Toby Stephens

Birthday: 21 April 1969, Middlesex Hospital, London, England, UK

Height: 180 cm

Toby Stephens began his acting career while a stagehand at the Chichester Festival Theatre, in end-of-season productions mounted by the crew. In his brief professional career, he has already won the Sir John Gielgud Prize for Best Actor and the Ian Charleson Award for his performance in the title role of "Coriolanus" at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1994. His other work at the RSC includes "Measure for Measure", "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Antony and Cleopatra", "Wallenstein", "All's Well That Ends Well" and "Unfinished Business". Stephens also starred in Peter Hall's production of "Tartuffe" at the Aldwych Theatre and has just finished filming The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1996). His television appearances include A View from the Bridge (2012) and The Camomile Lawn (1992). He made his screen debut in Sally Potter's Orlando (1992). Show less «

Screen is satisfying because it's so technical and mysterious. It's like playing roulette: you get a...Show more »

Screen is satisfying because it's so technical and mysterious. It's like playing roulette: you get a script, you think it's either great or naff, but you have no idea how it will really turn out. On stage, you are your own editor - and you get brief moments of grace, where suddenly you feel free. Show less «

That's the privilege of being a grandparent - they can indulge the children while parents have to be...Show more »

That's the privilege of being a grandparent - they can indulge the children while parents have to be the bad guy. Grandparents can also be subversive and naughty with them. Show less «

Growing up, I went to many schools, and I had to fit in to many different types of environments with...Show more »

Growing up, I went to many schools, and I had to fit in to many different types of environments with totally different social groups. It helps me out as I move from job to job. Show less «

My parents' parents were regular working-class people. I ended up speaking in a certain way, and one...Show more »

My parents' parents were regular working-class people. I ended up speaking in a certain way, and one gets sidelined into doing certain parts. I think that is really quite narrow-minded. Show less «

The Humpback Trail on New Zealand's South Island is really beautiful. It is a 70 km walk over about ...Show more »

The Humpback Trail on New Zealand's South Island is really beautiful. It is a 70 km walk over about four days and is fairly arduous. You go through prehistoric forest and up to the top of Humpback Mountain, where there are amazing views down to the Tasman Sea. Show less «

If I was to meet Lou Reed or Bob Dylan, I would be totally helpless. Writers and musicians make me f...Show more »

If I was to meet Lou Reed or Bob Dylan, I would be totally helpless. Writers and musicians make me feel completely starstruck. Show less «

Some men are into Hollywood glamor stuff and some are not.

Actors don't listen to each other. You're so obsessed with what you're saying or doing that the othe...Show more »

Actors don't listen to each other. You're so obsessed with what you're saying or doing that the other person could be talking in Swahili and you wouldn't know. Show less «

I think all parts come with baggage unless it is a brand new play. If one was daunted by that, you w...Show more »

I think all parts come with baggage unless it is a brand new play. If one was daunted by that, you would never do anything. Show less «

I love Scotland, mainly for its landscape. I like walking, and it's a great place to go hiking.

I love traveling with my laptop because I get a bit nervous if I can't access my e-mails.

I would love to be in a Jimmy McGovern drama on TV, but there is no way he would ever ask me unless ...Show more »

I would love to be in a Jimmy McGovern drama on TV, but there is no way he would ever ask me unless it would be to play a lawyer or something. Show less «

I am a Londoner and I love my home. There are many things about this country which drive me crazy, b...Show more »

I am a Londoner and I love my home. There are many things about this country which drive me crazy, but when I am in America, I feel wrong there. Show less «

I blub all the time, in the most weird situations - not in the ones that should make me cry. Music m...Show more »

I blub all the time, in the most weird situations - not in the ones that should make me cry. Music makes me very emotional. Show less «

I've learnt an enormous amount from my children. Mostly that my agenda isn't the most important thin...Show more »

I've learnt an enormous amount from my children. Mostly that my agenda isn't the most important thing in the world. For a while, I was trying to squeeze them into my life. And it was such torment! It makes you realize how selfish you are. Show less «

I'm fair-skinned, so beaches are a bit boring for me. I'm either smeared in lotion or under a shade....Show more »

I'm fair-skinned, so beaches are a bit boring for me. I'm either smeared in lotion or under a shade. However, I do love the sea - diving, swimming and snorkeling. Show less «

Toby Stephens

Toby Stephens's FILMOGRAPHY

Toby Stephens'S roles

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