Russell Tovey

Russell Tovey
Born Russell George Tovey
(1981-11-14) 14 November 1981
Billericay, Essex, England
Residence London, England, United Kingdom
Occupation Actor
Years active 1994–present

Russell George Tovey (born 14 November 1981)[1] is an English actor[2] He is known for playing the role of werewolf George Sands in the BBC's supernatural drama Being Human,[3] Rudge in both the stage and film versions of The History Boys, Steve in the BBC Three sitcom Him & Her, Kevin Matheson in the HBO original series Looking and its subsequent series finale television film Looking: The Movie, and as Henry Knight on BBC TV series Sherlock. He has also starred as Harry Doyle in the drama-thriller series Quantico on the ABC network. In addition, he also stars as Ray Terrill / The Ray in the Arrowverse.[4]

Early life

Tovey is the younger of two children, born to Carole Haynes (formerly Webb) and George Tovey who run a Romford-based coach service taking passengers from Essex to Gatwick Airport. Tovey has an older brother, Daniel.[5] He grew up in Billericay, Essex,[6][7] and he attended Harold Court School in Harold Wood and Shenfield High School.[8] As a boy, Tovey said he "was an avid collector of various things and prone to participating in fads."[7] His parents supported his efforts, taking him to archeological digs and museums, buying him a metal detector, and going to conventions for mineralologists.[7] For a time he wanted to be a history teacher,[7] but after seeing Dead Poets Society, The Goonies, and Stand By Me, he decided to be an actor.[7] For a time during his teens, he worked as a kitchen assistant in Billericay's King's Head pub.

Career

Tovey began his career as a child actor. He joined a local drama club, and garnered the attention of a talent agent.[6] He began acting when he was 11 years old,[7] featuring in television adverts for WHSmith and Heinz. He worked so steadily and missed so much school that his father suggested his acting career be cut back, but his mother convinced his father to let their son continue.[7] His TV career started in 1994, when he was cast in Mud, a children's series broadcast on CBBC.[6]

He left high school at the age of 16, and started a BTEC in performing arts at Barking College.[8] He was expelled after a year for refusing a role in the school play in favour of a paying acting job.[8] He acted in plays in Chichester under the direction of Debra Gillett, wife of Patrick Marber.[6] He met Marber through Gillett, and Marber cast him in the play Howard Katz at the National Theatre.[6] He also performed in His Girl Friday and His Dark Materials there.[6]

In 2004, he took the role of Rudge in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys at the Royal National Theatre as well as touring to Broadway, Sydney, Wellington and Hong Kong and playing the role in the radio and film adaptations.[9][10][11][12] He originally auditioned for the role of Crowther but agreed to act the part of Rudge after Bennett promised to beef up the role.[7] Insecure because he had not attended drama school like many of his peers, he enrolled in numerous workshops and readings offered by the National Theatre.[7]

In spring 2007, Tovey had a recurring role in BBC Three comedy Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive, playing Rob's producer, Ben.[7] He played Midshipman Alonso Frame, in 2007 Doctor Who Christmas Special "Voyage of the Damned".[7] Russell T. Davies, the show's executive producer and lead writer, had suggested Tovey as a future replacement for David Tennant,[13] before it was announced that the Eleventh Doctor would be played by Matt Smith. Tovey reprised his role as Midshipman Alonso Frame in the 2009-10 Doctor Who Christmas special, The End of Time.

Tovey played werewolf George Sands, one of three supernatural housemates in the drama Being Human.[14] The pilot premiered on BBC Three on 18 February 2008.[15] A six-part series was commissioned with the first episode broadcast on 25 January 2009.[16] Tovey left the regular cast of the show at the start of the fourth season on 5 February 2012.[17] In November 2012 AudioGO Ltd released an audiobook version of Mark Michalowski's Being Human tie-in novel Chasers, which is narrated by Tovey.[18]

In a 2008 interview in Attitude, Tovey expressed his desire to play darker roles: "really dark, fucked-up characters... like drag queens, rent boys, someone who has been abused, a rapist", though noting that he does not consider himself "fucked-up".[19]

In March 2009, the actor played a leading role in A Miracle at the Royal Court Theatre as Gary Trudgill, a British soldier returning to Norfolk from abroad.[20][21] On 8 March 2009 he presented the Award for Best Actress to Margaret Tyzack for her performance in The Chalk Garden at the Laurence Olivier Awards in Grosvenor House.[22][23]

In 2009, Tovey worked on the film Huge[24] and starred in two television pilots: Young, Unemployed and Lazy (a BBC Three sitcom),[25][26] renamed to Him & Her[27] in 2010, and The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (part of Comedy Showcase), a Channel 4 comedy with Spike Jonze and Will Arnett, written by David Cross and Shaun Pye.[28][29]

He also appeared in three shorts: Drop[30][31] (which premièred at the 2009 Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival), Roar,[32] and In Passing.[33] Roar premiered at the Palm Springs Film Festival on 24 June 2009.[34]

In 2011, he became the voice over/narrator for the BBC Three show Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents and its spinoffs, which ran for five series up to July 2015. Tovey has narrated every episode aired.[35]

Tovey played Budgie, one of Gavin's friends, in the BBC comedy-drama Gavin & Stacey. In January 2012, he appeared in the British crime drama Sherlock, playing Henry Knight in the episode "The Hounds of Baskerville". He had a lead role in the ITV sitcom The Job Lot which aired in 2013 and is set in a busy unemployment bureau in the West Midlands.[36]

In 2013, Tovey signed on to appear in the American television series Looking, about a group of gay friends living in San Francisco.[37] Its 8-episode first season broadcast on HBO in 2014. Tovey was promoted to series regular for the second season.[38]

In 2015, Tovey starred in Banished, a historical drama series written by Jimmy McGovern about a group of British convicts in Australia in the 18th century.[39]

In 2015 Tovey made his first of many live appearances for arts and entertainment company Pin Drop Studio, reading a short story to an audience followed by an interview by Simon Oldfield.

In 2016, Tovey was cast in the ABC network thriller drama Quantico for the series regular role of Harry Doyle.[4]

In September 2017, it was revealed that Tovey would be voicing Ray Terrill / The Ray, a reporter who gains light-based powers after being exposed to a genetic light bomb, in the animated web series Freedom Fighters: The Ray on CW Seed. Tovey appeared in "Crisis on Earth-X", the Arrowverse crossover event between Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow.[40][41]

In April 2017, Tovey returned to the Royal National Theatre to appear in Marianne Elliot's revival of the Tony Kushner play Angels in America, opposite Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane.

In April 2018, Tovey was cast in the drama film The Good Liar.[42]

Writing

Tovey is also an author, playwright and screenwriter. He has written three plays (all unperformed as of August 2010), and one of his short stories was published in women's magazine Company.[5] He also wrote a short film, Victor, and as of August 2010 was seeking funding to produce the picture.[5]

Personal life

During his adolescent years, Tovey's homosexuality caused friction within his family.[19] Although he says he came out to himself when he was 15 or 16, he properly came out to his parents when he was 18.[7] Tovey and his father subsequently had a falling out, with his father suggesting that, had he known earlier, he would have asked Tovey to take hormones or undergo some other medical treatment to "fix the problem".[7] Tovey says his parents were deeply concerned about the possibility he might contract HIV, which might have contributed to the falling out.[7] The birth of Tovey's nephew Nathan in October 2004 helped them mend their relationship.[7]

In 2015, Tovey was the subject of a significant degree of public criticism from the LGBT+ press regarding comments he made about effeminate gay men. In his interview with Tom Lamont of The Observer, the actor stated that his schooling made him feel as though he "had to toughen up", going on to say "If I'd have been able to relax, prance around and sing in the street, I might be a different person now."[43] Much of the criticism centred on what was perceived to be a passive criticism of effeminate gay men, with Tovey saying that "I thank my dad for that, for not allowing me to go down the path."[43] Tovey later apologised for the remarks and suggested they did not reflect his views.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2001The Emperor's New ClothesRecruit
2006The History BoysPeter Rudge
2009In PassingHenry TraversShort film
2012GrabbersDr. Adam Smith
2012The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists The Albino PirateVoice
2012Tower BlockPaul
2014Effie GrayGeorge
2014Muppets Most WantedDelivery Man
2014PrideTim
2014Moomins on the RivieraMoomintrollVoice
2015 Stickman Dog Voice
2015The Lady in the VanYoung Man with Earring
2016The PassJason
2016MindhornPaul Melly
2017Night of the LotusCharlieIn post-production
2017The HippopotamusRupert Keynes
TBAThe Good LiarFilming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1996SpywatchDennis SealeyAll episodes
1998The Mrs Bradley MysteriesStable BoyEpisode: "Speedy Death"
2000Hope and GloryGary BaileyEpisode 2.2
2001Agatha Christie's PoirotLionel MarshallEpisode: "Evil Under the Sun"
The BillTyro Shaw2 episodes
Holby CityJerome HibbertEpisode: "Borrowed Time"
2002Ultimate ForceWeaselEpisode: "The Killing House"
Silent WitnessJosh Palmer2 episodes
The BillKieran ElcottEpisode: "068"
2003William and MaryAaron PattersonEpisode 4
ServantsJohn WaltersEpisode 4
2005Holby CityAdam SpenglerEpisode: "Soft Centred"
Messiah IV: The HarrowingRobbie McManus3 episodes
My Family and Other AnimalsLeslie DurrellTelevision film
2007–2009Gavin & StaceyBudgie4 episodes
2007Rob Brydon's Annually RetentiveBen5 episodes
Doctor WhoMidshipman Alonso FrameEpisode: "Voyage of the Damned"
2008–2012Being HumanGeorge Sands24 episodes
2008Ashes to AshesMarcus JohnstoneEpisode: "The Smoking Gun"
Mutual FriendsEstate AgentEpisode 5
Little DorritJohn Chivery10 episodes
2009Agatha Christie's MarplePC Terence ReedEpisode: "Murder is Easy"
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd MargaretDave MountfordPilot
2010Doctor WhoMidshipman Alonso FrameEpisode: "The End of Time"
2010–2013Him & HerSteve Marshall25 episodes
2010–2011Doctor Who ConfidentialNarrator14 episodes
2011–2015Sun, Sex and Suspicious ParentsNarrator
2012SherlockHenry KnightEpisode: "The Hounds of Baskerville"
2013Talking to the DeadDS Huw Brydon2 episodes
The Dog RescuersNarrator10 episodes
What RemainsMichael Jenson4 episodes
2013–2015The Job LotKarl Lyndhurst18 episodes
2014–2015LookingKevin Matheson15 episodes
2015Drunk HistoryKing Charles IIEpisode 6
BanishedJames Freeman7 episodes
2016Looking: The MovieKevin MathesonTelevision film
The Comic Strip Presents... Red TopAndy CoulsonTelevision film
The Night ManagerSimon OgilveyEpisode 1
2016–2018QuanticoHarry DoyleSeries regular
2018Shane the Chef (TV series)ShaneAll episodes
2017Queers: More AngerPhilBBC4 TV monologue
The FlashRay Terrill / The RayEpisode: "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3"
Legends of TomorrowEpisode: "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4"

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2017-2018 Freedom Fighters: The Ray Ray Terrill / The Ray Animated series

Other credits

Theatre

Year Title Role Theatre Location
2000The Recruiting OfficerChichester Festival TheatreChichester
2001Howard KatzCottesloe Theatre, Royal National TheatreLondon[44]
2002PlasticineSpira / Boy Having SexRoyal Court TheatreLondon[45]
2003Henry VBoyOlivier Theatre, Royal National TheatreLondon[46]
2003His Girl FridayRalph SweeneyOlivier Theatre, Royal National TheatreLondon[47]
2003–2004His Dark MaterialsRoger ParslowOlivier Theatre, Royal National TheatreLondon[48]
2004–2006The History BoysPeter RudgeLyttleton Theatre, Royal National TheatreLondon
2005The Laramie ProjectGil EngenSound TheatreLondon
2005–2006Hergé's Adventures of TintinTintinBarbican Arts CentreLondon[49]
2006The History BoysPeter RudgeLyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing ArtsHong Kong
St JamesWellington
Sydney TheatreSydney
Broadhurst Theatre, BroadwayNew York
2007A Respectable WeddingThe BridegroomYoung VicLondon[50]
2008The SeaBilly HallercutTheatre Royal HaymarketLondon[51]
2009A MiracleGary TrudgillRoyal Court TheatreLondon[21]
2012Sex With a StrangerAdamTrafalgar StudiosLondon
2014The PassJasonRoyal Court TheatreLondon
2015A View from the BridgeRodolphoLyceum TheatreNew York[52]
2017Angels in AmericaJoe PittLyttelton Theatre, Royal National TheatreLondon
2018The CollectionBillHarold Pinter TheatreLondon

Radio and Readings

Year Title Role
2006The History BoysPeter Rudge
2007RubbishDan
2009The Government InspectorGendarme
2009The Admirable Crichton[53]Crichton
2009Newfangle[54]Newfangle
2009Last Night, Another Soldier[55]Briggsy
2009The Richest Man In Britain[56]Dom
2011CountrysidesSimon

Tovey has also read the Tom Gates series of books from Number 11 for audiobooks.

References

  1. ↑ "20 Questions With...Russell Tovey." What's On Stage. 3 January 2006. Accessed 22 March 2011. Archived 2 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Weaver, Matthew (2015-03-03). "Russell Tovey says sorry for effeminate actor comments". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  3. ↑ Being Human Returns to BBC America 24 July
  4. 1 2 Stanhope, Kate (June 3, 2016). "'Quantico' Enlists 'Looking' Grad Russell Tovey as Season 2 Regular (Exclusive)". HollywoodReporter.com. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Mclean, Craig. "More Mr Nice Guy: Why Everyone Loves Russell Tovey." The Independent. 5 September 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gordon, Byrony (17 March 2009). "Russell Tovey interview: A History Boy with a big future". The Daily Telegraph. UK. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Randall, Lee. "Actor Russell Tovey graduated to Dickens, Doctor Who and Gavin & Stacey. Now starring as a modern-day werewolf in a new TV sitcom, he's headed for the top of the class." The Scotsman. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 Wilson, Benji. "In a Taxi With...Actor Russell Tovey." Daily Mail. 28 August 2010.
  9. ↑ Russell Tovey at the Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 5 November 2006
  10. ↑ The History Boys 2004, Royal National Theatre. Retrieved 17 October 2006
  11. ↑ "The History Boys". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2006.
  12. ↑ "The History Boys: More is more". Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2006.
  13. ↑ "Davies suggests next Doctor Who". BBC News Online. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  14. ↑ Martin, Daniel (2009-02-13). "Daniel Martin looks at how online fans rescued BBC3's Being Human". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  15. ↑ "BBC Three presents Being Human". UK: BBC Three. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  16. ↑ "Being Human commissioned for BBC Three". UK: BBC Three. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  17. ↑ "Being Human death was 'horrendous' says Crichlow". 6 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  18. ↑ "Being Human: Chasers (Unabridged)". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  19. 1 2 "About a Boy". Attitude. January 2008. ISSN 1353-1875. , cited in UK actor Russell Tovey – Talented, gorgeous, and gay to boot!!! Archived 6 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine., After Elton, 14 January 2008
  20. ↑ Billington, Michael (5 March 2009). "Theatre review: A Miracle / Royal Court, London". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  21. 1 2 "A Miracle". Royal Court Theatre. March 2009. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  22. ↑ "Olivier Goss: What We Heard in the Ballroom???". What's On Stage. 8 March 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  23. ↑ "Tyzack and Jacobi scoop top honours". Official London Theatre. 8 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  24. ↑ UK comedy Huge starts shooting in London, Screen Daily, 17 June 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009
  25. ↑ Holmwood, Leigh (12 May 2009). "Russell Tovey to star in BBC3 sitcom that never leaves the bedroom". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  26. ↑ "Young, Unemployed and Lazy". Big Talk Productions. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  27. ↑ "Him & Her". Him and Her. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  28. ↑ "Spike Jonze to star in C4 comedy". Broadcast Now. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  29. ↑ "Comedy Showcase". Comedy Showcase. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  30. ↑ "Film Production". Beautiful Train Ltd. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  31. ↑ "Drop". British Film Catalogue. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  32. ↑ Russell Tovey on IMDb . Retrieved 2 July 2009
  33. ↑ "In Passing (2009)". Chris Croucher. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  34. ↑ "On the Job Program". Palm Springs Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2 August 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  35. ↑ Sun... Sex & Suspicious Parents, Russell Tovey, Ben Probert, Colin Rothbart, retrieved 2017-10-13
  36. ↑ Reid-Smith, Tris (26 April 2012). "Russell Tovey to star in new ITV sitcom". Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  37. ↑ "Russell Tovey Joins Gay-Themed HBO Dramedy 'Looking' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  38. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2014-02-26). "HBO Dramedy 'Looking' Renewed For Second Season, Trio Promoted To Regular". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  39. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (12 March 2014). "Jimmy McGovern announces Australian convict drama Banished". Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  40. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (September 22, 2017). "Arrowverse Crossover: Quantico's Russell Tovey Cast as Gay Superhero". TVLine. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  41. ↑ Agard, Chancellor (September 22, 2017). "Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends unite for 'Crisis on Earth X' crossover". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  42. ↑ Mitchell, Robert (9 April 2018). "Russell Tovey, Jim Carter Confirmed For Bill Condon's 'The Good Liar'". Variety. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  43. 1 2 Lamont, Tom (2015-03-01). "Russell Tovey: 'I was a scared, skinny little rat. Then I hit the gym…'". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  44. ↑ "Howard Katz". Royal National Theatre. Retrieved 24 November 2006.
  45. ↑ Plasticine by Vassily Sigarev, Nick Hern Books, 2002 ISBN 978-1-85459-690-1
  46. ↑ "Henry V". Royal National Theatre. Retrieved 24 November 2006.
  47. ↑ "His Dark Materials Part I 2003–04". Royal National Theatre. Retrieved 24 November 2006.
  48. ↑ "His Girl Friday". Retrieved 24 November 2006.
  49. ↑ "Hergé's Adventures of Tintin". The Stage. 16 December 2005. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  50. ↑ "The Big Brecht Fest I – The Jewish Wife / A Respectable Wedding". The Stage. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  51. ↑ "The Sea". The Stage. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
  52. ↑ "A View From the Bridge - Broadway | Tickets | Broadway". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  53. ↑ "Saturday Play: The Admirable Crichton". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  54. ↑ "Newfangle episode 1 of 6". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  55. ↑ "Saturday Play: Last Night, Another Soldier". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  56. ↑ ":The Richest Man In Britain Episode 3". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 24 November 2009.

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