With an acting career spanning over two decades, David Morrissey is today considered one of the most versatile British actors of his generation. Born in Liverpool in 1964, David was inspired to be become involved in acting by Ken Loach’s Kes and after leaving school at 16, joined the Everyman Youth Theatre. This decision proved to be critical in his career, and in 1983 led to his first big break when he won the role of Billy Rizley in Channel 4′s One Summer, a powerful coming of age drama scripted by Willy Russell.
Following this success, David left Liverpool to study in London at RADA. Upon graduation he secured varied and challenging roles. He has appeared in some of the most popular and critically acclaimed television dramas such as Our Mutual Friend, Clocking Off, Holding On (nominated for a RTS nomination), the six part BBC political drama State of Play (a role for which he was nominated for a BAFTA), and one of Channel Four’s most controversial dramas, the Stephen Frears-directed The Deal, in which he played Gordon Brown. He subsequently won an RTS award for his depiction of Brown. In 2006, audiences saw David in Viva Blackpool, a 90 minute programme for BBC1 based on his character in Blackpool, the hugely popular 2005 BBC drama which not only received a prestigious Golden Globe nomnination but also led to David being awarded the Best Television Actor Award atr the Arena Awards. In 2007, he starred in Cape Wrath, a seven part series for Channel 4. The following year saw David as Colonel Brandon in BBC’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and most recentlytelevision audiences saw him in Red Riding, a dark and powerful trilogy of interlinking films set in Yorkshire in the 1970s and 80s.
His stage work has included a number of productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National, and he has worked with highly regarded stage directors including Adrian Noble, Deborah Wrner and Declan Donnellan ( who most famously directed him in the title role of Peer Gynt). Most recently he received fantastic reviews for his performance in Neil LaBute’s In A Dark Dark House at the Almeida Theatre.
His accomplished television and stage performances brought him to the attention of the film world and he has gone on to play roles in a range of films including Hilary & Jackie, Some Voices, Born Romantic, Captain Correlli’s Mandolin, Miramax’s Derailed, Stephen Woolley’s Stoned, and in 2007 he starred opposite Hilary Swank in The Reaping, and was also heard co-narrating Taking Liberties with Ashley Jensen. The following year brought a starring role in The Waterhorse: Legend of the Deep, written by Terry George, and was also seen in The Other Boleyn Girl, based on the best selling book by Phillippa Gregory. In 2009 he was seen alongside Michael Caine and Leslie Phillips in Is Anybody There?. A more detailed filmography can be found in the Career section of this site.
In addition to his acting career, David has founded his own production company, Tubedale Films. The company co-produced Patrice Leconte’s film, L’Homme Du Train, starring Johnny Hallyday and Jean Rochefort. Tubedale Films has also enabled him to branch out into directing; starting with shorts, David also directed TV project Sweet Revenge in which he was able to work with friend and fellow actor Paul McGann. He directed James Nesbitt in a two-part BBC drama called Passer-By which was broadcast in March 2004 to much critical acclaim. Most recently, Tubedale Films produced David’s own Don’t Worry About Me, which was released at the 2009 London Film Festival. More information about the film and where to see it can be found here.