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Ed Speleers
Speleers at GalaxyCon San Jose in 2024
Born
Edward John Speleers

(1988-04-07) 7 April 1988 (age 36)
Chichester, West Sussex, England
OccupationActor
Years active2006–present
Notable workEragon, Downton Abbey, Outlander, You, Star Trek: Picard
Children2

Edward John Speleers (born 7 April 1988)[1] is an English actor. He is best known for playing the title role in the 2006 film Eragon, antagonist Stephen Bonnet in the TV series Outlander and Jimmy Kent in the TV series Downton Abbey. He has also appeared as Rhys Montrose in the fourth season of You (2023) and Jack Crusher in the third season of Star Trek: Picard (2023).

Early life

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Speleers was born at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, West Sussex, England. He is of Belgian descent.[2][3] His parents divorced when he was three,[4] with his mother residing in Spain and his father in London.[5] He has two older half brothers.[4] While still in school, Speleers performed in school productions such as A Midsummer Night's Dream and Richard III.[6][7] In addition to acting, Speleers wrote a play, entitled Retribution, that was performed at Eastbourne College, in Sussex, where he attended. Extraordinarily controversial, Retribution dealt with the subject of paedophilia and was met with stunned reactions.[8] Speleers completed his education in 2006.[5]

Career

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2006–2011

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Speleers' first professional role in 2006 was the lead in 20th Century Fox's screen version of Christopher Paolini's book Eragon.[7] His next role, in 2008, was Jimmy Penwarden on the British prime time series Echo Beach.[9] He also appeared in the comedy Moving Wallpaper and an episode of Moving Wallpaper: The Mole, which many saw as a parody of Echo Beach.[10]

In 2009 Speleers took on the role of Robin Cecil Byng in the Japanese television miniseries Jiro Shirasu: Man of Honor, which highlighted the intermediary between American and Japanese negotiators at the conclusion of World War II.[11] The next year, Speleers played Jason Grint in the fantasy-adventure television film Witchville, and starred in Aimee Powell's short film Deathless.[12][13] In 2011, Speleers appeared in Julian Gilbey's action thriller film A Lonely Place to Die and Marion Pilowski's short film The Ride.[8][14]

2012–2015

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In 2012 Speleers starred as Jamie in Andy De Emmony's comedy horror film Love Bite, alongside Jessica Szohr and Timothy Spall.[15][16] He appeared as the hunter Actaeon in the short promotional film Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 by Credit Suisse for an exhibition in the National Gallery.[17][18] He was cast in the film A Dead Man in Deptford, based upon Anthony Burgess' novel of the same name, but the film was never completed.[19][20][21] That same year, Speleers was cast in the recurring role of Jimmy Kent in the award-winning ITV series Downton Abbey.[22][23]

The short film Turncoat (2013), from Dark Matter productions, featured Speleers as Nathan Reese.[24][25] He then starred as Sam in the 2014 thriller Plastic, which was written and directed by Julian Gilbey for Gateway Films.[26][27] On 12 March 2014, it was reported that Speleers was among five actors being considered for a lead role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but was cut during the casting process.[28][29][30]

In 2015 Speleers had a small role in the BBC's historical drama mini-series Wolf Hall as Edward Seymour, brother of Henry VIII's third wife Jane Seymour.[31][32] He also played a leading role in the direct-to-DVD werewolf horror film Howl, as a young train conductor overseeing the final London train.[33] That same year, Speleers guest starred in the BBC One miniseries Partners in Crime, an adaptation of two of Agatha Christie's novels, which focused on crime-solving couple Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. Speleers appeared in three episodes based on the story N or M?, in the role of Carl Denim.[34] Also that year, he portrayed Greg in director Omer Fast's psychological thriller Remainder.[35][36]

2016–2020

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In 2016 he played the role of Slean in ITV's epic fantasy drama television series, Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands.[6][37] He had a supporting role in Disney's fantasy adventure sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass from director James Bobin.[23][38] The following year he appeared in Andy Serkis' directorial debut, the biopic Breathe, which starred Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy. The film is about paraplegic Robin Cavendish, who is recognised as having helped pioneer the development of wheelchairs equipped with mechanical lungs.[39]

In 2017 Speleers was a producer on Barnaby Blackburn's short film Wale.[40][41] The film, which centers on contemporary racial prejudices in Britain, was nominated for a British Academy Film Award in 2018 in the Short Film category.[42] In late 2017, Speleers was confirmed to appear in seasons four and five of Starz's time-travel drama series Outlander as Irish smuggler and pirate Stephen Bonnet.[43][44][45]

In 2018 Speleers starred in the dark comedy-horror film Zoo, which centers on a couple in crisis and attempting to reconcile during a zombie pandemic.[39][46] He went on to feature in Lars von Trier's psychological thriller The House That Jack Built, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.[47] On 20 August 2018, Speleers made his stage premiere in the play Rain Man, portraying the lead role of Charlie Babbitt.[48] The play, based upon the film of the same name, was directed by Jonathan O'Boyle and toured various theatres throughout the United Kingdom.[49][50][51]

Romantic comedy For Love or Money featured Speleers as Johnny, opposite Robert Kazinsky and Samantha Barks, in 2019.[52][53][54] In the same year, he produced Dad Was, the second short film with director Barnaby Blackburn, which was released in 2020.[55]

In 2020 Speleers made the final appearance in Outlander.[56] He was also the narrator of a David Copperfield audiobook published by Penguin Classics.[57]

2021–present

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In 2023 Speleers appeared in the fourth season of You as the main antagonist Rhys Montrose. He also appeared as Jack Crusher, a main character and a secret son of the protagonist, in the final season of Star Trek: Picard.[58] His performance earned a Saturn Award nomination as a Best Supporting Actor in a Network or Cable Television Series.[59] This was his third Saturn Award nomination overall.

In 2024 Speleers co-starred in the romantic comedy Irish Wish alongside Lindsay Lohan,[60] and was a guest star in an episode of the British television series The Famous Five.[61] He appeared in Midas Man, a biographical film on Brian Epstein who managed the Beatles.[62] He starred in two short films, Deadline directed by Amy Gardner[63] and Fudge Sundae directed by Georgia Redman.[64]

Personal life

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Speleers lives in Bristol, England. He is married to Asia Macey, with whom he has two children.[65] He is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur.[66]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Director Notes
2006 Eragon Eragon Stefen Fangmeier Film debut
2011 A Lonely Place to Die Ed Julian Gilbey
2012 Love Bite Jamie Andy De Emmony
2014 Plastic Sam Julian Gilbey
2015 Howl Joe Paul Hyett
Remainder Greg Omer Fast
2016 Alice Through the Looking Glass James Harcourt James Bobin
2017 Breathe Colin Campbell Andy Serkis
2018 The House That Jack Built Ed (Police Officer 2) Lars von Trier
Zoo John Antonio Tublen UK title: Death Do Us Part[67][68]
2019 For Love or Money Johnny Mark Murphy
2022 Against the Ice Bessel Peter Flinth
2024 Irish Wish James Thomas Janeen Damian
Midas Man Tex Ellington Joe Stephenson [62][69][70]

Shorts

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Year Title Role Director Notes
2010 Deathless John Ray Aimee Powell
2011 The Ride Student Marion Pilowsky
2012 Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 Actaeon Remi Weekes & Luke White
2013 Turncoat Nathan Reece Will Gilbey
2017 Wale — Barnaby Blackburn Producer
2020 Dad Was — Barnaby Blackburn Producer[55]
2023 Pylon — Barnaby Blackburn Producer[71]
2024 Deadline TBA Amy Gardner [63]
TBA Fudge Sundae Jack Georgia Redman Post-production[72]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2008 Moving Wallpaper Ed Speleers 4 episodes
Moving Wallpaper: The Mole Episode: "#1.6"
Echo Beach Jimmy Penwarden 12 episodes
2009 Jirō Shirasu: Man of Honour Robin Cecil Byng Episode: "Kantorî jentoruman e no michi"
2010 Witchville Jason Grint Television film
2012–2014 Downton Abbey James "Jimmy" Kent 17 episodes
2015 Wolf Hall Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset 4 episodes
Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime Carl Denim 3 episodes
2016 Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands Slean 12 episodes
2018–2020 Outlander Stephen Bonnet 13 episodes
2023 You Rhys Montrose 10 episodes
Star Trek: Picard Jack Crusher 10 episodes
2024 Bring the Drama Himself Episode: "#1.5"[73]
The Famous Five Mr. Roland Episode: "Peril on the Night Train"
TBA Star Trek: Legacy Jack Crusher TBA

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 Rain Man Charlie Babbitt The Classic Screen to Stage Theatre Company

Video games

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Year Title Voice
2006 Eragon Eragon[74]
2016 Battlefield 1 Daniel Edwards

Audiobooks

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Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2007 Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Younger Actor Eragon Nominated [75]
2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated [76]
2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards Won [77]
2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards Won [78]
2019 BAFTA Film Awards Best British Short Film Wale Nominated [41][79][80]
Saturn Awards Best Guest-Starring Performance in a Television Series Outlander Nominated [81]
2023 National Film Awards UK Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series You Nominated [82]
2024 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Network or Cable Television Series Star Trek: Picard Nominated [59][83]

References

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  1. ^ "Ed Speleers". Facebook.
  2. ^ McLennan, Patrick (31 October 2012). "A quick chat with Downton Abbey's Ed Speleers". Whattowatch (TV & Satellite Week). Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  3. ^ Speleers, Edward [@edwardjspeleers] (11 April 2019). "What a joy to be in the motherland with two of Scandinavia's finest men. Screening of #Zoo. #belgium🇧🇪 #Brussels #anychanceofapassport #antwerpen". Archived from the original on 13 October 2021 – via Instagram.
  4. ^ a b Hiltbrand, David (15 December 2006). "'Eragon' star Edward Speleers is on quite the ride". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Ed Speleers biography". Tribute.ca.
  6. ^ a b Weiss, Haley (11 February 2016). "Ed Speleers at 10 Years". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Eragon". Scholastic News Online. Archived from the original on 2 January 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  8. ^ a b Speleers, Ed (1 July 2011). "FrightFest Week – A Lonely Place To Die: Ed Speleers Interview". Filmwerk (Interview). Interviewed by Jones, Aled. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  9. ^ Green, Kris (15 November 2007). "First Look: The sexy cast of 'Echo Beach'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  10. ^ Wilkes, Neil (22 January 2008). "How about they do it?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Filming the life of a Clare College alumnus". University of Cambridge. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Witchville on iTunes". iTunes. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Deathless", FilmAffinity, retrieved 10 March 2019
  14. ^ "The Ride". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Love Bite", Rotten Tomatoes, retrieved 27 August 2016
  16. ^ Dibdin, Emma (9 November 2012). "'Love Bite' interview - video". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Video: Metamorphosis (Titian 2012)". Folk Radio. 11 July 2012.
  18. ^ Metamorphosis on Vimeo
  19. ^ Kilday, Gregg (12 September 2010). "Sam Riley to play Kit Marlowe in 'Dead Man'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Little Film Company to sell Sam Riley in A Dead Man in Deptford". Screen Daily. 12 September 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  21. ^ "A Dead Man in Deptford Movie (Pre-Production): Sep. 13, 2010 - added Ballpark Productions as a production company". Movie Insider. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  22. ^ Sperling, Daniel (22 March 2012). "'Downton Abbey' recruits 'Eragon' actor Ed Speleers". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  23. ^ a b MacNaghten, Holly (25 September 2014). "An Interview with Ed Speleers". The Gentleman's Journal. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  24. ^ Debnath, Neela (1 October 2018). "Outlander season 4 cast: Who is Stephen Bonnet? Who is actor Ed Speleers?". Express. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  25. ^ "Jennifer Handorf". Norwich University of the Arts. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  26. ^ Rosser, Michael (6 December 2012). "Speleers, Poulter and Allen to star in Plastic". Screen Daily. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  27. ^ "Plastic". Rotten Tomatoes. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  28. ^ Kroll, Justin (12 March 2014). "'Star Wars Episode VII': Actors Battle for Lead Role". Variety. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  29. ^ Crow, David (12 March 2014). "John Boyega, Ed Speleers Up For Star Wars: Episode VII?". Den of Geek. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  30. ^ Fletcher, Harry; Berry, Jo (27 December 2015). "Ed Speleers confirms he screen-tested for Star Wars". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  31. ^ Robinson, Joanna (3 April 2015). "Here's Why the Cast of Wolf Hall Looks So Familiar". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  32. ^ Jones, Nate (18 April 2015). "The Gruesome Ways Every Character in Wolf Hall Died in Real Life". Vulture. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  33. ^ "Howl". Rotten Tomatoes. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  34. ^ "N or M? - Part Three, Partners in Crime". BBC One. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  35. ^ "Movie Review – Remainder (2015)". 22 June 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  36. ^ Romney, Jonathan (11 February 2016). "'Remainder': Berlin Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  37. ^ "Beowulf Official Site". Esquire Network. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  38. ^ Pearce, Lucy (20 May 2016). "West Sussex actor Ed Speleers stars in the fantasy movie Alice Through the Looking Glass alongside a stellar cast". The Argus. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  39. ^ a b Shzr Ee, Tan (25 January 2018). "Defying medical odds to Breathe". The Straits Times. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  40. ^ "Wale (2018) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  41. ^ a b Clarke, Stewart (9 January 2019). "'The Favourite' Leads BAFTA Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  42. ^ Nannar, Nina (21 January 2019). "Wale actor Raphel Famotibe 'shocked' to make Oscars shortlist". ITV News. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  43. ^ Harnick, Chris (11 October 2017). "Outlander Season 4 Adds Downton Abbey Veterans in Pivotal Roles". E Online. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  44. ^ Petski, Denise (11 October 2017). "'Outlander': Maria Doyle Kennedy & Ed Speleers Join Season 4 Cast". Deadline. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  45. ^ Thompson, Avery (4 November 2018). "Stephen Bonnet: 5 Things To Know About The New 'Outlander' Character". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  46. ^ Kay, Jeremy (5 February 2018). "Seville International heads to EFM with 'Zoo' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  47. ^ Cannes, James Mottram (15 May 2018). "The House That Jack Built review: Profound, disgusting". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  48. ^ Gans, Andrew (25 May 2018). "Gavin & Stacey's Mathew Horne and Downton Abbey's Ed Speleers Will Star in Rain Man U.K. Tour". Playbill. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  49. ^ Aldred, Natalie (23 August 2018). "Movie classic was Royal treat". Henley Standard. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  50. ^ "Full Casting Announced For RAIN MAN Starring Mathew Horne And Ed Speleers". Broadway World. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  51. ^ "Mathew Horne and Ed Speleers in Rain Man: first look photos". WhatsOnStage. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  52. ^ Mosthof, Mariella (16 January 2019). "Lana Condor Serves Up Something Very Different in Syfy's 'Deadly Class'". Romper. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  53. ^ "We chat with Mark Murphy about his new film The Revenger: An Unromantic Comedy". Critical Hit. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  54. ^ For Love or Money (2019), 15 March 2019, retrieved 8 October 2019
  55. ^ a b Dad Was on Vimeo
  56. ^ Lash, Jolie (27 April 2020). "'Outlander': Ed Speleers on Stephen Bonnet's Storyline Twist". Collider.
  57. ^ a b "David Copperfield". Penguin Books. 2020.
  58. ^ Vary, Adam B. (23 February 2023). "Ed Speleers Talks Joining the 'Picard' Family, His Future With 'Star Trek' and His 'Liberating' Role on 'You'". Variety.
  59. ^ a b Hipes, Patrick (6 December 2023). "'Avatar: The Way Of Water', 'Oppenheimer', 'Star Trek' Series Lead Nominations For Genre-Focused Saturn Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  60. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (14 September 2022). "Lindsay Lohan's Netflix Rom-Com 'Irish Wish' Adds Ed Speleers, Ayesha Curry and More to Cast". Variety.
  61. ^ "The Famous Five guest stars revealed as new episode lands on BBC One this Easter". bbc.co.uk. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  62. ^ a b Ntim, Zac (14 June 2023). "Beatles Manager Movie 'Midas Man' Adds Suzy Eddie Izzard And Ed Speleers". Deadline.
  63. ^ a b Finite Films [@finitefilms] (15 July 2024). "Festival News! Our short film DEADLINE has been selected from 6,100 submissions for the Oscar qualifying @hollyshorts Film Festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary August 8-18, 2024 at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood" – via Instagram.
  64. ^ FUDGE SUNDAE [@fudgesundaefilm] (1 February 2024). "That's a wrap on Fudge Sundae" – via Instagram.
  65. ^ "Ed Speleers to be a dad". Express. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  66. ^ "Ed Speleers Trivia". IMDb. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  67. ^ "1091 Pictures: Zoo". 1091 Pictures. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  68. ^ "Death Do Us Part". Signature Entertainment. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  69. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (14 June 2023). "Suzy Eddie Izzard, Ed Speelers Join Cast as Joe Stephenson Wraps Beatles Manager Film 'Midas Man'". Variety.
  70. ^ "Toronto Jewish Film Festival - Midas Man, Opening Night Film, Canadian Premier". Toronto Jewish Film Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  71. ^ "WORLD SHORTS THREE". Galway Film Fleadh. 27 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023.
  72. ^ FUDGE SUNDAE [@fudgesundaefilm] (15 May 2024). "Delighted to announce that the Post Production house for Fudge Sundae is none other than the esteemed multi award winning global company Picture Shop" – via Instagram.
  73. ^ "Bring the Drama - Episode 5". BBC. Retrieved 13 March 2024. (The information is hidden under the "Show more" section.)
  74. ^ "Sierra Entertainment Announces Hot Hollywood Talent From Upcoming 20th Century Fox Film Eragon Featured in Video Game". GamesIndustry.biz. 25 October 2006. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  75. ^ "Superman Returns Leads the 33rd Annual Saturn Awards with 10 Nominations". MovieWeb. 20 February 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  76. ^ "2014 SAG Awards: Winners and Nominees". Variety. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  77. ^ "SAG Award Winners 2015: Full List". Variety. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  78. ^ "SAG Awards 2016: Full Winners List". Variety. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  79. ^ "The Complete List of the 2016 SAG Award Winners". Vogue. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  80. ^ "Downton Abbey Wins Best Ensemble in a TV Drama at the SAG Award". E! Online. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  81. ^ Mancuso, Vinnie (16 July 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame', 'Game of Thrones' Lead the 2019 Saturn Awards Nominations". Collider. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  82. ^ Joseph, Sara (17 May 2023). "Nominations for the 9th annual National Film Awards are announced". National Film Academy. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  83. ^ Pascale, Anthony (4 February 2024). "'Star Trek: Picard' Wins 4 Saturn Awards, 'Strange New Worlds' Wins 1". trekmovie.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024.
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