James Dreyfus

James Dreyfus (born James Louis de Zogheb Dreyfus on 9 October 1968) is an English actor whose career spans over three decades, marked by memorable comedic performances and acclaimed stage work. Raised in Islington, London, Dreyfus experienced early familial disruption when his parents divorced, and his mother Margo de Zogheb, a former model of Syrian descent, raised him alongside his grandparents, infusing his upbringing with a multicultural heritage that later informed his artistic sensibility. He attended the prestigious Harrow School before honing his craft at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, earning a BA and launching a trajectory that would see him become a recognizable figure in British television and theatre. His breakthrough arrived with the BBC’s cult comedy Absolutely Fabulous, which paved the way for his iconic portrayal of Constable Kevin Goody in Ben Elton’s satirical police sitcom The Thin Blue Line (1995‑1996), a role that showcased his talent for blending deadpan delivery with a subtle, camp-inflected charm. Dreyfus further cemented his reputation as a leading comic actor through his turn as Tom Farrell, the flamboyant flatmate in Gimme Gimme Gimme (1999‑2001), a performance that highlighted his ability to navigate nuanced LGBTQ+ representation while maintaining broad audience appeal.

Beyond television, Dreyfus has earned critical acclaim on the West End stage, starring as Carmen Ghia in The Producers (2004) and as the Emcee in Cabaret (2006), and receiving the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for his work in Lady in the Dark (1998). His theatrical prowess was further recognized with a Second Prize at the Ian Charleson Awards for his portrayal of Caius Cassius in Julius Caesar at the Birmingham Rep. In later years he continued to diversify his portfolio, taking over the role of Thermoman/George Monday in My Hero (2006), appearing in the comedy film Churchill: The Hollywood Years (2004), and portraying Reverend Roger Jones in the long‑running Sky Living series Mount Pleasant (2012‑2017). In addition to on‑screen work, Dreyfus lent his voice to the iconic Doctor Who villain The Master in several Big Finish audio dramas, though his tenure ended controversially after social‑media comments supporting author J.K. Rowling. Openly gay, Dreyfus has spoken candidly about typecasting and the challenges of representing camp characters, while remaining a respected figure in British entertainment.