Rufus Sewell

Rufus Frederik Sewell, born on 29 October 1967, is an acclaimed British actor with a diverse career in film, television, and stage. He first gained recognition in cinematic hits like Carrington (1995), Hamlet (1996), Dark City (1998), A Knight's Tale (2001), and The Illusionist (2006). The actor also won favorable reviews for his performances in television series like Middlemarch (1994), John Adams (2008), The Pillars of the Earth (2010), Victoria (2016–2017), and The Man in the High Castle (2014–2019). Sewell currently stars in the popular Netflix series The Diplomat. Notably, on stage, he originated significant roles in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia (1993) and Rock 'n' Roll (2006), earning him an Olivier Award for Best Actor. Sewell was seen struggling with his villainous roles, expressing a desire to diversify his acting portfolio. Despite critical commendation for his portrayals in Shakespearean works and costume dramas, he expressed a preference for modern roles, such as his remarkable interpretation in the BBC's 2005 adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew. As of 2024, Sewell has been cast as Prince Andrew in the Netflix drama Scoop. Sewell was born in Hammersmith, London, to a Welsh artist mother and an Anglo-Australian father, William John Frederick Sewell, an animator on the Beatles' Yellow Submarine film. He displayed a passion for acting early, attending Orleans Park School and later the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London on the recommendation of a drama teacher. Sewell was set up with an agent by the famed actress, Judi Dench, who had directed him in a play. The actor's breakthrough year was 1993 when he starred in Michael Winner's film Dirty Weekend. Sewell's career has since been an amalgamation of commendable roles in film, television, and stage.