Alex Jennings

Alex Michael Jennings (born 10 May 1957) is an English actor of the stage and screen who has worked extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. For his work on the London stage, Jennings has received three Olivier Awards, winning for Too Clever by Half, Peer Gynt (1996), and My Fair Lady (2003). He is the only performer to have won Olivier awards in the drama, musical, and comedy categories.

Jennings is known for his film work, in particular for his performance as Prince Charles in Stephen Frears's film The Queen (2006) opposite Helen Mirren. His other film appearances include The Wings of the Dove (1997), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), Babel (2006), Belle (2013), and The Lady in the Van (2015) starring Maggie Smith.

Jennings has won acclaim for his performances in television, including for his portrayal of Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, in the Netflix series The Crown opposite Claire Foy. He also starred as Leopold I of Belgium in the ITV series Victoria (2016–2019) opposite Jenna Coleman. His other roles include Stephen Frears's A Very English Scandal (2018) alongside Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw, and in Steve McQueen's Small Axe: Mangrove (2020) starring Letitia Wright.

Early life and education Alex Michael Jennings was born in Romford, Essex, the son of Peggy Patricia (née Mahoney) and Michael Thomas Jennings. He attended Abbs Cross Technical High School in Hornchurch and studied English and theatre studies at the University of Warwick, graduating in 1978.

Jennings trained as an actor for two years at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Career 1980s In the early 1980s, Jennings began his career in regional repertory theatre. In 1985, playing a range of roles including Maximilien Robespierre in The Scarlet Pimpernel. Jennings met director Nicholas Hytner during this production and has worked with him many times since. Angelo in Measure for Measure, and the title role in Hamlet.

Jennings also appeared in War Requiem, the RSC's film version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1999). Jennings also appeared as Lord Mark in the romantic drama film The Wings of the Dove starring Helena Bonham Carter, Elizabeth McGovern, Charlotte Rampling, and Michael Gambon. The film received great acclaim and many awards nominations including four Academy Award nominations and five British Academy Film Award nominations.

2000s In 2002, Jennings appeared in the Cameron Mackintosh/Trevor Nunn revival of My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and won an Olivier Award as Best Actor in a Musical. He was an Associate Artist at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

2010s In 2010, Jennings played Captain Shipshape in the CBeebies second series of Grandpa in my Pocket and starred in the film Belle. After that, he played Henry Tizard in Castles in the Sky. In 2011, he played Mikhail Bulgakov in the National Theatre's production of Collaborators. In 2014, he played the role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical, which was directed by Sam Mendes and was performed on London's West End theatre district. He took over the role from Douglas Hodge in 2014. He has also appeared in the ITV television series Lewis (2012), and Foyle's War (2015).

Jennings portrayed playwright Alan Bennett in the 2015 film The Lady in the Van opposite Academy Award winner Dame Maggie Smith in the title role. The film is directed by Nicolas Hytner, who is a long-time collaborator from the theatre. On television, from 2016 to 2017, he appeared in the Netflix series The Crown alongside Claire Foy and Jared Harris, as Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor, uncle to Queen Elizabeth and great-uncle to Prince Charles (whom Jennings played in The Queen). The series has received widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Jennings also portrayed King Leopold I of Belgium in the ITV/PBS series Victoria (2016–2019) alongside Jenna Coleman.

In 2018, Jennings played Liberal MP Peter Bessell in the BBC One series, A Very English Scandal alongside Hugh Grant, and Ben Whishaw, a miniseries about the Jeremy Thorpe affair directed by Stephen Frears. The film received widespread critical acclaim with a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes with the critics consensus reading, "Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw impress in A Very English Scandal, an equally absorbing and appalling look at British politics and society". The series also received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations including a win for Whishaw for his performance.

In 2019, Jennings played Andrew Aldridge, a Conservative MP, in the American TV miniseries Four Weddings and a Funeral.

2020s In 2020, Jennings appeared in the Small Axe miniseries directed by Steve McQueen, specifically the television movie Mangrove as Judge Edward Clarke alongside Letitia Wright as physician and British Black Panther Altheia Jones-LeCointe. In Mangrove, the story revolves around the true story based on the Mangrove Nine who were British black activists tried for inciting a riot at a protest, in 1970, against the police targeting of the Mangrove restaurant, Notting Hill, in west London. The film received widespread critical acclaim, with the critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reading, "Anchored by strong performances and an even stronger sense of conviction, Mangrove is a powerful indictment of institutional racism."

Work Film Year Title RoleNotes 1989 War Requiem Blinded Soldier 1996 A Midsummer Night's Dream Theseus/Oberon 1997 The Wings of the Dove Lord Mark 1999 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Butler 2002 The Four Feathers Colonel Hamilton 2004 Five Children and It Father Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Horatio 2006 Babel Ken Clifford The Queen Prince Charles 2008 The Disappeared Adrian Ballan 2010 Words of the Blitz George Orwell 2013 Trap for Cinderella Chance Belle Lord Ashford 2014 Castles in the Sky Henry Tizard 2015 The Lady in the Van Alan Bennett 2016 Denial Sir Charles Gray 2021 Munich – The Edge of War Sir Horace Wilson Operation Mincemeat John Masterman The Forgiven Lord Swanthorne 2022 Your Christmas or Mine? Humphrey Hughes2023 Your Christmas or Mine 2 Humphrey Hughes 2024 Blitz Victor Smythe 2025 The Phoenician Scheme Broadcloth Ballad of a Small Player Adrian Lippett

Television Year Title RoleNotes 1982 Smiley's People P.C. Hall Episode: "Episode No. 1.1" 1986 Kit Curran PC Woods Episode: "A Sick Society" 1988 The Franchise Affair Nevil Bennet 6 episodes 1989 The Return of Shelley Jeremy Episode: "The Gospel According to Shelley" 1990 Inspector Morse Victor Preece Episode: "The Sins of the Fathers" Alfonso Bonzo Alfonso Bonzo 6 episodes 1991 Ashenden John Ashenden 4 episodes Bye Bye Columbus King Ferdinand Television movie 1992 ScreenPlay Byron Episode: "Dread Poets' Society" 1993 The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries Sebastian Parish Episode: "Death at the Bar" 1994 Hard Times Bitzer Episode: "Episode No. 1.1" 1997 Liberty! The American Revolution King George III 6 episodes 1999 Bad Blood Joe Harker Television movie The Hunley Lt. Alexander Television movie 2000 Too Much Sun Julian Edgbaston-Bowles 6 episodes 2002 100 Greatest Britons Churchill Voice; Episode: "Sir Winston Churchill" 2004 London Stephen Spender Television movie 2005 A Very Social Secretary Alastair Campbell Television movie Riot at the Rite Sergei Diaghilev Television movie Agatha Christie's Poirot Dr Roberts Episode: "Cards on the Table" 2006 Spooks James Allan Episode: "Episode No. 5.4" The State Within James Sinclair 6 episodes 2007 Waking the Dead James Andrews 2 episodes 2007–2009 Cranford Reverend Hutton 7 episodes 2008 10 Days to War Vincent Episode: "Failure Is Not an Option" Fairy Tales Roger Bateman Episode: "Rapunzel" Hancock and Joan John Le Mesurier Television movie The 39 Steps Captain Kell Television movie, BBC 2009 The Last Days of Lehman Brothers Timothy Geithner Television movie Agatha Christie's Marple Inspector Curry Episode: "They Do It with Mirrors" 2009–2010 Whitechapel Commander Anderson 5 episodes 2010 Masterpiece Classic Captain Kell Episode: "The 39 Steps" Grandpa in My Pocket Captain Shipshape Episode: "Captain Shipshape and a Fish Called Bryan" On Expenses Andrew Walker Television movie 2011–2014 Silk Alan Cowdrey, QC 13 episodes 2012 Being Human Griffin Episode: "Eve of the War" Lewis Rev Conor Hawes Episode: "The Soul of Genius" New Tricks Prof. Blake Episode: "Body of Evidence" We'll Take Manhattan John Parsons Television movie 2013 The Lady Vanishes The Professor Television movie 2015 Churchill's Secret Anthony Eden Television movie, PBS Foyle's War Clive Ord-Smith Episode: "Trespass" 2016–2019 Victoria King Leopold I 9 episodes 2016–2017, 2022 The Crown Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor Main role (Seasons 1–2);Guest role (Season 5) 2017 The Halcyon Lord Hamilton Episode: #1.1 2018 A Very English Scandal Peter Bessell 3 episodes Unforgotten Tim Finch 6 episodes 2019 Four Weddings and a Funeral Andrew Aldridge Miniseries, Hulu Gold Digger Ted Day 6 episodes 2020 Small Axe Judge Clarke Episode: "Mangrove" 2022 This Is Going to Hurt Nigel Lockhart 7 episodes The Undeclared War David Neal 5 episodes 2024 Mr Bates vs The Post Office James Arbuthnot 4 episodes The New Look Raymond Dior 2 episodes A Very Royal Scandal Sir Edward Young 3 episodes Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light Stephen Gardiner 3 episodes The Agency Frank Episode: "The Bends" 2025 MobLand Archie Hammond 3 episodes Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes Michael Mansfield Episode: "The Verdict"2026LegendsHome SecretarySupporting cast; 6 episodes

Theatre Year Title Role Playwright VenueRef. 1985 The Scarlet Pimpernel Performer Baroness Orczy Her Majesty's Theatre 1987–88 Measure for Measure Lucio William Shakespeare Royal Shakespeare Company 1988 Too Clever by Half Yegor Dimitrich Gloumov Alexander Ostrovsky Old Vic Theatre, London The Country Wife Performer William Wycherley Royal Exchange, Manchester 1989 Ghetto Kittel Yehoshua Sobol National Theatre 1990 The Wild Duck Hjalmar Ekdal Henrik Ibsen Peter Hall Company The Liars Dorante Henry Arthur Jones Old Vic Theatre, London Richard II Richard II William Shakespeare Royal Shakespeare Company 1992 The Recruiting Officer Captain Plume George Farquhar National Theatre 1993 The Importance of Being Earnest John Worthing Oscar Wilde Aldwych Theatre 1994 Peer Gynt Peer Gynt Henrik Ibsen Royal Shakespeare Company 1994–95 Measure for Measure Angelo William Shakespeare Royal Shakespeare Company 1996 A Midsummer Night's Dream Oberon/Theseus William Shakespeare Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway Hyde Park Performer James Shirley Royal Shakespeare Company The Taming of the Shrew Lucentio William Shakespeare 1997 Hamlet Hamlet William Shakespeare 2000 Albert Speer Albert Speer David Edgar Lyttelton Theatre, London 2001 The Winter's Tale Performer William Shakespeare Royal National Theatre The Relapse Foppington John Vanbrugh My Fair Lady Prof. Henry Higgins Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe 2007 Present Laughter Garry Essendine Noël Coward Royal National Theatre 2009 The Habit of Art Henry Alan Bennett National Theatre of Great Britain Lyttelton Theatre in London 2011 Collaborators Mikhail Bulgakov John Hodge National Theatre of Great Britain Cottesloe Theatre in London 2012 Hymn/Cocktail Sticks Performer Alan Bennett National Theatre of Great Britain Lyttelton Theatre in London 2013 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Willy Wonka Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman & David Greig Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London 2016 My Fair Lady Prof. Henry Higgins Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe Sydney Opera House 2019 Hansard Robin Hesketh Simon Woods Royal National Theatre The Light in the Piazza Signor Naccarelli Adam Guettel & Craig Lucas Royal Festival Hall, London Civic Opera House Chicago 2022 The Southbury Child David Highland Stephen Beresford Chichester Festival TheatreBridge Theatre, London

Filmed Theatrical Events

1999: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Butler 2010: National Theatre Live: The Habit of Art as Henry / Benjamin Britten 2011: National Theatre Live: Collaborators as Mikhail Bulgakov 2013: National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage as Henry Higgins 2019: National Theatre Live: Hansard as Robin Hesketh

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title ResultRef. 1988 Olivier Award Best Comedy Performance Too Clever by Half 1990The Liar 1996 Best Actor Peer Gynt 2003 Best Actor in a Musical My Fair Lady 2019 British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actor Unforgotten

Jennings was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2024 Birthday Honours for services to drama.