Dan Stevens
Encyclopedia
Daniel Jonathan Stevens (born 10 October 1982) is a British
actor.
, an independent school
in the market town
of Tonbridge
in Kent
, in South East England
, followed by Emmanuel College
, Cambridge
, where he read English
. While at Cambridge he was a member of The Footlights and also gained acting experience with the National Youth Theatre
.
, working with the director Peter Hall many times. He was nominated for an Ian Charleson Award for his portrayal of Orlando in As You Like It
for the Peter Hall Company in 2005.
In 2006, Stevens starred as Nick Guest in the BBC Television
adaptation of Alan Hollinghurst
's Booker Prize
-winning novel The Line of Beauty
. Later that year he played Simon Bliss in Hay Fever
by Noël Coward
at the Haymarket Theatre
, alongside Peter Bowles
and Judi Dench
, directed by Sir Peter Hall. He appeared as Lord Holmwood in an adaptation of Dracula
for the BBC
, and as Basil Brookes in the BBC Emmy-award-winning film Maxwell.
In 2008, Stevens appeared in Sense & Sensibility
, playing Edward Ferrars, and the West End revival of Noel Coward
's The Vortex
. In January 2009 he appeared on New Year's Day in Marple: Nemesis in ITV1 in Britain.
In June 2009 he returned to the West End
, playing Septimus Hodge in an acclaimed revival of Tom Stoppard
's Arcadia
at the Duke of York's Theatre
.
Stevens is the narrator of several audiobooks including The Angel's Game
, Wolf Hall
and War Horse.
Stevens is currently starring in the ITV Sunday night drama Downton Abbey
, written by Julian Fellowes
.
He has just completed shooting Vamps
, the latest film from Amy Heckerling
.
He guest presented an episode of Have I Got News For You
, first aired 25 November 2011.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor.
Education
Stevens was educated at Tonbridge SchoolTonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
, an independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
in the market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Tonbridge
Tonbridge
Tonbridge is a market town in the English county of Kent, with a population of 30,340 in 2007. It is located on the River Medway, approximately 4 miles north of Tunbridge Wells, 12 miles south west of Maidstone and 29 miles south east of London...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, in South East England
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
, followed by Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he read English
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
. While at Cambridge he was a member of The Footlights and also gained acting experience with 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....
.
Life and career
Stevens has worked extensively in theatre in Britain and the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, working with the director Peter Hall many times. He was nominated for an Ian Charleson Award for his portrayal of Orlando in As You Like It
As You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
for the Peter Hall Company in 2005.
In 2006, Stevens starred as Nick Guest in the BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
adaptation of Alan Hollinghurst
Alan Hollinghurst
Alan Hollinghurst is a British novelist, and winner of the 2004 Man Booker Prize for The Line of Beauty.-Biography:Hollinghurst was born on 26 May 1954 in Stroud, Gloucestershire, the only child of James Hollinghurst, a bank manager, and his wife, Elizabeth...
's Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
-winning novel The Line of Beauty
The Line of Beauty
The Line of Beauty is a 2004 Booker Prize-winning novel by Alan Hollinghurst.-Plot introduction:Set in Britain in the early to mid-1980s, the story surrounds the post-Oxford life of the young gay protagonist, Nick Guest....
. Later that year he played Simon Bliss in Hay Fever
Hay Fever
Hay Fever is a comic play written by Noël Coward in 1924 and first produced in 1925 with Marie Tempest as the first Judith Bliss. Laura Hope Crews played the role in New York...
by Noël Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
at the Haymarket Theatre
Haymarket Theatre
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...
, alongside Peter Bowles
Peter Bowles
-Early life:Bowles was born in London, England, the son of Sarah Jane and Herbert Reginald Bowles. His father was a chauffeur and butler at a stately home in Warwickshire; but, upon the outbreak of World War II, he was seconded to work as an engineer at Rolls-Royce and moved the family to Nottingham...
and Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
, directed by Sir Peter Hall. He appeared as Lord Holmwood in an adaptation of Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, and as Basil Brookes in the BBC Emmy-award-winning film Maxwell.
In 2008, Stevens appeared in Sense & Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility (2008 TV serial)
Sense and Sensibility is a 2008 British television serial adapted by the BBC from Jane Austen's novel of the same name. It was written by Andrew Davies and directed by John Alexander. The serial was aired on BBC One in three parts on 1, 6 and 13 January 2008. It aired the United States in two...
, playing Edward Ferrars, and the West End revival of Noel Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
's The Vortex
The Vortex
The Vortex is a play by the English writer and actor Noël Coward. The story focuses on sexual vanity and drug abuse among the upper classes. The play was Coward's first great commercial success....
. In January 2009 he appeared on New Year's Day in Marple: Nemesis in ITV1 in Britain.
In June 2009 he returned to the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
, playing Septimus Hodge in an acclaimed revival of Tom Stoppard
Tom Stoppard
Sir Tom Stoppard OM, CBE, FRSL is a British playwright, knighted in 1997. He has written prolifically for TV, radio, film and stage, finding prominence with plays such as Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Professional Foul, The Real Thing, and Rosencrantz and...
's Arcadia
Arcadia (play)
Arcadia is a 1993 play by Tom Stoppard concerning the relationship between past and present and between order and disorder and the certainty of knowledge...
at the Duke of York's Theatre
Duke of York's Theatre
The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End Theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre, until her death in 1935. It opened on 10 September 1892 as the Trafalgar Square Theatre, with Wedding...
.
Stevens is the narrator of several audiobooks including The Angel's Game
The Angel's Game
The Angel's Game is a prequel to 2001's The Shadow of the Wind by Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Like The Shadow of the Wind, it was translated into English by Lucia Graves, daughter of the poet Robert Graves, and published in 2009.The Angel's Game is set in Barcelona in the 1920s and 1930s...
, Wolf Hall
Wolf Hall
Wolf Hall is a multi-award winning historical novel by English author Hilary Mantel, published by Fourth Estate. Set in the period from 1500 to 1535, Wolf Hall is a fictionalized biography documenting the rapid rise to power of Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex in the court of Henry VIII of...
and War Horse.
Stevens is currently starring in the ITV Sunday night drama Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey is a British television period drama series, produced by NBC Universal-owned British media company Carnival Films for the ITV network. The series is set during the late Edwardian era and the First World War on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in Yorkshire, and features an...
, written by Julian Fellowes
Julian Fellowes
Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, DL , known as Julian Fellowes, is an English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter, as well as a Conservative peer.-Early life:...
.
He has just completed shooting Vamps
Vamps (film)
Vamps is an upcoming horror-comedy film that reunites Clueless director Amy Heckerling with actors Alicia Silverstone and Wallace Shawn set to be released in 2011.-Plot:...
, the latest film from Amy Heckerling
Amy Heckerling
Amy Heckerling is an American film director, one of the few female directors to have produced multiple box-office hits.-Early life:...
.
He guest presented an episode of Have I Got News For You
Have I Got News for You
Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been broadcast since 1990, currently the BBC's longest-ever running television panel show...
, first aired 25 November 2011.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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:... |
Henry | TV mini-series |
| 2006 | The Line of Beauty | Nick Guest | TV mini-series (3 episodes) |
| Dracula | Lord Arthur Holmwood Arthur Holmwood Arthur Holmwood is a fictional character in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula.-In the novel:He is engaged to Lucy Westenra, and is best friends with the other two men who proposed to her on the very same day — Quincey Morris and Doctor John Seward... |
TV movie | |
| 2007 | Marple: Nemesis Marple (TV series) Marple is a British television series based on the Miss Marple and other murder mystery novels by Agatha Christie. It is also known as Agatha Christie's Marple. The title character was played by Geraldine McEwan from the first to third series, until her retirement from the role. She was replaced... |
Michael Faber | TV movie |
| Maxwell Maxwell (film) Maxwell is a 2007 drama about Robert Maxwell, starring David Suchet as Maxwell and Patricia Hodge as his wife Betty. It was written by Craig Warner and directed by Colin Barr. Maxwell aired on BBC2. Suchet was later awarded an International Emmy for his performance.... |
Basil Brookes | TV movie | |
| 2008 | Sense and Sensibility Sense and Sensibility (2008 TV serial) Sense and Sensibility is a 2008 British television serial adapted by the BBC from Jane Austen's novel of the same name. It was written by Andrew Davies and directed by John Alexander. The serial was aired on BBC One in three parts on 1, 6 and 13 January 2008. It aired the United States in two... |
Edward Ferrars | TV mini-series (3 episodes) |
| Masterpiece Theatre | Edward Ferrars | TV series (1 episode: "Sense and Sensibility") | |
| 2009 | Hilde | David Cameron | |
| The Turn of the Screw The Turn of the Screw (TV 2009) The Turn of the Screw is a 2009 British television film directed by Tim Fywell, and loosely based on the 1898 novel of the same name by Henry James.-Plot:... |
Dr. Fisher | TV movie | |
| 2010 | Downton Abbey Downton Abbey Downton Abbey is a British television period drama series, produced by NBC Universal-owned British media company Carnival Films for the ITV network. The series is set during the late Edwardian era and the First World War on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in Yorkshire, and features an... |
Matthew Crawley | TV series (15 episodes: 2010-2011) |
| Vamps | Joey | post-production |
Theatre
| Year | Production | Role | Director | Venue | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | As You Like It | Orlando | Peter Hall | The Rose Theatre, Kingston | |
| 2005 | You Can Never Tell | Peter Hall | Theatre Royal, Bath | ||
| Waiting for Godot | Peter Hall | Theatre Royal, Bath | |||
| Private Lives | Peter Hall | Theatre Royal, Bath | |||
| Much Ado About Nothing | Claudio | Peter Hall | Theatre Royal, Bath | Nominated - Ian Charleson Award | |
| 2006 | The Romans in Britain | Marban/Maitland | Samuel West | Crucible Theatre, Sheffield | |
| Hay Fever | Simon | Peter Hall | Theatre Royal, Haymarket | ||
| 2008 | The Vortex | Nicky Lancaster | Peter Hall | Apollo Theatre, London | |
| 2009 | Arcadia | Septimus | David Leveaux | Duke of York's Theatre, London |