Edward Maurice Charles Marsan (born 9 June 1968) is an English actor. He won the London Film Critics Circle Award and the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film Happy-Go-Lucky (2008).

Eddie Marsan
Marsan at The World's End premiere, Leicester Square, in 2013
Born
Edward Maurice Charles Marsan

(1968-06-09) 9 June 1968 (age 56)
Alma materMountview Academy of Theatre Arts
OccupationActor
Years active1990–present
Spouse
Janine Schneider
(m. 2002)
Children4

He has featured in films such as Gangster No. 1 (2000), V for Vendetta (2006), Mission: Impossible III (2006), Sixty Six (2006), Hancock (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009), War Horse (2011), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), The Best of Men (2012), The World's End (2013), Still Life (2013), The Exception (2016), Deadpool 2 (2018), and Vice (2018). His major TV credits include his role as Terry in Showtime's Ray Donovan (2013–2020), as Mr Norrell in the BBC drama Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2015) and Ultimate Force (2002).

Early life and education

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Marsan was born on 9 June 1968[1] in the Stepney district of London, to a working-class family; his father was a lorry driver and his mother was a school dinner lady and teacher's assistant.[2][3] He was brought up in Bethnal Green and attended Raine's Foundation School.[4] He left school at 16 and initially served an apprenticeship as a printer before beginning his career in theatre.[3]

He trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, graduating in 1991,[5] and went on to study under Sam Kogan[6] at the Kogan Academy of Dramatic Arts,[7] now known as The School of the Science of Acting,[7] of which Marsan is now a patron.[8] His first year at drama school was funded by Mr Benny who was bookmaker who ran a menswear shop he worked at, he obtained scholarships for the rest of the course. It took many attempts to get a place at drama school.[9]

Career

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Eddie Marsan at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.

Marsan's first television appearance was in 1992, as a "yob" in the London Weekend Television series The Piglet Files. One of his more significant early television appearances was in the popular mid-1990s BBC sitcom Game On as an escaped convict who was an old flame of Mandy's. Marsan went on to have roles in Casualty, The Bill, Grass, Kavanagh QC, Grange Hill, Silent Witness, Ultimate Force, Southcliffe,[10] and more. He also voiced the Manticore in the Merlin episode "Love in the Time of Dragons".[11]

In 2012, he portrayed Terry Donovan, brother to the lead character in 7 series and 82 episodes of Showtime's drama series Ray Donovan.[10] The same year he played Ludwig Guttmann in the television film The Best of Men. In May 2015, Marsan appeared as the practical magician Gilbert Norrell in the BBC period drama Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.[12]

Marsan has appeared in numerous and varied film roles. His roles include the main villain in the 2008 superhero film Hancock alongside Will Smith and as Inspector Lestrade in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes. His other films include Sixty Six, Gangs of New York,[10] 21 Grams, The Illusionist,[10] V for Vendetta, Gangster No. 1, Miami Vice, Mission: Impossible III, I Want Candy, Vera Drake, Happy-Go-Lucky,[10] Filth, Tyrannosaur[10] and Heartless.[13]

In 2021, Marsan appeared as anti-Fascist activist Soly Malinovsky in the television adaptation of the novel Ridley Road.[14] In 2022, he played the real-life role of John Darwin, in ITV's drama series The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe.[15]

Marsan appeared as Mitch Winehouse, father of Amy Winehouse, in the biopic Back to Black, which was released in 2024.[16]

Personal life

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Marsan married make-up artist Janine Schneider in 2002. They have four children.[17] Marsan is a humanist and was appointed a patron of Humanists UK in 2015.[18] He is critical of the lack of representation of working-class people in the arts in 2015 on BBC Radio 5 Live in which he stated too much drama is written from "the white, privileged, middle class perspective".[19] In 2024 he was interviewed on HARDtalk with an episode entitled Do the arts neglect working-class people?.[9]

Filmography

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Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1997The Man Who Knew Too LittleMugger No. 1
1999This Year's LoveEddie
Janice BeardMr Tense
2000Gangster No. 1Eddie Miller
2001The Emperor's New ClothesLouis Marchand
The BunkerPfc Kreuzmann
2002Gangs of New YorkKilloran
2003AfterLifeJez Walters
21 GramsReverend John
2004The Rocket PostHeinz Dombrowsky
Vera DrakeReg
2005The Secret Life of WordsVictor
Beowulf & GrendelFather Brendan
The New WorldEddie
The HeadsmanFabio
2006V for VendettaBrian Etheridge
Mission: Impossible IIIBrownway
Miami ViceNicholas
Sixty SixManny Reuben
The IllusionistJosef Fischer
PierrepointJames "Tish" Corbitt
2007I Want CandyDoug Perry
Grow Your OwnLittle John
2008Happy-Go-LuckyScott
HancockKenneth "Red" Parker Jr.
Me and Orson WellesJohn Houseman
FaintheartRichard
2009Red RidingJack Whitehead
Sherlock HolmesInspector Lestrade
The Disappearance of Alice CreedVic
HeartlessWeapons Man
2010London BoulevardDI Bailey
2011JunkheartsFrank
TyrannosaurJames
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of ShadowsInspector Lestrade
War HorseSgt Fry
2012Snow White and the HuntsmanDuir
I, AnnaDI Kevin Franks
2013Jack the Giant SlayerCrawe
The World's End[20]Peter Page
FilthBladesey
Still LifeJohn May
2014God's PocketSmilin' Jack Moran
X+YRichard
2015ConcussionSteven DeKosky
2016A Kind of MurderMarty Kimmel
The Limehouse GolemUncle
Their FinestSammy Smith
The ExceptionHeinrich Himmler
2017Atomic BlondeSpyglass
Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White HouseAgency Man
2018EntebbeShimon Peres
Deadpool 2The Headmaster
White Boy RickArt Derrick
Mowgli: Legend of the JungleVihaanVoice and motion capture role
VicePaul Wolfowitz
2019Hostage RadioJarvis Dolan
The Professor and the MadmanMuncie
Hobbs & Shaw[21]Professor Andreiko
AbigailJonathan Foster
Pets UnitedThe Cyborg / The Mayor / Frank StoneVoice role
The GentlemenBig Dave
2021Wrath of ManTerry
The VirtuosoThe Loner
Flag DayMr. Emmanuelle
CharlotteAlbert SalomonVoice role
2022The ContractorVirgil
Choose or DieHal
VesperJonas
2023Operation Fortune: Ruse de GuerreKnighton
Fair PlayCampbell[22]
FirebrandEdward Seymour
2024Back to BlackMitch Winehouse
Midas ManHarry Epstein[23]
TBAEmperorMartin LutherPost-production

Television

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1992The Piglet FilesYobEpisode: "Sex, Spies and Videotape"
1992–1996The BillMartin Price/Roy Kilby/Dean Stacey/Gary Vaughan4 episodes
1996CasualtyRick GrantEpisode: "Chain Reactions"
EastEndersRoddy1 episode
Game OnStoatEpisode: "Heavy Bondage & Custard Creams"
1996–1998Grange HillAndy Sutcliffe/Eddie Sutcliffe3 episodes
1997Get Well SoonBrian ClaptonMain cast, 6 episodes
Kavanagh QCIan VincentEpisode: "The Ties That Bind"
1999The ViceRhys2 episodes
2000The Mrs Bradley MysteriesRonald QuincyEpisode: "The Worsted Viper"
2001The Monkey KingPigsyMiniseries, 2 episodes
2002Ultimate ForceBadgerEpisode: "The Killing House"
Judge John DeedEd HayEpisode: "Nobody's Fool"
2003GrassSunshine3 episodes
Charles II: The Power and the PassionTitus OatesEpisode #1.4
2004Coming UpMartinEpisode: "The Baader Meinhoff Gang Show"
Quite Ugly One MorningStephen LimeTelevision film
Silent WitnessDerek Portnoy2 episodes
2006Friends and CrocodilesMartin ButterworthTelevision film
2008God on TrialLiebleTelevision film
Little DorritPancksMiniseries, 12 episodes
The 39 StepsScudderTelevision film
2009Criminal JusticeSaulMain cast, 5 episodes
2009–2010Law & Order: UKJason Peters2 episodes
2010MerlinThe Manticore (voice)Episode: "Love in the Time of Dragons"
The Sarah Jane AdventuresMr White2 episodes
2011Moby DickStubbMiniseries, 2 episodes
2012Playhouse PresentsThe IntruderEpisode: "Walking the Dogs"
The Best of MenLudwig GuttmannTelevision film
2013SouthcliffeAndrew Salter4 episodes
2013–2020Ray DonovanTerry DonovanMain cast, 80 episodes
2015Jonathan Strange & Mr NorrellGilbert NorrellMiniseries, 7 episodes
RiverThomas Neill CreamMiniseries, 6 episodes
HuntedNarrator (voice)Reality television series
2016GalavantDeathEpisode: "Love and Death"
2017Urban MythsBob DylanEpisode: "Bob Dylan: Knockin' on Dave's Door"
2018Indian Summer SchoolNarrator (voice)Reality television series, 3 episodes
2021The PactArwel EvansMiniseries, 4 episodes
DeceitPaul BrittonMiniseries, 4 episodes
Ridley RoadSoly Malinovsky4 episodes
2022Ray Donovan: The MovieTerry DonovanTelevision film
The Thief, His Wife and the CanoeJohn DarwinMiniseries, 4 episodes
2023The PowerBernie MonkeMain role
The Winter KingUther PendragonSeason 1, episodes 1 and 2
2024FranklinJohn AdamsUpcoming miniseries
TBALockerbieFilming[24]

Video games

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YearTitleRole
2020Deathtrap DungeonNarrator

Awards and nominations

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YearAwardsCategoryWorkResultRef.
20047th British Independent Film AwardsBest Supporting Actor/ActressVera DrakeWon[25][26]
2005London Film Critics' Circle Awards British Supporting Actor of the YearNominated[25]
2007The Last Hangman Nominated[25]
200811th British Independent Film AwardsBIFA Award for Best Supporting ActorHappy-Go-LuckyWon[25][27]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists EDA awardsEDA Best Actor in Supporting RoleNominated[25]
EDA Best Seduction (shared with: Sally Hawkins)Nominated[25]
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards 2008DFWFCA Best Supporting ActorWon[25][28]
Detroit Film Critics Society AwardsDFCS Best Supporting ActorNominated[25]
IndieWire Critics PollICP Best Supporting PerformanceNominated[25]
Village Voice Film PollVVFP Best Supporting ActorNominated[25]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association AwardsLAFCA Best Supporting ActorNominated[25]
2009Chlotrudis AwardsBest Supporting ActorWon[25]
Central Ohio Film Critics Association awardsCOFCA Best Supporting ActorNominated[25]
Gold Derby AwardsBest Supporting ActorNominated[25]
International Cinephile Society AwardsICS Best Supporting ActorNominated[25]
International Online Cinema AwardsINOCA Best Supporting ActorNominated[25]
London Film Critics' Circle Awards British Supporting Actor of the YearWon[25]
National Society of Film Critics NSFC Best Supporting ActorWon[25]
Online Film & Television AssociationOFTA Best Supporting ActorNominated[25]
Online Film Critics Society AwardsOFCSA Best Supporting ActorNominated[25]
Evening Standard British Film AwardsPeter Sellers Award for ComedyNominated[25]
2011Best ActorThe Disappearance of Alice CreedNominated[25]
14th British Independent Film AwardsBIFA Award for Best Supporting ActorTyrannosaurNominated[25][29]
2012Moscow International Film Festival Silver St. George - Best ActorJunkheartsNominated[25]
201316th British Independent Film AwardsBIFA Award for Best Supporting ActorFilthNominated[25][30]
2014Art Film FestivalBlue Angel award for Best Male PerformanceStill LifeWon[25]
Edinburgh International Film FestivalBest Performance in a British Feature FilmWon[25]
20155th VOICES Film Festival, Vologda, RussiaBest ActorWon[31]
2022BAFTA CymruBest ActorThe PactNominated[32][25]

References

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  1. ^ Southern, Nathan (2016). "Eddie Marsan". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  2. ^ Simon, Alex (8 December 2008). "Eddie Marsan Keeps It Real". The Hollywood Interview.com. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b Taylor, Ella (7 January 2009). "Happy-Go-Lucky: Driver's Eddie". LA Weekly. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  4. ^ "December Reunion" (PDF). Old Raineians Newsletter: 3. April 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Mountview Notable Alumni". mountview.org.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  6. ^ Kogan, Sam (2010). Kogan, Helen (ed.). The Science of Acting. UK, USA and Canada: Routledge. Back cover. ISBN 978-0-415-48812-9.
  7. ^ a b "Patrons". Kogan Academy of Dramatic Arts. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  8. ^ Prospectus. The Academy of the Science of Acting and Directing. 2007. p. 4.
  9. ^ a b "HARDtalk - Eddie Marsan: Do the arts neglect working-class people? - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Terry Donovan Played by Eddie Marsan". Showtime. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Love in the Time of Dragons - Merlin Series 3 Episode 9 of 14". bbc.co.uk. 6 November 2010.
  12. ^ "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Mr Norrell Played by Eddie Marsan". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  13. ^ Miska, Brad (3 February 2010). "Trailer for Lionsgate UK's Mass Release 'Heartless'". Bloody-Disgusting. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Interview with Eddie Marsan". 28 September 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  15. ^ Lawson, Mark (15 April 2022). "Death, fraud and canoes: how a mind-blowing insurance scam became an ITV drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  16. ^ Ntim, Zac (2 February 2024). "'Back To Black' Trailer: Marisa Abela Is Amy Winehouse In Sam Taylor-Johnson's Musical Biopic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  17. ^ Anderson, John (4 August 2010). "A Go-to Actor for 'That Guy' Roles". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Actor Eddie Marsan appointed Patron of the BHA". Humanists UK. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  19. ^ "5 Live In Short - Actor Eddie Marsan: 'UK drama too white, middle-class' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  20. ^ Hewitt, Chris (28 September 2012). "Martin Freeman joins 'The World's End' along with Eddie Marsan". Empire. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  21. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (4 October 2018). "Eddie Marsan Along for the Ride In 'Fast & Furious' Spin-off 'Hobbs And Shaw'". [[Deadline Hollywood|]]. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  22. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (7 February 2022). "'Fair Play': Sebastian de Souza, Eddie Marsan & Rich Sommer Join MRC & T-Street Finance World Thriller". Deadline Hollywood.
  23. ^ "Toronto Jewish Film Festival - Midas Man, Opening Night Film, Canadian Premier". Toronto Jewish Film Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  24. ^ Szalai, Georg (5 March 2024). "'Suits' Star Patrick J. Adams, Connor Swindells, Merritt Wever Cast in Netflix, BBC Series 'Lockerbie'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "Eddie Marsan Awards". IMDB (Index source only). Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  26. ^ "BIFA 2004 Winners & Nominations". BIFA. 2004. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  27. ^ "BIFA 2008 Winners & Nominations". BIFA. 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  28. ^ Levy, Emanuel (17 December 2008). "Oscar 2008: Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Awards". Cinema 24/7. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  29. ^ "BIFA 2011 Winners & Nominations". BIFA. 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  30. ^ "BIFA 2013 Winners & Nominations". BIFA. 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  31. ^ "The Winners of the 5th VOICES Film Festival". voices-festival.org. 6 July 2015.
  32. ^ "Winners announced for the 2022 BAFTA Cymru Awards". bafta.org. 9 October 2022.
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