Tobias Menzies, (born 7 March 1974 in London, England), is an British stage, television and film actor, best known for his role as Brutus in the 2005/2007 TV series Rome.
Early years
Tobias attended the distinguished liberal Frensham Heights School near Farnham in Surrey at the same time as Hattie Morahan and Jim Sturgess. He went on to attend Stratford-upon-Avon College's "Year-out" drama course in 1993–94. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1998, and was trained in the Steiner System, which includes movement, singing and musical instrumentation on a daily basis.
Career
Early in his career, Menzies worked with The Spontaneity Shop, the UK's premiere improv comedy company. He began his TV and film career in some of British television's most popular series, including Foyle's War, Midsomer Murders and Casualty. He also appeared in the controversial drama A Very Social Secretary directed by Jon Jones, which launched UK Channel 4's spin-off station, More4. He came to press attention in 2005 when it was confirmed by his agent that he was dating actress Kristin Scott Thomas (they are no longer together).[1]
He is best known to international audiences for his starring role as Marcus Junius Brutus, Julius Caesar's friend and later co-assassin, in the award-winning but short-lived HBO/BBC epic series Rome (2005/2007).
He had a major role in The Low Down with Aidan Gillen, and featured in the 2006 "reboot" of the James Bond film franchise, Casino Royale, as M's aide, Villiers.
He has worked extensively on the stage, with credits including the young teacher Irwin in Alan Bennett's The History Boys (directed at the Royal National Theatre by Nicholas Hytner), and a part in Michael Blakemore's West End production of Three Sisters for which he was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award. Of his role in The History Boys, one notable reviewer wrote:
There is a remarkable performance, too, from Tobias Menzies as the slick supply-teacher historian, who believes academic success is merely a matter of tricks and spin. But Menzies also discovers a surprisingly attractive vulnerability in the character I missed the first time around.
He was also noted for the titular role in Rupert Goold's production of Hamlet, at the Royal Theatre, Northampton to an appreciative critical reception:
One of Shakespeare's greatest innovations was to dramatise people's thought processes: the articulation of the mind's search for meaning and identity. This is where Menzies's performance is most thrilling. He shows how language strives to express the self and to pin down the truth. Who am I? What do I think and feel? Menzies's delivery of the "To be or not to be..." speech burns with intelligence. This is one of the finest and most exciting Hamlets I’ve seen. Observe his face: it seems to mature, grow softer, more observant and expressive, and his death becomes a fulfilment as well as a failure.
The Independent further noted that Menzies, "enjoying his antic disposition ... plays the fool dazzlingly: a stage natural.... He gives it everything, even the fight."
In April 2007 he appeared as William Elliot in ITV's production of Jane Austen's classic, Persuasion, and also played Peter Trifimov in The Cherry Orchard with Joanna Lumley (at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield). The Yorkshire Post said, "The one who burns the brightest is Tobias Menzies as the idealistic perpetual student Trofimov. His performance is breathtaking."
He is due to appearclarify as Derrick Sington in Channel 4's dramatisation of The Relief of Belsen.
Filmography
Television
Theatre
Awards and nominations
- Nominated for the Sunday Times-Royal National Theatre 2003 Ian Charleson Award for his performance as Tusenbach in the Michael Blakemore's production of Three Sisters (yet to win any awards).
References
- ^ Collins, Laura (23 October 2005). "Kristin's marriage turns to a handful of dust". Mail on Sunday. Kensington, West London: Daily Mail and General Trust.
External links
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