Billy Harris (actor)
{{Short description|English actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Billy Harris
| image = Billy Harris on March 20, 2023 in the Oval Office of the White House - P20230320AS-2576 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Harris in 2023
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1994|04|12}}
| birth_place = Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England
| alma_mater = Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2013–present
| nationality = English
| notable_works = Ted Lasso
}}
Billy Harris (born 12 April 1994) is an English actor. He appears as Colin Hughes in all seasons of the Apple TV+ television show Ted Lasso.
Career
Harris was a student of theatre at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School from 2014 and 2017. After graduation, he appeared in a wide number of stage roles.{{Cite web |title=Billy Harris |url=https://www.oldvic.ac.uk/student/billy-harris/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Oldvic.ac.uk |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406113755/https://www.oldvic.ac.uk/student/billy-harris/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Anne |first=Quimberly |date=2023-04-01 |title=Things You Probably Didn't Know About 'Ted Lasso' Actor Billy Harris |url=https://instinctmagazine.com/things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-ted-lasso-actor-billy-harris |access-date=2023-04-06 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408073941/https://instinctmagazine.com/things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-ted-lasso-actor-billy-harris/ |url-status=live }}
= Influences =
Harris has cited Marlon Brando as an acting inspiration. He emulated Brando in a performance of his speech from the Joseph L. Mankiewicz film Julius Caesar in an unsuccessful audition and it helped him find his own voice as an actor.{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=Jenelle |date=2023-04-19 |title='Ted Lasso' Star Billy Harris Talks Colin's Big Episode: 'I've Read Pretty Much Every Tweet' |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/actors/ted-lasso-billy-harris-1235583840/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=19 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419084556/https://variety.com/2023/tv/actors/ted-lasso-billy-harris-1235583840/ |url-status=live }} He has also expressed admiration for actor Anthony Hopkins and his philosophy on preparing for a role.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-19 |title=Billy Harris - 1883 Magazine |url=https://1883magazine.com/billy-harris/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |language=en-GB |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420031309/https://1883magazine.com/billy-harris/ |url-status=live }}
= Early roles =
Harris started out in commercials, notably one for Nike starring Kevin Durant.{{Citation |title=Kevin Durant Investigates - Footlocker / Nike Advert: Extended Version |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5-OYrHz_jg |access-date=2023-04-20 |language=en |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420025805/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5-OYrHz_jg |url-status=live }} He then had a few small parts in short films and web series. Harris' first lead role was as Callum McGregor in a stage adaptation of the Noughts & Crosses novel series by author Malorie Blackman, OBE.{{Cite news |last=Bowman |first=Jamie |date=2019-02-15 |title=Meet the young actor bringing teenage classic Noughts & Crosses to the stage |pages=2–3 |work=The Leader |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/17436092.meet-young-actor-bringing-teenage-classic-noughts-crosses-stage/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |archive-date=12 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912171020/https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/17436092.meet-young-actor-bringing-teenage-classic-noughts-crosses-stage/ |url-status=live }}
= ''Ted Lasso'' and other work =
Harris appears in the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso as Welsh winger Colin Hughes.{{Cite web |url=https://wegotthiscovered.com/tv/who-does-billy-harris-play-in-ted-lasso/ |website=We Got This Covered |access-date=2023-04-06 |title=Who does Billy Harris play in 'Ted Lasso?' |first=Jonathon |last=Greenall |date=2023-03-15 |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406113531/https://wegotthiscovered.com/tv/who-does-billy-harris-play-in-ted-lasso/ |url-status=live }} He was part of the recurring cast in the first and second seasons, and was upped to series regular for season 3.{{Citation |title=Ted Lasso (TV Series 2020– ) - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |language=en-US |archive-date=6 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106130743/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/ |url-status=live }} He received praise for his portrayal of Hughes when it was revealed that the character was gay,{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=2023-04-19 |title='Ted Lasso': Billy Harris on Colin's "Armor" and Desire to Live a Complete Life After Pivotal Episode |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/ted-lasso-billy-harris-colin-gay-storyline-season-3-1235391941/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420080525/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/ted-lasso-billy-harris-colin-gay-storyline-season-3-1235391941/ |url-status=live }} especially from LGBTQ+ fans.{{Cite web |title='Ted Lasso's Billy Harris Is Quietly Breaking Barriers |url=https://www.out.com/gay-tv-shows/ted-lasso-billy-harris-interview |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Out Magazine |language=en |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420025805/https://www.out.com/gay-tv-shows/ted-lasso-billy-harris-interview |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-19 |title=Ted Lasso season 3's Billy Harris on Colin's groundbreaking gay storyline |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/ted-lasso-season-3-episode-6-billy-harris-colin-gay-storyline-interview-2023 |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=British GQ |language=en-GB |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420025805/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/ted-lasso-season-3-episode-6-billy-harris-colin-gay-storyline-interview-2023 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Ettenhofer |first=Valerie |date=2023-04-19 |title=Ted Lasso Season 3 Offers A Perfect Monologue About Coming Out |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1261899/ted-lasso-season-3-colins-coming-out-monologue-series-highlight/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=/Film |language=en-US |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420025805/https://www.slashfilm.com/1261899/ted-lasso-season-3-colins-coming-out-monologue-series-highlight/ |url-status=live }} Co-creator of Ted Lasso, Brendan Hunt, said "Billy's been really amazing in this part" as the series discusses issues such as male vulnerability and homosexuality which are still taboo in the world of association football.{{Cite web|website=Radio Times|title=Ted Lasso's Brendan Hunt explains power of gay footballer storyline|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/ted-lasso-colin-gay-storyline-newsupdate|first=Laura|last=Rutkowski|date=2023-03-28|access-date=2023-04-06|archive-date=6 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406114818/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/ted-lasso-colin-gay-storyline-newsupdate/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/ted-lasso-colin-hughes-gay-billy-harris |website=ftw.usatoday |access-date=2023-04-06 |date=2023-03-29 |first=Bryan |last=Kalbrosky |title=Why everyone is talking about Ted Lasso's first LGBTQ+ character |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406114100/https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/ted-lasso-colin-hughes-gay-billy-harris |url-status=live }}
Harris had a small role in the BBC One series The Outlaws in 2022.{{Cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_outlaws/episodes/2/6/ |title=The Outlaws |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Comedy.co.uk |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406112840/https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_outlaws/episodes/2/6/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/ted-lasso-cast |website=Radio Times |access-date=2023-04-06 |first=James |last=Hibbs |date=2023-04-03 |title=Ted Lasso season 3 cast: Meet the stars of Apple TV+ comedy |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407230618/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/ted-lasso-cast/ |url-status=live }} His upcoming projects include voice acting in an animated show by writer and previous collaborator, Elliot Blake.{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Elliot |date=2023-04-19 |title=I can't wait for you to hear him in the new animated show I'm producing |url=https://twitter.com/elliotblake/status/1648791238014009344 |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=Twitter}}
Personal life
Harris is from Southend, Essex and he has a sister. He is a fan of Manchester United F.C.{{Cite web |title=When the stars of Ted Lasso came to Old Trafford |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/ted-lasso-stars-welcomed-to-old-trafford-for-arsenal-game |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=www.manutd.com |language=en |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420025807/https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/ted-lasso-stars-welcomed-to-old-trafford-for-arsenal-game |url-status=live }}
Selected filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+Key | style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}} |Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2020–2023
| Colin Hughes | Recurring role (seasons 1–2), main role (season 3) |
| 2022
| Posh Boy | 1 episode |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" width="100%" |
| Year
! Association ! Category ! Project ! Result ! Ref. |
|---|
| {{center|2023}}
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | {{nom}} | align="center"| {{cite press release|url=https://www.sagawards.org/media/news/releases/nominations-announced-30th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awardsr|title=Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®|publisher=Screen Actors Guild |date=January 10, 2024|access-date=January 10, 2024}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Billy Harris (actor)}}
- {{IMDb name|6902944}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Billy}}
Category:Male actors from Southend-on-Sea
Category:English male television actors