Robert Emms

Robert Emms (born Robert James MacPherson on 20 May 1986) is a versatile British actor whose career spans film, television, and theatre. Raised in the market town of Horley, Surrey, Emms attended Oakwood School before honing his craft at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology (2002‑2004) and subsequently at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) from 2004 to 2007. His early dedication to performance earned him the lead role of Albert in the National Theatre’s groundbreaking production of War Horse in March 2009, a performance that caught the eye of Steven Spielberg, leading to his casting as David Lyons in Spielberg’s cinematic adaptation of the same play. Recognised as a rising talent, Screen International named him a ‘Star of Tomorrow’ in June 2011, cementing his reputation as an actor of significant promise. In the years that followed, Emms built an impressive résumé across diverse genres. He appeared in Kick‑Ass 2 alongside Jim Carrey and portrayed the charismatic tennis legend Vitas Gerulaitis in Borg vs McEnroe. On television he brought historical depth to roles such as Pythagoras in the BBC fantasy‑adventure series Atlantis, John Gerard in Gunpowder, and the morally complex Supervisor Lonni Jung in the acclaimed Star Wars spin‑off Andor. His stage work continued with noteworthy performances at the National Theatre, while his screen presence expanded to blockbuster franchises, including the role of Jack in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and the animated series Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous (2021). Emms’s blend of classical training, emotional range, and commitment to varied storytelling makes him a distinguished figure in contemporary British acting.