Tobias Menzies

Infobox Actor
name = Tobias Menzies


imagesize =
location = London, England, UK
birthdate = birth date and age|1974|3|7|df=y
caption =
notable role = Marcus Junius Brutus in "Rome"

Tobias Menzies, (born 7 March 1974 in London, England), is an British stage, television and film actor, best known for his role as Brutus in the 2005/2007 TV series "Rome".

Early years

Tobias attended the distinguished liberal Frensham Heights School near Farnham in Surrey at the same time as Hattie Morahan and Jim Sturgess. He went on to attend Stratford-upon-Avon College's "Year-out" drama course in 1993–94. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1998, and was trained in the Steiner System, which includes movement, singing and musical instrumentation on a daily basis.

Career

Early in his career, Menzies worked with The Spontaneity Shop, the UK's premiere improv comedy company. He began his TV and film career in some of British television's most popular series, including "Foyle's War", "Midsomer Murders" and "Casualty". He also appeared in the controversial drama "A Very Social Secretary" directed by Jon Jones, which launched UK Channel 4's spin-off station, More4. He came to press attention in 2005 when it was confirmed by his agent that he was dating actress Kristin Scott Thomas (they are no longer together).Cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=366259&in_page_id=1773|last=Collins|first=Laura|work=Mail on Sunday|date=23 October 2005|title=Kristin's marriage turns to a handful of dust|publisher=Daily Mail and General Trust|location=Kensington, West London]

He is best known to international audiences for his starring role as Marcus Junius Brutus, Julius Caesar's friend and later co-assassin, in the award-winning but short-lived HBO/BBC epic series "Rome" (2005/2007).

He had a major role in "The Low Down" with Aidan Gillen, and featured in the 2006 "reboot" of the James Bond film franchise, "Casino Royale", as M's aide, Villiers.

He has worked extensively on the stage, with credits including the young teacher Irwin in Alan Bennett's "The History Boys" (directed at the Royal National Theatre by Nicholas Hytner), and a part in Michael Blakemore's West End production of "Three Sisters" for which he was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award. Of his role in "The History Boys", one notable reviewer wrote: Quote|There is a remarkable performance, too, from Tobias Menzies as the slick supply-teacher historian, who believes academic success is merely a matter of tricks and spin. But Menzies also discovers a surprisingly attractive vulnerability in the character I missed the first time around.|Charles Spencer|"The Telegraph"

He was also noted for the titular role in Rupert Goold's production of "Hamlet", at the Royal Theatre, Northampton to an appreciative critical reception:"The Independent" further noted that Menzies, "enjoying his antic disposition ... plays the fool dazzlingly: a stage natural.... He gives it everything, even the fight."

In April 2007 he appeared as William Elliot in ITV's production of Jane Austen's classic, "Persuasion", and also played Peter Trifimov in "The Cherry Orchard" with Joanna Lumley (at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield). The "Yorkshire Post" said, "The one who burns the brightest is Tobias Menzies as the idealistic perpetual student Trofimov. His performance is breathtaking."

He is due to appearClarifyme|date=October 2007 as Derrick Sington in Channel 4's dramatisation of "The Relief of Belsen".

Filmography

Awards and nominations

* Nominated for the "Sunday Times"-Royal National Theatre 2003 Ian Charleson Award for his performance as Tusenbach in the Michael Blakemore's production of "Three Sisters" (yet to win any awards).

References

* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/01/06/btboys06.xml Telegraph - The History Boys Review] (6 January, 2006)
* [http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=5723 Broadway.com - The History Boys Review] (5 November, 2005)
* [http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,,1647447,00.html Guardian - College Days article] (22 November 2005)
* [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article435198.ece Sunday Times - Hamlet Review] (27 March, 2005)
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20050325/ai_n13462012 The Independent - Hamlet Review] (25 March,2005)
*imdb name|0580014
* [http://www.hbo.com/rome/cast/character/season2/brutus_v2.html HBO's official "Rome" website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/casualty BBC's official "Casualty" website]

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/tobiasmenzies Tobias Menzies' MySpace Page]