Actors and Actresses

We look back on the long and impressive career of British character actor Geoffrey Palmer.

Mr. Palmer passed away last week at the age of 93 at his home in Buckinghamshire. He is best known for his starring role as Lionel Hardcastle opposite Dame Judi Dench in the beloved BBC and PBS Britcom, As Time Goes By.

Even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, British film and telly fans are sure to be familiar with the work of Daniel Mays. Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2000, this Essex-born actor has spent the last two decades bringing authentic characters to the screen in such varied projects as Vera Drake, Doctor Who, Line of Duty, and Fisherman's Friends. 

We recently conducted a phone interview with the actor wherein he discussed, among other things, his recent role as DCI Peter Jay in the crime drama Des, his admiration for director Mike Leigh and his growing Instagram addiction.

Actor Josh O’Connor claims the size of his hands won him the award-winning role of Johnny Saxby in the feature film God’s Own Country and his ears earned him the role of Prince Charles in Netflix's The Crown. But there’s a lot more to this brilliant young actor.

If you’re a fan of British programming of any stripe – or were even just a casual Game of Thrones viewer – then you’re definitely familiar with Natalie Dormer, an actress that’s made quite a name for herself for playing complicated female characters from Anne Boleyn to Margaery Tyrell and beyond.

We remember the talented Dame Diana Rigg whose career in theatre, film, and television was a study in playing strong, intelligent women.

In this installment of British Actresses You Should Know, we feature Rosamund Pike and her decades-long film journey from Bond girl to Marie Curie.

Last Friday the world said farewell to the accomplished Sir Ian Holm. A classically trained actor, his career spanned almost six decades. Mr. Holm’s talents were generously displayed through the mediums of stage, television and film. He received his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his services to drama.

Most people have probably seen British actor Sean Bean in something. After all, even if we haven’t necessarily seen Game of Thrones or the Lord of the Rings movies, we’re aware that they exist. That’s how outsize this particular actor’s contributions to pop culture have been.

British actress Jessica Raine is likely familiar to many PBS viewers from her roles on period drama Call the Midwife and mystery series Baptiste, but that's certainly not all she's done.  

The talented British actress is currently winning raves for her turn in Masterpiece drama World on Fire, but Academy Award nominee Lesley Manville has been in everything from period dramas to contemporary sitcoms.