Phil Davis

Philip Davis (born 30 July 1953) is an English actor, writer, director and narrator. His early work as a director earned awards for Life’s a Gas and ID (1995). As an actor, he starred in Quadrophenia (1979), The Bounty (1984), High Hopes (1988), The Firm (1989), In the Name of the Father (1993), North Square (2000), White Teeth (2002), Vera Drake (2004), Bleak House (2005), Whitechapel (2009–2013), Sherlock (2010), Brighton Rock (2010), Merlin (2011), Silk (2012–2014), Poldark (2015–2016), Mad Dogs (2015–2016), Trying (2020–) and Platform 7 (2023).

Early life Davis was born on 30 July 1953 in Highgate, London, and brought up in South Ockendon in Thurrock, Essex.

Career Acting In 1977, he was cast in the lead role of the play Gotcha! about an under-achieving student who holds two teachers hostage on his last day at school.

In 2004, Davis played Stanley, the husband of the abortion care provider in Vera Drake (2004).

In 2012, he starred as crime family solicitor Micky Joy in Silk,

In 2017 he took over from Cherie Lunghi as the narrator of the BBC family history TV series Who Do You Think You Are?. Since 2020 he has also been the narrator of the BBC series Murder 24/7.

From November 2017 until February 2018, Davis played Ebenezer Scrooge in David Edgar's new adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In 2023, Davis played a main role in the ITV1 psychological thriller Platform 7, alongside actors Jasmine Jobson and Toby Regbo.

Recording In 1980, Davis recorded "Blown It", which was released on the Elton John-owned label The Rocket Record Company.

Personal life Davis married actress Eve Matheson in Hackney, London in 2002.

Filmography Film

Television

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result As director 1992 Torino International Festival of Young Cinema Prize of the City of Torino – Best Short FilmLife's a Gas 1995 Thessaloniki Film Festival Golden Alexander Award I.D. 2005 Chlotrudis Awards Best Supporting Actor 2005 London Critics Circle Film Awards Best British Supporting Actor 2006 Online Film & Television Association Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Bleak House 2009 Clarence Derwent Awards Best Supporting Male (UK)The Philistines 2012 Crime Thriller Awards Dagger Award - Best Supporting Actor Whitechapel and Silk 2012 Monte-Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymph - Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Whitechapel