Russell Tovey | |
|---|---|
 Tovey in 2025 | |
| Born | (1981-11-14)14 November 1981 (age 44) Billericay, Essex, England |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
Russell George Tovey (born 14 November 1981)[1] is a British actor.[2] He is best known for playing the role ofwerewolfGeorge Sands in theBBC's supernatural comedy-dramaBeing Human,[3] Rudge in both the stage and film versions ofThe History Boys, Steve in the BBC Three sitcomHim & Her, Kevin Matheson in theHBO original seriesLooking and its subsequent series finale television filmLooking: The Movie, and Patrick Read inAmerican Horror Story: NYC.
Tovey was born on 14 November 1981 inBillericay, Essex.[4][5] He is the younger of two sons of Carole (née Webb) and George Tovey, who ran a Romford-basedcoach service taking passengers from Essex toGatwick Airport. Tovey has an older brother, Daniel.[6] He attended Harold Court School inHarold Wood andShenfield High School.
Tovey noted that as a boy he "was an avid collector of various things and prone to participating in fads."[5] His parents supported his efforts, taking him to archaeological digs and museums, buying him ametal detector and going to conventions for mineralogists.[5] For a time he wanted to be a history teacher,[5] but after seeingDead Poets Society,The Goonies, andStand By Me he decided to be an actor.[5] For a time during his teens he worked as a kitchen assistant in Billericay's King's Head pub.
Tovey began his career as a child actor. He joined a local drama club and garnered the attention of a talent agent.[4] He worked from the age of 11 and missed so much school that his father suggested he should cut back, but his mother persuaded his father to let their son continue.[5] His TV career started in 1994, when he was cast inMud, a children's series broadcast onCBBC.[4]
He left secondary school at the age of 16 and started aBTEC in performing arts atBarking College. He was expelled after a year for refusing a role in the school play in favour of a paying acting job. He acted in plays inChichester under the direction ofDebra Gillett, wife ofPatrick Marber.[4] He met Marber through Gillett, and Marber cast him in the playHoward Katz at the National Theatre.[4] He also performed inHis Girl Friday andHis Dark Materials there.[4]
In 2004, he took the role of Rudge inAlan Bennett's playThe History Boys at theRoyal National Theatre as well as touring toBroadway,Sydney,Wellington and Hong Kong and playing the role in the radio and film adaptations.[7][8][9][10] He originally auditioned for the role of Crowther but agreed to act the part of Rudge after Bennett promised to beef up the role.[5] Insecure because he had not attended drama school as many of his peers had, he enrolled in numerous workshops and readings offered by the National Theatre.[5]
In spring 2007, Tovey had a recurring role inBBC Three comedyRob Brydon's Annually Retentive, playing Rob's producer, Ben.[5] He played Midshipman Alonso Frame, in 2007Doctor Who Christmas Special "Voyage of the Damned".[5]Russell T. Davies, the show's executive producer and lead writer, had suggested Tovey as a future replacement forDavid Tennant,[11] before it was announced that the Eleventh Doctor would be played byMatt Smith. Tovey reprised his role asMidshipman Alonso Frame in the 2009-10Doctor Who Christmas special, "The End of Time".
Tovey playedwerewolfGeorge Sands, one of three supernatural housemates in the dramaBeing Human.[12] The pilot premiered on BBC Three on 18 February 2008.[13] A six-part series was commissioned with the first episode broadcast on 25 January 2009.[14] Tovey left the regular cast of the show at the start of the fourth season on 5 February 2012.[15] In November 2012 AudioGO Ltd released anaudiobook version ofMark Michalowski'sBeing Human tie-in novelChasers, which is narrated by Tovey.[16]
In a 2008 interview inAttitude, Tovey expressed his desire to play darker roles: "really dark, fucked-up characters... likedrag queens,rent boys, someone who has been abused, a rapist", though noting that he does not consider himself "fucked-up".[17]
In March 2009, the actor played a leading role inA Miracle at theRoyal Court Theatre as Gary Trudgill, a British soldier returning toNorfolk from abroad.[18][19] On 8 March 2009 he presented the Award for Best Actress toMargaret Tyzack for her performance inThe Chalk Garden at theLaurence Olivier Awards inGrosvenor House.[20][21]
In 2009, Tovey worked on the filmHuge[22] and starred in two television pilots:Young, Unemployed and Lazy (a BBC Three sitcom),[23] renamed toHim & Her[24] in 2010, andThe Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (part ofComedy Showcase), a Channel 4 comedy withSpike Jonze andWill Arnett, written byDavid Cross andShaun Pye.[25][26]
He also appeared inshorts:
In 2011, he became the voice over/narrator for the BBC Three showSun, Sex and Suspicious Parents and its spinoffs, which ran for five series up to July 2015. Tovey narrated every episode aired.
Tovey played Budgie, one of Gavin's friends, in the BBC comedy-dramaGavin & Stacey. In January 2012, he appeared in the British crime dramaSherlock, playing Henry Knight in the episode "The Hounds of Baskerville". He had a lead role in theITV sitcomThe Job Lot which aired in 2013 and is set in a busy unemployment bureau in the West Midlands.[29]
In 2013, Tovey signed on to appear in the American television seriesLooking, about a group of gay friends living inSan Francisco area.[30] Its 8-episode first season broadcast onHBO in 2014. Tovey was promoted to series regular for the second season.[31]
In 2015, Tovey starred inBanished, a historical drama series written byJimmy McGovern about a group of British convicts in Australia in the 18th century.[32]
Also in 2015, Tovey made his first of many live appearances for arts and entertainment companyPin Drop Studio, reading a short story to an audience followed by an interview by Simon Oldfield.
In 2016, Tovey was cast in theABC network thriller dramaQuantico for the series regular role of Harry Doyle.[33]
In April 2017, Tovey returned to the Royal National Theatre to appear in Marianne Elliot's revival of theTony Kushner playAngels in America, oppositeAndrew Garfield andNathan Lane.[34]
In September 2017, it was revealed that Tovey would be voicingRay Terrill / The Ray, a reporter who gains light-based powers after being exposed to a genetic light bomb, in the animated web seriesFreedom Fighters: The Ray onCW Seed. Tovey appeared in "Crisis on Earth-X", theArrowverse crossover event betweenSupergirl,Arrow,The Flash andLegends of Tomorrow.[35][36]
In 2019, Tovey co-starred in an ensemble cast on the showYears and Years, and appeared withHelen Mirren andIan McKellen in the drama filmThe Good Liar.[37]
Tovey was awarded the Culture Award at the ninth annualVirgin AtlanticAttitude Awards.[38]
It was announced in 2021 that Tovey had been cast inAllelujah, a film adaptation ofAlan Bennett'splay of the same name.[39]
The following year, in 2022, Tovey started a role as Patrick Read inAmerican Horror Story: NYC.
In 2024, Tovey starred as John O'Shea,Truman Capote's on-again-off-again lover, in FX's anthology seriesFeud: Capote vs. The Swans.[40][41][42]
In July 2024, it was announced that Tovey will return to theDoctor Who universe as a new character in the spin-off seriesThe War Between the Land and the Sea.[43]
Tovey is also an author, playwright and screenwriter. He has written three plays (all unperformed as of August 2010), and one of his short stories was published in women's magazineCompany.[6] He also wrote a short film,Victor, and as of August 2010 was seeking funding to produce the picture.[6]
In 2021, he published, with his friendRobert Diament, the bookTalk Art.[44]
Tovey presents the podcastTalk Art alongside Robert Diament. The podcast is about the contemporary art world featuring interviews with artists such asMarina Abramović,Roberta Smith, andAi Weiwei.[45]
Russel Tovey appeared as a guest judge on Season 3, Episode 8 of the hit TV show, RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
Tovey collects contemporary art, which he got into at the age of 21 when his parents bought him aTracey Emin print that he admired, calledDog Brains.[46] Aside from several works by Emin, his collection now also includes works byWolfgang Tillmans,Jamian Juliano Villani,Shannon Ebner,Rebecca Warren,Joyce Pensato,Amoako Boafo,Walter Price,Louis Fratino,Doron Langberg,Carmen Herrera,Rose Wylie,Toyin Ojih Odutola,Lisa Brice andMatias Faldbakken among others.[46][47] Although he has been buying art since he was in his 20s, he considers himself to have been "properly collecting" since about 2010, with his collection now consisting of over 300 works of art.[47] Tovey is passionate about supporting emerging and mid-career artists with his collecting.[48]
Since 2018, Tovey has hosted a podcast calledTalk Art with his friend, the gallerist Robert Diament ofCarl Freedman gallery, in which the pair talk to their favourite artists, curators and art enthusiasts.[49] In the over 120 episodes, guests have includedRyan Gander,Judy Chicago,Roberta Smith,Ai Weiwei,Marina Abromovic, Rose Wylie,Anthony Cudahy and Ian Lewandowski,Zawe Ashton,Jenna Gribbon,Math Bass,Oscar yi Hou,Doron Langberg,Sharon Stone,Gus Van Sant,Nash Glynn,Hans Ulrich Obrist, and many more.[50]
In 2019, Tovey guest curated Margate Now, an arts festival based inMargate.[48] He has since curated a number of exhibitions for various galleries, as well as a contemporary art auction forSotheby's.[51][52][53][54]
Tovey was part of the jury of the 2021Turner Prize.[55]
Tovey was appointed the 2022 patron for theArt UK charity.[56]
Tovey isgay. During his adolescent years, his family had difficulty accepting hissexual orientation.[17] Although he says hecame out to himself when he was 15 or 16, he came out to his parents when he was 18. Tovey and his father subsequently had a serious disagreement, with his father suggesting that, had he known earlier, he would have asked Tovey totake hormones or undergo some other medical treatment to "fix the problem". Tovey says his parents were deeply concerned about the possibility he might contract HIV, which might have contributed to the disagreement. The birth of Tovey's nephew Nathan in October 2004 helped them mend their relationship.[5]
From 2016, Tovey was in a relationship with rugby player and coach Steve Brockman.[57] In March 2018, Tovey revealed the pair were engaged to be married,[58] however, by June 2018, he confirmed they had split up.[59] They reunited,[60] but by 2023, it appeared they had broken up again.[61]
In 2015, Tovey was the subject of public criticism from theLGBT+ press regarding comments he made about effeminate gay men.[62] In his interview with Tom Lamont ofThe Observer the actor stated that his schooling made him feel as though he "had to toughen up", going on to say "If I'd have been able to relax, prance around and sing in the street, I might be a different person now."[63] Much of the criticism centred on what was perceived to be a passive criticism of effeminate gay men, with Tovey saying that "I thank my dad for that, for not allowing me to go down the path."[63] Tovey later apologised for the remarks and suggested they did not reflect his views.[62]
In November 2025, Tovey announced he had become a member of theGreen Party of England and Wales.[64]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Emperor's New Clothes | Recruit | |
| 2006 | The History Boys | Peter Rudge | |
| 2009 | In Passing | Henry Travers | Short film |
| 2010 | Huge | Carl | |
| 2012 | Grabbers | Adam Smith | |
| The Pirates! Band of Misfits | The Albino Pirate | Voice (UK version) | |
| Tower Block | Paul | ||
| 2014 | Effie Gray | George | |
| Muppets Most Wanted | Delivery Man | ||
| Blackwood | Jack | ||
| Pride | Tim | ||
| Moomins on the Riviera | Moomintroll | Voice | |
| 2015 | Stick Man | Dog | |
| The Lady in the Van | Young Man with Earring | ||
| 2016 | The Pass | Jason | |
| Mindhorn | Paul Melly | ||
| 2017 | The Hippopotamus | Rupert Keynes | |
| 2018 | Hymn of Hate | Sergeant George May | Short film |
| 2019 | The Good Liar | Steven | |
| 2022 | Allelujah | Colin Colman | |
| 2023 | Night of the Lotus | Charlie | In post-production |
| Love Again | Billy Brooks | ||
| 2025 | Plainclothes | Andrew | [65] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Mud | Bill Bailey | All episodes |
| 1996 | Spywatch | Dennis Sealey | |
| 1998 | The Mrs Bradley Mysteries | Stable Boy | Episode: "Speedy Death" |
| 2000 | Hope and Glory | Gary Bailey | Episode2.2 |
| 2001 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Lionel Marshall | Episode: "Evil Under the Sun" |
| The Bill | Tyro Shaw | 2 episodes | |
| Holby City | Jerome Hibbert | Episode: "Borrowed Time" | |
| 2002 | Ultimate Force | Weasel | Episode: "The Killing House" |
| Silent Witness | Josh Palmer | Episode: "Kith and Kill" (2 parts) | |
| The Bill | Kieran Elcott | Episode: "068" | |
| 2003 | William and Mary | Aaron Patterson | Episode 4 |
| Servants | John Walters | ||
| 2005 | Holby City | Adam Spengler | Episode: "Soft Centred" |
| Messiah IV: The Harrowing | Robbie McManus | 3 episodes | |
| My Family and Other Animals | Leslie Durrell | Television film | |
| 2007–2009, 2024 | Gavin & Stacey | Budgie | 5 episodes |
| 2007 | Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive | Ben | 5 episodes |
| 2007, 2010 | Doctor Who | Midshipman Alonso Frame | 2 episodes: "Voyage of the Damned" and "The End of Time: Part Two" |
| 2008–2012 | Being Human | George Sands | 24 episodes |
| 2008 | Ashes to Ashes | Marcus Johnstone | Episode: "Episode 5" |
| Mutual Friends | Estate Agent | Episode 5 | |
| Little Dorrit | John Chivery | 10 episodes | |
| 2009 | Agatha Christie's Marple | PC Terence Reed | Episode: "Murder is Easy" |
| The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret | Dave | Pilot Only | |
| 2010–2013 | Him & Her | Steve Marshall | 25 episodes |
| 2010–2011 | Doctor Who Confidential | Narrator | 14 episodes |
| 2011–2015 | Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents | Narrator | |
| 2012 | Sherlock | Henry Knight | Episode: "The Hounds of Baskerville" |
| 2013 | Talking to the Dead | DS Huw Brydon | 2 episodes |
| The Dog Rescuers | Narrator | 10 episodes | |
| What Remains | Michael Jenson | 4 episodes | |
| 2013–2015 | The Job Lot | Karl Lyndhurst | 18 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | Looking | Kevin Matheson | 15 episodes |
| 2015 | Drunk History | King Charles II | Episode 6 |
| Banished | James Freeman | 7 episodes | |
| 2016 | Looking: The Movie | Kevin Matheson | Television film |
| The Comic Strip Presents... Red Top | Andy Coulson | Television film | |
| The Night Manager | Simon Ogilvey | Episode 1 | |
| 2016–2018 | Quantico | Harry Doyle | Series regular |
| 2018 | Shane the Chef | Shane | All episodes |
| 2017 | Queers: More Anger | Phil | BBC4 TV monologue |
| The Flash | Ray Terrill / The Ray | Episode: "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3" | |
| Legends of Tomorrow | Episode: "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4" | ||
| 2019 | The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C | Himself | Channel 4's Great British Bake Off Special for Stand Up To Cancer – Series 2, Episode 2 |
| Years and Years | Daniel Lyons | Main role (4 episodes) Nominated —Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries | |
| Supergirl | Ray Terrill / The Ray | Uncredited; Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 1" | |
| 2020 | Flesh and Blood | Jake | 4 episodes |
| The Sister | Nathan | ||
| 2021 | RuPaul's Drag Race UK | Himself | Guest judge |
| 2022 | American Horror Story: NYC | Patrick Read | Main role (10 episodes) |
| 2023–present | Juice | Guy | 12 episodes[66] |
| 2024 | Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans | John O'Shea | 3 episodes |
| 2025 | Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes | Brian Paddick | 4 episodes |
| 2025 | The War Between the Land and the Sea† | Barclay | Lead role; 5 episodes[43] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–2018 | Freedom Fighters: The Ray | Ray Terrill / The Ray | Animated series |
| 2021 | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Basil Hallward | Online production |
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Recruiting Officer | Chichester Festival Theatre | Chichester | |
| 2001 | Howard Katz | Cottesloe Theatre,Royal National Theatre | London[67] | |
| 2002 | Plasticine | Spira / Boy Having Sex | Royal Court Theatre | London[68] |
| 2003 | Henry V | Boy | Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre | London[69] |
| His Girl Friday | Ralph Sweeney | London[70] | ||
| 2003–2004 | His Dark Materials | Roger Parslow | London[71] | |
| 2004–2006 | The History Boys | Peter Rudge | Lyttleton Theatre, Royal National Theatre | London |
| 2005 | The Laramie Project | Gil Engen | Sound Theatre | |
| 2005–2006 | Hergé's Adventures of Tintin | Tintin | Barbican Arts Centre | London[72] |
| 2006 | The History Boys | Peter Rudge | Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts | Hong Kong |
| St James | Wellington | |||
| Sydney Theatre | Sydney | |||
| Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway | New York | |||
| 2007 | A Respectable Wedding | The Bridegroom | Young Vic | London[73] |
| 2008 | The Sea | Billy Hallercut | Theatre Royal Haymarket | London[74] |
| 2009 | A Miracle | Gary Trudgill | Royal Court Theatre | London[19] |
| 2012 | Sex With a Stranger | Adam | Trafalgar Studios | London |
| 2014 | The Pass | Jason | Royal Court Theatre | |
| 2015 | A View from the Bridge | Rodolpho | Lyceum Theatre | New York[75] |
| 2017 | Angels in America | Joe Pitt | Lyttelton Theatre,Royal National Theatre | London |
| 2018 | The Lover /The Collection | The Milkman / Bill | Harold Pinter Theatre | |
| 2020 | Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? | Nick | Booth Theatre, Broadway | New York |
| 2021 | Constellations | Roland | Vaudeville Theatre | London |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The History Boys | Peter Rudge |
| 2007 | Rubbish | Dan |
| 2009 | The Government Inspector | Gendarme |
| The Admirable Crichton[76] | Crichton | |
| Newfangle[77] | Newfangle | |
| Last Night, Another Soldier[78] | Briggsy | |
| The Richest Man in Britain[79] | Dom | |
| 2011 | Countrysides | Simon |
Tovey has read several books for audio, notably a 2017 performance ofThe Picture of Dorian Gray. He is the narrator for the 20th anniversary edition audiobook ofNick Hornby'sHigh Fidelity, released in 2015. Also, since 2016, he is the reader for audiobooks ofLiz Pichon'sTom Gates book series, starting from book 10,Super Good Skills (Almost...), taking over fromRupert Grint.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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