Dominic Cooper

Early life and education

Cooper was born and brought up in Greenwich, London, the son of Julie (née Heron), a nursery school teacher, and Brian Cooper, an auctioneer. He has two brothers, Simon and Nathan, a musician in the band The Modern, a half-brother, James, and a half-sister, Emma. His maternal great-grandfather was film-enthusiast E. T. Heron, who published The Kinematograph Weekly.

Dominic attended John Ball Primary School in Blackheath, London, followed by Thomas Tallis School in nearby Kidbrooke, then trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in Professional Acting, graduating in 2000.

Career

Cooper first worked in television and film before making his stage debut in Mother Clap's Molly House at the National Theatre in 2001. Cooper was involved in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys, as the character Dakin, from its first reading. He also toured with the production to Broadway, Sydney, Wellington and Hong Kong as well as appearing in the radio and film adaptations of the play. He has had notable roles in the Royal National Theatre's adaptation of the His Dark Materials trilogy where he played the lead character Will Parry, the TV series Down To Earth and Sense & Sensibility.

In 2008, he appeared as Sky in Mamma Mia!, in which he sang several songs. The same year, he appeared opposite Keira Knightley in The Duchess as Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey. He starred in films An Education and Freefall in 2009 and also played Hippolytus in Phèdre at the National Theatre alongside Helen Mirren and Margaret Tyzack.

In 2010, he played rock drummer Ben in the film Tamara Drewe, and in 2011 played the leading roles of Latif Yahia and Uday Hussein, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's son in the biographical film The Devil's Double, which was critically acclaimed but criticised for whitewashing, and portrayed Milton H. Greene in My Week with Marilyn. 2011 was also the year Cooper first appeared as Howard Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Initially appearing in the film Captain America: The First Avenger, he reprised his role in the Marvel One-Shot Agent Carter two years later, and in the television series of the same name in 2015 and 2016.

In 2012, he appeared as vampire Henry Sturges in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Around this time, he was cast in the lead role in the unproduced Albert Hughes project Motor City based on the Black Listed script of the same name. In February 2012, he signed on to replace Clive Owen the financial thriller Cities, ultimately leaving Motor City. Cities was cancelled after production delays.

In 2014, he portrayed the main antagonist in two films: Dino Brewster in Need for Speed and Mehmed in Dracula Untold. Cooper depicted James Bond author Ian Fleming in the television mini-series Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond in 2014. The next year, he appeared in two films, Miss You Already and The Lady in the Van, a film by Nicholas Hytner, who had previously directed him in the stage adaptation of His Dark Materials and both theatrical and film versions of The History Boys.

Cooper played Jesse Custer, the lead role in AMC's Preacher; the programme debuted in May 2016. He co-starred in the Warcraft film adaptation, which was released in June 2016. In late 2016, he starred in a well-received West End revival of Stephen Jeffreys' 1994 play, The Libertine at the Haymarket Theatre; he played John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, the role originated on stage by John Malkovich and played by Johnny Depp in the 2004 film.

Cooper reprised his role of Sky in 2018's sequel film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Personal life

Cooper shared a flat with James Corden, his co-star in The History Boys and Starter for 10, until Corden started a family with his wife, Julia Carey. Cooper was responsible for introducing Corden to Julia, whom he had known for years and who was working at Save the Children when he and Corden called in one night. He is also the godfather of Corden's first child, Max.

Cooper dated his Mamma Mia! co-star Amanda Seyfried on and off from 2008 to 2009. From 2010 to 2016, he was in a relationship with Irish actress Ruth Negga. They first met in 2009 on the set of the National Theatre's production of Phèdre, and starred opposite each other in other projects including the 2011 short film Hello Carter, the 2016 film Warcraft, and AMC's Preacher (2016–2019). They lived together in London's Primrose Hill. Despite breaking up in 2016, the press first reported the split in April 2018. Cooper has been in a relationship with actress Gemma Chan since 2018.

Politics

In August 2014, he was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September's referendum on that issue. In 2023, he signed the Artists4Ceasefire's open letter to President Joe Biden calling for an immediate ceasefire during the Gaza war.

Filmography

Film

Television

Radio

Theatre credits

Awards and recognition

References

References

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3. Higgins, Charlotte. (12 February 2011). "Dominic Cooper leaves Mamma Mia! far behind to play Saddam's son". [[The Guardian]].
4. Mottram, James. (14 October 2013). "Interview: Dominic Cooper – 'I nearly broke Ronnie Wood's shoulder'". The Independent.
5. Das, Lina. (8 October 2009). "Super Cooper: Dominic Cooper's Hollywood education". [[London Evening Standard]].
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10. (14 November 2006). "The History Boys The Film". Faber & Faber.
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13. (9 March 2006). "The History Boys". The Sydney Morning Herald.
14. "Nick Hytner's history boys". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
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17. "Dominic Cooper Moves to the 'Cities'". MTV News.
18. Walden, Celia. (13 June 2012). "Dominic Cooper: "There's too much gravitas given to people who dress up in frocks and dance around"". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
19. Foundas, Scott. (30 September 2014). "Film Review: 'Dracula Untold'". [[Variety (magazine).
20. Barraclough, Leo. (24 September 2014). "First Look: Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette Shoot 'Miss You Already' (EXCLUSIVE)". [[Variety (magazine).
21. (17 April 2015). "Preacher: Dominic Cooper is Jesse Custer – IGN".
22. Collura, Scott. (4 December 2013). "Ben Foster and Dominic Cooper Head for Warcraft".
23. Billington, Michael. (27 September 2016). "''The Libertine'' review – Dominic Cooper is riveting as rakish hero". [[The Guardian]].
24. Cadwalladr, Carole. (7 August 2011). "Dominic Cooper: the devil inside". The Guardian.
25. The Late Late Show with James Corden. (17 May 2016). "Kristin Chenoweth Forgives You".
26. (19 August 2016). "Dominic Cooper on James Corden: "I knew the first day I met him...", John Malkovich, Dominic Cooper, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and a Strictly Come Dancing announcement, The Chris Evans Breakfast Show – BBC Radio 2".
27. Notaro, Vicki. (23 May 2016). "How Oscar-tipped Ruth Negga's star has finally ascended...". [[Irish Independent]].
28. McBride, Caitlin. (8 June 2016). "Irish actress Ruth Negga and Dominic Cooper make rare public appearance at Warcraft premiere". [[Irish Independent]].
29. "Loving Star Ruth Negga on Biracial Politics: "I Get Very Territorial About My Identity"". Vogue.
30. (8 August 2018). "Ruth Negga Talks Diversity, Hamlet And Her Split From Dominic Cooper". Marie Claire.
31. Marcus, Emily. (5 April 2018). "Dominic Cooper and Ruth Negga Split After 8 Years Together".
32. (5 August 2021). ""The Industry Has Shifted. Changing The Culture Takes Longer": Gemma Chan Is Finally Taking The Lead".
33. (7 August 2014). "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories". The Guardian.
34. Keslassy, Elsa. (19 September 2023). "Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon Star in Irish Period Drama 'Cry From The Sea' (Exclusive)".
35. (12 February 2021). "DNA Family Secrets".
36. "Hear ye, Hear ye! Prime Video Unveils Additional Casting for My Lady Jane".
37. "Suspect unveils first look at season 2 as Dominic Cooper joins cast | Radio Times".
38. "Dominic Cooper And Romola Garai Lead Cast In Itv’s Provocative Love Story Adultery, Written And Created By Danny Brocklehurst".
39. (24 October 2006). "Winners Nominations · BIFA · British Independent Film Awards".
40. "2006 – Drama Desk Awards – Nominations".
41. Dawtrey, Adam. (15 December 2006). "London critics favor 'Queen'". Variety.