Andrew Scott (born 21 October 1976) is an Irish actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades, including a BAFTA Television Award and two Laurence Olivier Awards, along with nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.

Andrew Scott
Scott at the 2019 TV BAFTAs
Born (1976-10-21) 21 October 1976 (age 47)
Dublin, Ireland
OccupationActor
Years active1994–present
AwardsFull list

Scott came to prominence portraying James Moriarty in the BBC series Sherlock (2010–2017), for which he won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actor.[1] His role as the priest on the second series of Fleabag (2019) earned him the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.[2][3] He is also known for his roles in the films Pride (2014), Spectre (2015), and 1917 (2019). He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his starring role in the romantic drama film All of Us Strangers (2023).

On stage, Scott earned praise for playing the lead role of Garry Essendine in a 2019 production of Present Laughter at The Old Vic, for which he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor.[4] He also won the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre in 2005 for his role in A Girl in a Car with a Man at the Royal Court Theatre.[5]

Early life and education edit

Scott was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 21 October 1976, the son of Nora and Jim Scott. His mother was an art teacher, while his father worked at an employment agency.[6][7] He is the second of three children; he has an older sister, Sarah, and a younger sister, Hannah.[7] Scott was raised as a Catholic, but no longer practises.[8] He attended Gonzaga College while taking weekend classes at Ann Kavanagh's Young People's Theatre in Rathfarnham,[9] and appeared in two ads on Irish television. At 17, Scott was chosen for a starring role in his first film Korea. He won a bursary to art school, but elected to study drama at Trinity College Dublin, leaving after six months to join Dublin's Abbey Theatre and then moving to London when he was 22.[6][10] He once stated to the London Evening Standard that he always had a "healthy obsession" with acting.[11]

Career edit

1992–2009 edit

In 1992 he portrayed Stan in the Neil Simon play Brighton Beach Memoirs at Andrew's Lane in Dublin. Scott made his acting film debut in the Irish drama Korea (1995) which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Scott worked with film and theatre director Karel Reisz in the Gate Theatre, Dublin, production of Long Day's Journey into Night (1998) taking the role of Edmund Tyrone, the younger son, in Eugene O'Neill's play about a wealthy but tortured Irish family living in Connecticut in 1912. He won Actor of the Year at the Sunday Independent Spirit of Life Arts Awards 1998 and received an Irish Times Theatre Award 1998 nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Scott had the small part of Michael Bodkin in the film Nora, and in a television adaptation of Henry James's The American, before making his London theatre debut in Conor McPherson's Dublin Carol at the Royal Court Theatre. He appeared briefly in the BAFTA-winning drama Longitude (2000) opposite Sir Michael Gambon who he called, "a brilliant actor" and "the best actor in England". He also acted in Steven Spielberg's World War II miniseries Band of Brothers (2001). Scott has described the working atmosphere on Band of Brothers as "awful".[12]

In 2004, he was named one of European Film Promotions' Shooting Stars. After starring in My Life in Film for the BBC, he received his first Laurence Olivier Award for his role in A Girl in a Car with a Man at The Royal Court, and the Theatregoers' Choice Award for his performance in the Royal National Theatre's Aristocrats. He created the roles of the twin brothers in the original Royal Court production of Christopher Shinn's Dying City,[13] which was later nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.[14] In 2006, he made his Broadway debut in the Music Box Theater production of The Vertical Hour written by David Hare and directed by Sam Mendes. Scott starred opposite Bill Nighy and Julianne Moore.[15] For his performance, he was nominated for a Drama League Award.[16]

Scott appears as Col. William Smith in the historical miniseries John Adams. In 2009, he appeared in Sea Wall, a one-man show written especially for him by playwright Simon Stephens.[10] He starred in a sell-out run of Cock at the Royal Court in late 2009, a production which won an Olivier Award in 2010. His turn in an episode of Foyle's War, in which he plays a prisoner determined to allow himself to hang for a crime he may not have committed, was described in Slant as a "standout performance".[17] His film appearances include a role in Chasing Cotards (a short film made for IMAX) and a role in the short film, Silent Things; he plays the role of Paul McCartney in the BBC film Lennon Naked. He also stars in the critically acclaimed 2010 film The Duel.[18]

2010–2017 edit

He gained prominence for his role as Sherlock Holmes' nemesis Jim Moriarty in the drama series Sherlock, which he played from 2010 to 2017.[6] He starred alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. For his performance he received the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor. In an interview with The Independent, Scott stated "Sherlock has changed all our careers, and I'm really pleased about that. It gives you the benefit of the doubt because executives like to see recognisable faces ... It was overwhelming to be on a TV show that is quite so popular. That took me totally by surprise. People had an instant affection for it from the first episode. The reaction was extraordinary".[19]

He had a guest role in the second series of Garrow's Law playing a gay man on trial for sodomy. In 2010, he appeared in the Old Vic production of Noël Coward's Design for Living directed by Anthony Page.[10] In 2011, he played the lead role of Julian in Ben Power's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's epic Emperor and Galilean at the Royal National Theatre in London.[20] He had a part in the drama The Hour as Adam Le Ray, a failed actor. The series starred Dominic West and Romola Garai. In addition to his stage and TV work, Scott is known for his voice acting in radio plays and audiobooks, such as the roles of Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Stephen Dedalus in James Joyce's Ulysses.

 
Scott in 2014

In November 2013, Scott took part in the Royal National Theatre's 50 Years on Stage, a theatrical event which consisted of excerpts from many plays over the National's fifty-year run and was broadcast live on television. Alongside Dominic Cooper, Scot performed a scene from Tony Kushner's epic play Angels in America about the AIDS crisis in New York City.[21] In 2014 Scott took to the stage in Birdland, written by Simon Stephens and directed by Carrie Cracknell at the Royal Court Theatre, playing the central character of Paul, a rock star on the verge of a breakdown. Scott received positive reviews for the performance, with comments such as "beautifully played"[22] and [he] "pulls off the brilliant trick of being totally dead behind the eyes and fascinating at the same time, an appalling creature who's both totem and symptom".[23]

In 2015, he appeared in the James Bond film Spectre as Max Denbigh, a member of the British government intent on shutting down the Double-0 section.[6] Of the experience, Scott stated, "I was thrilled to be asked. I found it difficult to be in that film. I think I could've just been a bit better. I think I allowed myself to be a little intimidated by the budget and the history of the franchise, and I don't think I attempted enough to be original".[24] The following year he appeared in the romantic drama film This Beautiful Fantastic (2016), directed and written by Simon Aboud.[25]

In 2017, Scott's performance in the title role of Hamlet won critical acclaim and earned him the nomination for Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play.[26] The play was directed by Robert Icke and first produced at the Almeida Theatre.[27][28] Michael Billington of The Guardian praised Scott's performance, writing, "Scott's Hamlet is most memorable for his charm, self-mockery and ability to speak directly to the audience."[29] The production was filmed and broadcast on BBC Two at Easter 2018.[30] Scott also voiced Obake in Big Hero 6: The Series (2017).

2018–present edit

 
Scott in 2022

Scott portrayed Edgar in the television adaptation of William Shakespeare's King Lear (2018). Scott starred alongside Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, and Florence Pugh. The following year, he portrayed The Priest in series two of the comedy-drama Fleabag (2018), created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. For his performance, he received acclaim and nominations for a Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Critics' Choice Television Award. In 2019, he appeared in the anthology series Black Mirror, as the lead character Chris in the Season 5 episode "Smithereens" for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Also in 2019, he acted in the Sam Mendes drama 1917, which received acclaim as well as an Academy Award for Best Picture nomination.

In June to August 2019, Scott starred as the matinee idol Garry Essendine in Matthew Warchus's revival of Noël Coward's Present Laughter at the Old Vic in London. He received acclaim for the role as well as the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor. He portrayed Colonel John Parry/Jopari/Stanislaus Grumman in an adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials from 2019 to 2022. He played Lord Merlin in the miniseries The Pursuit of Love (2021). Also that year, he portrayed Terje Rød-Larsen in the film Oslo (2021). The following year, he acted in the comedy Catherine Called Birdy (2022).

In 2023, Scott starred opposite Paul Mescal in the romantic drama All of Us Strangers.[31] His performance earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama at the 81st Golden Globe Awards.[32]

Scott will next star as Tom Ripley in Ripley, a television series adapted from Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels.[33][34][35]

Personal life edit

Scott first commented publicly on his sexuality in an interview with The Independent in November 2013. He stated "Mercifully, these days people don't see being gay as a character flaw. But nor is it a virtue, like kindness. Or a talent, like playing the banjo. It's just a fact. Of course, it's part of my make-up, but I don't want to trade on it."[36] Scott was ranked at No. 22 on The Independent's Rainbow List 2014.[37] In 2023, he revealed that people wanted him to keep his sexuality to himself when he started out as an actor.[38]

Scott worked with the charity IdeasTap mentoring young actors and helping to start their careers,[6] until the charity closed in June 2015 due to a lack of funds.[39]

Acting credits edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Korea Eamonn Doyle
1997 Drinking Crude Paul
1998 Saving Private Ryan Soldier on the Beach
The Tale of Sweety Barrett Danny
2000 Nora Michael Bodkin
2001 I Was the Cigarette Girl Tim short film
2003 Dead Bodies Tommy McGann
2009 The Duel Ivan Andreich Laevsky
2010 Chasing Cotards Hart Elliot-Hinwood short film
Silent Things Jake short film
2012 Sea Wall Alex short film
The Scapegoat Paul
2013 Legacy Viktor Koslov
The Stag Davin
2014 Locke Donal
Pride Gethin Roberts
Jimmy's Hall Father Seamus
2015 Spectre C (Max Denbigh)
Victor Frankenstein Inspector Roderick Turpin
2016 Alice Through the Looking Glass Addison Bennett
Swallows and Amazons Lazlow
Denial Anthony Julius
This Beautiful Fantastic Vernon Kelly
Handsome Devil Dan Sherry
2017 The Hope Rooms Sean short film
The Delinquent Season Chris
2018 A Dark Place Donald Devlin aka Steel Country
2019 Cognition Elias short film
1917 Lieutenant Leslie
2022 Catherine Called Birdy Lord Rollo
2023 All of Us Strangers Adam
2024 Back in Action TBA Post-production

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Budgie Peter TV film
1998 Miracle at Midnight Michael Grunbaum TV film
1998 The American Valentin de Bellegarde TV film
2000 Longitude John Campbell 4 episodes
2001 Band of Brothers Pvt. John "Cowboy" Hall episode: "Day of Days"
2003 Killing Hitler Sniper documentary film
2004 My Life in Film Jones 6 episodes
2005 The Quatermass Experiment Vernon TV film
2007 Nuclear Secrets Andrei Sakarov episode: "Superbomb"
2008 John Adams Col. William Smith 4 episodes
2008 Little White Lie Barry TV film
2010 Foyle's War James Devereaux episode: "The Hide"
2010 Lennon Naked Paul McCartney TV film
2010–2017 Sherlock James "Jim" Moriarty 8 episodes
2010 Garrow's Law Captain Jones episode: "Episode #2.2"
2011 The Hour Adam Le Ray 2 episodes
2012 Blackout Dalien Bevan 3 episodes
2012 The Scapegoat Paul Spencer TV film
2012 The Town Mark Nicholas 3 episodes
2013 Dates[40] Christian episode: "Jenny and Christian"
2016 The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses King Louis episode: "Henry VI, Part 2"
2016 Earth's Seasonal Secrets Narrator 4 episodes
2017 Quacks Charles Dickens episode: "The Lady's Abscess"
2017–2021 School of Roars Narrator / various voices main cast
2017–2018 Big Hero 6: The Series Obake (voice) 11 episodes
2018 King Lear Edgar TV film
2019 Fleabag The Hot Priest 6 episodes[41]
2019 Black Mirror Christopher Michael Gillhaney episode: "Smithereens"
2019 Modern Love Tobin episode: "Hers Was a World of One"
2019–2022 His Dark Materials Colonel John Parry / Jopari 7 episodes
2021 The Pursuit of Love Lord Merlin 3 episodes
2021 Oslo Terje Rød-Larsen TV film
2024 Ripley Tom Ripley 8 episodes

Theatre edit

Year Title Character Director Company
1992 Brighton Beach Memoirs Stan Rita Tieghe Andrew's Lane, Dublin
1996 Six Characters in Search of an Author The Son John Crowley Abbey Theatre
1996 The Marriage of Figaro Cherubino Brian Brady Abbey Theatre
1996 A Woman of No Importance Gerald Arbuthnot Ben Barnes Abbey Theatre
1997 The Lonesome West Father Welsh Garry Hynes Druid Theatre Co.
1998 Long Day's Journey into Night Edmund Karel Reisz The Gate, Dublin
2000 Dublin Carol Mark Ian Rickson The Old Vic/Royal Court Theatre
2000 The Secret Fall of Constance Wilde Lord Alfred Douglas Patrick Mason Abbey Theatre/Barbican, RSC
2001 The Coming World Ed/Ty Mark Brickman Soho Theatre
2001 Crave B Vicky Featherstone Royal Court Theatre
2002 Original Sin Angel Peter Gill Sheffield Crucible
2002 The Cavalcaders Rory Robin Lefevre Tricycle Theatre
2003 Playing the Victim Valya Richard Wilson Told by an Idiot
2004 A Girl in a Car with a Man Alex Joe Hill-Gibbins Royal Court Theatre
2005 Aristocrats Casimir Tom Cairns National Theatre Company
2006 Dying City Craig/Peter James McDonald Royal Court Theatre
2006–07 The Vertical Hour Philip Lucas Sam Mendes The Music Box, NY
2008, 2018 Sea Wall Alex George Perrin The Bush Theatre and The Old Vic
2009 Roaring Trade Donny Roxana Silbert Soho Theatre
2009 Cock M James McDonald Royal Court Theatre
2010 Design for Living Leo Anthony Page The Old Vic
2011 Emperor and Galilean Julian Jonathan Kent Royal National Theatre
2014 Birdland Paul Carrie Cracknell Royal Court Theatre
2015 The Dazzle[42] Langley Collyer Simon Evans Found111
2016 Letters Live[43][44][45] Freemasons' Hall
2017 Hamlet[46][47] Hamlet Robert Icke Almeida Theatre & Harold Pinter Theatre
2019 Present Laughter Garry Essendine Matthew Warchus The Old Vic
2020 Three Kings[48] Patrick Matthew Warchus The Old Vic (Old Vic: In Camera)
2023 Vanya[49] All characters Sam Yates Duke of York's Theatre

Awards and nominations edit

Scott has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA TV Award, two Laurence Olivier Awards, a Critics' Choice Television Award, and a British Independent Film Award as well as nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

References edit

  1. ^ "BAFTA Television in 2012". BAFTA. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Golden Globe Awards - Winners & Nominees 2020". HFPA. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Critics' Choice Awards". Critics' Choice Association. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Olivier Awards 2020". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Olivier Winners 2005". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e Chloe, Fox (18 October 2015). "Andrew Scott: 'Being in a James Bond film is just really cool, right?'". The Observer. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b Smith, Andrea (25 October 2015). "Master villain... Bond star Andrew Scott". Independent IE.
  8. ^ Cooke, Rachel (10 September 2023). "Andrew Scott: 'We need a bit more of people not liking things'". [[[The Observer]]. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  9. ^ Milton, Stephen (11 October 2015). "Life's not all bad". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Allfree, Claire (8 September 2010). "Sherlock actor Andrew Scott: Tenderness is more interesting than blatant sexuality". Metro. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  11. ^ "Life after Moriarty: Andrew Scott interview". Evening Standard. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Moriarty Is Dead". Shortlist. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  13. ^ Gardner, Lyn (19 May 2006). "Dying City, Royal Court, London". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  14. ^ "2008 Pulitzer Prizes for Letters, Drama and Music". The New York Times. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  15. ^ Brantley, Ben (1 December 2006). "Battle Zones in Hare Country". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  16. ^ Gans, Andrew (25 April 2007). "73rd Annual Drama League Award Nominees Announced". Playbill. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  17. ^ "Foyle's War: Series VI". Slant. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  18. ^ Dargis, Manohla (28 April 2010). "Movie Review – Anton Chekhov's The Duel – Summer's Heat Breeds Love, Loathing and Darwinian Competition". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  19. ^ "'Sherlock has changed my whole career': Andrew Scott interview". Independent. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  20. ^ Billington, Michael (15 June 2011). "Emperor and Galilean – review". The Guardian. London, England. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  21. ^ "National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage ~ Ten Tales, Play by Play | Great Performances". PBS. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  22. ^ Billington, Michael (13 March 2014). "Birdland review – Ceaselessly inventive critique of rock stardom". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  23. ^ "Birdland (Royal Court) – Reviews". Whatsonstage.com. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  24. ^ "Spectre's Andrew Scott Admits Being 'A Little Intimidated' In His James Bond Movie Role, Leading To Some Choice Regrets". Cinema Blend. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  25. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (9 March 2017). "Review: In 'This Beautiful Fantastic,' a Gardener Blooms". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  26. ^ "Olivier Awards 2018". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  27. ^ Clapp, Susannah (5 March 2017). "Hamlet review – Andrew Scott is a truly sweet prince". The Observer. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  28. ^ Kellaway, Kate (25 June 2017). "Hamlet review – an all-consuming marvel". The Observer. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  29. ^ Billington, Michael (March 2017). "Hamlet review – Andrew Scott is a charming prince in a chic yet dotty show". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Viewers were blown away by Andrew Scott's "captivating, truthful and heartbreaking" Hamlet performance". Radio Times. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott Lead Andrew Haigh's Ghostly Drama 'All of Us Strangers' — First Look". IndieWire. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  32. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan; Lang, Brent (11 December 2023). "Golden Globes 2024: Full Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  33. ^ O'Connell, Michael (25 September 2019). "Andrew Scott to Play Talented Mr. Ripley in Showtime Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  34. ^ "Showtime Orders Drama Series Ripley with Andrew Scott in Title Role" (Press release). Showtime Press Express. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020 – via ViacomCBS Press Express.
  35. ^ Reddish, David (26 September 2019). "Out actor Andrew Scott, Fleabag's hot priest, to play Tom Ripley for Showtime". Queerty. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  36. ^ Rampton, James (15 November 2013). "Sherlock has changed my whole career': Andrew Scott interview". Archived from the original on 7 May 2022.
  37. ^ "Rainbow List 2014, 1 to 101". The Independent. 9 November 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  38. ^ "Fleabag's Andrew Scott was "encouraged" to keep his sexuality private". Digital Spy. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  39. ^ De Haan, Peter (9 March 2015). "The End of an Era". IdeasTap. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Andrew Scott for new Channel 4 drama". RTÉ Ten. 6 February 2013. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013.
  41. ^ "Andrew Scott joins BBC comedy Fleabag". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  42. ^ "The Dazzle review – some of the best acting in London | Stage". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  43. ^ "Letters Live: Epistolary Joy At Freemasons' Hall". Londonist. 4 April 2015.
  44. ^ "BBC Sherlock star, X Files actor and a host of other celebrities perform at charity event for the Reading Agency". The Guardian. 11 December 2013.
  45. ^ "Letters Live at Hay Festival". The Telegraph. 30 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  46. ^ "Review – Hamlet – Live Theatre UK". Live Theatre UK.
  47. ^ "Review – Auditorium – Hamlet Review". Auditorium Magazine.
  48. ^ "Andrew Scott to star in live-streamed play Three Kings at the Old Vic". 21 July 2020.
  49. ^ "This Autumn, Andrew Scott brings to life multiple characters in Simon Stephens' radical new version of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya". 15 September 2023.

External links edit