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Dan Stevens

Dan Stevens

Daniel Jonathan Stevens[1] (born 10 October 1982)[2] is an English actor. He first drew international attention for his role as Matthew Crawley in the ITV acclaimed period drama series Downton Abbey (2010–12). He also starred as David in the thriller film The Guest (2014), Sir Lancelot in the adventure film Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014), The Beast/Prince in Disney's live action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast (2017), Lorin Willis in the biographical legal drama Marshall (2017), and Charles Dickens in the biographical drama The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017). Since 2017, he has starred as David Haller in the FX series Legion. In 2018, he starred in the Netflix horror-thriller Apostle*.*

Dan Stevens
Dan Stevens at Premiere of Beauty and the Beast (cropped).jpg
Stevens at the Hollywood premiere of Beauty and the Beast in March 2017
Born
Daniel Jonathan Stevens

(1982-10-10)10 October 1982
Croydon, London, England
EducationTonbridge School
Alma materEmmanuel College, Cambridge
OccupationActor
Years active1999–present
Spouse(s)
Susie Stevens (m. 2009)
Children3

Early life

Stevens was adopted at birth, by parents who were both teachers, and grew up in Wales and southeast England.[3][4] He has a younger brother who was also adopted.[4] Stevens boarded on a scholarship at Tonbridge School, an independent school in Kent. There he became interested in drama after auditioning for the title role in Macbeth with his teacher, novelist Jonathan Smith.[5][6] From the age of 15, he spent his summers training and performing with the National Youth Theatre in London.

Stevens studied English Literature at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.[7][4] While at Cambridge, he was a member of the Footlights with Stefan Golaszewski, Tim Key and Mark Watson,[8] and was also active in the Marlowe Society. He was first spotted by director Peter Hall at a Marlowe Society production of Macbeth, in which he played the title character alongside Hall's daughter, actress Rebecca Hall.[9][10][11]

Career

In 2004, Stevens began his professional acting career when Peter Hall cast him as Orlando in his touring production of Shakespeare's As You Like It. The tour took the production to the Rose Theatre in Kingston upon Thames, the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City, the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, and the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. His debut performance earned him glowing reviews from prominent critics in Britain and the United States,[12][13][14][15] as well as a commendation at the 2004 Ian Charleson Awards.[16]

In 2006, Stevens starred as Nick Guest in the BBC adaptation of Alan Hollinghurst's Booker Prize-winning novel The Line of Beauty.[17] Later that year, he played Simon Bliss in Hay Fever by Noël Coward at London's Haymarket Theatre, alongside Peter Bowles and Dame Judi Dench; the director was Peter Hall. He also performed as Lord Holmwood in an adaptation of Dracula for the BBC, and as Basil Brookes in the BBC Emmy-award-winning film, Maxwell. That same year, he was named one of Screen International's 2006 Stars Of Tomorrow.[18]

In 2008, Stevens appeared in the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, Sense & Sensibility, playing Edward Ferrars, and the West End revival of Noël Coward's The Vortex. In January 2009, he appeared on New Year's Day in Agatha Christie's Marple: Nemesis on ITV1 in Britain.[19] In June 2009, he returned to the West End, playing Septimus Hodge in an acclaimed revival of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia at the Duke of York's Theatre.[20]

In 2010, Stevens got his biggest break[21] when he was cast as Matthew Crawley in the ITV series Downton Abbey, created and written by Oscar-winning[22] screenwriter Julian Fellowes.[23] The series went on to be a global sensation[24] and has been nominated for several Emmy, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards since its debut. The central love story of Matthew Crawley and his distant cousin, Lady Mary Crawley, played by Michelle Dockery, was enormously popular. Stevens left the series after finishing the third season and the Christmas Special in 2012.[25] His exit caused a huge uproar with fans, who notably took to Twitter and other social media sites to express their anger at the character's death.[26]

In November 2011, Stevens guest-hosted an episode of Have I Got News for You. In March 2012, he completed shooting Vamps, the latest film from Amy Heckerling, and Summer in February, an Edwardian romance film set in an artist colony.[27] Also in 2012, Stevens moved with his family to New York City,[28] when he made his Broadway debut that year opposite Jessica Chastain and David Strathairn in The Heiress.[29]

In 2014, Stevens starred in the independent film The Guest, winning critical acclaim for his portrayal of a recently discharged army veteran who goes on a killing spree to protect his true identity.[30][31][32] He earned a Saturn Award for Best Actor nomination for his performance. Also in 2014, he appeared in the magic realism comedy-drama film The Cobbler, and in the dark action film A Walk Among the Tombstones. He played a simulacrum of Sir Lancelot in the 2014 comedy film Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.[33][34][35][36]

In February 2016, Stevens was cast in the lead role of David Charles Haller in the FX series Legion, an X-Men-related drama created by Noah Hawley.[37] The series began airing in February 2017 and received critical acclaim; a second season aired the next year, and Legion was renewed for a third season in June 2018.[38][39]

In 2017, Stevens played the Beast, opposite Emma Watson as Belle, in Disney's live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, directed by Bill Condon.[40] The film was released in March 2017, and earned over $1.2 billion in worldwide box office revenue, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2017, and the 15th highest-grossing film of all time.[41] At the same year, he appeared in Marshall with Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad and Kate Hudson,[42] and The Man Who Invented Christmas, directed by Bharat Nalluri, and co-starring Christopher Plummer and Jonathan Pryce.[43]

In 2018, Stevens starred in the Netflix thriller film Apostle, directed by Gareth Huw Evans. The film released on 12 October 2018.[44][45]

His upcoming films include the drama Lucy in the Sky, set to be released in September 2019. It co-stars Natalie Portman and Jon Hamm, and is directed by Legion creator, Noah Hawley. In 2020, he will co-star with Harrison Ford in Call of the Wild. The film is based on the American classic novel by Jack London.

Other work

Stevens has narrated over 31 audiobooks, including Casino Royale, Wolf Hall and War Horse. In 2014, he was nominated for two Audie Awards, in the Classic category and Solo Narration (Male) category for Frankenstein.[46]

Outside acting, Stevens maintains an interest in writing and literature and is editor-at-large for The Junket, an online quarterly which he co-founded in 2011 with some friends.[47] He was a member of the judging panel for the 2012 Man Booker Prize for Fiction,[23][48] and was a regular columnist for the Sunday Telegraph.[49]

A cricket enthusiast, he played for the Authors XI team, which is composed of a number of prominent British writers, in 2012.[50] He also contributed a chapter to the team's book The Authors XI: A Season of English Cricket from Hackney to Hambledon,[51] which was shortlisted for the 2014 Cricket Society and M.C.C. Book of the Year Award.[52]

Stevens is multilingual. Besides English, he is also fluent in French and German.[53]

Personal life

In 2009, Stevens married South African jazz singer and singing teacher Susie Hariet. They have three children: daughters Willow (born 2009) and Eden (born 2016), and a son, Aubrey (born 2012).[54][55][56] Actress Rebecca Hall is godmother to his daughter Willow.[57]

Stevens endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[58]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009HildeDavid Cameron
2011
The North London Book of the Dead
SpeakerShort film
BabysittingSpencer
2012VampsJoey
ShallowRichard DoveShort film
2013Summer in FebruaryGilbert EvansAlso executive producer
The Fifth Estate
Ian Katz
2014
The Guest
David Collins
A Walk Among the Tombstones
Kenny Kristo
The Cobbler
Emiliano
Night at the Museum: Secret of the TombLancelot
2015Criminal ActivitiesNoah
2016The TicketJames
Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York FixerBill Kavish
ColossalTim
2017Beauty and the BeastBeast
PermissionWill
Kill SwitchWill Porter
MarshallLorin Willis
The Man Who Invented ChristmasCharles Dickens
2018Her SmellDanny Something
ApostleThomas Richardson
2019Lucy in the SkyDrew Cola
2020Call of the WildHalPost-production
Blithe SpiritCharles CondominePost-production
EurovisionAlexander LemtovFilming
TBAThe RentalTBAPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004FrankensteinHenry Clerval2 episodes
2006
The Line of Beauty
Nick Guest3 episodes
2006DraculaLord Arthur HolmwoodTelevision film
2007MaxwellBasil BrookesTelevision film
2007Agatha Christie's MarpleMichael FaberEpisode: "Nemesis"
2008Sense and SensibilityEdward Ferrars3 episodes
2009
The Turn of the Screw
Dr. FisherTelevision film
2010–12Downton AbbeyMatthew Crawley25 episodes
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2013)
Nominated—Monte-Carlo Television Festival Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Nominated—Huading Award for Best Global Actor in a TV Series
Nominated–Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2014)
2012The Making of Planet EarthNarratorDocumentary
2012Forget Me NotNarratorDocumentary
2013
The Tomorrow People
TIM (voice)Uncredited
3 episodes
2014Once Upon a Time: Wicked Is ComingNarrator (voice)Television special
2014–17High MaintenanceColin3 episodes
2015–16SuperMansionBunsen (voice)2 episodes
2017–19LegionDavid Haller / Legion27 episodes

Other works

Stage

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004As You Like ItOrlandoRose Theatre
Nominated – Ian Charleson Award[4]
2005Much Ado About Nothing[59]ClaudioTheatre Royal
2006
The Romans in Britain*[60]
Marban / MaitlandCrucible Theatre
2006Hay Fever[61]Simon BlissHaymarket Theatre
2008
The Vortex*[62]
Nicky LancasterApollo Theatre
2009Every Good Boy Deserves Favour[63]The DoctorRoyal National Theatre
2009Arcadia[64]Septimus HodgeDuke of York's Theatre
2012
The Heiress*[65]
Morris TownsendWalter Kerr Theatre

Audiobook narrator

YearTitleNotes
2007
The Dragon's Eye*[66]
Die with Me[67]
Strike Back[68]
2008Day[69]
The Outcast*[70]
2009
The Dragon Diary: Dragonology Chronicles, Vol. 2*[71]
The Angel's Game*[72]
A Week in December*[73]
Wolf Hall[74]
2010War Horse[75]
Blueeyedboy[76]
The Prince of Mist*[77]
Young Sherlock Holmes: Death Cloud[78]
Fall of Giants[79]
Young Sherlock Holmes: Red Leech[80]
2011My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You[81]Galaxy National Book Award for Audiobook of the Year[82]
The Midnight Palace*[83]
The History of a Pleasure Seeker*[84]
The Invisible Ones*[85]
2012
The Time Keeper*[86]
Casino Royale[87]Nominated—Specsavers National Book Award for Audiobook of the Year[88]
2013Letters from Everest: A First-Hand Account of the Epic First Ascent[89]
Going Solo[90]
Boy[91]
Frankenstein[92]Nominated—Audie Awards,[93] Classic & Solo Narration – Male
2014Letters to a Young Poet[94]
Murder on the Orient Express[95]
And Then There Were None[96]
The Heroes' Welcome*[97]
Scorpia Rising[98]
Snakehead[99]
Crocodile Tears[100]
The Iliad[101]
The Odyssey[102]Nominated—Audie Award,[103] Classic

Radio and audio drama

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006
A Question of Attribution*[104]
PhillipsBBC Radio 4
2008
The Tennis Court*[105]
Sam GreenwoodBBC Radio 4
Dickens Confidential (series 2)[106]Charles DickensBBC Radio 4
Anthem for Doomed Youth[107]NarratorBBC Armistice exhibition
The Josephine Hart Poetry Hour
  • (episode 1)
NarratorBBC Radio 4
2008–2009Orley Farm[108]Peregrine OrmBBC Radio 4
2009
The Lady of the Camellias*[109]
DuvalBBC Radio 4
Guilty Until Proven Innocent[110]JakeBBC Radio 4
The Music Room*[111]
NarratorBBC Radio 4
2010
The Custom of the Country*[112]
Ralph MarvellBBC Radio 4
The Secret Pilgrim (episode 1)[113]Ben CavendishBBC Radio 4
The Coral Thief*[114]
NarratorBBC Radio 4
The Story of the Siren – E.M. Forster Short Stories*[115]
NarratorBBC Radio 4
The Cradle of the Snake
Rick ausGartenBig Finish
2011
A Thousand Kisses*[116]
CatullusBBC Radio 3
Widowers' Houses[117]Harry TrenchBBC Radio 3
Portrait of Winston[118]Graham SutherlandBBC Radio 4
King James Bible[119]NarratorBBC Radio 4
A Short History of Vampires – Dracula's Guest*[120]
Bram StokerBBC Radio 7
Words & Music – Money[121]NarratorBBC Radio 3
Together – Face It[122]NarratorBBC Radio 4
The Spying Game Series – The Living Daylights*[123]
NarratorBBC Radio 4
Something Understood[124]ReaderBBC Radio 4
2012
The Old Ways*[125]
ReaderBBC Radio 4

References

[1]
Citation Linkwww.filmdates.co.uk"Dan Stevens profile". UK Cinema Release Dates.
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[2]
Citation Linkwww.talentedbritishactors.co.uk"Dan Stevens @ Talented British Actors". Archived from the original on 22 May 2009.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[3]
Citation Linkwww.townandcountrymag.comGinia Bellafante (1 January 2013). "Dan Stevens Interview - Downtown Abbey's Dan Stevens". Town & Country Magazine.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.telegraph.co.uk"I'm not really posh, says 'Downton Abbey' actor Dan Stevens". The Daily Telegraph. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[5]
Citation Linkwww.theguardian.com"The best teachers will always bowl you over". The Guardian. 19 June 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.tes.co.uk"Dan Stevens: My Best Teacher". Times Educational Supplement. 23 September 2011. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[7]
Citation Linkwww.cantab.org"Cambridge Alumni News - Highlights: March 2017". Cambridge in America.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[8]
Citation Linkfootlights.org"Footlights Alumni 2000-2009". Footlights. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[9]
Citation Linkwww.societies.cam.ac.uk"Macbeth". Marlowe Society. 2002. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[10]
Citation Linkwww.telegraph.co.uk"Rebecca Hall takes the lead". The Daily Telegraph. 29 October 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[11]
Citation Linkwww.huffingtonpost.co.uk"Dan Stevens Interview: How Being 'Downton Abbey's Hero Has Changed His Life". Huffington Post. 4 November 2011.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.telegraph.co.ukCharles Spencer (7 December 2004). "New dreams blossom in Hall's Indian summer". The Telegraph.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[13]
Citation Linkwww.nytimes.comBen Brantley (28 January 2005). "The Listings: DAN STEVENS". New York Times.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[14]
Citation Linkvariety.comJoel Hirschhorn (8 February 2006). "Review: 'As You Like It'". Variety.
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[15]
Citation Linkarticles.latimes.comDiane Haithman (25 February 2005). "Taking the fast lane to success". Los Angeles Times.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[16]
Citation Linkwww.thesundaytimes.co.uk"Ian Charleson award-winners". The Sunday Times. 22 May 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
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[17]
Citation Linkwww.independent.co.uk"Close-up: Dan Stevens". The Independent. 24 February 2008.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[18]
Citation Linkwww.screendaily.com"Screen, BFI London Film Festival team for Stars of Tomorrow".
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[19]
Citation Linkwww.imdb.comMiss Marple: Nemesis on IMDb
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM
[20]
Citation Linkwww.whatsonstage.comBosanquet, Theo. "Critics Hail Stoppard's Arcadia". Review Round-up. Whatsonstage.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
Sep 26, 2019, 10:41 PM