Hugh Skinner
{{Short description|British actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Hugh Skinner
| image = Hugh Skinner MTV interview.jpg
| caption = Skinner in 2018
| birth_name = Hugh William Skinner
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|1|6|df=yes}}
| birth_place = London, England
| alma_mater = London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2007–present
}}
Hugh William Skinner (born 6 January 1985) is an English actor. He is best known for starring in sitcoms W1A (2014–2017) and The Windsors (2016–present), and his appearances in musical films Les Misérables (2012) and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018).
Early life
Skinner grew up in London and Tunbridge Wells,{{cite web |url= http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/20-questions-hugh-skinner-interview_38086.html |title=20 Questions: Hugh Skinner |date=24 June 2015 |access-date=16 September 2017 |website=WhatsOnStage.com}} and attended Eastbourne College from 1998 to 2003.{{cite web |url=https://eastbourniansociety.org/news-2016-09 |title=Hugh Skinner (Pennell 1998–2003) appears in new series of Poldark |publisher=Eastbournian Society |date=5 September 2016 |access-date=16 September 2017 |archive-date=5 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705165958/https://eastbourniansociety.org/news-2016-09 |url-status=dead }} He lived in Perth, Australia, for a year at age four.{{cite web |title= Mamma Mia! 2 Exclusive: Jeremy Irvine, Hugh Skinner & Josh Dylan |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWYTLnzSBAs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/lWYTLnzSBAs |archive-date=20 December 2021 |url-status=live|work=Studio 10 |date=18 July 2018 |access-date= 3 August 2018 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} He graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2006.{{cite web|url= https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/why-w1a-s-ophelia-lovibond-and-hugh-skinner-are-fronting-the-next-generation-of-british-talent-10178740.html |title= Why W1A's Ophelia Lovibond and Hugh Skinner are fronting the next generation of British talent |date=16 April 2015 |last=Fishwick |first=Samuel |access-date= 13 July 2017 |work= Evening Standard|location=London}}
Career
= Early work (2007–2015) =
Skinner's first professional acting role was in the English Touring Theatre's 2007 production of French Without Tears. In addition to his work on stage, he played supporting roles in the BBC series Tess of the D'Urbervilles as Felix Clare in 2008,{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/09_september/02/tess2.shtml |title=Tess of the D'Urbervilles press pack: cast and crew |date=2 September 2008 |access-date= 13 July 2017 |publisher=BBC Press Office}} and Any Human Heart as Lionel in 2010.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/nov/21/any-human-heart-rising-stars |title=Meet the rising stars of Any Human Heart |date=21 November 2010 |last=Fox |first=Killian |access-date=13 July 2017 |work=The Guardian}} He also played the role of Joly, one of the student revolutionaries, in the 2012 film of Les Misérables.
In the autumn of 2013, Skinner played the role of Luis Carruthers, a closeted gay man who is in love with the show's protagonist, Patrick Bateman, in the world premiere of American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/news/a521563/doctor-who-star-matt-smith-for-american-psycho-musical/|title='Doctor Who' star Matt Smith for 'American Psycho' musical |website=Digital Spy |date=7 October 2013 |access-date= 16 September 2017}} He also appeared on the London cast album, which was released in 2016. While performing in American Psycho, he began filming the first series of the comedy W1A, playing the role of Will Humphries, an inept yet endearing intern at the BBC. The first series was released in 2014, with subsequent series airing on BBC2 in 2015 and 2017.
Skinner played the role of Dr. Barnaby Ford in the BBC series Our Zoo. He also appeared at the Theatre Royal, Bath as Camille in Helen Edmundson's adaptation of Thérèse Raquin,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/aug/08/therese-raquin-bath-review|title=Thérèse Raquin review – Pippa Nixon seems destined for stardom |date=8 August 2014|last=Billington|first=Michael|access-date=13 July 2017|work=The Guardian}} and as Yepikhodov in Simon Stephens' new translation of The Cherry Orchard at the Young Vic.{{cite web|url=https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/the-cherry-orchard|title=The Cherry Orchard|year=2014|access-date=13 July 2017|publisher=Young Vic}} He returned to the Young Vic in the summer of 2015 to play dual roles in Nick Gill's adaptation of The Trial.{{cite web|url=https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/the-trial|title=The Trial|year=2015|access-date=13 July 2017|publisher=Young Vic}} In the autumn of 2015, it was announced that he had been cast as Unwin Trevaunance, an aspiring Member of Parliament, in the second series of the BBC production of Poldark, which aired in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/poldark-two-filming|title=Filming under way for Poldark series two|date=10 September 2015|access-date=13 July 2017|publisher=BBC Media Centre}}
= Breakthrough (2016–present) =
Skinner starred in The Windsors, a spoof of the British royal family, as Prince William which aired on Channel 4 in 2016.{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Frances |date=24 December 2016 |title=Meet the cast of Channel 4's The Windsors |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-12-24/meet-the-cast-of-channel-4s-the-windsors-2 |work=Radio Times |access-date=13 July 2017}} The same year, he had a role in Fleabag, a BBC3 and Amazon production, where he played the protagonist's hapless boyfriend Harry.{{cite web |date=20 April 2016 |title=Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag coming to BBC Three |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/fleabag |publisher=BBC Media Centre |access-date=13 July 2017}} The following year, he played Sir George Howard in the first series of Harlots, an 18th-century costume drama that premiered on ITV Encore and Hulu in March.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-05-18/meet-the-cast-of-harlots-2|title=Meet the cast of Harlots|date=18 May 2017|last=Bley Griffiths|first=Eleanor|access-date=13 July 2017|work=Radio Times}} Also in 2017, he played a supporting role in Hampstead opposite Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson,{{cite web|url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2017/03/first-trailer-for-hampstead-starring-diane-keaton-and-brendan-gleeson/|title=First trailer for Hampstead starring Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson|date=5 March 2017|last=Cranswick|first=Amie|access-date=13 July 2017|website=Flickering Myth|archive-date=4 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604000439/https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2017/03/first-trailer-for-hampstead-starring-diane-keaton-and-brendan-gleeson/|url-status=dead}} and appeared in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2017-12-15/star-wars-last-jedi-cameos/|title=All the amazing cameos in Star Wars: The Last Jedi|access-date=16 December 2017|work=Radio Times}}
Skinner co-starred in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, the 2018 sequel to the 2008 film Mamma Mia!, in which he played Young Harry, a version of the character originated by Colin Firth in the first film.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/principal-photography-begins-for-film-sequel-to-mamma-mia|title=Principal Photography Begins for Film Sequel to Mamma Mia|access-date=16 September 2017|work=Playbill}} In 2018 he also starred in the eighth and final episode of Matthew Weiner's anthology series The Romanoffs, playing the role of Simon Burrows.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/the-romanoffs-unveils-first-look-trailer-sets-amazon-prime-release-date-tca-1202435717/|title='The Romanoffs': Amazon Sets Premiere Date, Unveils Teaser For Matt Weiner Series|access-date=29 July 2018|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=28 July 2018 }}
He reprised his role as Harry in series 2 of Fleabag, which was released on BBC3 in March 2019 and was released on Amazon Prime in May 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/fleabag2|title=BBC Three's Fleabag series two cast announced as filming commences|date=23 August 2018|access-date=23 August 2018|publisher=BBC Media Centre}} On 5 April 2019, it was announced that Skinner had joined the cast of the period drama Little Birds, which premiered on Sky Atlantic in August 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.skygroup.sky/corporate/media-centre/articles/en-gb/hugh-skinner-rossy-de-palma-nina-sosanya-and-jean-marc-barr-join-the-cast-of-little-birds-as-filming-commences-on-the-sky-original-production|title=Hugh Skinner, Rossy De Palma, Nina Sosanya and Jean-Marc Barr join the cast of Little Birds as filming commences on the Sky original production|date=5 April 2019|access-date=8 April 2019|publisher=Sky Group}} In December 2019, it was announced that he would be co-starring in the film Falling for Figaro with Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/hugh-skinner-shazad-latif-rebecca-benson-board-uk-comedy-falling-for-figaro-exclusive/5145662.article|title=Hugh Skinner, Shazad Latif, Rebecca Benson board UK comedy 'Falling For Figaro' (exclusive)|date=13 December 2019|access-date=16 December 2019|website=Screen Daily}} In September 2021, he featured in the Radiohead music video for the song "If You Say the Word".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnhKaCjCIqM&ab_channel=Radiohead |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/vnhKaCjCIqM |archive-date=20 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Radiohead - If You Say The Word|date=21 September 2021|access-date=23 September 2021|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
Personal life
Skinner is gay.{{Cite web |last=Strick |first=Katie |date=28 July 2020 |title=Hugh Skinner: All the Little Bird characters are outside social norms |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/hugh-skinner-interview-little-bird-a4510836.html |access-date=15 May 2022 |work=Evening Standard|location=London |language=en}} He commented on his sexuality in 2018: "I feel like if I talk about being gay I have to say something and I don't know what to say other than that just is my life and I haven't got anything very interesting to say about it. It just is".{{Cite news |last=Steafel |first=Eleanor |date=21 December 2018 |title=Hugh Skinner on Phoebe Waller-Bridge, playing posh Britons and shaking off imposter syndrome |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/hugh-skinner-phoebe-waller-bridge-crying-laughter-fleabag-sex/ |access-date=15 May 2022 |issn=0307-1235}}
Skinner is good friends with his W1A co-star Jonathan Bailey.{{Cite news |last=Wise |first=Louis |title=Jonathan Bailey: brilliant from top to bottom |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/jonathan-bailey-interview-brilliant-from-top-to-bottom-z6k8fct79 |access-date=22 May 2022 |issn=0140-0460}}
Acting credits
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Role !Ref |
|---|
| 2008
| scope="row" | Day of the Dead | Kyle | |
| 2012
| scope="row" data-sort-value="Misérables, Les" | Les Misérables | Joly |
| 2015
| scope="row" | Kill Your Friends | John | |
| rowspan="2" |2017
| scope="row" | Hampstead | Erik |
| scope="row" | Star Wars: The Last Jedi
| Geno Namit |
| 2018
| scope="row" | Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again | Young Harry |
| 2019
| scope="row" | Steven Berkoff's Tell Tale Heart | Sunny |
| 2021
| scope="row" | Falling for Figaro | Max | |
| 2022
|Oliver Alexander |
| 2023
|Constable Papperwick |
| TBA
|Real Love (Yes, It's Real Love!) |Newman |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes !Ref |
|---|
| 2007
| scope="row" | Bonkers | Daniel | Episode 6 | |
| 2008
| scope="row" | Tess of the D'Urbervilles | Felix Clare | Miniseries; 4 episodes |
| 2010
| scope="row" | Any Human Heart | Lionel Mountstuart | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2011
| scope="row" | Law & Order: UK | Ian Naylor | Episode: "The Wrong Man" | |
| 2013
| scope="row" data-sort-value="Wipers Times, The" | The Wipers Times | Barnes | Television film |{{cite web|last=Hughes|first=Sara|date=12 September 2013|title=TV review: The Wipers Times, BBC2 – A bit like Blackadder, only true|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/tv-review-the-wipers-times-bbc2-a-bit-like-blackadder-only-true-8810148.html|access-date=13 July 2017|work=The Independent}} |
| 2014
| scope="row" | Our Zoo | Dr. Barnaby Ford | Miniseries; 4 episodes |{{cite web|date=17 September 2014|title=Our Zoo, Episode 3|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04j2nvb|access-date=13 July 2017|work=BBC One}} |
| 2014–2017
| scope="row" | W1A | Will Humphries | Main role; 15 episodes |
| 2015
| scope="row" | Bugsplat! | James | Television film |
| 2016
| scope="row" | Poldark | Unwin Trevaunance | Series 2; 5 episodes |
| 2016–2019
| scope="row" | Fleabag | Harry | Main role; 12 episodes |
| 2016–present
| scope="row" data-sort-value="Windsors, The" | The Windsors | Wills | Main role |
| 2017–2018
| scope="row" | Harlots | Sir George Howard | Main role (series 1); guest star (series 2) |
| rowspan="2" |2018
| scope="row" data-sort-value="Romanoffs, The" | The Romanoffs | Simon Burrows | Episode 8: "The One That Holds Everything" |
| scope="row" | Zog
| Zog | Television film; voice |
| rowspan="2" |2020
| scope="row" | Little Birds | Hugo Cavendish-Smyth | Main role; 6 episodes | |
| scope="row" | Zog and the Flying Doctors
| Zog | Television film; voice |
| rowspan="2" |2023
|Prince Radovid |Series 3 |
| Partygate
|Josh Fitzmaurice |Television docudrama |
=Theatre=
= Music videos =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Artist !Notes |
| 2021
| |
= Audio dramas =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2019
|Torchwood: Monthly Range |Sebastian Vaughn |Episode: "The Vigil" |
| 2022
|The Lone Centurion |3 episodes |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2369260}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skinner, Hugh}}
Category:20th-century British LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century British LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male stage actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:English male voice actors
Category:LGBTQ people from London
Category:Male actors from London