Oliver Ford Davies
| Oliver Ford Davies | |
|---|---|
 Davies in 2008 | |
| Born |
Oliver Robert Ford Davies 12 August 1939 Ealing, Middlesex, England[1] |
| Occupation | Actor, writer |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Spouse(s) | Jenifer Armitage (m. 1977) |
Oliver Robert Ford Davies (born 12 August 1939) is an English actor and writer, best known for his role as Sio Bibble in Star Wars Episodes I to III. He is also known for his role as Cressen in HBO series Game of Thrones.[2]
Early life and academic career
Davies was born in Ealing, Middlesex, England. He attended the King's School, Canterbury. From there, he won a scholarship to Merton College, Oxford, where he read History and became President of the Oxford University Dramatic Society.[3] After obtaining his D Phil,[4] he worked as a history lecturer at the University of Edinburgh before taking up acting professionally in 1967.[5]
Acting career
Davies had a regular role as Peter Foxcott QC in Kavanagh QC. He also appeared with John Thaw in an episode of inspector Morse and also appeared in the ITV television drama The Uninvited, and in a 2002 episode of the popular drama Foyle's War.
His highest profile acting role was most likely his role as Sio Bibble in the Star Wars "prequel trilogy" films, released in 1999, 2002 and 2005. In 2003, Davies appeared in the film Johnny English, where Davies was the Archbishop of Canterbury.
He appeared as Polonius in Hamlet with the Royal Shakespeare Company, alongside David Tennant and Patrick Stewart, and in 2009 appeared in All's Well That Ends Well at the Royal National Theatre as the King of France. In 2010, he appeared as Balfour in the premiere of Ben Brown's play The Promise, about the Balfour Declaration.
In 2012, he appeared in a stage adaptation of Michelle Magorian's book Goodnight Mister Tom, in which he played the central character, Thomas Oakley. He is back with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2014 as Justice Shallow in "Henry IV, Part 2". Davies again appeared with David Tennant in Richard II in 2013.
Awards and nominations
Davies was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award in 1990 (1989 season) for Best Actor in a New Play for Racing Demon. He was twice nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for his performance in Absolutely! (perhaps) at the Wyndham's Theatre in 2003, and again in 2009 for his performance as Polonius in the RSC production of Hamlet at the Novello Theatre.
Books
Oliver Ford Davies' books include Playing Lear, an account of his experience while performing King Lear at the Almeida Theatre, and Performing Shakespeare. Both are published by Nick Hern Books.
Partial filmography
- Defense of the Realm (1986) – Anthony Clegg
- Scandal (1989) – Mr. Woods, MI5
- Paper Mask (1990) – Coroner
- Sense and Sensibility (1995) – Doctor Harris
- Mrs Brown (1997) – Dean of Windsor
- Mrs Dalloway (1997) – Hugh Whitbread
- Titanic Town (1998) – Whittington
- An Ideal Husband (1999) – Sir Hugo Danforth
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) – Sio Bibble
- Blow Dry (2001) – Doctor Hamilton
- Just Visiting (2001) – Pit Rivers
- Revelation (2001) – Professor Casaubon
- Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) – Sio Bibble
- Johnny English (2003) – Archbishop of Canterbury
- The Mother (2003) – Bruce
- Gladiatress (2004) – (uncredited)
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) – Sio Bibble
- Heidi (2005) – Dr. Classen
- National Theatre Live: All's Well That Ends Well (2009) – King of France
- The Deep Blue Sea (2011) – Hester's Father
- Royal Shakespeare Company: Henry IV Part II (2014) – Shallow
References
- ↑ Profile at ftvdb.bfi.org.uk
- ↑ "Oliver Ford Davies on Melisandre, Stannis & Flaming Idols". flicksandthecity.com. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ↑ Levens, R.G.C., ed. (1964). Merton College Register 1900-1964. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 503.
- ↑ Naxos Audiobooks: Oliver Ford Davies; accessed 22 March 2013
- ↑ "Oliver Ford Davies, actor – portrait of the artist", The Guardian, 18 December 2012. Accessed 22 March 2013
