Russell Tovey
Russell Tovey | |
---|---|
File:Russell Tovey.jpg
Tovey in 2009
|
|
Born | Russell George Tovey 14 November 1981 Billericay, Essex, England |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1994–present |
Russell George Tovey (born 14 November 1981)[1] is an English actor with numerous television, film and stage credits. Tovey is best known for playing the role of werewolf George Sands in the BBC's supernatural drama Being Human.[2] His other notable roles include Rudge in both the stage and film version of The History Boys, Steve in the BBC Three sitcom Him & Her, and Kevin Matheson in the HBO original series Looking.
Contents
Early life
Tovey is the younger of two children, born to Carole Haynes (formerly Webb) and George Tovey who run a Romford-based coach service taking passengers from Essex to Gatwick Airport. Tovey has an older brother, Daniel.[3] He grew up in Billericay, Essex,[4][5] and he attended Harold Court School in Harold Wood and Shenfield High School.[6] As a boy, Tovey said he "was an avid collector of various things and prone to participating in fads."[5] His parents supported his efforts, taking him to archeological digs and museums, buying him a metal detector, and going to conventions for mineralologists.[5] For a time he wanted to be a history teacher,[5] but after seeing Dead Poets Society, The Goonies, and Stand By Me, he decided to be an actor.[5] For a time during his teens, he worked as a kitchen assistant in Billericay's King's Head pub.
Career
Tovey began his career as a child actor. He joined a local drama club, and garnered the attention of a talent agent.[4] He began acting when he was 11 years old.[5] He worked so steadily and missed so much school that his father suggested his acting career be cut back, but his mother convinced his father to let their son continue.[5] His TV career started in 1994, when he was cast in Mud, a children's series broadcast on CBBC.[4]
He left high school at the age of 16, and started a BTEC in performing arts at Barking College.[6] He was expelled after a year for refusing a role in the school play in favour of a paying acting job.[6] He acted in plays in Chichester under the direction of Debra Gillett, wife of Patrick Marber.[4] He met Marber through Gillett, and Marber cast him in the play Howard Katz at the National Theatre.[4] He also performed in His Girl Friday and His Dark Materials there as well.[4]
In 2004, he took the role of Rudge in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys at the Royal National Theatre as well as touring to Broadway, Sydney, Wellington and Hong Kong and playing the role in the radio and film adaptation.[7][8][9][10] He originally auditioned for the role of Crowther but agreed to act the part of Rudge after Bennett promised to beef up the role.[5] Insecure because he had not attended drama school like many of his peers, he enrolled in numerous workshops and readings offered by the National Theatre.[5]
In spring 2007, Tovey had a recurring role in BBC Three comedy Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive, playing Rob's producer, Ben.[5] He played Midshipman Alonso Frame, in 2007 Doctor Who Christmas Special "Voyage of the Damned".[5] Russell T. Davies, the show's executive producer and lead writer, had suggested Tovey as a future replacement for David Tennant,[11] before it was announced that the Eleventh Doctor would be played by Matt Smith. Tovey reprised his role as Midshipman Alonso Frame in the 2009-10 Doctor Who Christmas special, The End of Time.
Tovey played werewolf George Sands, one of three supernatural housemates in the drama Being Human. The pilot premiered on BBC Three on 18 February 2008.[12] A six-part series was commissioned with the first episode broadcast on 25 January 2009.[13] Tovey left the regular cast of the show at the start of the fourth season on 5 February 2012.[14] In November 2012 AudioGO Ltd released an audiobook version of Mark Michalowski's Being Human tie-in novel Chasers, which is narrated by Russell Tovey.[15]
In a 2008 interview in Attitude, Tovey expressed his desire to play darker roles: "really dark, fucked-up characters... like drag queens, rent boys, someone who has been abused, a rapist", though noting that he does not consider himself "fucked-up".[16]
In March 2009, the actor played a leading role in A Miracle at the Royal Court Theatre as Gary Trudgill, a British soldier returning to Norfolk from abroad.[17][18] On 8 March 2009 he presented the Award for Best Actress to Margaret Tyzack for her performance in The Chalk Garden at the Laurence Olivier Awards in Grosvenor House.[19][20]
In 2009, Tovey worked on the film Huge[21] and starred in two television pilots: Young, Unemployed and Lazy (a BBC Three sitcom),[22][23] renamed to Him & Her[24] in 2010, and The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (part of Comedy Showcase), a Channel 4 comedy with Spike Jonze and Will Arnett, written by David Cross and Shaun Pye.[25][26]
He also appeared in three shorts: Drop[27][28] (which premièred at the 2009 Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival), Roar,[29] and In Passing.[30] Roar premiered at the Palm Springs Film Festival on 24 June 2009.[31]
In 2011, he became the voice over/narrator for the BBC Three show Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents which, as of 8 January 2013, is currently in its third series. Tovey has narrated every episode aired.
Tovey played Budgie, one of Gavin's friends, in the BBC comedy-drama Gavin & Stacey. In January 2012, he appeared in the British crime drama Sherlock, playing Henry Knight in the episode The Hounds of Baskerville. He had a lead role in the ITV sitcom The Job Lot which aired in 2013 and is set in a busy unemployment bureau in the West Midlands.[32]
In 2013, Tovey signed on to appear in the American television series Looking, about a group of gay friends living in San Francisco. Its 8-episode first season broadcast on HBO in 2014. Tovey was promoted to series regular for the second season.
In 2015, Tovey starred in Banished, a historical drama series written by Jimmy McGovern about a group of British convicts in Australia in the 18th century.[33]
Writing
Tovey is also an author, playwright and screenwriter. He has written three plays (all unperformed as of August 2010), and one of his short stories was published in women's magazine Company.[3] He also wrote a short film, Victor, and as of August 2010 was seeking funding to produce the picture.[3]
Personal life
During his adolescent years, Tovey's homosexuality caused friction within his family.[16] Although he says he came out to himself when he was 15 or 16, he properly came out to his parents when he was 18.[5] Tovey and his father subsequently had a falling out, with his father suggesting that, had he known earlier, he would have asked Tovey to take hormones or undergo some other medical treatment to "fix the problem".[5] Tovey says his parents were deeply concerned about the possibility he might contract HIV, which may have contributed to the falling out.[5] The birth of Tovey's nephew in October 2004 helped them mend their relationship.[5] In an interview with The Scotsman, Tovey said, "The only thing I can give to young gay people is that when I was growing up there were no role models that were blokey, that were men. Everybody was flamboyant and camp, and I remember going, 'That's not me, so even though I think I am gay, I don't think I fit into this world.'"[5]
Tovey has been with his current boyfriend since 2009.[34]
Selected credits
Film
Year | Title | Character |
---|---|---|
2001 | The Emperor's New Clothes | Recruit |
2006 | The History Boys | Rudge |
2009 | Drop | Ben |
Roar | Tom | |
In Passing | Henry | |
2012 | Grabbers | Smith |
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists | The Albino Pirate (voice) | |
Tower Block | Paul | |
2013 | Effie | George |
2014 | Muppets Most Wanted | Champagne deliveryman |
Pride | Tim | |
Moomins on the Riviera | Moomintroll | |
2015 | The Lady in the Van |
Television
Year | Programme | Character | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Spywatch | Dennis Sealy | Series regular |
1998 | The Mrs Bradley Mysteries | Stable Boy | Episode: Speedy Death (pilot) |
2000 | Hope and Glory | Gary Bailey | Episode: 2.2 |
2001 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Lionel Marshall | Episode: "Evil Under the Sun" |
2001 | The Bill | Tyro Shaw | Episodes: "Complicity" Parts 1 & 2 |
2002 | Ultimate Force | Weasel | Episode: "The Killing House" |
2002 | Silent Witness | Josh Palmer | Episode: "Kith and Kill" Parts 1 & 2 |
2005 | Messiah IV: The Harrowing | Robbie McManus | |
2005 | My Family and Other Animals | Leslie Durrell | |
2007 - 2009 | Gavin & Stacey | Budgie | Episodes: 1.5, 1.6, 2.6 and 3.3 |
2007 | Annually Retentive | Ben | 5 episodes |
2008 | Doctor Who | Midshipman Alonso Frame | Episode: "Voyage of the Damned" |
2008 - 2012 | Being Human | George Sands | Series regular |
2008 | Ashes to Ashes | Marcus Johnstone | Episode: "The Smoking Gun" |
2008 | Mutual Friends | Estate agent | Episode: 1.5 |
2008 | Little Dorrit | John Chivery | Episodes: 1 to 8, 12, 14 |
2009 | Agatha Christie's Marple | PC Terence Reed | Episode: "Murder Is Easy" |
2009 | The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret | Dave | Comedy Showcase pilot (27 November 2009) |
2009 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks | As guest | Episode: 23.10 (2 December 2009) |
2010 | Doctor Who | Midshipman Alonso Frame | Episode: "The End of Time" |
2010 - 2013 | Him & Her | Steve | Series regular |
2010 - 2011 | Doctor Who Confidential | Himself | Narrator (voice only) |
2011–present | Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents | Himself | Narrator (voice only) |
2012 | Sherlock | Henry Knight | Episode 2.2: "The Hounds of Baskerville" |
2012 | Just a Minute | Himself | Panellist |
2013 | The Dog Rescuers | Himself, Narrator | Series 1 (10 episodes) |
2013 | What Remains | Michael Jenson | |
2013 - present | The Job Lot | Karl | Series regular |
2014 - 2015 | Looking | Kevin Matheson | Recurring (season 1), series regular (season 2) |
2015 | Banished | James Freeman | Series regular |
2016 | The Night Manager | Ogilvey |
Theatre
Year | Play | Character | Theatre | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | The Recruiting Officer | Chichester Festival Theatre | Chichester | |
2001 | Howard Katz[35] | Cottesloe Theatre, Royal National Theatre | London | |
2002 | Plasticine[36] | Spira Boy Having Sex |
Royal Court Theatre | London |
2003 | Henry V[37] | Boy | Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre | London |
His Girl Friday[38] | Ralph Sweeney | Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre | London | |
2003–04 | His Dark Materials[39] | Roger | Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre | London |
2004–06 | The History Boys | Rudge | Royal National Theatre | London |
2005 | The Laramie Project | Sound Theatre | London | |
2005–06 | Hergé's Adventures of Tintin (aka Tintin in Tibet)[40] | Tintin | Barbican Arts Centre | London |
2006 | The History Boys | Rudge | Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts | Hong Kong |
St James | Wellington | |||
Sydney Theatre | Sydney | |||
Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway | New York | |||
2007 | A Respectable Wedding[41] | Groom | Young Vic | London |
2008 | The Sea[42] | Billy Hallercut | Theatre Royal Haymarket | London |
2009 | A Miracle[18] | Gary Trudgill | Royal Court Theatre | London |
2012 | Sex With a Stranger | Adam | Trafalgar Studios | London |
2014 | The Pass | Jason | Royal Court Theatre | London |
Radio
Year | Programme | Character | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | The History Boys | Rudge | |
2007 | Rubbish | Dan | Series 2 |
2009 | The Government Inspector | Gendarme | |
The Admirable Crichton[43] | Crichton | Saturday play (60mins) | |
Newfangle[44] | Newfangle | Satirical series (six episodes of 30mins) | |
Last Night, Another Soldier[45] | Briggsy | Saturday play (60mins) | |
The Richest Man In Britain[46] | Dom | Comedy series (six episodes of 30mins) | |
2011 | Countrysides | Simon | Afternoon play |
2015 | Wirral Radio Breakfast Show | Himself | Phone Interview[47] |
References
- ↑ "20 Questions With...Russell Tovey." What's On Stage. 3 January 2006.[dead link] Accessed 22 March 2011.
- ↑ Being Human Returns to BBC America 24 July
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mclean, Craig. "More Mr Nice Guy: Why Everyone Loves Russell Tovey." The Independent. 5 September 2010.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 Randall, Lee. "Actor Russell Tovey graduated to Dickens, Doctor Who and Gavin & Stacey. Now starring as a modern-day werewolf in a new TV sitcom, he's headed for the top of the class." The Scotsman. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Wilson, Benji. "In a Taxi With...Actor Russell Tovey." Daily Mail. 28 August 2010.
- ↑ Russell Tovey at the Internet Broadway DatabaseLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).. Retrieved 5 November 2006
- ↑ The History Boys 2004, Royal National Theatre. Retrieved 17 October 2006
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., cited in UK actor Russell Tovey – Talented, gorgeous, and gay to boot!!!, After Elton, 14 January 2008
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ UK comedy Huge starts shooting in London, Screen Daily, 17 June 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). Russell Tovey at IMDb. Retrieved 2 July 2009
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Plasticine by Vassily Sigarev, Nick Hern Books, 2002 ISBN 978-1-85459-690-1
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Wirral Radio Breakfast – Wirral Radio
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Russell Tovey. |
- Russell Tovey at the Internet Movie DatabaseLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Russell Tovey at the Internet Broadway DatabaseLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Russell Tovey on TwitterLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Articles with dead external links from December 2015
- Articles with dead external links from May 2009
- Articles with dead external links from September 2010
- Use British English from May 2011
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with hCards
- Commons category link is defined as the pagename
- Use dmy dates from October 2012
- 1981 births
- Living people
- Male actors from Essex
- English dramatists and playwrights
- British dramatists and playwrights
- British male radio actors
- English male radio actors
- English male stage actors
- British male stage actors
- English male television actors
- British male television actors
- English male voice actors
- British male voice actors
- Gay actors
- LGBT entertainers from England
- People from Billericay
- Royal National Theatre Company members
- British male Shakespearean actors
- 21st-century English male actors
- 20th-century English male actors
- Writers from Essex
- British male writers
- English male dramatists and playwrights