Bradley James
{{short description|English actor}}
{{For|other people named Bradley James|Bradley James (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bradley James
| image = Bradley (19557114372).jpg
| caption = James at the 2015 Comic-Con International
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|32|2016|03|09}}
| birth_place = Exeter, Devon, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = Drama Centre London (BA)
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2008–present
}}
Bradley James (born 1983 or 1984){{Cite web |title= Exclusive: Bradley James embraces his inner Antichrist as Damien |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/exclusive-bradley-james-embraces-inner-antichrist-damien/ |date=March 9, 2016 |website=Empire |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210906143954/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/exclusive-bradley-james-embraces-inner-antichrist-damien/ |archive-date= 6 September 2021}} is an English actor. He is best known for starring as Arthur Pendragon in the BBC series Merlin (2008–12), Damien Thorn in Damien (2016), Varga in Underworld: Blood Wars, Giuliano de' Medici in Medici: The Magnificent (2018–2020), and Lieutenant Colonel Felix Sparks in The Liberator (2020).
Early life and education
James was born in Exeter, Devon, England.{{Cite web |title=Exeter actor Bradley James tipped for James Bond |url= https://www.devonlive.com/whats-on/whats-on-news/exeter-actor-bradley-james-tipped-6837467 |website= devonlive.com |date= March 21, 2022}} He became interested in acting at the early age of six, whilst in primary school.{{Cite web |author= Kassius Denizen |title= Bradley James: King Charming |url= https://www.swaggermagazine.com/style/swag-men/bradley-james-king-charming/ |website= swaggermagazine.com |date= May 22, 2020}} His family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, when he was nine. During his time there, he attended Crown Point Elementary School{{Cite web |last=Soergel |first=Matt |title=Syfy's 'Merlin' star has Jacksonville connections |url= https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20100623/entertainment/801249879 |website=The Florida Times-Union |date= June 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210731152305/https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20100623/ENTERTAINMENT/801249879 |archive-date=31 July 2021}} and then Fletcher Middle School, before returning to England to attend Madeley High School in Madeley, Staffordshire, England. From 2004 to 2007 James attended Drama Centre London, graduating after three years.
Career
File:Merlin (4535337247).jpg April 2010]]
In 2008, James appeared in an episode of Lewis, then played the part of Ben Davis in the BBC Three comedy-drama film Dis/Connected.{{Cite web |title= BBC THREE:Dis/Connected |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0091v2q|access-date=18 April 2015 |publisher=BBC Three |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160525205404/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0091v2q |archive-date=25 May 2016 }} The same year, he was cast as Arthur Pendragon, in the BBC One fantasy TV series Merlin.{{Cite web |last=Webb |first=Claire |title= Bradley James: "Merlin has grown up. We've grown up" |url= http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-10-05/bradley-james-merlin-has-grown-up-weve-grown-up |website=Radio Times|date=5 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150418040136/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-10-05/bradley-james-merlin-has-grown-up-weve-grown-up |archive-date=18 April 2015}} The show was a consistent hit series in the US; its first season was shown on the broadcast network NBC and its second, third, fourth, and fifth seasons on NBC's affiliate cable network Syfy. Merlin ended its 5-year run in 2012.{{Cite web |date=26 November 2012 |title=Merlin to cast final spell as creators reveal that current series will be the last |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2012/merlin-final.html |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121126203933/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2012/merlin-final.html |archive-date=26 November 2012 |access-date=26 November 2012}} James went on an exploration of Arthurian legends for BBC Wales, The Real Merlin & Arthur, in 2009.{{Cite web |title=The Real Merlin and Arthur |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ny2zx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120103455/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ny2zx |archive-date=20 January 2013 |access-date=4 January 2013 |publisher=BBC}}
In 2014, James guest-starred as Edgar in the fourth season of the Emmy Award-winning political thriller television series Homeland.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2014 |title=Bradley James Credited w/Role in 'Homeland' Season 4 |url=http://www.fangirlish.com/bradley-james-credited-wrole-in-homeland-season-4/ |access-date=19 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151225224343/http://fangirlish.com/bradley-james-credited-wrole-in-homeland-season-4/ |archive-date=25 December 2015}}
In 2015, James was cast as a villain in Underworld: Blood Wars.{{Cite web |last=Fleming, Mike Jr. |title=Bradley James Lands 'Underworld 5' Villain Role |url= https://deadline.com/2015/09/bradley-james-underworld-next-generation-villain-screen-gems-1201519565/ |publisher=Deadline |date=9 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150910130527/http://deadline.com/2015/09/bradley-james-underworld-next-generation-villain-screen-gems-1201519565/ |archive-date=10 September 2015 }} The same year, he appeared in the television series iZombie as recurring character Lowell Tracey, a love interest for main character Liv.{{Cite web |last=Saclao |first=Christian |date=23 July 2015 |title='iZombie' Creators Regret Killing Off Bradley James' Lowell? |url= http://www.designntrend.com/articles/57737/20150723/izombie-creators-regret-killing-off-bradley-james-lowell.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20161215160400/http://www.designntrend.com/articles/57737/20150723/izombie-creators-regret-killing-off-bradley-james-lowell.htm |archive-date=15 December 2016 |access-date=6 January 2016 |publisher=Design & Trend}} He starred as title character Damien Thorn on the television series Damien, created by Glen Mazzara a sequel to the Omen film series.
In 2018, James was cast as Giuliano de' Medici in Medici: The Magnificent, alongside Daniel Sharman as Lorenzo de' Medici, a series which follows the Medici family, bankers of the Pope, during Renaissance Florence.{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Stewart |date=10 August 2017 |title= Daniel Sharman and Bradley James Join Netflix's 'Medici'|url= https://variety.com/2017/tv/global/daniel-sharman-bradley-james-netflix-medici-1202522384/|publisher=Variety |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200301114239/https://variety.com/2017/tv/global/daniel-sharman-bradley-james-netflix-medici-1202522384/ |archive-date=1 March 2020}}
In 2020, James played the lead role of American war hero Felix Sparks in The Liberator, Netflix's four-part World War II drama series based on the book by Alex Kershaw.{{Cite web |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |title=Entertainment Veterans Launch Next-Gen Animation House Trioscope Studios |url= https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/entertainment-veterans-launch-next-gen-animation-house-trioscope-studios/ |date=2020-01-22 |website=Animation Magazine|url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200319182853/https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/entertainment-veterans-launch-next-gen-animation-house-trioscope-studios/ |archive-date=19 March 2020 }} This is the first project produced in Trioscope, a new enhanced hybrid technology that combines state-of-the-art CGI with live-action performance.
In 2023, he starred as a local Norwegian farmer and chieftain Harekr, in the second season of the Netflix historical drama Vikings: Valhalla, created by Jeb Stuart as a sequel to History's Vikings, and was filmed in County Wicklow, Ireland.{{Cite web |title=Vikings: Valhalla season 2 – release date, cast and latest news |url= https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/vikings-valhalla-season-2-release-date/ |website= radiotimes.com |date= January 4, 2023}}
Personal life
James has two sisters, Natalie and Stephanie.{{Cite web |title=Bradley James |url= https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/bradley-james/bio/224225/ |access-date=2017-09-07 |website=TVGuide.com |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190802130951/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/bradley-james/bio/224225/ |archive-date=2 August 2019}} He is a supporter of Arsenal F.C.. He is also a keen football player, and likes to play for charity whenever possible. He is also a fan of the Miami Dolphins of the American Football Conference.
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Note |
|---|
| 2012
|Carl | |
| 2016
|Varga | |
| 2019
|Kurier |Tom Dunbar | |
=Television=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- {{IMDb name|3010926|Bradley James}}
- {{Twitter}}
- [https://www.instagram.com/bradleyjames/ Bradley James] on Instagram
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Bradley}}
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:Male actors from Exeter
Category:Alumni of the Drama Centre London
Category:English male television actors