Simon Russell Beale
Known for
Simon Russell Beale, born in Penang, Malaysia, in 1961 and raised in the UK, is a British actor widely considered one of the finest classical stage performers of his generation. He built his reputation with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre in roles from Hamlet to King Lear. On screen he stole scenes as Lavrentiy Beria in Armando Iannucci's The Death of Stalin (2017) and appeared in Operation Mincemeat (2021). His forensic intelligence and dry wit have made him a magnetic presence, whether in Shakespeare or in modern political satire.
Simon Russell Beale
38 Movies
10 Series
Simon Russell Beale, born in Penang, Malaysia, in 1961 and raised in the UK, is a British actor widely considered one of the finest classical stage performers of his generation. He built his reputation with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre in roles from Hamlet to King Lear. On screen he stole scenes as Lavrentiy Beria in Armando Iannucci's The Death of Stalin (2017) and appeared in Operation Mincemeat (2021). His forensic intelligence and dry wit have made him a magnetic presence, whether in Shakespeare or in modern political satire.
Movies
Plays Dionysus
Thor: Love and Thunder
2022
Plays Sir Hector Moreland
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
2025
Plays Mr. Frum
The Legend of Tarzan
2016
Plays Roy Boyle
The Outfit
2022
Plays Sir Edward Elgar
The Choral
2025
Plays Winston Churchill
De Gaulle: Résistance
2026
Plays Lavrenti Beria
The Death of Stalin
2017
Plays Baker's Father
Into the Woods
2014
Plays Robert Beale
Mary Queen of Scots
2018
Plays Winston Churchill
De Gaulle: Liberté
2026
Plays Winston Churchill
Operation Mincemeat
2022
Plays Cotes-Preedy
My Week with Marilyn
2011
Plays Charles Musgrove
Persuasion
1995
Plays Stephen Gardiner
Firebrand
2024
Plays Second Gravedigger
Hamlet
1996
Plays David Ben-Gurion
Operation Finale
2018
Plays King Cedric of Hearts
Alice in Wonderland
1999
Plays Professor Lippmann
Radioactive
2020
Plays Sir William Collyer
The Deep Blue Sea
2011
Plays Earl of Moray
Orlando
1992
Plays Sir Edward
An Ideal Husband
1999
Plays Couch
My Cousin Rachel
2017
Plays Robbie Ross
Benediction
2021
Plays Luke Fraser
The Gathering
2003
Plays Frank Graves
Museo
2018
Plays Lear, King of Britain
National Theatre Live: King Lear
2014
Plays Scrooge's voice (voice)
A Christmas Carol
2020
Plays Henry Lehman
National Theatre Live: The Lehman Trilogy
2019
Plays The Duchess / Introduced by
Royal Opera House: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
2011
TV Shows
Plays Ferdinand Lyle
Penny Dreadful
2014
Plays John Sedley
Vanity Fair
2018
Plays Home Secretary
Spooks
2002
Plays Ser Simon Strong
House of the Dragon
2022
Plays Widmerpool
A Dance to the Music of Time
1997
Plays Bently
Douglas Is Cancelled
2024
Plays Winston Churchill
Dunkirk
2004
Plays Falstaff
The Hollow Crown
2012
Plays Sir George Villiers
Mary & George
2024
Plays Mark Stibbs
A Very Peculiar Practice
1986
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
De Gaulle: Liberté
Full Filmography
House of the Dragon
Ser Simon Strong · 7 episodes
2024–2026
TV
De Gaulle: Liberté
Winston Churchill
2026
Film
De Gaulle: Résistance
Winston Churchill
2026
Film
The Choral
Sir Edward Elgar
2025
Film
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Sir Hector Moreland
2025
Film
Mary & George
Sir George Villiers · 1 episode
2024
TV
Douglas Is Cancelled
Bently · 4 episodes
2024
TV
Firebrand
Stephen Gardiner
2024
Film
Thor: Love and Thunder
Dionysus
2022
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Simon Russell Beale and where are they from?
Simon Russell Beale is 65 years old, born on January 12, 1961 in Penang, Malaysia.
What are the most famous roles of Simon Russell Beale?
Simon Russell Beale is best known for roles in Thor: Love and Thunder, The Legend of Tarzan, Into the Woods.
How many movies has Simon Russell Beale been in?
Over a 41-year career (since 1985), Simon Russell Beale has appeared in 35 movies and 9 TV shows.
What was Simon Russell Beale's first movie?
The career of Simon Russell Beale began with Time and the Conways (1985).
What is Simon Russell Beale's most recent movie or series?
Simon Russell Beale's most recent release is De Gaulle: Liberté, which premiered on June 26, 2026.
What TV shows has Simon Russell Beale appeared in?
On television, Simon Russell Beale has appeared in House of the Dragon, Penny Dreadful, Spooks, Mary & George.
Does Simon Russell Beale have any upcoming projects?
Yes, Simon Russell Beale's upcoming work includes: Prima Facie (2026).
Simon Russell Beale
1961-01-12 · Penang, Malaysia
Sir Simon Russell Beale CBE (born January 12, 1961) is an English actor. He is known for his appearances in film, television and theatre, and work on radio, on audiobooks and as a narrator. For his services to drama, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2019.
He has spent much of his theatre career working in productions for both the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. He has received ten Laurence Olivier Award nominations, winning three awards for his performances in Volpone (1996), Candide (2000), and Uncle Vanya (2003). For his work on the Broadway stage he has received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play nomination for his performance as George in the Tom Stoppard play Jumpers in 2004. For his role as Henry Lehman in The Lehman Trilogy, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play and was nominated for an Olivier Award. Beale has been described by The Independent as "the greatest stage actor of his generation".
Beale made his film debut in Sally Potter's period drama Orlando (1992). He continued acting in films such as Persuasion (1995), Hamlet (1996), My Week with Marilyn (2011), The Deep Blue Sea (2011), Into the Woods (2014), and Mary Queen of Scots (2018). In 2017, he starred in Armando Iannucci's dark comedy The Death of Stalin playing Lavrentiy Beria for which he received the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He has also appeared in the television projects The Young Visiters (2003), Dunkirk (2004), and as Falstaff in the BBC made-for-television films Henry IV, Part I and Part II (2012). He was part of the main cast of Showtime's Penny Dreadful.