James Purefoy
James Purefoy | |
---|---|
![]() Purefoy at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con. | |
Born | James Brian Mark Purefoy 3 June 1964 |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1987–present |
Spouse |
Jessica Adams (m. 2014) |
Children | 4 |
James Brian Mark Purefoy[1] (born 3 June 1964) is an English actor. He played Mark Antony in the HBO series Rome, former college professor-turned-serial-killer Joe Carroll in the series The Following, and Solomon Kane in the feature film Solomon Kane. In February 2018 he starred as Laurens Bancroft in Altered Carbon, a Netflix original series.
He was born in Somerset and attended Sherborne School before training at the Central School of Speech and Drama. His appearances in stage plays and a variety of television roles in the UK and USA have grown since the 1980s.
Early life
Purefoy was born in Taunton, Somerset,[2] the eldest son of Anthony Chetwynd and Shirley (née Taylor) Purefoy. The Purefoy family were landed gentry, of Shalstone, Buckinghamshire; the family name passed in the female line through Anthony Chetwynd Purefoy's mother, Mary Lilias Geraldine, daughter of Admiral Richard Purefoy (who had changed his surname from Fitzgerald as his mother was the heir and niece of the politician George Purefoy-Jervoise, head of the family); she married Rev. Brian Mews, vicar of Tewkesbury, who changed his name to Purefoy.[3]
Purefoy boarded at Sherborne School, which he left with only one O-level. He later went to night school and received 11 more O-levels, before taking his A-levels[4] at Brooklands College in Weybridge. He worked as a porter at Yeovil District Hospital before studying acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama.[4]
Career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flickr_-_Sasoriza_-_James_Purefoy%2C_in_Solomon_Kane.jpg/190px-Flickr_-_Sasoriza_-_James_Purefoy%2C_in_Solomon_Kane.jpg)
Stage work
Purefoy's early professional roles included Romeo in Romeo and Juliet in Leatherhead, Walter in Mary Morgan at the Riverside Studios and Alan Strang in Equus on tour. He subsequently joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1988 and appeared in The Constant Couple, Macbeth, The Tempest, The Man Who Came to Dinner (Gene Saks, Barbican) and King Lear as Edgar.
Elsewhere, he has also appeared as Laertes in Hamlet at the Bristol Old Vic (1991) Brian in William Gaminara's Back Up the Hearse and Let them Sniff the Flowers at the Hampstead Theatre (1992), Roland Maule in Noël Coward's Present Laughter at the Globe Theatre (1993), Biff in Death of a Salesman, alongside Ken Stott and Jude Law, at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds (1994), Tony in The Servant at the Birmingham Rep (1995). He returned to the RSC for Simon Callow's stage adaptation of the film classic, Les enfants du paradis at the Barbican. He also played Hugh de Morville in Paul Corcoran's Four Nights in Knaresborough at the Tricycle Theatre, (1999) and Loveless in Trevor Nunn's production of The Relapse at the National Theatre in 2001.
Between March and June 2011 he starred as Peter in Trevor Nunn's production of Flare Path at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, alongside Sheridan Smith and Sienna Miller, as part of the playwright Terence Rattigan's centenary year celebrations.[5]
He appeared as part of the ensemble cast of the 2019 West and Middle Chinnock Christmas Show, as well as singing several sea shanties from Fisherman's Friends.
Film and television
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/JamesPurefoy09TIFF.jpg/190px-JamesPurefoy09TIFF.jpg)
Purefoy was screen tested for the role of James Bond in 1995 for GoldenEye,[2] but ultimately lost the role to Pierce Brosnan. Throughout 2004 and 2005 Purefoy's name was rumoured as a possible candidate to replace Brosnan as Bond in future films. He played James McCarthy, a young man accused of murdering his father, in "The Boscombe Valley Mystery," in Granada's The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. One of his notable roles was as Nicholas Jenkins in the eight-part miniseries A Dance to the Music of Time for Channel 4 in 1997. He played Edward, the Black Prince in the film A Knight's Tale, Rawdon Crawley in Vanity Fair with Reese Witherspoon and Tom Bertram in the 1999 production of Mansfield Park.
He has played major roles in several television costume dramas, including Sharpe's Sword, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, The Prince and the Pauper, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Blackbeard: Terror at Sea, Beau Brummell: This Charming Man, The Tide of Life, Camelot and Rome.
He was originally the actor for V in the 2006 Film V for Vendetta but had creative differences with the production team and left the film six weeks into filming. Parts of the film contain (dubbed) scenes of Purefoy. Speculation suggested that his departure was due to an opportunity to play James Bond in the 2006 film Casino Royale.[6]
He played Mark Antony in the HBO/BBC original television series, Rome. At the time there were rumours that at least one nude body in the show had been digitally enhanced. When his Wikipedia entry, which at that time referred to the rumours, was brought up in an interview with Alastair McKay, published in the January 2007 issue of Out magazine, Purefoy said, "I won't say whose it was, but there was a penis in the series that may have been slightly enhanced. But it wasn't mine. Mine's all mine."[7]
Producer William J. MacDonald announced that James Purefoy would play Simon Templar in a new TV series of The Saint. The new series was scheduled to start shooting in Berlin and Australia in April 2008.[8] However, production ultimately did not occur and in August Purefoy was reported as negotiating with NBC to star in another series,[9] The Philanthropist.
He starred as Teddy Rist in the summer television series, The Philanthropist, which aired on NBC beginning on June 2009. His character is a billionaire playboy who decides to use his wealth and power to help others in need.
In 2013, The Following debuted, starring Purefoy as the lead antagonist of the series. He portrays Joe Carroll, a former professor who becomes a serial killer and leads a cult of followers, all whom help create Carroll's "story".
It was announced in June 2014 that Purefoy would join the cast of the film High-Rise with Tom Hiddleston and Jeremy Irons.[10] Later in 2014, Purefoy co-starred in the Formula 1-themed music video for David Guetta's song "Dangerous".
In February 2019, Hybrid (who provided the score to Interlude in Prague) released a short film to accompany their single "Hold Your Breath" from the album Light of the Fearless. The film starred Purefoy as the brooding 'Mr Black'.
Personal life
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/James_Purefoy%2C_Ironclad_Screening%2C_Rochester_Castle.jpg/280px-James_Purefoy%2C_Ironclad_Screening%2C_Rochester_Castle.jpg)
Purefoy has a son, Joseph (born 1997), with the actress Holly Aird. He also has a daughter, Rose (born 2012) and another two sons, Ned and Kit, (born 2017) with documentary director and producer Jessica Adams. He married Adams in Somerset in July 2014.
Purefoy is a supporter of Yeovil Town FC.[11]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | Feast of July | Jedd Wainwright | |
1997 | Jilting Joe | Joe | |
1998 | Bedrooms and Hallways | Brendan | |
1999 | Mansfield Park | Tom Bertram | |
Women Talking Dirty | Daniel | ||
2000 | Lighthouse | Richard Spader | |
Maybe Baby | Carl Phipps | ||
The Wedding Tackle | Hal | ||
2001 | Tomorrow | Andrew Spender | |
A Knight's Tale | Edward, the Black Prince of Wales / Sir Thomas Colville | ||
2002 | Resident Evil | Spence Parks | |
2003 | Photo Finish | James | Jury Award for Best Actor |
2004 | George and the Dragon | George | |
Blessed | Craig Howard | ||
Vanity Fair | Colonel Rawdon Crawley | ||
2005 | V for Vendetta | V | Uncredited; Left six weeks into filming; Few opening scenes of a masked V are of James Purefoy but are dubbed by Hugo Weaving |
2006 | Goose on the Loose | Kenneth Donnelly | |
2008 | Lena: The Bride of Ice | Dr Harper | |
2010 | Solomon Kane | Solomon Kane | |
2011 | Ironclad | Marshall[12] | |
2012 | John Carter | Kantos Kan[13] | |
2013 | Wicked Blood | Wild Bill | |
2015 | Momentum | Mr Washington | |
High-Rise | Pangbourne | ||
2016 | Equity | Michael Connor | |
2017 | Churchill | King George VI | |
2019 | Fisherman's Friends | Jim |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | Coasting | Mike Baker | |
1991 | Sherlock Holmes | James McCarthy | Episode: "The Boscombe Valley Mystery" |
Boon | Alan Bridges | Episode: "Houseguests" | |
1992 | Bye Bye Baby | Television film | |
The Cloning of Joanna May | Oliver | Television film | |
Angels | Victor | ||
1993 | Calling the Shots | Brian Summers | Television film |
Rides | Julian | 4 episodes | |
Crime Story | Darius Guppy | Episode: "The Prince" | |
1995 | Tears Before Bedtime | Jimmy Turner | |
Sharpe's Sword | Captain Jack Spears | Television film | |
1996 | The Tide of Life | Nick Stuart | Television miniseries |
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall | Mr. Lawrence | Television miniseries | |
The Prince and the Pauper | Miles Hendon | ||
1997 | Have Your Cake and Eat It | Ben | Television miniseries |
Bright Hair | David Miles | Television film | |
A Dance to the Music of Time | Nicholas Jenkins | Television miniseries | |
2000 | Don Quixote | Sansón Carrasco | Television film |
Metropolis | Nathan | Miniseries | |
2003 | The Mayor of Casterbridge | Donald Farfrae | Television film |
2005 | Blackbeard | Edward Teach / Blackbeard | Television film |
2005–07 | Rome | Mark Antony | Lead role |
2006 | Beau Brummell: This Charming Man | Beau Brummell | Television film |
2007 | Manchild | Joe | Television film |
Frankenstein | Dr. Henry Clerval | Television film | |
2008–10 | The Summit | Thom Lightstone | Miniseries |
2009 | Diamonds | Lucas Denmont | Television film |
The Philanthropist | Teddy Rist | ||
2011 | Camelot | King Lot | Episodes: "Homecoming", "The Sword and the Crown", "Lady of the Lake" |
Injustice | William Travers[14] | Miniseries | |
Rev. | Richard | Episode: "#2.6" | |
Revenge | Dominik Wright | Episodes: "Doubt", "Justice" | |
2012 | The Hollow Crown | Thomas Mowbray | Episode: "Richard II" |
Episodes | Rob | 4 episodes | |
2013–15 | The Following | Joe Carroll | 30 episodes |
2016–18 | Hap and Leonard | Hap Collins | |
2016 | Roots | John Waller | Miniseries |
2016–18 | Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia | Kanjigar the Courageous (voice) | |
2018 | Altered Carbon | Laurens Bancroft | 10 episodes |
2019–present | Sex Education | Remi Milburn | 5 episodes |
2019 | 3Below: Tales of Arcadia | Kanjigar the Courageous (voice) | 2 episodes |
2020 | Pennyworth | Captain Gulliver Troy | [15] |
TBA | A Discovery of Witches | Philippe de Clermont |
Radio
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Afternoon Play: The Tears of War[16] | Bevil Quiller-Couch | BBC Radio 4 |
2014 | Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? | Rick Deckard | BBC Radio 4 |
2016 | Le Cid | Don Rodrigue | BBC Radio 3 |
2017 | The Scarlet Pimpernel | Sir Percy Blakeney | BBC Radio 4 |
References
- ^ Profile, Film Reference.com; accessed 12 February 2014.
- ^ a b James Purefoy at IMDb
- ^ Burke's Landed Gentry, 17th ed., ed. L. G. Pine, 1952, Purefoy of Shalstone pedigree
- ^ a b "When in Rome..." interview with Hannah Pool. The Guardian. 6 January 2007.
- ^ "Official Press Release: James Purefoy And Sheridan Smith Join Sienna Miller In Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path Directed By Trevor Nunn", 27 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ Morris, Clint. McMahon still in the running for 007 Archived 11 June 2005 at the Wayback Machine. MovieHole.com. 10 June 2005.
- ^ McKay, Alastair. All Hail James Purefoy. Out.com.
- ^ "James Purefoy to play Simon Templar in The Saint", The Saint Club. 5 December 2007.
- ^ The Hollywood Reporter: "James Purefoy circles NBC series, 21 July 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2008
- ^ Oliver Lyttelton (13 June 2014). "'The Hobbit' Star Luke Evans Joins Tom Hiddleston In Ben Wheatley's 'High Rise'". Indie Wire. Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ Purefoy supports Yeovil F.C., socceram.com; accessed 12 February 2014.
- ^ "Film recreates Rochester castle siege – in Wales Archived 18 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine". Kent News. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ "Purefoy, Haden Church, and Strong for Mars". Empire Online.
- ^ "Injustice". itv.xom.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (26 February 2020). "Pennyworth Season 2: James Purefoy Among Several Cast Additions". TVLine.
- ^ BBC Genome Project Radio Times 1923 - 2009
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- James Purefoy at IMDb
- James Purefoy as Blackbeard
- James Purefoy as Beau Brummell
- Interview with James Purefoy, BBC Somerset, September 2005
- Interview with James Purefoy, BBC Somerset, January 2006
- Interview with James Purefoy, BBC Somerset, February 2007
- Interview in The Guardian, 6 January 2007
- Men's Vogue profile
- Hold your breath short film
- Use dmy dates from November 2012
- Living people
- 1964 births
- 20th-century English male actors
- 21st-century English male actors
- Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
- English male film actors
- English male Shakespearean actors
- English male stage actors
- English male radio actors
- English male television actors
- Male actors from Somerset
- People educated at Sherborne School
- People from Taunton
- Royal Shakespeare Company members