Tom Hollander

Thomas Anthony Hollander (; born 25 August 1967) is an English actor. He trained with National Youth Theatre and won the Ian Charleson Award in 1992 for his performance as Witwoud in The Way of the World. He made his Broadway debut in the David Hare play The Judas Kiss in 1998. His performance as Henry Carr in a revival of the Tom Stoppard play Travesties earned nominations for both the Olivier Award and Tony Award.

Hollander gained attention portraying Mr. Collins in the 2005 Joe Wright film Pride & Prejudice, and as Lord Cutler Beckett in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Other film roles include Gosford Park (2001), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), Valkyrie (2008), In the Loop (2009), Hanna (2011), About Time (2013), The Invisible Woman (2013), Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).

In television, Hollander starred in the BBC sitcom Rev. (2010–2014), which he co-wrote. He received the 2011 BAFTA Award for best sitcom for the series. His performance in the BBC series The Night Manager earned the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. Hollander portrayed King George V in The Lost Prince (2003) and The King's Man (2021), King George III in the HBO miniseries John Adams (2008), and Truman Capote in the FX on Hulu series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (2024). Other credits include Doctor Thorne (2016), The White Lotus (2022), and Harley Quinn (2020–present).

Early life Thomas Anthony Hollander was born on 25 August 1967 in Bristol and was raised in Oxford. Hollander's father is a Czech Jew whose family converted to Catholicism, and his mother is English. Hollander was brought up as a Christian. The family background was academic and musical: his grandfather, Hans Hollander, was a musicologist who wrote books about the composer Janáček. Hollander's parents were teachers, his father running the science department at a school in Oxford.

He attended the Dragon School, and then Abingdon School, both in Oxfordshire, where he was chief chorister. As a youngster, he was a member of the National Youth Theatre and the National Youth Music Theatre (then known as the Children's Music Theatre). In 1981, at the age of 14, he won the lead role in a BBC dramatisation of Leon Garfield's John Diamond.

Hollander read English at Selwyn College, Cambridge, earning a 2:2 degree. He was actively involved in stage productions as a member of the Footlights and was president of the Marlowe Society. Sam Mendes, a friend and fellow student, directed him in several plays while they were at Cambridge, including a critically acclaimed production of Cyrano de Bergerac (which also featured future Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg).

Career 1981–1999: Early roles and Broadway debut Hollander made his television debut at the age of 14 acting in the television film John Diamond (1981). Hollander won the 1992 Ian Charleson Award for his performance as Witwoud in The Way of the World at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. He had been nominated and commended the previous year for his Celia in an all-male production of As You Like It for Cheek by Jowl, and was again nominated and commended for his Khlestakov in The Government Inspector at the Almeida Theatre in 1997. He had also received a special commendation for his 1996 performance of the title role in Tartuffe at the Almeida Theatre. Hollander has been the most frequent Ian Charleson Award honoree, with four appearances at the awards: one win, two commendations and one special commendation. In 1995 he created the role of Baby in Jez Butterworth's play Mojo that premiered in July that year at the Royal Court Theatre in London, directed by Ian Rickson. In 1996, he made his Broadway debut portraying Lord Alfred Douglas opposite Liam Neeson as Oscar Wilde in David Hare's The Judas Kiss.

Hollander's other early roles in television include Jonathan in the BBC drama series Harry, filmed mostly in Darlington, County Durham (1993 to 1995) alongside Michael Elphick; Paolo Ferruzzi in the British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (1996), and Osborne Hamley in the BBC miniseries Wives and Daughters (1999). Hollander made his film debut opposite Helen Mirren in the 1996 film Some Mother's Son about the 1981 Irish hunger strike. The same year, he starred in the sports drama True Blue (1996). He then acted in the British romantic comedy Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence (1998), the comedy-drama Bedrooms and Hallways (1998), and the comedy The Clandestine Marriage (1999).

2000–2015: Character roles and Rev. In 2001, Hollander acted in Robert Altman's British murder mystery Gosford Park and Michael Apted's thriller Enigma. In 2003 he portrayed George V in the BBC One film The Lost Prince and Guy Burgess in the BBC Two miniseries Cambridge Spies. He had a memorable role as Mr. Collins in Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice (2005), a film adaptation of the Jane Austen novel of the same name. for which he received the Evening Standard Film Awards Comedy Award, and London Critics Circle Best Supporting Actor. He has worked repeatedly with Michael Gambon and Bill Nighy, and is a good friend of James Purefoy. Although highly respected as a character actor and the recipient of several awards, many of Hollander's films play on his height (5' 5" / 165 cm). Hollander has created several memorable comedic characters that draw more on his physical energy and intensity than his height, such as the "brilliantly foul-mouthed" Leon in BBC Two's Freezing, described in The Times as a "braying swirl of ego and mania".

Hollander has undertaken a number of voice roles for BBC Radio, including Mosca in 2004's Volpone for BBC Radio 3, Frank Churchill in Jane Austen's Emma and as Mr Gently Benevolent in the pilot of the Dickensian parody Bleak Expectations for BBC Radio 4, although he did not take part in the full series. He has voiced a young Joseph Merrick, the "Elephant Man", a disembodied head named Enzio in an urban gothic comedy and Leon Theremin, the Russian inventor famous for the electronic instrument that bears his name. He provided the vocal texture for Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange recently with a "smooth, almost lyrical, crisp voice" that accomplished the task of rendering the extensive and unique slang of the book instantly understandable to readers. Since 2008, he has written an occasional diary-style column for The Spectator, and a lifestyle article in The Times, which received positive reader comments.

Hollander portrayed Lord Cutler Beckett, the "heavy" in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. He also appeared in the TNT miniseries The Company as Kim Philby, having previously played Guy Burgess in the BBC's Cambridge Spies. Hollander returned to the stage in 2007 with the premiere of Joe Penhall's play Landscape with Weapon at the Royal National Theatre. In 2008, Hollander made a notable cameo appearance as King George III in the HBO mini-series John Adams, and ended the year as a memorable Colonel Heinz Brandt in Valkyrie. In 2009, Hollander played a symphonic cellist in Joe Wright's movie The Soloist, his second film with Wright, who cast him to great effect as the fevered suitor Mr. Collins in 2005's Pride and Prejudice. Hollander has worked once more with Wright, portraying a memorably flamboyant and menacing villain in Hanna (2011). Hollander appeared in a lead role in Armando Iannucci's In the Loop as Secretary of State for International Development Simon Foster MP. Hollander later made a surprise appearance (in a different role) at the end of the third series of The Thick of It, the programme on which In the Loop was based.

In 2010, Hollander and writer James Wood co-created the TV series Rev., a sensitive comedy about the all-too-human vicar of an inner-city parish. Hollander played the sympathetic title character, Rev. Adam Smallbone. The show won a BAFTA in 2011 for Best Situation Comedy, among other awards and recognition. A second series aired in the UK on BBC 2 in 2011 and a third series in 2014. In 2010, Hollander returned to the live stage in a demanding comedic dual role in Georges Feydeau's A Flea in Her Ear at the Old Vic. Playing both master and servant with "lightning physical precision and shockingly true confusion", Hollander's was called "a virtuoso performance".

2016–2019: Travesties and The Night Manager Between September and November 2016 he starred as (a "career-best") Henry Carr in Patrick Marber's "superb revival" of Tom Stoppard's Travesties at the Menier Chocolate Factory. The play (with the same cast) transferred to the Apollo Theatre in February 2017

In 2016, he played Lance "Corky" Corkoran in the BBC miniseries The Night Manager acting opposite Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, and Elizabeth Debicki. For his performance he won the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor. That same year he acted in the BBC / FX 2017 series Taboo playing the "inebriated and endearing, menacing and beguiling" chemist, Dr George Cholmondeley. The A.V. Club described him as "giving a masterclass on how to create dimension and personality, even with limited screen time." Hollander played Queen's second manager Jim Beach in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, which was released in November 2018. Upon the firing of director Bryan Singer from the film in December 2017, it was reported Hollander had previously left the film due to issues with Singer; he was ultimately convinced to continue, though whether this was due to Singer's exit is unknown. Hollander played Tabaqui, a hyena in Andy Serkis' 2018 film Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. That same year he acted in the war drama A Private War (2018) and the Netflix thriller Bird Box (2018).

More recent readings include The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling. In 2015 (repeated in April 2017), he played Patrick Moore in the BBC radio play Far Side of the Moore about the astronomer and his TV series The Sky at Night. In May 2016, he portrayed Geoff Cathcart in Andy Mulligan's four-part play School Drama on BBC Radio 4, which was chosen by The Guardian for that week's best radio selections. In October that year, he narrated Peter Bradshaw's short story Reunion, broadcast on Radio 4. He has also portrayed the Russian artist Kazimir Malevich in Margy Kinmonth's documentary Revolution: New Art for a New World, which was released in the UK and Ireland in November 2016.

2020–present: career expansion Since 2020, he has voiced Alfred Pennyworth in the animated series Harley Quinn on HBO Max. In 2021 he portrayed multiple roles as George V, Wilhelm II, and Nicholas II of Russia in the spy action drama The King's Man. The following year he voiced The Mole in the animated short The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2022) which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In 2022 he played Major Dalby, director of WOOC(P) in the ITV Cold War drama series The Ipcress File and played Quentin, a wealthy gay British expat living in Sicily, in the second season of The White Lotus. From 2022 to 2023, Hollander returned to the Almeida Theatre to play the lead role of Boris Berezovsky in the inaugural run of Patriots, a play by Peter Morgan about the late Russian oligarch's life. In 2024 he portrayed author Truman Capote in the FX on Hulu limited series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.

Philanthropy Hollander has contributed his running and cycling efforts to several charitable causes, including running to raise funds for the Childline Crisis Hotline in 2006 and in 2007, for the Teenage Cancer Trust. He is a long-time supporter of the Helen & Douglas House Hospice for Children and Young Adults in Oxford, which provides hospice care for children. He continues to support charitable organisations by contributing readings and other appearances throughout the year.

Hollander is a patron of the British Independent Film Awards and has supported the efforts of the Old Vic's "24 Hour Plays New Voices" Gala, which forwards the cause of young writers for the British stage.

Personal life Hollander's sister is director, writer, and singer Julia Hollander. The siblings and their father Tony Hollander, presented a BBC Radio 3 documentary in 2020, exploring the story of how Tony and his parents escaped from the imminent Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1938. A letter from a BBC radio sound engineer saved his father's life by facilitating the family's entry into Britain.

Hollander has lived in the same flat in Notting Hill, West London, since 2000. In 2023, they had a son, who is Hollander's first child.

In January 2016, Hollander became an Honorary Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1993 Sylvia Hates Sam Friend Short 1996 Some Mother's Son Farnsworth True Blue Sam Peterson 1998 Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Not! Paolo Ferruzzi Video Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence Daniel Bedrooms and Hallways Darren 1999 The Clandestine Marriage Sir John Ogelby 2000 The Announcement Ben Maybe Baby Ewan Proclaimer 2001 Enigma Logie Lawless Heart Nick Gosford Park Anthony Meredith 2002 Possession Euan 2004 Piccadilly JimWillie Partridge Stage Beauty Sir Peter Lely Paparazzi Leonard Clarke The Libertine Etherege 2005 Pride & Prejudice Mr. Collins 2006 The Darwin Awards Henry Land of the Blind Maximilian II Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Cutler Beckett A Good Year Charlie Willis Rabbit Fever Tod Best 2007 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Cutler Beckett Elizabeth: The Golden Age Sir Amyas Paulet 2008 Valkyrie Colonel Heinz Brandt 2009 In the Loop Simon Foster The Soloist Graham Claydon 2010 Away We Stay David Short2011 Hanna Isaacs The Voorman Problem Voorman Short film 2012 Whole Lotta Sole James Butler Uncredited role A Liar's Autobiography Recording Engineer Voice Mother’s MilkNarrator (voice) Byzantium Kevin 2013 About Time Harry The Invisible Woman Wilkie Collins 2014 Muppets Most Wanted Irish Journalist The Riot Club Jeremy Villiers 2015 Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 2016 The Promise Garin Revolution: New Art for a New World 2010 Any Human Heart Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor 3 episodes 2010–2014 Rev. The Rev. Adam Smallbone 3 series, 19 episodes; also creator, writer, and executive producer 2011 Aqua Teen Hunger Force Chuck Voice; episode: "Vampirus" 2012,2018–2021 Family Guy Various characters Voice; 4 episodes 2013 Ambassadors Prince Mark 2 episodes 2014 A Poet in New York Dylan Thomas TV film 2016 The Night Manager Lance "Corky" Corkoran Miniseries (6 episodes) Doctor Thorne Doctor Thorne 3 episodes 2017 Taboo George Cholmondeley 5 episodes The Highway Rat The Squirrel Voice 2018 CBeebies Bedtime Story Nico. Rebel One-off 2019 Baptiste Edward Stratton 6 episodes2020 Us Douglas Petersen 4 episodes Robot Chicken Percival, Professor X Voice; Episode: "Max Caenen In: Why Would He Know If His Mother's a Size Queen" 2020–present Harley Quinn Alfred Pennyworth, Professor Pyg, Toyman Voice; 13 episodes 2021 A Tale Dark & Grimm Moon Voice; 3 episodes2022 The Ipcress File Major Dalby 6 episodes The White Lotus Quentin Main role; season 2 2024 Feud: Capote vs. The Swans Truman Capote Main role; 8 episodes2025 Monster: The Ed Gein Story Alfred Hitchcock 2 episodes The Iris Affair Cameron Beck Main role; 8 episodes

Theatre

Audiobooks Year Audiobook title Author Notes 2006 In the Company of the Courtesan Sarah Dunant 2009 The Lieutenant Kate Grenville Cityboy: Beer and Loathing in the Square Geraint Anderson 2010 A Clockwork Orange Anthony Burgess 2012 The Casual VacancyJ. K. Rowling Conrad: The Chrestomanci Series Diana Wynne Jones 2016 Agatha Christie: Twelve Radio Mysteries Agatha Christie Hollander is one of several narrators 2017 A Legacy of Spies John le Carré Digital download released on 7 September 2017, CD on 5 October 2017.

Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2007 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Cutler Beckett

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.Film and TV2010 BAFTA Television Awards Best Supporting Actor Gracie! 2011 Best Male Comedy Performance Rev. 2012 Best Scripted Comedy Best Male Comedy Performance 2015 2017 Best Supporting Actor The Night Manager 2005 British Independent Film Award Best Supporting Actor The Libertine 2009 In the Loop 2005 Evening Standard British Film Awards Peter Sellers Award for Comedy Pride and Prejudice 2005 London Critics Circle Film Awards British Supporting Actor 2001 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture Gosford Park 2018 Bohemian Rhapsody 2023 Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series The White Lotus 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Feud: Capote vs. The Swans Theatre 2018 Tony Awards Best Actor in a Play Travesties 2018 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Play 2018 Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance 2018 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actor in a Play 2017 Laurence Olivier Awards Best Actor 2023 Patriots