Matthew James Thomas is a British

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

Actor

An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

, best known for his role in the UK drama/musical show, Britannia High

Britannia High

Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television (now part of...

.

Early life

Thomas trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School

Sylvia Young Theatre School

Sylvia Young Theatre School is an independent fee-paying stage school, in Westminster, London, named after its founder and Principal, Sylvia Young.-Outline:...

 in London along with his fellow Britannia High cast members Sapphire Elia

Sapphire Elia

Sapphire Elia , is an English actress and singer best known for her roles in musical drama Britannia High and the soap opera Emmerdale.-Early and personal life:Sapphire Chrystalla Elia was born on 15 April 1987 in London...

 and Georgina Hagen

Georgina Hagen

Georgina "Georgie" Kimberley Hagen is an English actress and singer, most famous for her appearance as Lauren in ITV's Britannia High...

.
He also was trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.

Career

Thomas' earlier TV work includes Wonderful You

Wonderful You

Wonderful You is a British drama television series made by Hartswood Films for the ITV network in 1999. The series was shown at 10 pm, after ITN moved their main evening newscast away from this traditional slot. It plots the lives of a group of people in their early thirties...

, Shane

Shane (TV series)

Shane is an American Western television series based on the 1949 book of the same name by Jack Schaefer . The series was created by Herschel Daugherty and Gary Nelson, and starred David Carradine as the title character...

, The Blind Date Murders, Bad Girls

Bad Girls (TV series)

Bad Girls is an award-winning British television drama series that was broadcast on ITV from 1999 to 2006. It is produced by Shed Productions, the company which later produced Footballers' Wives and Waterloo Road...

, Doctors, The Bill

The Bill

The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...

and Desperados

Desperados (TV series)

Desperados is a CBBC children's drama series following a wheelchair basketball team, created and written by Paul Smith in 2007. It charts the journey of former footballer Charlie who, following a disabling accident on the pitch caused by his friend and team-mate Aidan, finds new meaning and purpose...

.

He has also appeared in the films Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot is a 2000 British drama film written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry. Set in the fictional town of "Everington" in the real County Durham, UK, it stars Jamie Bell as 11-year-old Billy, an aspiring dancer, Gary Lewis as his coal miner father, Jamie Draven as Billy's older...

and About a Boy

About a Boy (film)

About a Boy is a 2002 comedy-drama film directed by brothers Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, based on the novel of the same name by Nick Hornby. The film stars Golden Globe winner Hugh Grant as Will, Nicholas Hoult as Marcus, Academy Award nominee Toni Collette as Fiona, and Academy Award winner Rachel...

.

At the age of 14, he played Prince John (older) in Stephen Poliakoff

Stephen Poliakoff

Stephen Poliakoff, CBE, FRSL is an acclaimed British playwright, director and scriptwriter, widely judged amongst Britain's foremost television dramatists.-Early life and career:...

's The Lost Prince

The Lost Prince

The Lost Prince is an acclaimed British television drama serial, produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC and originally broadcast in two episodes on BBC One in January 2003...

.

Thomas' theatre work includes Fame

Fame (musical)

A stage musical based on the 1980 musical film Fame has been staged under two titles. The first, 'Fame – The Musical' conceived and developed by David De Silva, is a musical with a book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy. The musical premiered in 1988 in Miami,...

at the Shaftesbury Theatre

Shaftesbury Theatre

The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End Theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden.-History:The theatre was designed for the brothers Walter and Frederick Melville by Bertie Crewe and opened on 26 December 1911 with a production of The Three Musketeers, as the New...

 in which he played Schlomo, Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...

's musical Whistle Down the Wind

Whistle Down the Wind

Whistle Down the Wind may refer to:* Whistle Down the Wind , a film directed by Bryan Forbes* Whistle Down the Wind , a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the film...

at the Aldwych Theatre London alongside Hollyoaks

Hollyoaks

Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...

actress Hannah Tointon

Hannah Tointon

Hannah Marie Tointon is an English actress. She is best known for playing Katy Fox in the long running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, and Tara in British sitcom The Inbetweeners.-Early life:...

 and former S Club Juniors member Jay Asforis in 1999-2000, in which he played Clarence. His other theatre credits include Oliver!

Oliver!

Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....

at the London Palladium

London Palladium

The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...

, Dick Whittington at Sadler's Wells Theatre

Sadler's Wells Theatre

Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...

, Wayne in Popcorn

Popcorn (play)

Popcorn is a 1998 play by English author Ben Elton adapted from his novel of the same title....

at the Landor Theatre

Landor Theatre

The Landor Theatre is a pub theatre in Clapham, South London.Originally the Cage Theatre upon its opening in 1994, the Landor became "Upstairs at the Landor" in 1995 and finally the Landor Theatre in 1998, following a refit of the building....

and Romeo

Romeo Montague

Romeo is one of the fictional protagonists in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is the son of old Montague and his wife, who secretly loves and marries Juliet, a member of the rival House of Capulet...

 in Romeo & Juliet at the Avondale Theatre.

In Britannia High

Britannia High

Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television (now part of...

, Thomas plays Jez Tyler, a wealthy performer who strikes up a friendship with street dancer BB, played by Marcquelle Ward. Jez's centric episode is number 3, which explores his wealthy background and his troubled relationship with his father.

In June 2009 he performed at the Leicester Square Theatre playing the lead role of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray is the only published novel by Oscar Wilde, appearing as the lead story in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on 20 June 1890, printed as the July 1890 issue of this magazine...

 in a production directed by Linnie Reedman with music by Joe Evans.

In November 2009 He played Seth

Seth

Seth , in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is the third listed son of Adam and Eve and brother of Cain and Abel, who are the only other of their children mentioned by name...

 the leading role in Karen Wilson's short film Possessions alongside Rosalind Halstead, best known for her portrayal as Isabella

Isabella

Isabella may refer to:* 210 Isabella, an asteroid* Isabella , an American hybrid grape variety* Isabelline or Isabella, a greyish-yellow or light buff colour* Isabella piercing, a female genital piercing- United States :...

 in Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights is a novel by Emily Brontë published in 1847. It was her only novel and written between December 1845 and July 1846. It remained unpublished until July 1847 and was not printed until December after the success of her sister Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre...

.

Later in 2009 he appeared alongside John Nettles

John Nettles

John Vivian Drummond Nettles, OBE is an English actor, historian and writer who is best known for playing the lead roles in Bergerac and Midsomer Murders.-Early life:...

, James Fox

James Fox

James Fox, OBE is an English actor.-Early life:James Fox was born in London, England to theatrical agent Robin Fox and actress Angela Worthington. He is the brother of actor Edward Fox and film producer Robert Fox. The actress Emilia Fox is his niece and the actor Laurence Fox is his son. His...

, Sylvestra le touzel

Sylvestra Le Touzel

Sylvestra Le Touzel is a British television, film and stage actor who was born on Jersey in the Channel Islands and raised in Kensington, London. She was schooled in East Acton.-TV:...

, Frances Barber

Frances Barber

Frances Barber is an Olivier Award-nominated English actress with a long and distinguished stage career. She has also appeared in numerous television productions...

 and Richard Fleeshman

Richard Fleeshman

Richard Jonathan Fleeshman is an English actor and singer-songwriter. His television career began as a twelve year old, playing Craig Harris for four years in Coronation Street and most recently "All The Small Things"...

 in the prestigious ITV Drama Series Midsomer Murders

Midsomer Murders

Midsomer Murders is a British television detective drama that has aired on ITV since 1997. The show is based on the books by Caroline Graham, as originally adapted by Anthony Horowitz. The lead character is DCI Tom Barnaby who works for Causton CID. When Nettles left the show in 2011 he was...

as the young manipulative concert pianist Orlando Guest in the episode titled "Masterclass" directed by Renny Rye.

Thomas is currently appearing on Broadway as the alternate 'Peter Parker' in the Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...

 production of the musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark is a rock musical with music and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge and a book by Julie Taymor, Glen Berger, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. The musical is based on the Spider-Man comics created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, published by Marvel Comics, as well as the 2002...

. He is scheduled two shows weekly as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Currently he performs both Wednesday and Saturday afternoon shows.

Personal life

Thomas stated in an interview that his most treasured possession is his piano, as he loves to play music and write songs. He has a fear of wasps, and his favourite foods include hash browns and eggs. His favourite artists include Coldplay

Coldplay

Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...

, U2

U2

U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...

 and Mutemath. In 2008, he dated his Britannia High

Britannia High

Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television (now part of...

 co-star Sapphire Elia

Sapphire Elia

Sapphire Elia , is an English actress and singer best known for her roles in musical drama Britannia High and the soap opera Emmerdale.-Early and personal life:Sapphire Chrystalla Elia was born on 15 April 1987 in London...

.

Television

Year	Title	Role	Network	Notes
	Wonderful You Wonderful You Wonderful You is a British drama television series made by Hartswood Films for the ITV network in 1999. The series was shown at 10 pm, after ITN moved their main evening newscast away from this traditional slot. It plots the lives of a group of people in their early thirties...	Joe, Henry's nephew		Mini-series
	The Bill The Bill The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...	Karl Drake		Series 15 episode 25 "Look Away Now"
	Bad Girls (TV series) Bad Girls (TV series) Bad Girls is an award-winning British television drama series that was broadcast on ITV from 1999 to 2006. It is produced by Shed Productions, the company which later produced Footballers' Wives and Waterloo Road...	Tom Fenner		Series 2 episode 3 "Visiting Time"
	Care	Brian		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...	demonstrator		Series 1 episode 4 "Traitor's Gate"
	The Lost Prince The Lost Prince The Lost Prince is an acclaimed British television drama serial, produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC and originally broadcast in two episodes on BBC One in January 2003...	Prince John Prince John of the United Kingdom The Prince John was a member of the British Royal Family, the youngest son of King George V and Queen Mary. The Prince had epilepsy and consequently was largely hidden from the public eye.-Early life:...  (older)		Drama
	Trevor's World of Sport Trevor's World of Sport Trevor's World of Sport began as a 2003 BBC television sitcom written and directed by Andy Hamilton and starring Neil Pearson as Trevor. Only one television series was made, and Hamilton felt mistreated by the BBC over the scheduling of the show. The first episode attracted an average of 3.4...	Toby		Mini-series
	Shane Shane (UK TV series) Shane was an ITV sitcom written by and starring Frank Skinner and directed by Audrey Cooke, with the first series originally broadcast in 2004. Reviews were generally poor, but a second series was commissioned...	spotty kid		Series 1 episode 2
	Afterlife Afterlife (TV series) Afterlife is a British television drama series, produced by independent production company Clerkenwell Films for the ITV network...	Bardo's Lawyer		Series 1 episode 2 "Lower Than Bones"
	Desperados Desperados (TV series) Desperados is a CBBC children's drama series following a wheelchair basketball team, created and written by Paul Smith in 2007. It charts the journey of former footballer Charlie who, following a disabling accident on the pitch caused by his friend and team-mate Aidan, finds new meaning and purpose...	Gary Black		Series 1 episode 10
	Doctors	Mickey Carly		Series 9 episode 39 "Victim Support"
	Genie in the House Genie In The House Genie in the House is a British situation comedy broadcast on Nickelodeon about a widowed father with two teenage daughters who find a dusty old golden lamp while exploring the loft of their new home. A quick rub of the lamp releases Adil, a trainee genie from Balamkadaar who has been confined to...	Mr. White		Series 2 episode 22 "Mr Write"
	Britannia High Britannia High Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television (now part of...	Jez Tyler		Main cast
	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...	Gary Yates		Series 24 episode 25 "Love Is A Battlefield"
	Midsomer Murders Midsomer Murders Midsomer Murders is a British television detective drama that has aired on ITV since 1997. The show is based on the books by Caroline Graham, as originally adapted by Anthony Horowitz. The lead character is DCI Tom Barnaby who works for Causton CID. When Nettles left the show in 2011 he was...	Orlando Guest		Series 13 episode 5 "Master Class"

Film

Year	Title	Role
2000	The Blind Date	Matthew Davey
	Billy Elliot Billy Elliot Billy Elliot is a 2000 British drama film written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry. Set in the fictional town of "Everington" in the real County Durham, UK, it stars Jamie Bell as 11-year-old Billy, an aspiring dancer, Gary Lewis as his coal miner father, Jamie Draven as Billy's older...	Simon
2002	About a Boy About a Boy (film) About a Boy is a 2002 comedy-drama film directed by brothers Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, based on the novel of the same name by Nick Hornby. The film stars Golden Globe winner Hugh Grant as Will, Nicholas Hoult as Marcus, Academy Award nominee Toni Collette as Fiona, and Academy Award winner Rachel...	Candy thrower

External links