Dominic West
Dominic West | |
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![]() West in 2011 | |
Born | Dominic Gerard Francis Eagleton West 15 October 1969 |
Alma mater | Trinity College Dublin (MA) Guildhall School of Music and Drama (MA) |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1991–present |
Spouse | |
Children | 5 |
Dominic Gerard Francis Eagleton West (born 15 October 1969) is an English actor, director and musician. He is best known for playing Jimmy McNulty in HBO's The Wire (2002–2008), Noah Solloway in Showtime's The Affair (2014–2019), the latter of which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama nomination,[2] and Charles, Prince of Wales in the Netflix drama The Crown (2022-present).
West made his television debut in 1998 BBC medical drama Out of Hours before appearing in the television films A Christmas Carol (1999), and Nicholas Nickleby (2001). His breakthrough came with the role of Detective Jimmy McNulty in the HBO series The Wire (2002-2008). He then starred in BBC series The Hour (2011-2012) earning a Golden Globe Award nomination. He received a BAFTA Award for his performance as the serial killer Fred West in the ITV drama Appropriate Adult (2011) and a nomination for his portrayal as Richard Burton in BBC Four's Burton & Taylor (2013).[3] He played Jean Valjean in the 2018 BBC miniseries Les Misérables. He has since starred in the Netflix series Stateless (2020), and the Amazon Studios The Pursuit of Love (2021). West is currently playing the role of Dr Chris Cox in the Sky One series Brassic (2019–present).
His film debut came with his portrayal of Henry, Earl of Richmond in Ian McKellen's adaptation of Richard III (1995). He has since appeared in Chicago (2002), Mona Lisa Smile (2003), 300 (2007), Punisher: War Zone (2008), John Carter (2012), Pride (2014), Testament of Youth (2014), Money Monster (2016), Genius (2016), The Square (2017), Tomb Raider (2018), Colette (2018), and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022).
Early life
Dominic Gerard Francis Eagleton West[4] was born on 15 October 1969[5] in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire. He is the sixth of seven siblings (five girls and two boys) born into a family of Irish descent; his maternal grandparents were born in Ireland, while his paternal grandmother was Irish-American.[6][7][8] His mother, Pauline Mary (née Cleary), was an actress, and his father, Thomas George Eagleton West, owned a plastics factory.[9] He is the first cousin once removed of American politician Thomas Eagleton.[10][11][12] West attended Eton College, and then following a gap year during which he spent four months working as a cattle herder in Argentina, he studied English literature at Trinity College Dublin, graduating in 1993.[9][13] He graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1995.[14]
Career
Film and television
West's screen appearances include True Blue, Chicago, Richard III, and Mona Lisa Smile. His most notable television role has been starring in The Wire as Baltimore police detective Jimmy McNulty. West was praised for the accuracy of his character's American accent.[15][16] His debut as a director was while being on The Wire; he directed the episode "Took" (2008).[17] West starred as Lysander in the 1999 film version of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. That same year, he appeared as Fred in A Christmas Carol. In feature films, he portrayed the heavy metal guitarist Kirk Cuddy in the 2001 film Rock Star.[18] West played Fred Casely in the 2002 film Chicago.
In 2006 West played the Spartan politician Theron in 300 and made a guest appearance as an actor in a sketch in The Catherine Tate Show, alongside "Frankie Howerd impressionist". In 2007 he played Detective Poppil in Hannibal Rising. West played the disfigured supervillain Jigsaw in the 2008 film Marvel's Punisher: War Zone. In 2010 he had a role as General Virilus in Neil Marshall's adventure thriller Centurion.[19] West starred in the UK ghost film, The Awakening.[20] West has done other work on TV and radio. He appeared in the role of Oliver Cromwell in the Channel 4 series The Devil's Whore. He also performed as "Dr. West", the opening track on Eminem's 2009 album Relapse, as a doctor discharging Eminem from a rehab facility. West played the part over the phone in January 2009 while Eminem was recording it in a Miami studio.[21]
In December 2009, West starred as Hank in a radio adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's play The Hairy Ape for BBC Radio 3,[22] was a guest presenter on the BBC show Have I Got News for You, and ended the year alongside Joan Rivers and Sarah Jessica Parker with an appearance on Graham Norton's New Year's Eve Show.[23] In 2011, West appeared as a news presenter on the BBC period drama series The Hour. He also played serial killer Fred West in the ITV two-part series Appropriate Adult, giving a performance that the serial killer's daughter described as capturing the "evil essence of [Fred West] – his character, his mannerisms, even his gait."[24]
In 2012, West was offered the role of Mance Rayder in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, but turned it down due to the amount of time he would have to spend away from his family.[25] He played gay activist Jonathan Blake in the 2014 film Pride about the 1984–1985 UK miners' strike. West starred as Noah Solloway on Showtime's series The Affair, which premiered October 2014. The series was renewed for a fifth season in 2018.[18]
In 2018 it was reported that West was represented by Tavistock Wood Management.[26] That year he appeared in Colette as the eponymous writer's husband, Willy.[27] In 2019, West played the role of Jean Valjean in the BBC's adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables.[28] Also in 2019, West appeared in Sky One's series Brassic, in the recurring role of Dr. Chris Cox.[29] In October 2020, West entered negotiations to play Charles, Prince of Wales in the final two seasons of The Crown.[30] His casting was confirmed in April 2021.[31] That same month, West joined the cast of the 2022 film Downton Abbey: A New Era.[32]
Theatre
As a theatre actor, West has played Edward in Harley Granville Barker's The Voysey Inheritance directed by Peter Gill at the Royal National Theatre in 2006.[33] Around 2009, he starred at London's Donmar Warehouse as the protagonist in Helen Edmundson's adaptation of Pedro Calderón de la Barca's existential drama Life Is a Dream, for which he received glowing reviews.[34]
He took the title role in Simon Gray's classic comedy, Butley, playing at the Duchess Theatre in London from 1 June 2011.[35] In the September he returned to his native Sheffield to play Iago to his former Wire co-star Clarke Peters's Othello at the Crucible Theatre.[36]
In September to October 2012, he starred in Jez Butterworth's The River at the Royal Court Theatre in London with Miranda Raison and Laura Donnelly.[37]
From mid December 2012 to January 2013, West starred as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.[38]
In 2015–16, he starred alongside Janet McTeer in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the Donmar Warehouse in London.[39]
Advertising
In 2009, West starred in a series of online films known as "The Carte Noire Readers". Made to promote French coffee brand Carte Noire, they consist of actors reading love scenes from a selection of sources and acting through the commitment of justice. West reads extracts from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence; High Fidelity by Nick Hornby; The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton; Life Class by Pat Barker; The Moment You Were Gone by Nicci Gerrard; and Something Childish But Very Natural by Katherine Mansfield.[40]
Charity
West is a supporter of care charity Helen's Trust in response to their assistance to his mother prior to her death.[41]
He led Team Canada/Australia for Walking With The Wounded, a fundraising event for wounded soldiers. He trekked to the South Pole against Team UK (led by Prince Harry) and Team America (led by Alexander Skarsgård). A few days into the trek, it was decided that the competition part of the race would be cancelled due to hazardous terrain and weather conditions, so the teams combined forces and continued. Alongside Harry, Skarsgård and several wounded soldiers, West successfully made it to the South Pole on 13 December 2013.[42]
Personal life
In 1999, West and his then-girlfriend, Polly Astor, had a daughter named Martha, who is an actress.[43] West later rekindled his romance with Catherine FitzGerald,[44] whom he had dated at university. The two married in Glin, County Limerick on 26 June 2010, and have four children: Dora, Senan, Francis, and Christabel.[45][46]
In October 2020, it was revealed that Dominic had a fleeting affair with Actress Lily James whilst in Rome filming 'In Pursuit of Love'.[47] The pair were spotted on scooters and enjoying romantic lunches around Rome. After the affair was revealed, Dominic and his wife, Catherine stood outside their home greeted by paparazzi holding up a sign that said 'Our Marriage is strong and we are very much still together. Thank you.'.[48]
Politics
In August 2014, West was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September's referendum on that issue.[49]
Honours
- In November 2010, West was awarded an honorary degree for services to the Arts by Sheffield Hallam University.[50]
- In July 2018, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Sheffield.[51]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | 3 Joes | Joe Smoker | Short film |
1995 | Richard III | Henry, Earl of Richmond | |
1996 | True Blue | Donald Macdonald | |
Surviving Picasso | Paulo Picasso | ||
E=mc2 | Spike | ||
1997 | The Gambler | Alexei | |
Diana & Me | Rob Naylor | ||
Spice World | Photographer | ||
1999 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Lysander | |
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Jerus Jannick | ||
2000 | 28 Days | Jasper | |
2001 | Rock Star | Kirk Cuddy | |
2002 | Ten Minutes Older | Young Man | |
Chicago | Fred Casely | ||
2003 | Mona Lisa Smile | Bill Dunbar | |
2004 | The Forgotten | Ash Correll | |
2006 | Stingray | Luther | Short film |
300 | Theron | ||
2007 | Hannibal Rising | Inspector Popil | |
2008 | Hold On | Delivery Man | Short film |
Punisher: War Zone | Billy Russotti / Jigsaw | ||
2010 | Centurion | General Titus Flavius Virilus | |
Jackboots on Whitehall | Fiske | Voice | |
Words of the Blitz | Sir John Colville | ||
From Time to Time | Caxton | ||
2011 | Johnny English Reborn | Simon Ambrose | |
Arthur Christmas | Lead Elf | Voice | |
The Awakening | Robert Mallory | ||
2012 | John Carter | Sab Than | |
2013 | Boy Cried Wolf | Hughie | Short film |
2014 | Pride | Jonathan Blake | |
Testament of Youth | Mr Brittain | ||
2016 | Genius | Ernest Hemingway | |
Money Monster | Walt Camby | ||
Finding Dory | Rudder | Voice | |
2017 | The Square | Julian Gijoni | |
2018 | Colette | Henry Gauthier-Villars | |
Tomb Raider | Lord Richard Croft | ||
2022 | Downton Abbey: A New Era | Guy Dexter |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Out of Hours | Dr. Paul Featherstone | 6 episodes |
1999 | A Christmas Carol | Fred | Television film |
2001 | Nicholas Nickleby | Sir Mulberry Hawk | Television film |
2002–2008 | The Wire | Detective Jimmy McNulty | 56 episodes |
2006 | The Catherine Tate Show | Actor | Episode: "#3.5" |
2008 | The Devil's Whore | Oliver Cromwell | 4 episodes |
2009 | Breaking the Mould | Howard Florey | Television film |
2011–2012 | The Hour | Hector Madden | 12 episodes |
2011 | Appropriate Adult | Fred West | 2 episodes |
2013 | Burton & Taylor | Richard Burton | Television film |
2014–2019 | The Affair | Noah Solloway | 49 episodes |
2016 | Revolting Rhymes | Wolf / Magic Fairy / Giant | Voices; 2 episodes |
2017 | Panorama | Narrator | Voice; Episode: "Germany's New Nazis" |
2018–2019 | Les Misérables | Jean Valjean | 6 episodes; also executive producer |
2019–present | Brassic | Dr. Chris Cox | 11 episodes |
2020 | Stateless | Gordon Masters | 6 episodes |
2021 | The Pursuit of Love | Uncle Matthew | 3 episodes |
2022–present | The Crown | Charles, Prince of Wales | Main role (Seasons 5–6) |
2022-present | SAS: Rogue Heroes | Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke | Upcoming miniseries |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Title of project | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Critics' Choice Movie Award | Best Acting Ensemble | Chicago | Won | |
Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Ensemble in a Motion Picture | Won | |||
2002 | Crime Thriller Awards | Best Actor | The Wire | Won | |
2012 | Broadcasting Press Guild Award | Best Actor | The Hour | Won | |
2012 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated | ||
2013 | Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Miniseries Actor | Nominated | ||
2014 | Nominated | ||||
2011 | BAFTA Award | Best Actor | Appropriate Adult | Won | |
Crime Thriller Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | |||
Royal Television Society Award | Best Actor | Nominated | |||
2013 | BAFTA Award | Best Actor | Burton & Taylor | Nominated | |
Satellite Award | Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Film | Nominated | |||
2015 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama | The Affair | Nominated | |
2015 | Satellite Award | Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama | Won | ||
2016 | Won |
References
- ^ "Dominic West". Front Row Interviews. 3 July 2011. BBC Radio 4 Extra. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ^ "Golden Globe actor profile". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
- ^ "Television Awards Winners in 2012 – TV Awards". Bafta.org. 24 April 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "MR DOMINIC GERARD FRANCIS EAGLETON WEST director information. Free director information. Director id 917507291". Company Check. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
- ^ "Dominic West profile". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ^ Hardy, Rebecca (29 January 2015). "My selfish womanising days are over ... thank god!' When he hit the big time with The Wire, Dominic West admits he was seduced by the trappings of fame". Crookedtimber.org. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ "WEST Moya: Death notice". irishtimes.com.
- ^ Gliatto, Tom (5 August 2002). "Deceptive Detective". People Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ a b Anthony, Andrew (26 October 2008). "Andrew Anthony talks to actor Dominic West". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ West's paternal grandfather, Sir Harold Ernest Georges West (1894–1968), was an industrialist; by virtue of his marriage to Winifred Mary, daughter of Thomas Eagleton, of St Louis, Missouri, West's first cousin once removed was the American senator and 1972 Democratic vice-presidential nominee Thomas Eagleton. Sir Harold and Winifred West's daughter Gloria married Hugh Clifford Holmes, son of senior Army officer Sir Noel Holmes.
- ^ Call Me Tom: The Life of Thomas F. Eagleton, James N. Giglio, University of Missouri Press, 2011, p. 206.
- ^ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 2003, vol. 1, p. 822.
- ^ Philby, Charlotte (21 March 2009). "My Secret Life: Dominic West, actor, 39". The Independent. London, UK. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
- ^ "Dominic West, Class of 1995". Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
- ^ Levinson, Paul. "McNulty on his fine Baltimore accent". PaulLevinson.blogspot.com. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
- ^ Rohrer, Finlo; Fraser, Katie (30 January 2009). "The good, the bad and the mangled". BBC News. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ "'The Wire': The Dominic West perspective". Los Angeles Times. 17 February 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ a b Dominic West at IMDb
- ^ "Official Domestic One-Sheet: Neil Marshall's Centurion". Dreadcentral.com. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ "Early Sales Art: The Awakening". Dreadcentral.com. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ "'The Wire' star Dominic West on Eminem's 'obsessive' love of the show". Entertainment Weekly. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
over the phone from London in January while Em was in a Miami studio.
- ^ "Drama on 3". BBC Radio 3. 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
- ^ "Jump for Latest Centurion Clip". Dreadcentral.com. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ "TV portrayal of killer leaves daughter scared". Yahoo!. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ^ Ryan, Maureen (3 August 2012). "'Game Of Thrones': Dominic West Of The 'Wire' Rejected A Role On The HBO Drama". Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ "The saints and sinners of St Trinian's". 10 April 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Colette". IMDB. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "BBC One - Les Miserables - Jean Valjean". bbc.co.uk. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
- ^ "When is Brassic on TV? Who is in the cast and what is it about?". Radio Times. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ Kanter, Jake (20 October 2020). "'The Crown': Dominic West In Talks To Play Prince Charles". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ Hill, Erin (7 April 2021). "The Crown Season 5 to Begin Filming in July with All-New Cast". People Magazine. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (19 April 2021). "'Downton Abbey 2' Sets Release Date As Production Gets Underway With Original Cast Back & Dominic West Among New Additions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "Dominic West on playing Edward Voysey – What's On Extras". National Theatre. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ Spencer, Charles (14 October 2009). ""Telegraph Review of "Life is a Dream"". The Telegraph. London, UK. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ Thorpe, Vanessa (20 February 2011). "Dominic West to revive classic stage role". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ Benedictus, Leo (22 September 2011). "What to say about ... Othello with Dominic West and Clarke Peters". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ Tucker, Matthew (29 October 2012). "Dominic West Stars In The River (REVIEW)". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
- ^ BWW News Desk. "Crucible's MY FAIR LADY, Starring Dominic West and Carly Bawden, Aiming for West End, May 2013?". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ Trueman, Matt (21 December 2015). "London Theater Review: 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' with Dominic West". Variety. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ "Dominic West – The Carte Noire Readers". Cartenoire.seigan.se. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ Clark, Sarah (1 April 2012). "Superstar actor back in Sheffield for role that's close to his heart". ITV. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ "Prince Harry completes South Pole charity trek". Daily News. New York. 15 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
- ^ "Andrew Anthony talks to actor Dominic West". The Guardian. London: GMG. 26 October 2008. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ Burke's Irish Family Records, 1976, p. 417.
- ^ Tobin, Emily (17 March 2021). "Catherine FitzGerald and Dominic West's home in Ireland". House & Garden.
- ^ "Wire actor West marries long-term Irish partner". Irish Examiner. 28 June 2010. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/dominic-west-lily-james-seen-22864303
- ^ https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/dominic-west-lily-james-seen-22864303
- ^ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories". The Guardian. London. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "The Wire star Dominic West to receive honorary degree". BBC News. London, UK. 4 October 2010.
- ^ "Award-winning actor to be honoured by the University of Sheffield". The University of Sheffield. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Dominic West at IMDb
- 1969 births
- Living people
- 20th-century English male actors
- 21st-century English male actors
- Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- Alumni of Trinity College Dublin
- Audiobook narrators
- Best Actor BAFTA Award (television) winners
- English male film actors
- English male Shakespearean actors
- English male stage actors
- English male television actors
- English male voice actors
- English people of Irish descent
- English television directors
- Male actors from Sheffield
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- People educated at Eton College
- People associated with the University of Sheffield
- People associated with Sheffield Hallam University
- English people of American descent