Hans Matheson

Infobox actor
name = Hans Matheson


caption =
imagesize =
birthname = Hans Matheson
birthdate = Birth date and age|1975|08|07|df=yes
birthplace = Stornoway, Scotland
parents =
occupation = Actor
yearsactive = 1996-present
iftaawards =
awards =

:"For the Swedish soccer player, see Hans Mattisson."

Hans Matheson (born August 7 1975 in Stornoway, Scotland) is a Scottish-born actor.

Personal Life

Hans Matheson was born in a caravan on August 7, 1975 at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, located in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Shortly after, his family moved to Canterbury, Kent in England but Hans often spent his summer holidays on Stornoway with his grandparents, As a child, his parents Iain (Ado) and Sheena often took him and his younger brother to folk festivals and Bob Dylan concerts. His father Ado is a musician and his grandfather was a Gaelic singer and songwriter before him performing at concerts and ceilidhs throughout Scotland. His great-grandfather was crowned the Celtic Bard in recognition of his writing in the '50s. Hans claims to have been a shy and introverted child who was not happy at school. He left school and, at the suggestion of his mother, auditioned for drama school: Avondale Hall in Clapham.

Acting career

Matheson made his feature film debut as Johnny Silver in Jez Butterworth's critically acclaimed directorial debut, "Mojo". Prior to "Mojo", Matheson appeared in various plays and television series.

He followed his role in "Mojo" with "Stella Does Tricks", playing a male prostitute hooked on drugs. Then came the classic literary character Marius, in Bille August's film version of "Les Misérables". Matheson then took up his guitar for the role of Luke Shand, a youthful rocker helping to invigorate an old band in the sleeper hit "Still Crazy".

Matheson continued with a starring role in the acclaimed independent British hit "Tube Tales", which led to his first commercialized film, "Bodywork", starring with the talented cast of Beth Winslet, Charlotte Coleman, and Clive Russell. Despite its lack of blockbuster success, Matheson quickly became recognized as an extraordinarily gifted actor. Handpicking his roles carefully, Matheson continued his intriguing film choices with the modern literary classic "Canone Inverso", as Jeno Varga. He learned how to play the violin to portray Vargo, and continues playing violin and fiddle to this day.

Following "Canone", he took on the rigid role of Mordred in the American TV film "The Mists of Avalon", based upon the famed literary fantasy series, alongside such talent as Julianna Margulies, Anjelica Huston, and Joan Allen.

Matheson proceeded in his career with a Danish film based upon another modern classic – "I Am Dina". Despite the film's mixed reviews, Matheson once again stood out; he then landed the role of a lifetime as Yurii Zhivago, in Giacomo Campiotti's 2002 adaptation of Boris Pasternak's classic novel, "Doctor Zhivago".

Matheson continued his career starring in independent films, such as 2002's controversial, religious themed war film "Deathwatch" and the docu-film "Comfortably Numb". "Comfortably Numb", a docu-film centered around the lives of drug patients, was a successful experiment in incorporating together onscreen actors and real-life drug addicts.

In 2006, Matheson co-starred with actress Demi Moore in the film "Half Light".

Hans portrayed the Earl of Essex in a lavish BBC production about Queen Elizabeth I of England called "The Virgin Queen", broadcast in the US in 2005 and the UK in 2006.

Matheson is currently portraying Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in the second season of the ongoing Showtime series "The Tudors".

Music

As well as acting, Matheson follows in a family tradition of writing and performing music. He plays the guitar, violin and harmonica and also sings. He has toured with several Irish folk festivals and appeared on his father's 2003 debut album, 'Out on the Islands' as a musician and vocalist. Matheson has also composed music and sung the soundtrack for some of his films. Most notably, he wrote and sang 'Live for Today' in the 1998 film "Still Crazy". The soundtrack for this film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Filmography

Film

* "Bathory" (2008), as Caravaggio
* "Half Light" (2006), as Angus
* 2004.
* "Comfortably Numb" 2004.
* "Deathwatch" 2002, as Jack Hawkstone
* "I Am Dina" 2001, as Tomas
* "Canone Inverso" 2000, as Jeno Varga
* "Bodywork" 1999, as Virgil Guppy
* "Tube Tales" 1999
* "Still Crazy" 1998, as Luke Shand
* "Les Misérables" 1998, as Marius Pontmercy
* "Family Money" 1997
* "Stella Does Tricks" 1997 as Eddie
* "Mojo" 1997, as Silver Johnny
* "The Future Lasts A Long Time" 1997
* "Poldark" 1996

Television

* "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" 2008, as Alec D'Urberville
* "The Tudors" 2008, as Archbishop Thomas Cranmer
* "The Virgin Queen" 2005, as Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
* "Doctor Zhivago" 2002, as Yurii Zhivago
* "The Mists of Avalon" 2001, as Mordred
* "Bramwell" (Episode 14) 1996.
* "Wycliffe" (Episode 38) 1996
* "The Bill" 1995.

Theatre

* "Cuba Real: Trio" 2004
* "Mojo" 1995

External links

*imdb name|id=0558548|name=Hans Matheson
* [http://www.hansmatheson.org/ Hans Matheson online]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/12_december/29/virgin_matheson.shtml 'Hans Matheson plays the Earl of Essex'] BBC Press Office, 29th December 2005.