Daniel Francis

Daniel Asher Francis (9 February 1983) is an English actor. He began his career in theatre. On television, he is known for his roles in Steve McQueen's Small Axe: Education, and the Netflix miniseries Stay Close (2021) and period drama Bridgerton (2024–).

Early life and education Francis was born to Jamaican parents and raised by his mother on a council estate in Battersea, South London. Having been shy growing up, he discovered acting through Pyramid Youth in Clapham. When he was seventeen, under the mentorship of theatre director Sacha Wares, Francis was cast in Bintou at the Arcola Theatre. He went on to train at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Career Upon graduating from LAMDA, Francis landed small roles in the Royal Shakespeare Company productions of The Comedy of Errors in Salford and Twelfth Night in Stratford-upon-Avon. He went on to star in The Brothers Size at the Young Vic, the stage adaptation of The Hounding of David Oluwale as the titular David Oluwale, and Off the Endz at the Royal Court Theatre.

Francis landed his first major onscreen role as Sgt Carl Haleford in the 2012 ITV war drama Homefront. That same year, he made his feature film debut as Sean Warren in the sports drama Fast Girls and played Black in Blackta, returning to the Young Vic. The following year, he played the titular role in the Singapore Repertory Theatre production of Othello.

In 2016, Francis played Martin Luther King Jr. in Katori Hall's The Mountaintop at the New Vic Theatre in Staffordshire. He joined the recurring cast of Once Upon a Time for its seventh and final season as Dr. Facilier or Baron Samdi.

In the meantime, Francis has worked as a personal development coach and consultant, and as a community manager for Hedera Hashgraph.

Francis played Esmond Smith in the Education installment of Steve McQueen's Small Axe anthology, which premiered in 2020. He also starred in Cops at Southwark Playhouse. He was then cast in Harlen Coben's 2021 Netflix mystery miniseries Stay Close as Dave Shaw.

Francis starred in the Apple TV+ series Liaison, the second season of the Amazon Prime adaptation of The Wheel of Time, and currently co-stars on the Netflix period drama Bridgerton.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2011 The Shot Short film 2012 Fast Girls Sean Warren 2016 In and Out Josh Short film 2017 Cla'am Low Beak Short film 2024 Don't Move Dontrell Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 EastEnders Pete 1 episode Trail of Guilt Nathaniel Docuseries; episode: "To Catch the Carjackers" 2010 Law & Order: UK Louis Francis Episode: "Broken" 2012 Eternal Law Captain Caple 1 episode Homefront Sgt Carl Haleford Miniseries 2013 Holby City Joey Ryan Episode: "Arthur's Theme" 2017–2018 Once Upon a Time Dr. Facilier / Baron Samdi 8 episodes 2020 Small Axe Esmond Smith Anthology; episode: Education 2021 Stay Close Dave Shaw Miniseries 2023 Liaison Albert Onwori 6 episodes The Wheel of Time Turak 2 episodes 2024-present Bridgerton Marcus Anderson 11 episodes

Stage Year Title Role Notes 2002 Bintou Arcola Theatre, London 2007 The Comedy of Errors Antiopholus (understudy) / Merchant The Lowry, Salford Twelfth Night Lord / Sailor Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 2008 The Brothers Size Ogun Young Vic, London 2009 The Hounding of David Oluwale David Oluwale England tour 2010 Off the Endz Kojo Royal Court Theatre, London 2012 Blackta Black Young Vic, London 2013 Othello Othello Singapore Repertory Theatre, Singapore 2016 The Mountaintop Martin Luther King Jr. New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme 2020 Cops Roosevelt "Rosey" Washington Southwark Playhouse, London