Andrew Scott (actor)

Early life and education

Andrew Scott was born on 21 October 1976 in Dublin, the son of Nora and Jim Scott. His mother was an art teacher, while his father worked at an employment agency. Scott was raised as a Catholic, but no longer practices.

He attended Gonzaga College while taking weekend classes at Ann Kavanagh's Young People's Theatre in Rathfarnham, and appeared in two ads on Irish television. At 17, Scott was chosen for a starring role in his first film Korea. He won a bursary to art school, but elected to study drama at Trinity College Dublin, leaving after six months to join Dublin's Abbey Theatre and then moving to London when he was 22. He once stated to the London Evening Standard that he always had a "healthy obsession" with acting.

Career

1992–2009

In 1992 he portrayed Stan in the Neil Simon play Brighton Beach Memoirs at Andrew's Lane in Dublin. Scott made his film acting debut in the Irish drama Korea (1995), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Scott worked with film and theatre director Karel Reisz in the Gate Theatre, Dublin, production of Long Day's Journey into Night (1998), playing the role of Edmund Tyrone, the younger son, in Eugene O'Neill's play about a wealthy but tortured Irish family living in Connecticut in 1912. He won Actor of the Year at the Sunday Independent Spirit of Life Arts Awards 1998 and received an Irish Times Theatre Award nomination in 1998 for Best Supporting Actor.

Scott had a small role as Michael Bodkin in the film Nora, and another small role in a television adaptation of Henry James's The American, before making his London theatre debut in Conor McPherson's Dublin Carol at the Royal Court Theatre. He appeared briefly in the BAFTA-winning drama Longitude (2000) opposite Sir Michael Gambon, whom he called "a brilliant actor" and "the best actor in England". He also acted in Steven Spielberg's World War II miniseries Band of Brothers (2001).

In 2004, he was named one of European Film Promotions' "Shooting Stars." After starring in My Life in Film for the BBC, he received his first Laurence Olivier Award for his role in A Girl in a Car with a Man at The Royal Court, and the Theatregoers' Choice Award for his performance in the Royal National Theatre's Aristocrats. He also originated the roles of the twin brothers in the Royal Court's world premiere production of Christopher Shinn's Dying City, which was later nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. In 2006, he made his Broadway debut in the Music Box Theater production of The Vertical Hour written by David Hare and directed by Sam Mendes. Scott starred alongside Bill Nighy and Julianne Moore. He was nominated for a Drama League Award for this performance.

Scott appeared as Col. William Smith in the historical miniseries John Adams. In 2009, he appeared in Sea Wall, a one-man show written especially for him by playwright Simon Stephens. Later that year, he starred in a sold-out run of Cock at the Royal Court, which won an Olivier Award in 2010. His role in an episode of Foyle's War, in which he plays a prisoner determined to allow himself to hang for a crime he may not have committed, was described in Slant as a "standout performance". His film appearances include a role in Chasing Cotards (a short film made for IMAX); a role in the short film, Silent Things; and the role of Paul McCartney in the BBC film Lennon Naked. He also stars in the critically acclaimed 2010 film The Duel.

2010–2017

He gained prominence for his role as Sherlock Holmes' nemesis Jim Moriarty opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in the drama series Sherlock, which he played from 2010 to 2017.

He had a guest role in the second series of Garrow's Law playing a gay man on trial for sodomy. In 2010, he appeared in the Old Vic production of Noël Coward's Design for Living directed by Anthony Page. In 2011, he played the lead role of Julian in Ben Power's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's epic Emperor and Galilean at the Royal National Theatre in London. He had a part in the drama The Hour as Adam Le Ray, a failed actor. The series starred Dominic West and Romola Garai. In addition to his stage and TV work, Scott is known for his voice acting in radio plays and audiobooks, such as the roles of Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Stephen Dedalus in James Joyce's Ulysses.

In November 2013, Scott took part in the Royal National Theatre's 50 Years on Stage, a theatrical event which consisted of excerpts from many plays over the National's fifty-year run and was broadcast live on television. Alongside Dominic Cooper, Scott performed a scene from Tony Kushner's epic play Angels in America about the AIDS crisis in New York City. In 2014 Scott took to the stage in Birdland, written by Simon Stephens and directed by Carrie Cracknell at the Royal Court Theatre, playing the central character of Paul, a rock star on the verge of a breakdown. Scott received positive reviews for the performance, with comments such as "beautifully played" and [he] "pulls off the brilliant trick of being totally dead behind the eyes and fascinating at the same time, an appalling creature who's both totem and symptom".

In 2015, he appeared in the James Bond film Spectre as Max Denbigh, a member of the British government intent on shutting down the Double-0 section. The following year he appeared in the romantic drama film This Beautiful Fantastic (2016), directed and written by Simon Aboud.

Also in 2016, he portrayed solicitor Anthony Julius in the film Denial alongside Rachel Weisz, Timothy Spall and Tom Wilkinson.

In 2017, Scott's performance in the title role of Hamlet won critical acclaim and earned him the nomination for Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play. The play was directed by Robert Icke and first produced at the Almeida Theatre. Michael Billington of The Guardian praised Scott's performance, writing, "Scott's Hamlet is most memorable for his charm, self-mockery and ability to speak directly to the audience." The production was filmed and broadcast on BBC Two at Easter 2018. Scott also voiced Obake in Big Hero 6: The Series (2017).

2018–present

Scott portrayed Edgar in the television adaptation of William Shakespeare's King Lear (2018). Scott starred alongside Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, and Florence Pugh. The following year, he portrayed The Priest in series two of the comedy-drama Fleabag (2018), created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. For his performance, he received acclaim and nominations for a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award, and won a Critics' Choice Television Award. In 2019, he appeared in the anthology series Black Mirror, as the lead character Chris in the Season 5 episode "Smithereens" for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Also in 2019, he acted in the Sam Mendes drama 1917, which received acclaim as well as an Academy Award for Best Picture nomination.

In June to August 2019, Scott starred as the matinee idol Garry Essendine in Matthew Warchus's revival of Noël Coward's Present Laughter at the Old Vic in London. He received acclaim for the role as well as the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor. He portrayed Colonel John Parry/Jopari/Stanislaus Grumman in an adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials from 2019 to 2022. He played Lord Merlin in the miniseries The Pursuit of Love (2021). Also that year, he portrayed Terje Rød-Larsen in the film Oslo (2021). The following year, he acted in the comedy Catherine Called Birdy (2022).

In 2023, Scott starred opposite Paul Mescal in the romantic drama All of Us Strangers. His performance earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama at the 81st Golden Globe Awards. He also starred in Vanya, a one-man production of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, which earned him acclaim.

Scott next starred as Tom Ripley in Ripley, a television series adapted from Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels. For the role, he received nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film.

In June 2025, Scott was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Later that year, he starred as part of an ensemble cast in the murder mystery Wake Up Dead Man, the third film in the Knives Out series.

Personal life

Scott publicly came out as gay in an interview with The Independent in November 2013. Scott was ranked at No. 22 on The Independents Rainbow List 2014, and No. 4 on the newspaper's Pride List for 2024. In 2023, he said that when he first started out as an actor, people had encouraged him not to disclose his sexual orientation.

Scott worked with the charity IdeasTap, mentoring young actors and helping them to start their careers,

Acting credits

Film

Television

Music video appearances

Theatre

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Andrew Scott

Scott has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA TV Award, two Laurence Olivier Awards, a Critics' Choice Television Award, and a British Independent Film Award as well as nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.

References

References

1. (21 October 2022). "Famous birthdays for Oct. 21: Judge Judy, Andrew Scott". [[United Press International]].
2. (21 October 2022). "Today's famous birthdays list for October 21, 2022 includes celebrities Kim Kardashian, Doja Cat".
3. "BAFTA Television in 2012". BAFTA.
4. "Golden Globe Awards - Winners & Nominees 2020". HFPA.
5. "Critics' Choice Awards". Critics' Choice Association.
6. "Ripley".
7. "Olivier Awards 2020". Official London Theatre.
8. "Olivier Winners 2005". Official London Theatre.
9. (25 October 2015). "Master villain... Bond star Andrew Scott".
10. (10 September 2023). "Andrew Scott: 'We need a bit more of people not liking things'". [[The Observer]].
11. Milton, Stephen. (11 October 2015). "Life's not all bad". The Sunday Times.
12. (18 October 2015). "Andrew Scott: 'Being in a James Bond film is just really cool, right?'". The Observer.
13. Allfree, Claire. (8 September 2010). "Sherlock actor Andrew Scott: Tenderness is more interesting than blatant sexuality". Metro.
14. (2 April 2014). "Life after Moriarty: Andrew Scott interview". [[Evening Standard]].
15. Gardner, Lyn. (19 May 2006). "Dying City, Royal Court, London". [[The Guardian]].
16. (7 April 2008). "2008 Pulitzer Prizes for Letters, Drama and Music". [[The New York Times]].
17. Brantley, Ben. (1 December 2006). "Battle Zones in Hare Country". [[The New York Times]].
18. Gans, Andrew. (25 April 2007). "73rd Annual Drama League Award Nominees Announced". Playbill.
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20. Dargis, Manohla. (28 April 2010). "Movie Review – Anton Chekhov's The Duel – Summer's Heat Breeds Love, Loathing and Darwinian Competition". The New York Times.
21. (15 November 2013). "'Sherlock has changed my whole career': Andrew Scott interview".
22. Billington, Michael. (15 June 2011). "Emperor and Galilean – review". The Guardian.
23. (7 February 2014). "National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage ~ Ten Tales, Play by Play | Great Performances". PBS.
24. Billington, Michael. (13 March 2014). "Birdland review – Ceaselessly inventive critique of rock stardom". The Guardian.
25. (10 April 2014). "Birdland (Royal Court) – Reviews".
26. Genzlinger, Neil. (9 March 2017). "Review: In 'This Beautiful Fantastic,' a Gardener Blooms". The New York Times.
27. "Olivier Awards 2018".
28. Clapp, Susannah. (5 March 2017). "Hamlet review – Andrew Scott is a truly sweet prince". The Observer.
29. Kellaway, Kate. (25 June 2017). "Hamlet review – an all-consuming marvel". The Observer.
30. (March 2017). "Hamlet review – Andrew Scott is a charming prince in a chic yet dotty show".
31. (1 April 2018). "Viewers were blown away by Andrew Scott's "captivating, truthful and heartbreaking" Hamlet performance".
32. (7 August 2023). "Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott Lead Andrew Haigh's Ghostly Drama 'All of Us Strangers' — First Look".
33. (11 December 2023). "Golden Globes 2024: Full Nominations List".
34. Akbar, Arifa. (22 September 2023). "Vanya review – Andrew Scott excels in one-man Chekhov". The Guardian.
35. O'Connell, Michael. (25 September 2019). "Andrew Scott to Play ''Talented Mr. Ripley'' in Showtime Series". Eldridge Industries.
36. (25 September 2019). "Showtime Orders Drama Series ''Ripley'' with Andrew Scott in Title Role". Showtime Press Express.
37. Reddish, David. (26 September 2019). "Out actor Andrew Scott, ''Fleabag''{{'s}} hot priest, to play Tom Ripley for Showtime".
38. (17 July 2024). "Emmy Nominations 2024: The Complete List".
39. (9 December 2024). "2025 Golden Globes nominations revealed: See the full list of nominees".
40. (26 June 2025). "The Academy Invites 534 To Membership".
41. "Meet the Cast of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery". Netflix Tudum.
42. Rampton, James. (15 November 2013). "Sherlock has changed my whole career': Andrew Scott interview".
43. (9 November 2014). "Rainbow List 2014, 1 to 101". [[The Independent]].
44. (11 November 2023). "Fleabag's Andrew Scott was "encouraged" to keep his sexuality private".
45. (6 February 2013). "Andrew Scott for new Channel 4 drama". RTÉ Ten.
46. Clement, Olivia. (2017-08-15). "BBC to Broadcast Hamlet, Starring Andrew Scott".
47. (15 July 2020). "Phoebe Waller-Bridge wants you to know she never called Andrew Scott the Hot Priest". NME.
48. (24 August 2018). "Andrew Scott joins BBC comedy Fleabag". [[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]].
49. "The Dazzle review – some of the best acting in London | Stage". [[The Guardian]].
50. (4 April 2015). "Letters Live: Epistolary Joy At Freemasons' Hall".
51. (11 December 2013). "BBC Sherlock star, X Files actor and a host of other celebrities perform at charity event for the Reading Agency".
52. (30 May 2014). "Letters Live at Hay Festival".
53. (March 2017). "Review – Hamlet – Live Theatre UK".
54. "Review – Auditorium – Hamlet Review".
55. (21 July 2020). "Andrew Scott to star in live-streamed play Three Kings at the Old Vic".
56. (26 September 2024). "Andrew Scott to star in 'Vanya' off Broadway this spring.".