Dominic West | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) West in 2011 | |
| Born | Dominic Gerard Francis Eagleton West (1969-10-15)15 October 1969 (age 56) Sheffield, England |
| Education | Trinity College Dublin (MA) Guildhall School of Music and Drama (MA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Thomas Eagleton (cousin) |
Dominic Gerard Francis Eagleton West (born 15 October 1969) is an English actor, director, producer, and musician. He is best known for playingJimmy McNulty inHBO'sThe Wire (2002–08), Noah Solloway inShowtime'sThe Affair (2014–19), the latter of which he was nominated for aGolden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama,[2]Ebenezer Scrooge's nephew Fred inA Christmas Carol (1999), andCharles, Prince of Wales, inThe Crown (2022–23), the latter of which he was nominated for anotherGolden Globe Award and aPrimetime Emmy Award.
West made his television debut in 1998BBCmedical dramaOut of Hours before appearing in the television filmsA Christmas Carol,28 Days withSandra Bullock in 2000, andNicholas Nickleby (2001). His breakthrough came with the role of Detective Jimmy McNulty in the seriesThe Wire. He then starred in BBC seriesThe Hour (2011–2012) earning a Golden Globe Award nomination. He received aBAFTA Award for his performance as the serial killerFred West in theITV dramaAppropriate Adult (2011) and a nomination for his portrayal asRichard Burton inBBC Four'sBurton & Taylor (2013).[3] He playedJean Valjean in the 2018 BBC miniseriesLes Misérables. He has since starred in theNetflix seriesStateless (2020), and theAmazon StudiosThe Pursuit of Love (2021). West is currently playing the role of Dr Chris Cox in theSky One seriesBrassic (2019–present).
His film debut came with his portrayal ofHenry, Earl of Richmond inIan McKellen's adaptation ofRichard III (1995). He has since appeared in28 Days (2000),Chicago (2002),Mona Lisa Smile (2003),300 (2007),Punisher: War Zone (2008),Johnny English Reborn (2011),John Carter (2012),Pride (2014),Testament of Youth (2014),Money Monster (2016),Genius (2016),The Square (2017),Tomb Raider (2018),Colette (2018),Downton Abbey: A New Era andDownton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025).
Dominic Gerard Francis Eagleton West[4] was born on 15 October 1969[5] inSheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire (now South Yorkshire). He is the sixth of seven siblings (five girls and two boys) born into a family ofIrish descent; his maternal grandparents were born in Ireland, while his paternal grandmother wasIrish-American.[6][7] His mother, Pauline Mary (née Cleary), was an actress, and his father, Thomas (George) Eagleton West, owned a plastics factory.[8] He is the first cousin once removed of American politicianThomas Eagleton.[a][9][10] West attendedEton College. He has been unenthusiastic about the career benefits of being an Old Etonian, saying it "is a stigma that is slightly above 'paedophile' in the media in a gallery of infamy",[11] but asked whether he would consider sending his own children there, said "Yes, I would. It's an extraordinary place. [...] It has the facilities and the excellence of teaching and it will find what you're good at and nurture it".[12] Following agap year during which he spent four months working as a cattle herder in Argentina, he studiedEnglish literature atTrinity College Dublin, graduating in 1993, andpromoted per tradition to an MA.[8][13] He graduated from theGuildhall School of Music and Drama in 1995.[14]
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West's screen appearances includeTrue Blue,Chicago,Richard III, andMona Lisa Smile. His most notable television role has been starring inThe Wire as Baltimore police detectiveJimmy McNulty. West was praised for the accuracy of his character's American accent.[15][16] His debut as a director was while being onThe Wire; he directed the episode "Took" (2008).[17] West starred asLysander in the1999 film version ofWilliam Shakespeare'sA Midsummer Night's Dream. That same year, he appeared as Fred inA Christmas Carol. In feature films, he portrayed theheavy metal guitarist Kirk Cuddy in the 2001 filmRock Star.[18] West played Fred Casely in the 2002 filmChicago.
In 2006 West played theSpartan politician Theron in300 and made a guest appearance as an actor in a sketch inThe Catherine Tate Show, alongside "Frankie Howerd impressionist". In 2007 he played Detective Poppil inHannibal Rising. West played the disfigured supervillainJigsaw in the 2008 filmMarvel'sPunisher: War Zone. In 2010 he had a role as General Virilus inNeil Marshall's adventure thrillerCenturion.[19] West starred in the UK ghost film,The Awakening.[20] West has done other work on TV and radio. He appeared in the role ofOliver Cromwell in theChannel 4 seriesThe Devil's Whore. He also performed as "Dr. West", the opening track onEminem's 2009 albumRelapse, as a doctor discharging Eminem from a rehab facility. West played the part over the phone in January 2009 while Eminem was recording it in a Miami studio.[21]
In December 2009, West starred as Hank in a radio adaptation ofEugene O'Neill's playThe Hairy Ape forBBC Radio 3,[22] was a guest presenter on the BBC showHave I Got News for You, and ended the year alongsideJoan Rivers andSarah Jessica Parker with an appearance onGraham Norton's New Year's Eve Show.[23] In 2011, West appeared as a news presenter on theBBC period drama seriesThe Hour. He also played serial killerFred West in the ITV two-part seriesAppropriate Adult, giving a performance that the serial killer's daughter described as capturing the "evil essence of [Fred West] – his character, his mannerisms, even his gait."[24]
In 2012, West was offered the role ofMance Rayder in theHBO fantasy seriesGame of Thrones, but turned it down due to the amount of time he would have to spend away from his family.[25] He played gay activistJonathan Blake in the 2014 filmPride about the1984–1985 UK miners' strike. West starred as Noah Solloway on Showtime's seriesThe Affair, which premiered October 2014. The series was renewed for a fifth season in 2018.[18]
In 2018 it was reported that West was represented by Tavistock Wood Management.[26] That year he appeared inColette as the eponymous writer's husband,Willy.[27] In 2019, West played the role ofJean Valjean in the BBC'sadaptation ofVictor Hugo's novelLes Misérables.[28] Also in 2019, West appeared inSky One's seriesBrassic, in the recurring role of Dr. Chris Cox.[29] In October 2020, West entered negotiations to playCharles, Prince of Wales in the final two seasons ofThe Crown.[30] His casting was confirmed in April 2021.[31][32] That same month, West joined the cast of the 2022 filmDownton Abbey: A New Era.[33]
As a theatre actor, West has played Edward inHarley Granville Barker'sThe Voysey Inheritance directed byPeter Gill at theRoyal National Theatre in 2006.[34] Around 2009, he starred at London'sDonmar Warehouse as the protagonist inHelen Edmundson's adaptation ofPedro Calderón de la Barca's existential dramaLife Is a Dream, for which he received glowing reviews.[35]
He took the title role inSimon Gray's classic comedy,Butley, playing at theDuchess Theatre in London from 1 June 2011.[36] In the September he returned to his nativeSheffield to playIago to his formerWire co-starClarke Peters'sOthello at theCrucible Theatre.[37]
In September to October 2012, he starred inJez Butterworth'sThe River at the Royal Court Theatre in London withMiranda Raison andLaura Donnelly.[38]
From mid December 2012 to January 2013, West starred as Henry Higgins inMy Fair Lady at theCrucible Theatre inSheffield.[39]
In 2015–16, he starred alongsideJanet McTeer inLes Liaisons Dangereuses at theDonmar Warehouse in London.[40]
In 2024, West played the leading role of Eddie Carbone inA View from the Bridge at the Ustinov Studio, Bath. The production subsequently transferred to theTheatre Royal Haymarket in the West End.[41]
In 2009, West starred in a series of online films known as "The Carte Noire Readers". Made to promote French coffee brand Carte Noire, they consist of actors reading love scenes from a selection of sources and acting through the commitment of justice. West reads extracts fromPride and Prejudice byJane Austen;Lady Chatterley's Lover byD.H. Lawrence;High Fidelity byNick Hornby;The Age of Innocence byEdith Wharton;Life Class byPat Barker;The Moment You Were Gone byNicci Gerrard; andSomething Childish But Very Natural byKatherine Mansfield.[42]
From October 2023, West started appearing as a banker in a series oftelevision advertisements forNationwide.[43][44]
West is a supporter of care charityHelen's Trust in response to their assistance to his mother prior to her death.[45]
He led Team Canada/Australia forWalking With The Wounded, a fundraising event for wounded soldiers. He trekked to theSouth Pole against Team UK (led byPrince Harry) and Team America (led byAlexander Skarsgård). A few days into the trek, it was decided that the competition part of the race would be cancelled due to hazardous terrain and weather conditions, so the teams combined forces and continued. Alongside Harry, Skarsgård and several wounded soldiers, West successfully made it to the South Pole on 13 December 2013.[46]
In 1998, West and his girlfriend, Polly Astor (daughter ofMichael Astor), had a daughter named Martha.[47][48] Years later, West rekindled his romance withCatherine FitzGerald,[49] whom he had dated at university. The two married inGlin, County Limerick on 26 June 2010, and have four children together.[50][51][52] The couple have hostedfox hunting at their Glin Castle home.[53] In 2024, West was appointed as the new ambassador of Julian House, aBath based charity that supports vulnerable and at-risk individuals.[54]
In August 2014, West was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter toThe Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September'sreferendum on that issue.[55]
West is a supporter offox hunting, and opposes attempts to ban it in the United Kingdom, stating he doesn't "really get the opposition to fox hunting".[53][56]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3 Joes | Joe Smoker | Short film |
| 1995 | Richard III | Henry, Earl of Richmond | |
| 1996 | True Blue | Donald Macdonald | |
| 1996 | Surviving Picasso | Paulo Picasso | |
| 1996 | E=mc2 | Spike | |
| 1997 | The Gambler | Alexei | |
| 1997 | Diana & Me | Rob Naylor | |
| 1997 | Spice World | Photographer | |
| 1999 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Lysander | |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Jerus Jannick | |
| 2000 | 28 Days | Jasper | |
| 2001 | Rock Star | Kirk Cuddy | |
| 2002 | Ten Minutes Older | Young Man | |
| 2002 | Chicago | Fred Casely | |
| 2003 | Mona Lisa Smile | Bill Dunbar | |
| 2004 | The Forgotten | Ash Correll | |
| 2006 | Stingray | Luther | Short film |
| 2006 | 300 | Theron | |
| 2007 | Hannibal Rising | Inspector Popil | |
| 2008 | Hold On | Delivery Man | Short film |
| 2008 | Punisher: War Zone | Billy Russotti / Jigsaw | |
| 2010 | Centurion | General Titus Flavius Virilus | |
| 2010 | Jackboots on Whitehall | Billy Fiske | Voice |
| 2010 | Words of the Blitz | Sir John Colville | |
| 2010 | From Time to Time | Caxton | |
| 2011 | Johnny English Reborn | Simon Ambrose | |
| 2011 | Arthur Christmas | Lead Elf | Voice |
| 2011 | The Awakening | Robert Mallory | |
| 2012 | John Carter | Sab Than | |
| 2013 | The Girl with the Mechanical Maiden | Inventor | Short film |
| 2013 | Boy Cried Wolf | Hughie | Short film |
| 2014 | Pride | Jonathan Blake | |
| 2014 | Testament of Youth | Mr Brittain | |
| 2016 | Genius | Ernest Hemingway | |
| 2016 | Money Monster | Walt Camby | |
| 2016 | Finding Dory | Rudder | Voice |
| 2017 | The Square | Julian Gijoni | |
| 2018 | Colette | Henry Gauthier-Villars | |
| 2018 | Tomb Raider | Lord Richard Croft | |
| 2022 | Downton Abbey: A New Era | Guy Dexter | |
| 2025 | & Sons | ||
| 2025 | Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale | Guy Dexter | |
| TBA | Wind of Change | Doc McGhee | Filming[59] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Out of Hours | Dr. Paul Featherstone | 6 episodes |
| 1999 | A Christmas Carol | Fred | Television film |
| 2001 | Nicholas Nickleby | Sir Mulberry Hawk | |
| 2002–2008 | The Wire | Detective Jimmy McNulty | 56 episodes |
| 2006 | The Catherine Tate Show | Actor | Episode: "#3.5" |
| 2008 | The Devil's Whore | Oliver Cromwell | 4 episodes |
| 2009 | Breaking the Mould | Howard Florey | Television film |
| 2011 | Appropriate Adult | Fred West | 2 episodes |
| 2011–12 | The Hour | Hector Madden | 12 episodes |
| 2013 | Burton & Taylor | Richard Burton | Television film |
| 2014–19 | The Affair | Noah Solloway | Lead role |
| 2016 | Revolting Rhymes | Wolf / Magic Fairy / Giant | Voices; 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Panorama | Narrator | Voice; Episode: "Germany's New Nazis" |
| 2018–2019 | Les Misérables | Jean Valjean | 6 episodes; also executive producer |
| 2019–present | Brassic | Dr. Chris Cox | 22 episodes |
| 2020 | Stateless | Gordon Masters | 6 episodes |
| 2021 | The Pursuit of Love | Matthew Radlett | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Ten Percent | Himself | Episode #1.3 |
| 2022–23 | The Crown | Charles, Prince of Wales | Main role (Seasons 5–6) |
| 2022–present | SAS: Rogue Heroes | Lieutenant ColonelDudley Clarke | 6 episodes |
| 2024–25 | The Agency | CIA Director | 4 episodes |
over the phone from London in January while Em was in a Miami studio.
