Actor, Music Historian
Simon Russell Beale is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed acting talents in British theatre. He has been described by The Independent as “the greatest stage actor of his generation”.
His work with the Royal Shakespeare Company includes: Richard III in Richard III, and Thersites in Troilus and Cressida all directed by Sam Mendes. He returns to the RSC in November 2016 to play Prospero in The Tempest.
At the National Theatre his many roles include: King Lear in King Lear, and Iago (nominated for the 1997 Olivier Award for Best Actor) both directed by Sam Mendes; Timon in Timon of Athens (2012 John & Wendy Trewin Award from the Critics’ Circle for Best Shakespearean Performance) and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing both directed by Nicholas Hytner; Hamlet in Hamlet directed by John Caird (2000 Evening Standard Award for Best Actor, the inaugural John & Wendy Trewin Award from the Critic’s Circle for Best Shakespearean Performance, The Boston Critics’ Association Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Actor in a Large Company, and a Best Actor nomination for the 2001 Olivier Awards); Mosca in Volpone directed by Matthew Warchus (1996 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor); ‘Voltaire/Pangloss’ in John Caird and Trevor Nunn’s production of Candide (1999 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical) and George in Jumpers directed by David Leveaux (2004 Tony Award Nomination for Best Actor).
At the Donmar Warehouse his performances include: Vanya in Uncle Vanya, and Malvolio in Twelfth Night, both directed by Sam Mendes (2002 Evening Standard, Critics Circle and Olivier Awards for Best Actor and in America, the Village Voice Obie for Best Actor for Uncle Vanya and was nominated for the American Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Play (Uncle Vanya) and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Twelfth Night); The Philanthropist directed by David Grindlay (2005 Evening Standard Award and Critics’ Circle Award for Best Actor) and most recently Temple (nominated for Best Actor in the 2015 Evening Standard Theatre Awards).
His television performances include Widmerpool in A Dance to the Music of Time (1997 Royal Television Society Programme Award for Best Actor/1997 BAFTA Best Actor Award) and Falstaff in Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 directed by Richard Eyre (2013 BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor).
Simon Russell Beale was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2003. He is an Honorary Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and of the British Institute of Psychoanalysis. He holds Honorary Doctorates from Warwick University, City University and the Open University, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
He is an Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and he is a member of the Board of Governors for the Folger Shakespeare Library.