Alex Avery

Alexander Richard Avery (born 6 August 1971) is an English actor. Beginning his career in 1999, he has appeared in numerous television series, films and stage productions. Alongside appearing in productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Avery has had notable stints in Holby City, The Bill and EastEnders, as well as portraying villain Graham Elton in the BBC soap opera Doctors.

Life and career Alexander Richard Avery was born on 6 August 1971 in Bristol. Avery's family has been involved in wine trade for over 200 years. In 1999, Avery made his television debut in the first series of the BBC medical drama series Holby City. He portrayed the recurring role of Carl until the second series. A year later, he made his film debut in Quills, as well as beginning his stage career, appearing in Another Country. He also appeared in A Tender Prayer at the Bristol Old Vic later in 2000. In 2001, he appeared in four episodes of The Bill as Special Constable Knowles. His character died at the end of Avery's stint. Then in 2004, he was cast in the BBC project Dunkirk. In December 2006, Avery made his first appearance in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors. This marked the first of numerous of Avery's appearances in the soap.

Avery appeared in two Royal Shakespeare Company productions in 2004: The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Julius Caesar. Then in 2007, he starred in a West End theatre production Kean as the Prince of Wales. The production later toured the UK. A year later, Avery was cast in the recurring role of Simon Ackroyd on the BBC soap opera EastEnders. His character was introduced as Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) and Ben Mitchell's (Charlie Jones) teacher. He appeared again in 2014 and 2016. Throughout the early 2010s, Avery made various film appearances, including: The Grind (2012), What You Will (2012), National Theatre Live: War Horse (2014) and The Ones Below (2015). In 2019, Avery portrayed the titular role in Rose Theatre Kingston's production of Macbeth. In 2024, Avery returned to the BBC soap Doctors, but this time was cast in the recurring role of Graham Elton. At the time of his casting, Avery was unaware that he had been cast as a villain.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2000 Quills Abbe du Maupas 2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Best Man Uncredited role 2008 Last Chance Harvey Andrew 2010 Maria James Short film 2012 The Grind Detective Inspector Greaves 2012 What You Will Tony 2014 National Theatre Live: War Horse Captain Nicholls 2015 The Ones Below Estate Agent 2017 Rangoon Major Williams 2022 The Dunns of Brixton Frank Dunn

Television Year Title Role Notes 1999 Holby City Carl Recurring role 2001 Shades Waiter 1 episode 2001–2002 The Bill Special Constable Knowles Recurring role 2002 The Project Lib-Dem Candidate Television film 2003 Death in Holy Orders Mark Ayling 1 episode 2004 Dunkirk Captain J Hendry Main role 2004 Murder in Suburbia Alex Episode: "Millionaire's Row" 2005 Colditz Collins Episode: "Part One" 2006 Tripping Over Larry Recurring role 2006, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017 Doctors Various roles 5 episodes 2008–2009, 2014, 2016 EastEnders Simon Ackroyd Recurring role 2014 Holby City Tris Mason Episode: "True Colours" 2015 Coalition William Hague Television film 2015 The Coroner Ray Mason Episode: "Gilt" 2016 Undercover Fred Redhead Recurring role 2016, 2019 Casualty Eli Brookes / Mark Eaves 2 episodes 2017 Wallis: The Queen That Never Was Edward VIII Television film 2022, 2024 Royal Autopsy William Knighton / Edmund King 2 episodes 2024 Doctors Graham Elton Recurring role

Stage Year Title Role Venue 2000 Another Country Delahey Oxford Playhouse 2000 A Tender Prayer Travis Bristol Old Vic 2001 Edward II Levune / Gourney Crucible Theatre 2002 The Master and Margarita Ivan Battersea Arts Centre 2002 The Deep Blue Sea Jackie Jackson Watford Palace Theatre 2004 The Two Gentlemen of Verona Valentine Royal Shakespeare Company 2004 Julius Caesar Decius Brutus Royal Shakespeare Company 2005 Presence Conor Drum Theatre 2007 Kean Prince of Wales West End / UK tour 2010–2011 Twelfth Night Malvolio / Orsino / Aguecheek Filter Theatre 2011 War Horse Captain Nicholls Gillian Lynne Theatre 2019 Macbeth Macbeth Rose Theatre Kingston