Al Weaver

Alexander Paul Weaver (born 3 January 1981) is an English actor, writer, producer, and director, best known for his role as curate Leonard Finch in the ITV series Grantchester (2014-present). He is also known as the voice of Rex in Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

Background Weaver was born and grew up in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. He went to Rivington and Blackrod High School, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in acting from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in June 2003.

Career Weaver's first paid theatre role was in Trevor Nunn's 2004 production of Hamlet, at the Old Vic theatre in London. Weaver played the title role on Monday evenings and at all matinees, whilst Ben Whishaw took on the role for evening performances, from Tuesday to Saturday.

British politician Michael Portillo lauded Weaver's interpretation of Hamlet in The New Statesman: "He [Weaver] gave meaning to the poetry, refusing to be rushed in the soliloquies or intimidated by them, varying volume and pace well. Frame by frame, he made credible Hamlet's progression from self-indulgence to nobility, so we could nearly believe Fortinbras' remark that 'he was likely, had he been put on,/To have proved most royally'."

Weaver has appeared in minor roles in Colour Me Kubrick (2005) (uncredited), The Merchant of Venice (2004), Marie Antoinette (2006), Unmade Beds (2009), and Me and Orson Welles (2009). He also played "The Kid" in Doom, Schwob in Colette, and an uncredited Gulf War soldier in Armistice (2014).

His television credits include D.C. Billy Slaven in The Inspector Lynley Mysteries episodes "In Pursuit of a Proper Sinner" and "A Cry for Justice", and National Antiquities Museum employee Andy Galbraith in the Sherlock episode "The Blind Banker". Weaver has also been in Five Days as Josh Fairley, Five Daughters as Tom Alderton, Secret State as Josh Leyton, Southcliffe as Anthony, Life in Squares as young Leonard Woolf, The Smoke as Tom, The Nativity as Thomas, and Personal Affairs as Crawford Crawford.

His theatre credits include Meshak in the Royal National Theatre's 2006-07 production of Helen Edmundson's Coram Boy.

Weaver plays fledgling Anglican curate Leonard Finch in the TV series Grantchester (2014 to present), who assists the Vicar of Grantchester, Sidney Chambers, and later, Will Davenport. He also directed the third episode of season 8.

Radio credits include Bach: The Great Passion, a 2017 biographical radio play by English writer James Runcie, where he played Christian Henrici. Weaver also presents two radio shows at the Boogaloo, a pub based in north London: Film And Telly Stuff, alongside actor Luke Neal, and The Theme's Of Our Youth, with actor Jack Whitam.

In September 2017, the BBC announced he had joined the cast of the mini-series Press.

Weaver is known for his voice role as protagonist Rex in the game Xenoblade Chronicles 2, released in December 2017. He reprised the role for the character's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as well as the trailer revealing Pyra and Mythra as playable characters.

In 2019, a fourth series of Grantchester aired, with Weaver reprising his role as Leonard Finch.

In 2020, Weaver starred as Dr. Rees Wakefield in the choose-your-own-adventure style sci-fi thriller video game The Complex.

Personal life Tessa Peake-Jones, who played Mrs. Maguire (later, Mrs. Chapman) on Grantchester, was Weaver's mentor while he was studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is a bibliophile and a football fan, supporting Liverpool F.C..

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 2002 Brum Yellow Team Episode: "Brum the Soccer Hero" 2004 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Billy Slaven 2 episodes 2007 Five Days Josh Fairley Recurring role; 5 episodes 2008 The Devil's Whore Christian Mini-series; 2 episodes 2009 Personal Affairs Crawford Mini-series; 4 episodes2010 Survivors Kevin 2 episodes Five Daughters Tom Alderton Mini-series; 2 episodes Sherlock Andy Galbraith Episode: "The Blind Banker" The Nativity Thomas the Apostle Mini-series; 4 episodes 2012 Secret State Joss Leyton Mini-series; 4 episodes 2013 Southcliffe Anthony Mini-series; 4 episodes 2014 The Smoke Tom Mini-series; 1 episode 2014-present Grantchester Leonard Finch Series regular; 66 episodes 2015 Life in Squares Young Leonard Woolf Mini-series; 2 episodes 2016 The Hollow Crown Rivers 2 episodes 2018 Press James Edwards Series regular; 6 episodes 2019 The Mallorca Files Richard Webb Episode: "Number One Fan" 2022 The Chelsea Detective Simon Turnball Episode: "The Wages of Sin"2024 Miss Scarlet and the Duke Delaware Episode: "Elysium"Daddy Issues Danny Episode: "Happy Tears"

Video games Year Game Role Notes 2017 Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Rex English version 2020 The Complex Rees Wakefield 2021 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Rex DLC, English version 2022 Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? Toby

Theatre credits