Toby Stephens began his acting career while a stagehand at the Chichester Festival Theatre, in end-of-season productions mounted by the crew. In his brief professional career, he has already won the Sir John Gielgud Prize for Best Actor and the Ian Charleson Award for his performance in the title role of "Coriolanus" at the Royal Shakespeare ...
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Aldro, Seaford College
Nationality
British
Spouse
Anna-Louise Plowman
Children
Tallulah Stephens, Kura Stephens, Eli Alistair Stephens
Parents
Robert Stephens, Maggie Smith
Siblings
Chris Larkin, Quinn Hawkins, Lucy Dilon, Michael Stephens
Nominations
Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play, WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Play
Movies
Die Another Day, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, The Machine, Mangal Pandey: The Rising, Onegin, Photographing Fairies, Space Cowboys, All Things to All Men, Cousin Bette, Dark Corners, Sharpe's Challenge, Twelfth Night or What You Will, Possession, The Queen's Sister, Severance, Terkel i...
TV Shows
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Cambridge Spies, Jane Eyre, Wired, Robin Hood, Vexed, Black Sails, The Camomile Lawn, London, Lost in Space
Star Sign
Taurus
#
Quote
1
The Humpback Trail on New Zealand's South Island is really beautiful. It is a 70 km walk over about four days and is fairly arduous. You go through prehistoric forest and up to the top of Humpback Mountain, where there are amazing views down to the Tasman Sea.
2
I am a Londoner and I love my home. There are many things about this country which drive me crazy, but when I am in America, I feel wrong there.
3
I would love to be in a Jimmy McGovern drama on TV, but there is no way he would ever ask me unless it would be to play a lawyer or something.
4
Actors don't listen to each other. You're so obsessed with what you're saying or doing that the other person could be talking in Swahili and you wouldn't know.
5
I love traveling with my laptop because I get a bit nervous if I can't access my e-mails.
6
If I was to meet Lou Reed or Bob Dylan, I would be totally helpless. Writers and musicians make me feel completely starstruck.
7
I think all parts come with baggage unless it is a brand new play. If one was daunted by that, you would never do anything.
8
Screen is satisfying because it's so technical and mysterious. It's like playing roulette: you get a script, you think it's either great or naff, but you have no idea how it will really turn out. On stage, you are your own editor - and you get brief moments of grace, where suddenly you feel free.
9
I love Scotland, mainly for its landscape. I like walking, and it's a great place to go hiking.
10
I blub all the time, in the most weird situations - not in the ones that should make me cry. Music makes me very emotional.
11
I'm fair-skinned, so beaches are a bit boring for me. I'm either smeared in lotion or under a shade. However, I do love the sea - diving, swimming and snorkeling.
12
My parents' parents were regular working-class people. I ended up speaking in a certain way, and one gets sidelined into doing certain parts. I think that is really quite narrow-minded.
13
That's the privilege of being a grandparent - they can indulge the children while parents have to be the bad guy. Grandparents can also be subversive and naughty with them.
14
Growing up, I went to many schools, and I had to fit in to many different types of environments with totally different social groups. It helps me out as I move from job to job.
15
I've learnt an enormous amount from my children. Mostly that my agenda isn't the most important thing in the world. For a while, I was trying to squeeze them into my life. And it was such torment! It makes you realize how selfish you are.
16
Some men are into Hollywood glamor stuff and some are not.
#
Fact
1
Was delivered via Caesarean section due to being in the breech position.
2
Playing "Henry" in Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing" at The Old Vic, London. [April 2010]
3
Performing as "Hamlet" in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" with the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford upon Avon. [July 2004]
4
Plays in 'Henrik Ibsen''s "Doll's House" in Donmar Warehouse Theatre until 18th July 2009 alongside 'Gillian Anderson', Tara Fitzgerald and Christopher Eccleston. [June 2009]
5
Soon to play "Georges Danton" in Georg Buchner's "Danton's Death" at the National Theatre, London. [2010]
6
Playing "Horner" in William Wycherley's "The Country Wife" at Theatre Royal Haymarket in London. [October 2007]
7
Performing in Harold Pinter's play "Betrayal" at the Donmar Warehouse, London as the character of "Jerry". [June 2007]
He and his mother, Maggie Smith, have both worked with Ian McKellen. Smith appeared with him in Richard III (1995), while Stephens worked with him in a BBC Radio adaptation of "Goldfinger". McKellen also played "Smith" when he hosted Saturday Night Live (1975). In addition, both McKellen and Robert Stephens have appeared in adaptations of "The Lord of the Rings".
10
His family has been involved in three of Britain's most successful literary and film franchises. Toby played a James Bond villain in Die Another Day (2002), and later went on to play Bond himself on the radio. His father, Robert Stephens, played Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings on the radio. His mother, Maggie Smith, plays Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films.
11
Father to Eli Alistair (b. May 2007), Tallulah (b. May 2009) and Kura (b. September 2010), with wife Anna-Louise Plowman.
After his parents' divorce when he was four years old, Stephens and his brother (actor Chris Larkin) grew up traveling back and forth across the Atlantic with their mother for her numerous acting engagements.
14
Has turned down Hollywood many times; he concentrates mainly on theater.
15
Was considered for the role of "Robin" in Batman Forever (1995).
16
Has the uncanny ability to master the American accent which, along with his smile and look, helped set him apart from the other actors reading for the part of Jay Gatsby and ultimately helped him land the role (a role he said he had the most fun playing and would do the part again in a heartbeat).
17
In 1999, appeared on Broadway in "Ring Round the Moon".
18
Attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
$13 Million
