. He played the role of Christian in The Gene Generation
The Gene Generation
The Gene Generation is a 2007 Biopunk science fiction film about an assassin who battles DNA hackers. The film was directed by Pearry Teo, and stars Bai Ling, Parry Shen, Faye Dunaway, and Alec Newman.- Synopsis :...
in 2007, and in 2008 guest-starred in the Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
audio dramas Clothes of Sand
Clothes of Sand
Dark Shadows: Clothes of Sand is a Big Finish Productions original dramatic reading based on the long-running American horror soap opera series Dark Shadows.- Plot :From the Big Finish Website:...
and The Ghost Watcher
The Ghost Watcher
Dark Shadows: The Ghost Watcher is a Big Finish Productions original dramatic reading based on the long-running American horror soap opera series Dark Shadows.- Plot :...
for Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
. In 2010 he starred as Peter Carmody in "Run", a two part episode from series 13 of Silent Witness
Silent Witness
Silent Witness is a BBC crime thriller series focusing on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. First broadcast in February 1996, the series is still airing to the present day, with a fifteenth series expected to air in January 2012. The series was...
.
Newman starred in the BBC One series Hope Springs
Hope Springs (TV Series)
Hope Springs is a British television comedy-drama series following the lives of four female ex-cons in hiding following a multimillion pound robbery. Produced by Shed Productions, the company behind Bad Girls, Footballers' Wives and Waterloo Road, the 8-part series began airing on BBC One on 7 June...
as Euan Harries. He also played the recurring role of Robert Ludlow in Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
.
Newman voiced The Exiled Prince, Sebastian Vael in the Dragon Age
Dragon Age
Dragon Age: Origins is a single-player role-playing video game developed by BioWare's Edmonton studio and published by Electronic Arts. It is the first game in the Dragon Age franchise...
sequel Dragon Age 2. He will also appear in the British thriller A Lonely Place to Die
A Lonely Place to Die
A Lonely Place to Die is a 2011 survival thriller film directed by Julian Gilbey and based on a screenplay from Will Gilbey and Julian Gilbey...
, opposite Melissa George
Melissa George
Melissa Suzanne George is an Australian film and television actress who has worked in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Melissa is perhaps best known for her role as Angel Parrish on the Australian soap opera Home and Away...
and Ed Speleers
Edward Speleers
Edward John "Ed" Speleers is an English actor and producer. He is best known for playing the title role in the 2006 film Eragon.-Personal life:...
.
In 2010/11 he played Edmund
Edmund
-People known only as Edmund:*Edmund I , King of England from 939 to 946*Edmund Ironside , also known as Edmund II, King of England in 1016*St. Edmund the Martyr , king of East Anglia*St...
in the Donmar Warehouse
Donmar Warehouse
Donmar Warehouse is a small not-for-profit theatre in the Covent Garden area of London, with a capacity of 251.-About:Under the artistic leadership of Michael Grandage, the theatre has presented some of London’s most memorable award-winning theatrical experiences, as well as garnered critical...
production of Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
.
On 30 May 2011, it was announced that Newman has joined the cast of BBC One drama series Waterloo Road
Waterloo Road (TV series)
Waterloo Road is an award-winning British television drama series, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 9 March 2006. Set in a troubled comprehensive school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the series focuses on the lives of the school's teacher and students, and confronts social...
in the role of the new head teacher, Michael Byrne. He appeared on-screen on screen since the Spring Term started.
Selected filmography
- Waterloo RoadWaterloo Road (TV series)Waterloo Road is an award-winning British television drama series, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 9 March 2006. Set in a troubled comprehensive school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the series focuses on the lives of the school's teacher and students, and confronts social...
(2011- ) - Michael Byrne - Dragon Age II (Sebastian Vael) (2011)
- GoldenEye 007GoldenEye 007 (2010 video game)GoldenEye 007 is a 2010 first-person shooter video game developed by Eurocom and published by Activision for the Wii video game console, and the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is a reimagining of the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye, and the 1997 Nintendo 64 video game GoldenEye 007...
(Valentin Zukovsky) (2010) - A Lonely Place to DieA Lonely Place to DieA Lonely Place to Die is a 2011 survival thriller film directed by Julian Gilbey and based on a screenplay from Will Gilbey and Julian Gilbey...
(2010) - Silent WitnessSilent WitnessSilent Witness is a BBC crime thriller series focusing on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. First broadcast in February 1996, the series is still airing to the present day, with a fifteenth series expected to air in January 2012. The series was...
(2010) - Peter Carmody - The Gene GenerationThe Gene GenerationThe Gene Generation is a 2007 Biopunk science fiction film about an assassin who battles DNA hackers. The film was directed by Pearry Teo, and stars Bai Ling, Parry Shen, Faye Dunaway, and Alec Newman.- Synopsis :...
(2007) - Christian - Reichenbach Falls (2007)
- Moonlight Serenade (2006) - Nate Holden
- SpooksSpooksSpooks is a British television drama series that originally aired on BBC One from 13 May 2002 – 23 October 2011, consisting of 10 series. The title is a popular colloquialism for spies, as the series follows the work of a group of MI5 officers based at the service's Thames House headquarters, in a...
(2006) - Richard Dempsey - ConstellationConstellation (film)Constellation is a film that was released by Codeblack Entertainment and 20th Century Fox in 2007. Prior to theatrical release the film won several Audience and Jury Awards at Festivals. It had its French Premiere in Cannes,...
(2005) - Kent - Four Corners of Suburbia (2005) - Benjamin Winters
- Staring at the Sun (2005) - Clay Roberts
- Star Trek: EnterpriseStar Trek: EnterpriseStar Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
(2004) - Malik (3 episodes) - FrankensteinFrankenstein (US TV miniseries)Frankenstein is a 2004 U.S. television miniseries based on the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It follows the original book more closely than other adaptions.The miniseries was edited into a film.-DVD:...
(2004) - Victor FrankensteinVictor FrankensteinVictor Frankenstein was born in Napoli, is a Swiss fictional character and the protagonist of the 1818 novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, written by Mary Shelley... - Bright Young ThingsBright Young ThingsBright Young Things is a 2003 British drama film written and directed by Stephen Fry. The screenplay, based on the 1930 novel Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh, provides satirical social commentary about the Bright Young People: young and carefree London aristocrats and bohemians, as well as society in...
(2003) - Tiger La Bouchère - Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003) - Paul AtreidesPaul AtreidesPaul Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Paul is a prominent character in the first two novels in the series, Dune and Dune Messiah , and returns in Children of Dune . The character is brought back as two different gholas in the Brian Herbert/Kevin J...
/Muad'Dib - The Death of Klinghoffer (2003) - Young Benjamin
- The Principles of Lust (2003) - Paul
- Long Time DeadLong Time DeadLong Time Dead is a 2002 thriller horror film set in the United Kingdom in which a group of college students experiment with an Ouija board and inadvertently summon a djinn - an Arabic spirit of fire. The film stars Joe Absolom, Lukas Haas and Tom Bell. It was the directorial debut of Swindon-born...
(2002) - Liam - Night Flight (2002) - Young "Flash" Harry Peters
- Frank Herbert's DuneFrank Herbert's DuneFrank Herbert's Dune is a 2001 3D video game based on the 2000 Sci Fi Channel miniseries of the same name. The game was not a commercial or critical success, and was the last product by Cryo Interactive, which went bankrupt shortly after the game's failure.As Paul, the son of the Duke Atreides's...
(2000) - Paul Atreides/Muad'DibPaul AtreidesPaul Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Paul is a prominent character in the first two novels in the series, Dune and Dune Messiah , and returns in Children of Dune . The character is brought back as two different gholas in the Brian Herbert/Kevin J... - Murder Rooms (2000) - Thomas Neill
- G:MT – Greenwich Mean Time (1998) - Charlie
- Catherine Cookson's The Rag Nymph (1997) - Ben
External links
- Staring at the Sun official site of short