British Actors You Should Know: Stephen Dillane
If you’ve been watching PBS’ gripping European crime thriller The Tunnel over the past few weeks you may have found that the actor who plays veteran British detective Karl Roebuck looks a bit familiar. Well, Stephen Dillane may not be a household name in this country but you’re sure to have seen something he’s done on film or TV in the past couple of decades. He’s a Tony, BAFTA and International Emmy Award winner after all.
Let’s take a look at a few of this versatile actor’s past roles, quite a few which happen to be portrayals of actual people and events.
Welcome to Sarajevo. In this 1997 film about foreign correspondents reporting on the war in Bosnia, Dillane plays British journalist Michael Henderson who is based on ITN journalist Michael Nicholson. The story chronicles his dangerous effort to smuggle an orphan girl to safety.
The Cazalets. In this 2001 WWII era period drama, Dillane plays Edward Cazalet, the second son in a large and privileged family. Though charming and entertaining, Edward is a hopeless womanizer not to be trusted as we witness in this chance ncounter with Diana Mackintosh (Anna Chancellor).
The Hours . This Oscar-winning film from 2002 features Mr. Dillane as Leonard Woolf, the dedicated and concerned husband of author Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman). He's a man who has done everything he can think of to keep his wife safe from the violence of her own mental illness, yet loves her too much to deny her the freedom to live her life the way she chooses.
The Greatest Game Ever Played. Dillane plays legendary English golfer Harry Vardon in this 2005 sports biopic. The movie follows young Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf), a young amateur golfer who overcomes the obstacles necessary to compete in the 1913 U.S. Open against his idol – Harry Vardon, of course.
John Adams. In this 2008 HBO star-studded mini-series, Dillane nabbed the role of Thomas Jefferson. We witness the strained and adversarial relationship of Adams (Paul Giamatti) and Jefferson who, despite their ability to bring a new country into being, have very different philosophies on how this government should move forward.
Game of Thrones. Since 2012 Dillane is probably best known for his role as Stannis Baratheon, a skilled military commander and one of several possible heirs to the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros who seek to occupy the Iron Throne. Unfortunately his ambition leads him into an alliance with R'hllor priestess, Melisandre (Carise van Houten), who seduces him into committing unthinkable acts in order to secure his place as ruler.
Feel free to share your Stephen Dillane recommendations in the comments and if you’d like to see more of him on the small screen, The Tunnel continues to air every Sunday evening this summer on PBS through August 21. Check your local listings for exact times.
