Simon McBurney

On a freelance basis, McBurney directed the following: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and All My Sons (2008) (both in New York City), and live comedy shows, including Lenny Henry's So Much Things To Say and French and Saunders' Live in 2000.

McBurney is an established screen actor. He played the recurring role of Cecil the choirmaster in The Vicar of Dibley, CIA computer whiz Garland in Body of Lies, Dr. Atticus Noyle in The Manchurian Candidate (2004), British diplomat Nigel Stone in The Last King of Scotland, the metrosexual husband Aaron in Friends with Money, Fra Pavel in The Golden Compass, Charles James Fox in The Duchess, and Oliver Lacon in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. He also wrote the story and was an executive producer for Mr. Bean's Holiday.

From 2010 to 2014, he appeared in the BBC comedy television series Rev., portraying the role of Archdeacon Robert. McBurney provided the voice of Kreacher in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010). In the series The Borgias, he portrayed the canon law expert Johannes Burchart. He is the Artiste Associé of the 66th Festival d'Avignon (2012). He starred in The Encounter, about photographer Loren McIntyre becoming lost in the Javari Valley in Brazil and his experiences with locals, which premiered at the 2015 Edinburgh International Festival.^[9] In July 2015, he starred as Atlee, the director of MI6 in the film Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, and in 2016, he portrayed paranormal investigator Maurice Grosse in the horror film sequel The Conjuring 2.^[10]

In 2013 he directed the English National Opera production of Mozart's The Magic Flute at the London Coliseum,^[11] and the same opera at the New York Metropolitan Opera in 2023.^[12]

In September 2019, the Complicité production of The Encounter was ranked by The Guardian writers as the 13th best theatre show since 2000.^[13]

Personal life

In 2007, he met concert pianist Cassandra "Cassie" Yukawa.^[14][15] They have since married, and reside in Stroud, Gloucestershire, with their three children, having previously lived in north London.^[16] His sister-in-law is violinist Diane Yukawa.^[17]

In the 2005 New Year Honours, McBurney was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to Drama".^[18] He is an Ambassador for Survival International, the global movement for tribal peoples' rights.^[19]

Filmography

Film

Television

Accolades

• 1997:
  Théâtre de Complicité)^[22]
• 1998:
  Der kaukasische Kreidekreis"), Royal National Theatre, Olivier Stage, London
  )
• 1999: Critics' Circle Theatre Award (Best new play for "Mnemonic" at the Riverside Theatre)
• 2005: Officer of the Order of the British Empire, "New Years Honours List" of Queen Elizabeth II.
• 2007:
  Wiener Festwochen
  )
• 2007:
  Théâtre de Complicité
  )
• 2008: Konrad Wolf Prize^[23]

References