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Hugh Bonneville

DL
MJK32956 Hugh Bonneville (Viceroy's House, Berlinale 2017).jpg
Bonneville at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival in 2017
Born
Hugh Richard Bonniwell Williams

(1963-11-10) 10 November 1963 (age 61)
Paddington, London, England
Alma mater Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (BA)
Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation Actor
Years active 1990–present
Known for Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham in Downton Abbey
Spouse(s)
Lucinda Williams
(m. 1998; separated 2023)
Children 1

Hugh Richard Bonniwell Williams DL (born 10 November 1963), known professionally as Hugh Bonneville, is an English actor. He is best known for portraying Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in the ITV historical drama series Downton Abbey from 2010 to 2015. His performance on the show earned him a nomination at the Golden Globes and two consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations, as well as three Screen Actors Guild Awards. He reprised his role in the feature films, Downton Abbey (2019), and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022). He also appeared in the films Notting Hill (1999), Iris (2001), The Monuments Men (2014), and the Paddington films (2014–2023).

Early life and education

Hugh Richard Bonneville Williams was born on 10 November 1963 in Paddington, London. His mother was a nurse and his father was a urological surgeon. He was educated at Dulwich College Preparatory School and at Sherborne School, an independent school in Dorset.

Following secondary education, Bonneville read theology at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He graduated from Cambridge with a 2:2 in theology. He then went on to study acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Bonneville is also an alumnus of the National Youth Theatre.

Career

1990s

Bonneville's first professional stage appearance was at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park. In 1987, he joined the National Theatre where he appeared in several plays, then the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1991, where he played Laertes to Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet (1992–1993). He played Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Kastril and later Surly in The Alchemist.

In 1994, Bonneville made his television debut, billed as Richard Bonneville in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes episode "The Dying Detective". His debut film was 1994's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein with Robert De Niro and Kenneth Branagh. His early roles were usually good-natured bumbling characters like Bernie in Notting Hill (1999) and Mr Rushworth in Mansfield Park (1999).

2000s

In the BBC television series, Take a Girl Like You (2000) and Armadillo (2001), he played more villainous characters, leading up to the domineering Henleigh Grandcourt in Daniel Deronda (2002) and the psychopathic killer James Lampton in The Commander (2003) series. In Love Again, he played the poet Philip Larkin.

In Iris (2001), he played the young John Bayley opposite Kate Winslet, with his performance lauded by critics and receiving a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 2004, Bonneville played Sir Christopher Wren in the docudrama Wren – The Man Who Built Britain. Bonneville also works extensively in radio. He played the role of Jerry Westerby in the BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of the John le Carré novel The Honourable Schoolboy, first broadcast in January 2010. Earlier, he appeared in the surreal parallel universe comedy Married.

2010s

From 2010 until 2015, he appeared in the ITV period drama Downton Abbey, as Robert, Earl of Grantham, a role he repeated in the 2019 film.

In early 2010, he appeared in the comedy film Burke and Hare. In 2011 and 2012, he starred as Ian Fletcher in the award-winning BBC comedy series Twenty Twelve, and reprised the role in the 2014 BBC comedy series W1A. In December 2012, he appeared on BBC Two with co-star Jessica Hynes in World's Most Dangerous Roads, travelling through Georgia. He also appeared in the much-delayed film Hippie Hippie Shake with Cillian Murphy and Sienna Miller.

From 2011 until 2014, Bonneville was the narrator of the Channel 4 show The Hotel.

Bonneville played Mr. Brown in the 2014 film Paddington and its 2017 sequel Paddington 2. He has appeared in the singing comedic role of The Pirate King in the ABC fairy tale-themed musical comedy extravaganza series Galavant during its 2015 and 2016 seasons. He also narrated the ITV series The Cruise.

Bonneville has also narrated several Paddington stories available as audio books.

In 2017, Bonneville portrayed Lord Mountbatten in director Gurinder Chadha's film Viceroy's House, which depicted the tumult and violence surrounding the Partition of India during the final days of British rule. Also in 2017, he portrayed the voice of Merlin in the movie based on the children's TV series Thomas & Friends, Journey Beyond Sodor. Also that year, he narrated the documentary A Return to Grace: Luther's Life and Legacy and it was announced that Bonneville would play Roald Dahl in an upcoming biopic about the author.

In 2018, Bonneville succeeded Julie Andrews as host and narrator of the annual "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration" episode of Great Performances, broadcast on New Year's Day on PBS in the United States. Also in 2018, he returned to voice Merlin in one of the episodes of the twenty-second series of Thomas & Friends.

In 2019, Bonneville portrayed C. S. Lewis at the Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Shadowlands, along with actors Liz White and Andrew Havill.

2020s

On 8 March 2023, Bonneville appeared on ITV’s DNA Journey with comedian, John Bishop.

On 7 May 2023, Bonneville appeared as the host of the Coronation Concert of King Charles III. In June, 2023, it was announced that Bonneville will return to the third instalment of Paddington.

Personal life

Bonneville married Lucinda Williams in 1998. They lived with their son, Felix, in West Sussex. In September 2023, the couple separated after 25 years together.

In 2009, Bonneville was the voice of Justice Fosse in Joseph Crilly's British premiere of Kitty and Damnation for the Giant Olive Theatre Company at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town. Shortly thereafter he became Giant Olive's first patron. Bonneville is also a patron of the London children's charities Go Live Theatre Projects and Scene & Heard, as well as an ambassador for WaterAid.

On 8 October 2019, he was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of West Sussex.

Works

Key
Not yet released Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1994 Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Schiller
1997 Tomorrow Never Dies Air Warfare Officer – HMS Bedford
1999 Notting Hill Bernie
Mansfield Park Mr Rushworth
2001 Blow Dry Louis
High Heels and Low Lifes Farmer
The Emperor's New Clothes Bertrand
Iris Young John Bayley
2003 Conspiracy of Silence Fr. Jack Dowling
2004 Piccadilly Jim Lord Wisbeach
Stage Beauty Samuel Pepys
2005 The Commander: Virus James Lampton Uncredited
The Commander: Blackout
Man to Man Fraser McBride
Asylum Max Raphael
Underclassman Headmaster Felix Powers
2007 Four Last Songs Sebastian Burrows
Hola to the World Painter Short film
2008 One of Those Days Mr Burrell
French Film Jed
2009 Knife Edge Charles Pollock
Glorious 39 Gilbert Williams
From Time to Time Captain Oldknow
2010 Critical Eye Brian
Shanghai Ben Sanger
Third Star Beachcomber
Burke & Hare Lord Harrington
Hippie Hippie Shake John Mortimer Unreleased
2011 Third Star Beachcomber
2014 The Monuments Men Lieutenant Donald Jeffries
Muppets Most Wanted Irish Journalist
Paddington Mr Henry Brown
2015 Stick Man Santa Clause Voice
Silent Hours Commander William Calthorpe
2017 Viceroy's House Lord Mountbatten
Paddington 2 Mr Henry Brown
Journey Beyond Sodor Merlin Voice
Breathe Teddy Hall
A Return to Grace: Luther's Life and Legacy Narrator
Secrets of the Magna Carta Documentary
2019 Downton Abbey Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
2020 Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey Mr. Delacroix
2021 To Olivia Roald Dahl
2022 Downton Abbey: A New Era Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
I Came By Sir Hector Blake
The Amazing Maurice The Mayor Voice
2023 Bank of Dave Sir Charles
Mummies Lord Sylvester Carnaby Voice
TBA Paddington in Peru Not yet released Mr Henry Brown

Television

Year Film Role Notes
1990 Chancer Jas 2 episodes
1991 Dodgem Rick Bayne 5 episodes
1993 Paul Merton: The Series Captain Episode: #2.6"
Stalag Luft Barton Television movie
1994 The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Victor Savage Episode: "The Dying Detective"
Credited as Richard Bonneville
Peak Practice Dominic Kent Episode: "Perfect Love"

Credited as Richard Bonneville

Cadfael Daniel Aurifaber Episode: "The Sanctuary Sparrow"
Credited as Richard Bonneville
Between the Lines Henry Oakes Episode: "Close Protection"
1995 The Vet Alan Sinclair 6 episodes
EastEnders Headmaster Episode: "14 December 1995"
1996 Married for Life Steve Hollingsworth 7 episodes
Bugs Nathan Pym Episode: "Bugged Wheat"
1997 Breakout Peter Schneider Television movie
See You Friday Daniel Episode: "#1.1"
The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous Ferdinand Fitzgerald Episode: #1.1"
Get Well Soon Norman Tucker 4 episodes
1998 Heat of the Sun Edward Herbert Episode: "Hide in Plain Sight"
Mosley Bob Boothby 4 episodes
Holding the Baby Gordon Muir Unknown episodes
The Scold's Bridle Tim Duggan Television movie
1999 Murder Most Horrid Inspector Dawson Episode: "Confessions of a Murderer"
2000 Take a Girl Like You Julian Ormerod 3 episodes
Thursday the 12th Brin Hopper Television movie
Madame Bovary Charles Bovary
2001 Hans Christian Andersen:
My Life as a Fairytale
Publisher
The Cazalets Hugh Cazalet 6 episodes
Armadillo Torquil Helvoir Jayne TV film
2002 Midsomer Murders Hugh Barton Episode: "Ring Out Your Dead"
Tipping the Velvet Ralph Banner Episode: "#1.3"
Daniel Deronda Henleigh Grandcourt 3 episodes
Impact Phil Epson Television movie
The Gathering Storm Ivo Pettifer
Right Under My Eyes James
The Biographer Eric
Doctor Zhivago Andrey Zhivago
2003 The Commander James Lampton
Love Again Philip Larkin
Hear the Silence Andrew Wakefield
2004 Wren: The Man Who Built Britain Christopher Wren TV documentary
2005 The Rotter's Club Voice of Adult Ben 2 episodes
The Robinsons George Robinson 6 episodes
2006 Courting Alex Julian/Charles Carter 10 episodes
Beau Brummell: This Charming Man Prince Regent Television movie
Tsunami: The Aftermath Tony Whittaker Television movie
2007 The Vicar of Dibley Jeremy Ogilvy Episode: "The Vicar in White"
Five Days DSI Iain Barclay 4 episodes
The Replacements Voice Episode: "London Calling"
The Diary of a Nobody Charles Pooter Television movie
Miss Austen Regrets Rev. Brook Bridges
2007–08 Freezing Matt 3 episodes
2008 Bonekickers Gregory Parton 6 episodes
Lost in Austen Claude Bennet 4 episodes
Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story Sir Hugh Carleton Greene Television movie
2008–11 Country House Rescue Narrator 24 episodes
2009 Hunter DSI Iain Barclay 2 episodes
Ruth Watson's Hotel Rescue Narrator 6 episodes
Legally Mad Gordon Hamm unaired pilot
2010–15 Downton Abbey Robert Crawley,
Earl of Grantham
52 episodes
2010 Ben Hur Pontius Pilate 2 episodes
Agatha Christie's Poirot Edward Masterman Episode: "Murder on the Orient Express"
The Silence Chris 4 episodes
2010–14 Rev. Roland Wise 3 episodes
2011 Doctor Who Captain Avery Episodes: "The Curse of the Black Spot"
"A Good Man Goes to War"
Marple:
The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side
Inspector Hewitt Television movie
2011–12 Twenty Twelve Ian Fletcher 13 episodes
2011–14 The Hotel Narrator 33 episodes
2012 Turn Back Time: The Family 5 episodes
Getting On Philip Moore Episode: "#3.6"
World's Most Dangerous Roads N/A Episode: "#3.2"
Mr Stink Mr Stink Television movie
2013 Da Vinci's Demons Duke of Milan 1 episode
2014 Top Gear Himself Episode: "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car"
2014–17 W1A Ian Fletcher 14 episodes
2015–16 Galavant Pirate King 2 Episodes
2015–18 Sofia the First Book Narrator 5 episodes
2016 The Hollow Crown Gloucester Episode: "Henry VI, Part I"
Walliams & Friend Various Episode 7
2017 The Grand Tour Himself Series 2 Episode 3
A Return to Grace:
Luther's Life and Legacy
Narrator Documentary
2018 Countdown to Calvary Host/Narrator Documentary
Thomas & Friends Merlin Voice; Episode: "Seeing is Believing"
2019 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Narrator 2 episodes
2018–23 Great Performances Host/Narrator Episode "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2018"
Episode "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2019"
Episode "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2020"
Episode "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2021"
Episode "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2022"
Episode "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration 2023"
2020 Sandylands One-Eyed Man 2 episodes
2020–22 Amphibia Wigbert Ribbiton Voice; 2 episodes
2020 DuckTales Santa Claus Voice; Episode: "How Santa Stole Christmas"
2022 The Hidden Lives of Pets Narrator Documentary series
Secrets of the Royal Gardens Documentary series
2023 The Gold DCI Brian Boyce 6 episodes
DNA Journey Himself 7 March
Coronation Concert Host
2024 Douglas Is Cancelled Douglas Bellowes In production

Audiobooks

Production Year Book Title Role Notes
2004 Birds Without Wings narrator
2014 Goldfinger
2016 Paddington Takes the Test
Paddington At Large
Paddington Marches On
Paddington Abroad
Paddington Helps Out
2017 Paddington At Work
On the Banks of Plum Creek
Paddington Goes to Town
Farmer Boy
2018 Paddington Takes the Air
Paddington On Top
2021 Absolute Proof
2022 Late Summer On State Street

Awards

Year Award Category Project Result
2001 British Academy Film Award Best Supporting Actor Iris Nominated
European Film Award Best Actor Nominated
2002 Berlin International Film Festival New Talent Award Won
2006 Monte-Carlo Television Festival Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries Tsunami: The Aftermath Nominated
2012 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated
2013 Nominated
2011 Golden Globe Awards Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
2013 Nominated
2014 Won
2015 Won
2016 Nominated
2011 Monte-Carlo Television Festival Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
2013 Nominated
2011 British Comedy Awards Best TV Comedy Actor Twenty Twelve Nominated
2012 Nominated
2012 British Academy Television Award Best Actor in a Comedy Programme Nominated
2013 Nominated
2015 W1A Nominated
2016 Nominated

Honours

Commonwealth honours

Country Date Appointment Post-nominal letters
 United Kingdom 8 October 2019 – Present Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex DL

Scholastic

Location Date School Degree
 England Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Lower Second Class Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theology
 England Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
Honorary degrees
Location Date School Degree Gave Commencement Address
 England October 2019 University of Winchester Doctor of Arts (D.Arts)

See also

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