Rufus Sewell
Rufus Sewell | |
|---|---|
 Sewell in 2019 | |
| Born | Rufus Frederik Sewell 29 October 1967 Hammersmith, London, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouses | Yasmin Abdallah
(m. 1999; div. 2000)Amy Gardner
(m. 2004; div. 2006)Vivian Benitez (m. 2024) |
| Children | 2 |
Rufus Frederik Sewell (/ˈsjuːəl/ SYOO-uhl; born 29 October 1967) is a British actor. In film he has appeared in Carrington (1995), Hamlet (1996), Dangerous Beauty (1998), Dark City (1998), A Knight's Tale (2001), The Legend of Zorro (2005), The Illusionist (2006), Amazing Grace (2006), The Holiday (2006), The Tourist (2010), Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012), Judy (2019), The Father (2020), and Old (2021).
In television he has appeared in Middlemarch (1994), Arabian Nights (2000), Charles II: The Power and the Passion (2003), John Adams (2008), Eleventh Hour (2008–2009), Zen (2011), The Pillars of the Earth (2010), Parade's End (2012), Victoria (2016–2017), The Man in the High Castle (2014–2019), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2019) and The Pale Horse (2020). He currently stars in the Netflix series The Diplomat (2023–present).
On stage he originated the role of Septimus Hodge in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia (1993) and the role of Jan in Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll (2006), with the latter earning him an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play as well as a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.
Early life and education
[edit]Rufus Frederik Sewell[citation needed] was born on 29 October 1967,[1] the son of Jo, a Welsh artist and classically trained pianist.[2] His Anglo-Australian father, William John Frederick Sewell (1924–1978), was born in Australia to British parents and worked as an animator on the “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" segment of animation for the Beatles' Yellow Submarine film.[3][4][5] His parents divorced when Sewell was five and his father died when he was 10.[6][7] Sewell's mother subsequently lived at The Pelican, Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, formerly home to the parents of the Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas.[2][8] Sewell has said that he was a difficult teenager.[6]
Sewell went on to Orleans Park School,[9] a state comprehensive school in Twickenham, which he left in 1984, followed by West Thames College, where a drama teacher sent him to audition for drama school. He later enrolled at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.[10]
Career
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2025) |
Sewell's breakthrough year was in 1993, in which he starred as the unpleasant Tim in Michael Winner's film Dirty Weekend. Winner chose him after seeing him in a play at the Criterion Theatre.[11]
Sewell is known for his villainous roles, such as those in A Knight's Tale, The Legend of Zorro, Bless the Child, Helen of Troy and The Illusionist. He spoke of his unhappiness about this, saying that "[I] don't want to play a baddie again."[12][13]
He co-starred in the controversial film Downloading Nancy, which was released on 5 June 2009.[14] At the Sundance Film Festival in 2008, audiences walked out of the screening. Despite the controversy, Sewell continues to staunchly support the film. "It's a film I'm very proud of, whether you consider that it fails or succeeds, whether you like it or don't like it. I'm proud to be in it."[13]
Between 2006 and 2009, on BBC Radio, Sewell read Russell Thorndike's stories of Doctor Syn—the adventures of an 18th-century clergyman, adventurer, smuggler and pirate.[15] He played Petruchio in the BBC's 2005 version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, a modern retelling of the story which earned him a Best Actor nomination at the 2006 BAFTA Television Awards. This was the fourth time that Sewell had acted in a Shakespeare play since becoming a professional actor: he previously portrayed Hotspur in Henry IV, Part 1 in 1995, Fortinbras in Hamlet in 1996 and the title role in Macbeth in 1999.[16] He appeared in the premiere and first run of Tom Stoppard's play Rock 'n' Roll at the Royal Court Theatre from June to July 2006 and at the Duke of York's Theatre from July until November 2006.[17]
He has recorded eleven of Ian Fleming's James Bond books on 36 CDs for Collins. He continues to work in film, television and theatre, playing the lead role of Dr. Jacob Hood in the CBS TV series Eleventh Hour.[18] He finished filming in November 2009 for the miniseries The Pillars of the Earth, which was shown on TV in 2010.[19]
In 2010 he played the Italian detective Aurelio Zen, based on the best-selling novels by Michael Dibdin, for the BBC One drama series Zen. The three episodes were filmed in Rome and shown on BBC One in early January 2011. The series was cancelled by the BBC after just one season.[20] He also had a small part in the film The Tourist, which also starred Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp and was released in cinemas in 2010.[21] He played the lead vampire, Adam, in the film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,[22] which was filmed in New Orleans and released in June 2012.[23]
Sewell played the role of Ethics Man in Darkside, Tom Stoppard's 2013 radio drama based on Pink Floyd's album The Dark Side of the Moon.[24] Sewell co-starred with Dwayne Johnson, as Autolycus, in the film Hercules, which was released in July 2014.[25] In 2015, Sewell voiced the role of Sir Claude, a feral cat, in Blinky Bill the Movie. Sewell has most recently appeared as high-ranking American-turned-Nazi official John Smith in The Man in the High Castle,[26] and as Lord Melbourne in Victoria.[citation needed]
In February 2023, it was announced that Sewell had been cast as Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in Scoop, a Netflix drama about Andrew's 2019 Newsnight interview, co-starring Gillian Anderson as Emily Maitlis, Billie Piper, and Keeley Hawes.[27]
Personal life
[edit]Sewell has been married three times. His first wife was his long-term girlfriend,[6] the Australian fashion journalist Yasmin Abdallah; they were married in 1999 and divorced in 2000.[28] He married his second wife, the scriptwriter and producer Amy Gardner, in 2004[6] and divorced in 2006.[29] They have a son. Rufus Sewell also has a daughter with Ami Komai.[30][31]
In December 2023 he became engaged to Vivian Benitez, an American actress.[32] They married in July 2024.[33]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Gone to Seed | Billy | 6 episodes |
| 1992–94 | Screen Two | Mike Costain Clive |
2 episodes |
| 1994 | Middlemarch | Will Ladislaw | 7 episodes |
| Citizen Locke | Midshipman Clarke | Television movie | |
| 1995 | Cold Comfort Farm | Seth Starkadder | Television film |
| Performance | Harry Percy | Episode: "Henry IV, Part 1" | |
| 2000 | Arabian Nights | Ali Baba | Miniseries |
| 2001 | She Creature | Angus | Television movie |
| 2003 | Helen of Troy | Agamemnon | Miniseries |
| Charles II: The Power and the Passion | Charles II | 4 episodes | |
| 2004 | Taste | Michael Kuhleman | Television movie |
| 2005 | ShakespeaRe-Told | Petruchio | Episode: "The Taming of the Shrew" |
| 2006 | 9/11: Out of the Blue | The Man | Television movie |
| 2008 | John Adams | Alexander Hamilton | 2 episodes |
| 2008–09 | Eleventh Hour | Dr. Jacob Hood | 18 episodes |
| 2010 | The Pillars of the Earth | Tom Builder | Miniseries |
| 2011 | Zen | Aurelio Zen | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Parade's End | Reverend Duchemin | 3 episodes |
| Restless | Lucas Romer | 2 episodes | |
| 2015 | Killing Jesus | Caiaphas | Television movie |
| 2016 | Secret History | Narrator | Episode: "China's Forgotten Emperor" |
| 2016–17 | Victoria | Lord Melbourne | 7 episodes |
| 2018 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Declan Howell | Episode: "Look, She Made a Hat" |
| 2014–19 | The Man in the High Castle | John Smith | 40 episodes |
| 2020 | The Pale Horse | Mark Easterbrook | BBC1 Miniseries |
| 2023 | Kaleidoscope | Roger Salas | Miniseries |
| 2023–present | The Diplomat | Hal Wyler | Main role |
| 2025 | The Sandman | Time | Episode: "Time and Night" |
| TBA | Pride and Prejudice | Mr. Bennet | Filming[35] |
Theatre
[edit]| Year | Production | Role | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Arcadia | Septimus Hodge | Lyttelton Theatre, Royal National Theatre | [36] |
| 1995 | Translations | Owen | Plymouth Theatre, Broadway | [37] |
| 2006–07 | Rock 'n' Roll | Jan | The Royal Court Theatre, London | [36] |
| 2007–08 | Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway | |||
| 2013 | Old Times | Deeley | Harold Pinter Theatre, London | |
| 2015 | Closer | Larry | Donmar Warehouse, London |
Awards and nominations
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Mike Rose, cleveland com (29 October 2023). "Famous birthdays list for October 29, 2023 includes celebrities Winona Ryder, Rufus Sewell". Cleveland. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ a b Turner, Robin (7 March 2008). "Famous home on sale for owner to get a quieter life". walesonline.
- ^ Films and Filming, vol. 10, issues 7-12, Hansom Books, 1964, p. 29
- ^ "Rufus Sewell Biography (1967-)". filmreference.com. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Rufus Sewell Biography – Yahoo! Movies". yahoo.com. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d Saner, Emine (8 December 2006). "Dark Star". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2023 – via theguardian.com.
- ^ West, Naomi (12 January 2013). "Rufus Sewell, interview: back in the spotlight". Archived from the original on 12 January 2022 – via telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "rufussewell.net: Article". rufussewell.net. 17 December 2024.
- ^ Cavendish, Lucy (10 April 2012). "The king of Rock'n'Roll". Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ "Central School of Speech and Drama High Profile Alumni". cssd.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
- ^ Winner Takes All: A Life of Sorts by Michael Winner, p. 269.
- ^ Leonard, Tom."I really don't want to play a baddie again." The Telegraph. 8 December 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
- ^ a b "Rufus Sewell: Downloading Nancy". SuicideGirls.com. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2023..
- ^ "Downloading Nancy". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - Russell Thorndike - Doctor Syn, Episode 1". BBC. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ Billington, Michael; Billington, By Michael (5 March 1999). "Barking, but where's irony?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ "Tom Stoppard's New Rock 'N' Roll Begins at the Royal Court June 3 | Playbill". Playbill. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "Rufus Sewell biography." CBS.com.
- ^ "Three sign on for 'Pillars of the Earth'", The Hollywood Reporter, 8 June 2009.
- ^ Conlan, Tara (22 February 2011). "BBC1 axes Rufus Sewell detective drama Zen". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
- ^ "産婦人科検診の内容 - 知っておきたい婦人科検診のこと". accidentalsexiness.com.
- ^ Dickey, Josh (12 April 2011). "Rufus Sewell is top baddie in 'Vampire Hunter'". Variety. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
- ^ Filipponi, Pietro (30 March 2011). "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Set Pics ..." The Daily Blam!. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
- ^ "Pink Floyd album inspires Sir Tom Stoppard radio play". BBC. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ^ McNary, Dave (21 March 2013). "Joseph Fiennes, Ian McShane Join 'Hercules' Cast". Variety. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Pringle, Gill (2 February 2017). "Rufus Sewell interview: 'My character is not a monster - he's a human'". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (7 February 2023). "'Scoop': Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell & More Join Prince Andrew Bombshell BBC Interview Movie At Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ Fox, Chloe (5 November 2003). "Cut and Thrust". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
- ^ "Rufus Sewell Dumped By Wife". 2 January 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
- ^ Smith, Neil (22 December 2016). "Art role 'inconvenient' jokes Sewell". BBC News. Retrieved 19 August 2018 – via bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Macdonald, M. "The Evening Standard", page 14. Associated Press, 2005
- ^ "Rufus Sewell, 56, engaged to actress Vivian Benitez, 26". BBC News.
- ^ "Rufus Sewell and his bride marry at Manorbier Castle". Western Telegraph.
- ^ Ayoola, Simbiat (1 February 2023). "'The Trouble With Jessica' Trailer: Indira Varma Causes Chaos at Dinner". Collider. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ Dunn, Jack (29 July 2025). "Netflix's 'Pride and Prejudice' Series Reveals First Look at the Bennet Sisters, Rounds Out Cast With Rufus Sewell, Louis Partridge, Rhea Norwood and More". Variety. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Rufus Sewell theatre profile". abouttheartists.com.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (20 March 1995). "THEATER REVIEW: TRANSLATIONS; Linking Language and Identity In Friel Territory Long Ago". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
External links
[edit]
- Rufus Sewell on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/3iiv
- Rufus Sewell on Twitter
- Rufus Sewell at IMDb
- Rufus Sewell on the British Film Institute
- Rufus Sewell news and commentary on The Guardian
- 1967 births
- 20th-century English male actors
- 21st-century English male actors
- Male actors from London
- People from Hammersmith
- Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
- English male film actors
- English people of Australian descent
- English people of Welsh descent
- English male stage actors
- English male television actors
- Laurence Olivier Award winners
- Living people
- People educated at Orleans Park School
- Actors from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- English male Shakespearean actors
- Welsh–English translators
- 20th-century British translators
- 21st-century translators
- Theatre World Award winners
- Blinky Bill
- Actors from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
- People from Twickenham