Adrian Lester
{{short description|British actor (born 1968)}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Adrian Lester
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|commas=on|CBE}}
| image = Inside the Library of Birmingham - Way out - levels 9 to 7 - stairs photo - Adrian Lester (9985970356).jpg
| birth_name = Anthony Harvey
| birth_date = 14 August 1968 (age 56)
| birth_place = Birmingham, England
| alma_mater = Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
| spouse = {{marriage|Lolita Chakrabarti|1997|2024|end=div}}
| children = 2
| relatives = Reeta Chakrabarti (sister-in-law)
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1987–present
| module = {{Listen|embed = yes|filename = Adrian Lester bbc radio4 front row 25 04 2013.flac|title = Adrian Lester's voice|type = speech|description = from the BBC series Front Row, 2013{{Cite episode|title = Adrian Lester|series = Front Row|series-link = Front Row (radio programme)|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s0qnh|access-date = 18 January 2014|station = BBC Radio 4|date = 25 April 2013}}}}
}}
Adrian Anthony Lester {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|commas=on|CBE}} (born Anthony Harvey on 14 August 1968) {{cite web | title=Adrian Lester | website=IMDb | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0504412/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm | access-date=June 20, 2024}} is a British actor. He is the recipient of a Laurence Olivier Award, an Evening Standard Theatre Award and a Critics' Circle Theatre Award for his work on the London stage, and has also been nominated for a Tony Award.
Early life and education
Lester was born on 14 August 1968 in Birmingham, the son of Jamaican immigrants, Monica, a medical secretary, and Reginald, a manager for a contract cleaning company.{{cite news|title=Touch of Colour takes Brum star Adrian to Hollywood.|work=Sunday Mercury|date=11 October 1998|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-60742360|access-date=10 December 2007}}{{cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Marianne|title=The player; Not only is Adrian Lester the National Theatre's Henry V, he's also the chief con man in Hustle...|work=The Evening Standard|date=3 February 2006 |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-141647359|access-date=10 December 2007 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190107072212/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-141647359/the-player-not-only-is-adrian-lester-the-national | archive-date = 7 January 2019}}{{cite news|last=Leitch|first=Luke|title=National's new chief casts black actor as Henry V.|work=The Evening Standard |date=16 August 2002 |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-90433843|access-date=10 December 2007}}
From the age of 9, Lester sang as a boy treble in the choir of St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham. At 14, he began acting with the Birmingham Youth Theatre.{{Cite web |title=Adrian Lester |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/adrian-lester/bio/3000265316/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |date=2019-08-14 |title=On this day in Jamaican history: British Jamaican Actor Adrian Anthony Lester |url=https://jamaicans.com/british-jamaican-actor-adrian-anthony-lester/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Jamaicans and Jamaica - Jamaicans.com |language=en-US}} After leaving Archbishop Masterson RC School,{{Cite news |last=Mesure |first=Susie |date=January 2, 2011 |title=Adrian Lester: The king of the cons who also does a mean Henry V |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/adrian-lester-the-king-of-the-cons-who-also-does-a-mean-henry-v-2173991.html |work=Independent}} Lester attended Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College for one year,{{Cite web |title=Adrian Lester - Trivia |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0504412/trivia/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}} before winning a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1986, at which he completed three years of training, graduating in 1989.{{Cite web |last=Fabrique |title=Adrian Lester — RADA |url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/adrian-lester/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=www.rada.ac.uk |language=en-gb}}
Career
=Theatre=
Lester received an Ian Charleson Award commendationLees, Caroline. "Classic recipes for success". Sunday Times. 9 February 1992. and a Time Out Award{{cite web|title=Adrian Lester|url=https://bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk/people/adrian-lester|publisher=Warwick University|access-date=8 June 2019}} for his 1991 performance as Rosalind in Cheek by Jowl's all-male production of As You Like It.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/nov/12/all-male-as-you-like-it-cheek-by-jowl-declan-donnellan-adrian-lester|title=All you need is love: Adrian Lester and the miraculous all-male As You Like It|author=Donnellan, Declan|newspaper=The Guardian|date=12 November 2014|access-date=2 May 2015}} In 1992 he played Paul in the UK premiere of John Guare's Six Degrees Of Separation, alongside Stockard Channing at the Royal Court Theatre in a production that transferred to the West End's Comedy Theatre. In 1993, he played Anthony Hope in the National Theatre's production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.{{Cite web | url=http://www.sondheimguide.com/sweeney.html | title=Sondheim Guide / Sweeney Todd}} He has also appeared on stage as Robert in the Donmar Warehouse production of the Stephen Sondheim musical Company, for which he won an Olivier Award, and in the title role of Hamlet{{cite web| last= Billington| first= Michael| author-link= Michael Billington (critic)| url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2000/dec/02/peter-brook-hamlet-theatre | title= Archive theatre review: Who is Hamlet anyway?| date= 18 December 2008| work= The Guardian| access-date= 15 December 2020 }} (Carlton TV Theatre Award).
In 2003, he played the title role in Henry V at the National Theatre.
In 2010, he played the part of Brick in Tennessee Williams' play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre in London.
In 2012, he appeared as Ira Aldridge in the play Red Velvet, written by his wife Lolita Chakrabarti.
Lester played the part of Othello in the Shakespeare play of the same name in 2013 alongside Rory Kinnear as Iago at the National Theatre. Both actors won the Best Actor award in the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for their roles; the award is traditionally given to only one actor, but the judges were unable to choose between the pair.{{cite news|last=Kennedy|first=Maev|title=Othello and Iago share best actor prize in London Evening Standard awards|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/nov/17/othello-iago-best-actor-evening-standard-awards-adrian-lester-rory-kinnear|access-date=18 November 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=17 November 2013}}
In 2018, he played Sky Masterson in the Royal Albert Hall production of Guys and Dolls.[https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Adrian-Lester-Jason-Manford-Meow-Meow-and-More-Will-Appear-in-GUYS-AND-DOLLS-at-the-Royal-Albert-Hall-20180814 Guys and Dolsl Royal Albert Hall]
In 2021, he appeared in the live-streamed production of Hymn written by his wife Lolita Chakrabarti for the Almeida Theatre. The play co-starred Danny Sapani and was performed with social distancing in place in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions.{{Cite web |title=Adrian Lester: 'As an artist, you have to promote the kind of work you want to see' |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/big-interviews/adrian-lester-actor-director-hymn-almeida-ira-aldridge-promote-diversity-nurture-talent |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=The Stage |language=En}}
He made his Broadway debut in the 2021 production of The Lehman Trilogy, directed by Sam Mendes. His performance earned him a Tony Award nomination.{{cite news|last=Vincentelli|first= Elisabeth |title=Adrian Lester Finally Arrives on Broadway, via Wall Street|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/theater/adrian-lester-lehman-trilogy-broadway.html|access-date=22 December 2021|newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 October 2021}}
=Television=
In 1997, Lester starred in an episode of Silent Witness. It was in a two-part episode of series two entitled "Cease upon the Midnight", where he played the part of Danny Morris.
He is known for playing a big-time con artist named Michael "Mickey Bricks" Stone on the BBC television series Hustle between 2004 and 2012. The character was written out of the fourth series and replaced by Ashley Walters, although Lester returned from the fifth series (2009) onwards.
On American television, he appeared on the sitcom Girlfriends from 2002 to 2003, as Ellis Carter, a film star who dated Tracee Ellis Ross's character, Joan Clayton.
In late 2005, he had a major guest-starring role in Channel 4's police drama The Ghost Squad.
In 2008, he starred on the BBC drama Bonekickers, a programme focusing on a team of archaeologists.
He played the character Myror in a 2009 episode of the British television drama Merlin.{{cite web |title="Merlin" The Once and Future Queen (TV Episode 2009) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1513484/fullcredits |website=IMDb |access-date=16 November 2023}}
In 2024, Netflix announced that Lester will play the role of Destiny of the Endless in the upcoming second season of The Sandman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/thesandmanofficial/reel/C7MVUlfhtIt/|title=The Sandman on Instagram: The Endless have finally assembled: Introducing Adrian Lester as Destiny, Esmé Creed-Miles as Delirium and Barry Sloane as the Prodigal in the next season of THE SANDMAN. It's going to be one Hell of a family reunion.}}
=Film=
Lester played campaign manager Henry Burton in Mike Nichols' film Primary Colors (1998), based on the novel by Anonymous (Joe Klein). His character is believed to represent George Stephanopoulos. This part earned him a Chicago Film Critics Association award nomination for "Most Promising Actor".
He appeared in Kenneth Branagh's Love's Labour's Lost, a musical adaptation of the William Shakespeare play, set in the 1930s. The film itself was poorly received, but Lester received a British Independent Film Awards nomination for his performance.
In The Day After Tomorrow, Lester had a small but important role as Simon, one of the three researchers who drink a toast of "twelve-year-old Scotch" shortly before freezing to death.
He filmed scenes for Spider-Man 3 (2007), as a research scientist who is sought after by the Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) to find a cure for his ailing daughter. He was seen in one teaser trailer for the film; however, his scenes were cut from the final theatrical version.
=Other work=
In 2010, Lester appeared in the documentary When Romeo Met Juliet together with his wife Lolita Chakrabarti as acting mentors to the pupils of two Coventry schools involved in a production of Romeo and Juliet.
He recorded Alpha Force: Survival, an audio book written by Chris Ryan.
Lester was the presenter at the 2024 Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance Festival at the Royal Albert Hall.
Personal life
In 1997 Lester married actress and writer Lolita Chakrabarti, whom he met while they were both students at RADA.{{cite web|last=Dickson|first=E. Jane|date=3 April 2016|title=Adrian Lester on Undercover: "It would be so much more powerful if we did all the press for this show without once mentioning colour"|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-04-03/adrian-lester-on-undercover-it-would-be-so-much-more-powerful-if-we-did-all-the-press-for-this-show-without-once-mentioning-colour/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811094845/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-04-03/adrian-lester-on-undercover-it-would-be-so-much-more-powerful-if-we-did-all-the-press-for-this-show-without-once-mentioning-colour|archive-date=11 August 2016|access-date=11 April 2020|website=Radio Times}}{{cite web|last=Patterson|first=Christina|date=6 January 2009|title=Adrian Lester: Back on the Hustle|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/adrian-lester-back-on-the-hustle-1227935.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119090100/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/adrian-lester-back-on-the-hustle-1227935.html|archive-date=19 January 2009|access-date=10 April 2020|website=The Independent}} They lived in East Dulwich, south-east London with their two daughters.{{cite web|last=Machell|first=Ben|date=12 March 2016|title=Adrian Lester on 29 years of marriage|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/london-travel/my-perfect-weekend-adrian-lester-on-29-years-of-marriage-9rcgsglpb|access-date=11 April 2020|website=The Times}}{{cite web|title=Adrian Lester Biography|url=https://tinapriceconsultants.com/adrian-lester2-biography/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411101042/https://tinapriceconsultants.com/adrian-lester2-biography/|archive-date=11 April 2020|access-date=11 April 2020|website=Tina Price Consultants|date=7 March 2019 }}{{Cite news |last=Lytton |first=Charlotte |date=2017-06-13 |title=Adrian Lester: 'Riviera is Dynasty-sur-Mer' |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/adrian-lester-riviera-dynasty-sur-mer/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |issn=0307-1235}} They divorced in 2024.{{citation|first=Adrian|last=Lester|title=Adrian Lester: 'Sometimes I'll eat out on my own on Saturday night'|work=Telegraph Magazine|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/my-saturday-adrian-lester-history-journal-london-dining/|date=30 March 2024}}
In 2007, Lester took part in Empire's Children, a Channel 4 documentary exploring the journey taken by the "Windrush Generation" to the United Kingdom. Lester's grandfather, Kenneth Nathaniel Lester, was to be included in the documentary, but was unwell during filming in Jamaica and could not be interviewed. Kenneth died soon after the documentary completed filming and never saw the programme aired.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}
In April 2013, Lester appeared on the Cultural Exchange feature of Front Row on BBC Radio 4, a feature of the programme where people had to choose a piece of art that meant a great deal to them. He chose "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley.
Lester holds a 4th Dan black belt in Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo.{{Cite web|last=Group|first=Diversity|title=Adrian Lester | The Diversity Group|url=http://www.diversitygroup.co.uk/adrian-lester/}}{{cite web|author=|date=4 January 2009|title=My body & soul: Adrian Lester, actor, 40|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/04/healthandwellbeing|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214070751/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/04/healthandwellbeing|archive-date=14 February 2016|access-date=11 April 2020|website=The Guardian}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 1997
| Isaac Nelson | |
| 1997
| Scott | |
| 1998
| Henry Burton | |
| 2000
| Dumaine | |
| 2000
| George | |
| 2000
| Best | Rocky | |
| 2000
| Jimmy | |
| 2001
| Dust | "Edge" | |
| 2002
| Jonathan Stitch | |
| 2004
| Simon | |
| 2006
| Oliver De Boys | |
| 2006
| Peter Brian "Pete" Maxwell | |
| 2007
| Dr. Phil Wallace | Scenes deleted |
| 2007
| Casey Davies | |
| 2008
| Doomsday | Sergeant Norton | |
| 2009
| Case 39 | Wayne | |
| 2013
| |
| 2017
| Julius Johnson | |
| 2017
| Euphoria | Aron | |
| 2018
| |
| 2026
| Mutiny | {{TBA}} | Post-production |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 1987
| A Sort of Innocence | Dave | 1 episode |
| 1988
| Boon | Fast Eddie's Staff Member | Episode: "Beef Encounter" |
| 1991
| For the Greater Good | Young Gay Man | Episode: "Member" |
| rowspan="2" |1992
| Touch and Die | Lute | TV film |
| The Bill
| Dotun Konchella | Episode: "Just Send Some Flowers" |
| 1995
| Ray | TV film |
| rowspan="2" |1996
| Mokete Malange | Episode: "Divided Loyalties" |
| Company
| Bobby | TV film |
| 1997
| Danny Thomas | Episode: "Cease Upon the Midnight" |
| rowspan="2" | 2000
| Danny | TV film |
| Jason and the Argonauts
| Orpheus | Mini-series |
| 2002
| The Tragedy of Hamlet | Hamlet | TV film |
| 2002–2003
| Ellis Carter | 9 episodes |
| 2004–2012
| Hustle | Mickey Stone | Series regular |
| rowspan="2" | 2005
| D.I. Felix George | Episode: "Lower Than Bones" |
| The Ghost Squad
| D.I. Gus Philips | Episode: "Colour Blind" |
| 2006
| Beyond | Morris Fitch | TV film |
| 2007
| Mr. Sholsky | TV film |
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| Herrick | Episode: "Pilot" |
| Bonekickers
| Ben Ergha | Mini-series |
| rowspan="2" | 2009
| Merlin | Myror | Episode: "The Once and Future Queen" |
| Sleep With Me
| Richard | TV film |
| 2013
| Bow/Lego Man | Episode: "Eaten by Cars" |
| 2014–2015
| Dr. Naday | 4 episodes |
| 2015
| Professor Marcus Shaw | Mini-series |
| 2016
| Nick Johnson | Mini-series |
| 2017
| Riviera | Robert Carver | 10 episodes |
| 2018
| Trauma | Jon Allerton | Mini-series |
| rowspan="2" | 2019
| Curfew | Simon Donahue | 2 episodes |
| The Rook
| Conrad Grantchester | Series regular |
| rowspan="2" | 2020
| Staged | Adrian Lester | Episode: "Ulysses" |
| Life
| David Aston | Series regular |
| rowspan="2" | 2022
| Joel Nutkins | 1 episode |
| The Undeclared War
|6 episodes |
| 2023–2024
| Quentin Blake's Box of Treasures |Narrator (voice) |
| 2024
|Earl of Poynton | |
| TBA
| |
Awards and honours
Lester was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours{{London Gazette
| issue = 60367
| date = 29 December 2012
| page = 12
| supp = y
}} and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours,{{Cite news|date=10 October 2020|title=Birthday Honours 2020: Marcus Rashford and Joe Wicks honoured alongside key workers|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54468492|access-date=10 October 2020}}{{London Gazette
| issue = 63135
| date = 10 October 2020
| page = B10
| supp = y
}} both for services to drama.
In July 2013, he received an honorary degree from the University of Warwick.{{cite web|date=28 June 2013|title=Warwick honorary degrees for stars of Gavin & Stacey & Hustle, RSC & Royal Court Artistic Directors, scientists, historians, philanthropist & a US government adviser|url=http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/warwick_honorary_degrees_for_stars_of_gavin__stacey__hustle_rsc__royal_court_artistic_directors_scientists_historians_philanthropist___a_us_government_adviser1/#ruth|access-date=31 October 2013|publisher=University of Warwick}}
In December 2013, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Birmingham.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2013-12-12 |title=Hustle star Adrian Lester receives honorary degree from University of Birmingham |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/hustle-star-adrian-lester-receives-6400873 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Birmingham Live |language=en}}
In July 2019, Lester was made an Honorary Doctor of Arts at De Montfort University, Leicester.{{cite web|date=15 July 2019|title=CLASS OF 2019: 'We're all relying on you' graduates told|url=https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/news/2019/july/class-of-2019-were-all-relying-on-you-graduates-told.aspx|access-date=16 July 2019|publisher=De Montfort University}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160507091751/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba4181d48 Adrian Lester] at the British Film Institute
- {{IMDb name|0504412}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Adrian Lester
|list =
{{Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor}}
{{Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor}}
{{OlivierAward MusicalActor 1979–2000}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lester, Adrian}}
Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Category:Black British male actors
Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Critics' Circle Theatre Award winners
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male musical theatre actors
Category:English male Shakespearean actors
Category:English male stage actors
Category:English male taekwondo practitioners
Category:English male television actors
Category:English male voice actors
Category:English people of Jamaican descent