John Simm
John Simm | |
---|---|
Born | John Ronald Simm 10 July 1970 Leeds, England |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1992–present |
Notable work | Life on Mars, Doctor Who, Grace |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
John Ronald Simm[1] (born 10 July 1970) is an English actor, director, and musician. He is best known for playing Sam Tyler in Life on Mars, the Master in Doctor Who, and DS Roy Grace in Grace. His other television credits include State of Play, The Lakes, Crime and Punishment, Exile, Prey, and Cracker. His film roles include Wonderland, Everyday, Boston Kickout, Human Traffic and 24 Hour Party People. He has twice been nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor.
Early life
John Ronald Simm was born on 10 July 1970 in
Career
In 1992, Simm made his professional acting debut playing the role of Joby Johnson in an episode of the TV series Rumpole of the Bailey.[7] He appeared as a psycho in The Bill, as lovestruck schoolboy Richard Francis in Heartbeat, and as a drugged-up burglar in The Locksmith.[7] From 1993, he played the lead role of Kendle Bains in two series of the BBC sitcom Men of the World. In 1995, he undertook the role of Gary Kingston, a deluded murderer, in Chiller.[8]
In 1995, Simm played the troubled teenager Bill Preece in ITV police drama Cracker. He also made his feature film debut in Boston Kickout, which won the Palmarés (Best) Feature Film award at the 11th Cinema Jove - Valencia International Film Festival 1996.[9]
In 1996, he made his professional stage debut in the
In 2000, he starred in the opening episode of the BBC drama Clocking Off, written by Paul Abbott, with whom he would work again in 2002 when he starred as Cal McCaffrey in the multi-award-winning political thriller series State of Play. Simm also played the lead role of loan shark John Parlour in Tony Marchant's Never Never for Channel 4.
In 2002, Simm featured in the film
In 2004, he played the researcher and charity investigator Daniel Appleton in the
In March 2007, he starred in Channel 4's The Yellow House, a biographical drama produced by
In 2007, Simm was cast by
Simm became involved in an ongoing project with Michael Winterbottom called Everyday, to be filmed in real time over five years. The film premiered at the
In September 2010, Simm played
In 2011, Simm starred in
From 17 May to 9 June 2012, Simm starred as Jerry[21] in a revival of Harold Pinter's Betrayal at the Crucible Theatre.[22] He played John Middleton in The Village, a six-part BBC drama which portrays life in a Derbyshire village during World War I.[23]
From May to August 2013, he returned to Trafalgar Studios in London's West End to star opposite Simon Russell Beale in a new production of Harold Pinter's The Hothouse, directed by Jamie Lloyd. He then completed work on the three-part thriller, Prey, in which he plays detective Marcus Farrow. The mini-series began airing on 28 April 2014 on ITV. The second series starred Philip Glenister in the leading role.
In February 2014, Simm began filming the BBC America eight-parter
In 2015, he took a break from the screen to concentrate on theatre. He appeared for the first time at The National Theatre, playing the role of Rakitin to great acclaim, in Patrick Marber's Three Days in the Country, (a version of Turgenev's A Month in the Country) and was reunited with Jamie Lloyd, playing the role of Lenny in the 50th anniversary production of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming in London's West End.
In 2016, Simm was invited to the US to act in The Catch for ABC. Starring Mireille Enos and Peter Krause, the show was executive produced by Shonda Rhimes and filmed at Sunset Bronson studios and on location around Los Angeles. Simm played the character of Rhys Griffiths, a recurring character in season 1 and a regular in season 2.
On 6 April 2017, the BBC confirmed that Simm would be reprising his role as the Master in the
In 2018, he starred as Dan Bowker opposite Adrian Lester in Mike Bartlett's Trauma on ITV. The same year he also played the role of Labour MP David Mars in Collateral, written by David Hare, opposite Carey Mulligan and Billie Piper for the BBC. He then starred in Strangers on ITV, starring as Jonah Mulray, a professor whose life comes crashing down when his wife is killed in a car crash in Hong Kong.
In 2018/2019, Simm returned to the West End stage in Jamie Lloyd's staging of Pinter at the Pinter—a groundbreaking season of Harold Pinter's one-act plays. He starred in Pinter Six, consisting of Party Time and Celebration.[25]
In 2019, he played the title role of
In 2021, Simm played the title role of DS Roy Grace in Grace, a Russell Lewis adaption, based on Peter James's best-selling crime fiction series novels.[28]
Music
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Simm was a founding member, songwriter, and guitarist with the rock band Magic Alex;
Personal life
In April 2004, Simm married actress
Simm is a supporter of Manchester United FC.[32]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | Boston Kickout | Phil | |
1997 | Diana & Me | Neil | |
1999 | Human Traffic | Jip | |
Wonderland | Eddie | ||
2001 | Understanding Jane | Oz | |
2002 | 24 Hour Party People | Bernard Sumner | |
Miranda | Frank | ||
2004 | Nero | Caligula | |
2005 | Blue/Orange |
Bruce Flaherty | |
Brothers of the Head | Boatman | ||
2006 | Devilwood |
Gabriel | Short film |
2008 | Tu£sday | Silver | |
2009 | Skellig | Dave | Television film |
2012 | Everyday | Ian Ferguson | Filmed in real-time over five years |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Rumpole of the Bailey | Joby Jonson | Episode: "Rumpole and the Reform of Joby Jonson" |
1993 | Oasis | Posh Robert | 7 episodes |
Heartbeat | Richard Francis | Episode: "Wall of Silence" | |
The Bill | Paul Jeffries | Episode: "Blind Spot" | |
Men of the World | Kendle Bains | Series 1–2. Credited as Season 1 title song singer, together with David Threlfall. | |
1994 | A Pinch of Snuff | Clint Heppelwhite | 3 episodes |
Screen One | Cecil | Episode: "Meat" | |
1995 | Chiller | Gary Kingston | Episode: "Here Comes the Mirror Man" |
Cracker | Bill Nash | Episode: "Best Boys" | |
1997 | The Locksmith[33] | Paul | 3 episodes |
1997–1999 | The Lakes | Danny Kavanagh | Series 1–2 |
2000 | Forgive and Forget | Theo | |
Clocking Off | Stuart Leach | Episode: "The Leaches' Story" | |
Meet Ricky Gervais | Himself | Episode 6 | |
Never Never | John Parlour | 2 episodes | |
2001 | Spaced | Stephen Edwards | Episode: "Back" |
2002 | Magic Hour | Alex | |
Crime & Punishment | Raskolnikov | 2 episodes | |
White Teeth | Mr Hero | Episode: "The Peculiar Second Marriage of Archie Jones" | |
2003 | State of Play | Cal McCaffrey | 6 episodes |
The Canterbury Tales | Ace | Episode: "The Knight's Tale" | |
Play Like Champions | Narrator | ||
2004 | Monkey Trousers | Various | |
Sex Traffic | Daniel Appleton | 2 episodes | |
2006–2007 | Life on Mars | Sam Tyler | Series 1–2. Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actor[11] |
2007 | The Yellow House | Vincent van Gogh | |
2007, 2009–2010, 2017, | Doctor Who | The Master |
7 episodes |
2008 | The Devil's Whore | Edward Sexby | 4 episodes |
2010 | Moving On | Moose / Mike | Episode: "Malaise" |
2011 | Exile | Tom Ronstadt | 3 episodes. Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actor[20] |
2011–2013 | Mad Dogs | Lloyd Baxter | 14 episodes |
2013–2014 | The Village | John Middleton | 12 episodes |
2014 | Prey | DS Marcus Farrow | 3 episodes. Royal Television Society North West Award for "Best Male Performance" |
Intruders | Jack Whelan | 8 episodes | |
2015 | Code of a Killer | Alec Jeffreys | 2 episodes |
Toast of London | Himself | Episode: "Global Warming" | |
2016–2017 | The Catch | Rhys Griffiths | Seasons 1–2 |
2018 | Trauma | Dan Bowker | 3 episodes |
Collateral | David Mars | 4 episodes | |
Strangers | Jonah Mulray | 8 episodes | |
2020 | Cold Courage | Arthur Fried | 8 episodes |
2021–present | Grace | DSU Roy Grace | Title role; 8 episodes |
Irvine Welsh's Crime | Gareth Horsborough | Main cast | |
2023 | Starstruck | Martin | 1 episode |
Hilda | Anders | 3 episodes |
Stage
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Goldhawk Road | Colin | Bush Theatre |
2007 | Elling | Elling | Trafalgar Studios 1
|
2009 | Speaking in Tongues | Leon[34] | Duke of York's Theatre |
2010 | Hamlet | Hamlet[35] | Crucible Theatre |
2012 | Betrayal | Jerry[21] | Crucible Theatre |
2013 | The Hothouse | Gibbs | Trafalgar Studios
|
2015 | Three Days in the Country | Rakitin | National Theatre, London (Lyttelton auditorium) |
The Homecoming | Lenny | Trafalgar Studios
| |
2018 | Party Time / Celebration | Harold Pinter Theatre – Pinter at the Pinter Season | |
2019 | Macbeth | Macbeth[26] | Chichester Festival Theatre (September/October 2019) |
Music videos
Year | Title | Artist | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Here to Stay |
New Order | Bernard Sumner | Closing track from the film 24 Hour Party People |
2009 | So Low | Matt Berry | Album: Witchazel | |
2013 | Some Better Day | I Am Kloot | Album: Let It All In | |
2019 | God Has Taken A Vacation | The Leisure Society | Album: Arrivals & Departures |
Discography
Album
Year | Title | Artist | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Dated and Sexist | Magic Alex | Guitar and backing vocals |
Singles
Year | Title | Artist | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | "Sliding" | Ian McCulloch | Guitar |
2015 | "Older" / "Outside" | Magic Alex | Guitar and backing vocals |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | 20th Gemini Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Sex Traffic - Part 1 | Nominated | [10] |
2007 | Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Golden Nymph - Outstanding Actor - Drama Series | Life on Mars (British TV series) | Nominated | [10] |
Broadcasting Press Guild Awards
|
Best Actor | Nominated | [10] | ||
53rd British Academy Television Awards | BAFTA Award for Best Actor | Nominated | [10][11] | ||
2008 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Actor in a Play | Elling at Trafalgar Theatre | Nominated | [36] |
2012 | 58th British Academy Television Awards | BAFTA Award for Best Leading Actor | Exile | Nominated | [10][20] |
Royal Television Society Awards | Best Actor - Male | Nominated | [10] |
References
- ^ "JOHN SIMM Ltd people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK".
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Simm, John (1971-) Biography". BFI Screenonline. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ a b Marshall, Ben (14 July 2013). "On my radar: John Simm's cultural highlights". theguardian.com.
- ^ "Brian Wellock obituary". Lancashire Telegraph. 2 December 2006.
- ^ "A Q&A with actor John Simm". Financial Times. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ a b "John Simm: 'I've never done therapy. Maybe I should,' says Grace and Life on Mars star". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ a b "John Simm, career profile". telegraph.co.uk. 3 May 2011. Archived from the original on 7 May 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d Lobb, Adrian (8 May 2022). "John Simm: 'I got rid of the music and clubbing and got into some proper serious drama'". bigissue.com.
- ^ Marshall, Ben (1996). "11th Edition of Cinema Jove 1996". cinemajove.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g "John Simm Awards". IMDB (Index source only). Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "BAFTA TV Awards 2007". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Talkback Thames news release". Talkback Thames. 15 November 2006. Archived from the original on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
- ^ Oliver, Robin (16 March 2008). "The Yellow House". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- Independent on Sunday. 11 February 2007. Archived from the originalon 13 February 2007.
- ^ Rees, Jasper (17 April 2007). "Why I'm so furious with the BBC".
- Wired News. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
- Daily Telegraph. Archived from the originalon 21 October 2011.
- ^ John Simm on playing Hamlet Daily Telegraph, 14 September 2010
- ^ a b c "BAFTA TV Awards 2012". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Betrayal at Sheffield Theatres". Sheffieldtheatres.co.uk. 9 June 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
- ^ "London Theatre News, Reviews, Interviews and more". WhatsOnStage. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
- ^ "The Village Press Pack", BBC Press Office, 19 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- ^ "John Simm to return as the Master in Doctor Who". BBC. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ "John Simm, Rupert Graves and Maggie Steed join Pinter at the Pinter cast". WhatsOnStage. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Macbeth". Chichester Festival Theatre. 14 February 2019. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ "John Simm joins Big Finish for Doctor Who: Masterful – News – Big Finish". Bigfinish.com. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "John Simm to star in adaptation of Peter James' Grace for ITV". Radio Times. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Hatterstone, Simon (11 September 2010). "John Simm: 'Sometimes I do feel underappreciated'". theguardian.com.
- ^ "John Simm: Clocks and robbers". Total SciFi. 1 February 2007. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011.
- ^ "Life On Mars star John Simm takes the stage to be near his children". Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Official Manchester United Website". Archived from the original on 23 March 2014.
- TheGuardian.com. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ^ "Speaking in Tongues, Duke of York's Theatre, London". The Independent. 1 October 2009. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "First Night: Hamlet, Sheffield Crucible". The Independent. 23 September 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Olivier Winners 2008". officiallondontheatre.com. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
External links
- John Simm at IMDb
- The Man Who Fell to Earth, Sunday Telegraph interview 5 August 2007