Luke Thompson (actor)

{{Infobox person

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|07|04|df=y}}

| birth_place = Southampton, England

| education = University of Bristol
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

| occupation = Actor

| yearsactive = 2013–present

}}

Luke Thompson (born 4 July 1988){{Cite web|url=https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/features/bridgerton-cast-how-old/benedict-luke-thompson-age/|title=How old is Benedict from Bridgerton? - Luke Thompson|website=PopBuzz|accessdate=17 February 2021}} is an English actor. He is known for his role as Benedict in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton (2020–) and has also appeared in the BBC One drama In the Club (2014–2016). He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for his performance in the play A Little Life in 2024.

Early life and education

Thompson was born in Southampton and brought up in France from the age of two. His father was an engineer and his mother a teacher. He is one of three children.{{Cite news|last=Eyre|first=Hermione|date=2021-04-03|title=Bridgerton's Luke Thompson on the joy of sex, secrets and sideburns|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/mens-style/bridgertons-luke-thompson-joy-sex-secrets-sideburns/|access-date=2021-05-25|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite journal|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/theatre/london-evening-standard-theatre-awards-2013-the-ones-to-watch-8934245.html|title=London Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2013: the ones to watch|journal=The Evening Standard|date=12 November 2013|accessdate=10 January 2021}} He attended the Lycée International François-Ier in Fontainebleau, a French school with an Anglophone section, from 1997 to 2005,{{Cite web|url=https://www.anglosection.com/memorybook/|title=Memory Book|website=Anglophone Section|accessdate=21 March 2021|page=41}} where he became a native French speaker. He is also proficient in Italian.{{Cite web |title=Profile |url=https://app.spotlight.com/8131-6720-8518 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=app.spotlight.com}}{{Cite web |title=Luke Thompson |url=https://www.sueterryvoices.com/artist/luke-thompson-2 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Sue Terry Voices |language=en}}

Upon returning to England in 2006, Thompson spent a year with the Year Out Drama Company in Stratford-upon-Avon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yearoutdrama.co.uk/alumni/see-luke-in-the-cinema-and-in-the-west-end/|title=See Luke in the cinema and in the West End|website=Year Out Drama Company|date=22 July 2017|accessdate=21 March 2021}} He studied English and Drama at the University of Bristol and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, graduating in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.activateworkshops.co.uk/the-team|title=The Team|website=Activate Workshops|accessdate=10 January 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/luke-thompson/|title=Luke Thompson|website=RADA|accessdate=10 January 2021}}

Career

Thompson's first professional theatre role was as Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe Theatre, Thompson received nominations for an Evening Standard Theatre Award and an Ian Charleson Award. He would also appear in the Globe productions of Blue Stockings as Will Bennett, Julius Caesar as Mark Antony, and The Broken Heart as Ithocles. His other stage roles include James in Tiger Country at the Hampstead Theatre, Orestes in the Oresteia at the Almeida Theatre and Laertes in the 2017 production of Hamlet.{{Cite web |last=Dillon |first=Luke |date=19 April 2018 |title=Ian McKellen finds his Company |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/57740/news/ian-mckellen-finds-his-company/ |website=West End Theatre |accessdate=16 February 2021}} Thompson took over the role of Edgar from Jonathan Bailey in the Ian McKellen-starrer King Lear in 2018 after Bailey passed on joining the West End transfer to do the musical Company instead.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/bridgerton-stage-star-musical_53147.html|title=Stage stars to look out for in Bridgerton|website=WhatsOnStage|first=Alex|last=Wood|date=23 March 2022|accessdate=15 May 2022|language=en-GB}}{{Cite journal|url=https://www.thewrap.com/luke-thompson-benedict-bridgerton-season-2-interview/|title='Bridgerton' Star Luke Thompson on Expanding the Benedict-Anthony Relationship in Season 2|journal=The Wrap|first=Jolie|last=Lash|date=22 March 2022|accessdate=23 May 2022|language=en-US}}

From 2014 to 2016, Thompson played Simon in the BBC One drama In the Club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/36D5sqQTTsHCQF7yC5g6yVy/roanna-simon|title=Roanna & Simon|website=BBC|accessdate=16 February 2021}} He narrated a new adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s novella The Shepherd for BBC Radio 3, broadcast on Christmas Eve, 2016.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0858nv3 Between the Ears: The Shepherd] Thompson made his feature film debut with a small role as a warrant officer in Christopher Nolan's 2017 World War II film Dunkirk.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1388637/Bridgerton-cast-who-is-Luke-Thompson-Benedict-Bridgerton-actor|title=Bridgerton cast: Who is Luke Thompson? Meet the Benedict Bridgerton star|journal=Express|first=Molli|last=Mitchell|date=27 January 2021|accessdate=16 February 2021}} He played Peter Hain in Misbehaviour, a film about Miss World 1970.{{Cite journal|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/bridgerton-netflix-benedict-luke-thompson-management-insight-1234678210/|title='Bridgerton' Star Luke Thompson Signs With UK Management Firm Insight|journal=Deadline|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=22 January 2021|accessdate=16 February 2021}} In 2019, Thompson was cast as Benedict, the second eldest Bridgerton sibling, in the 2020 Shondaland-produced Netflix period drama Bridgerton, an adaptation of the novels by Julia Quinn.{{Cite web|url=https://abc7chicago.com/bridgerton-cast-season-two-netflix-shonda-rhimes/10108407/|title='Bridgerton' cast members Luke Thompson, Luke Newton discuss season 2|website=ABC 7 Chicago|first=Marsha|last=Jordan|date=29 January 2021|accessdate=16 February 2021}}

Thompson played Willem in the English-language stage adaptation of A Little Life, which began at the Richmond Theatre in March 2023 before transferring to the Harold Pinter Theatre and then the Savoy Theatre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/a-little-life-to-run-in-the-west-end-and-tour-with_57864.html|title=A Little Life to run in the West End with James Norton, Omari Douglas, Luke Thompson and Zach Wyatt|website=WhatsOnStage|first=Alex|last=Wood|date=23 November 2022|accessdate=24 November 2022}} For his performance, he won a WhatsOnStage Award and received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. Thompson also appeared in the World War II miniseries Transatlantic, also on Netflix, as Hiram Bingham IV.{{Cite journal|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/transatlantic-netflix-first-images-tv-news-roundup-1235517096/|title='Transatlantic': Netflix Reveals First Images of Upcoming Limited Series (TV News Roundup)|journal=Variety|first=Charna|last=Flam|date=8 February 2023|accessdate=10 February 2023}}

In January 2024, it was announced that Thompson would star in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Love's Labour's Lost as Berowne. The play ran between 11 April to 18 May in 2024 and was directed by Emily Burns.{{Cite web |title=New season announced for 2024/25 {{!}} Royal Shakespeare Company |url=https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/new-season-announced-for-2024-25 |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.rsc.org.uk |language=en-GB}}

On September 16, 2024 it was announced that Thompson would be one of two leads in Bridgerton season four, reprising his role as Benedict alongside Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek.

On January 22, 2025 it was announced that Thompson would join the production of Tim Crouch's cold-read play "An Oak Tree" at the Young Vic Theatre in London. The play is expected to run from May 6 to May 17 in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=2025-01-22 |title='Bridgerton' Star Luke Thompson, 'Gangs of London's' Sope Dirisu and More Join Cold-Read Play 'An Oak Tree' at Young Vic (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2025/theater/news/baby-reindeer-fleabag-producers-an-oak-tree-young-vic-1236281679/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Thompson does not have social media and keeps the details of his personal life private, stating in 2023: "the more you give chunks of yourself out, the more you sort of colour how you're perceived. It's a personal thing... that's from my particular experience of what it's like to be an actor."{{Cite web |date=2023-07-05 |title=Luke Thompson: Social Media rots my brain! |url=https://nz.news.yahoo.com/luke-thompson-social-media-rots-100108580.html |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-NZ}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2014 \| Shakespeare's Globe: A Midsummer Night's Dream \| Lysander \| Live Recording
2015 \| Globe on Screen: Julius Caesar \| Mark Antony \| Live Recording
2016 \| The Complete Walk: Romeo and Juliet \| Romeo \| Short film
2017 \| Dunkirk \| Warrant Officer \|
2018 \| King Lear \| Edgar \| National Theatre Live
2019 \| Making Noise Quietly \| Oliver \|
2020 \| Misbehaviour \| Peter Hain \|
2023 \|A Little Life \|Willem \|Live Recording

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2014

| Shakespeare's Globe: A Midsummer Night's Dream

| Lysander

| Live Recording

2015

| Globe on Screen: Julius Caesar

| Mark Antony

| Live Recording

2016

| The Complete Walk: Romeo and Juliet

| Romeo

| Short film

2017

| Dunkirk

| Warrant Officer

2018

| King Lear

| Edgar

| National Theatre Live

2019

| Making Noise Quietly

| Oliver

2020

| Misbehaviour

| Peter Hain

2023

|A Little Life

|Willem

|Live Recording

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2014 \| The Suspicions of Mr Whicher \| Joshua Hallows \| Episode: "The Ties That Bind"
2014–2016 \| In the Club \| Simon \| Main role
rowspan="2" \| 2018 \| Hamlet \| Laertes \| Television film
Kiss Me First \| Connor \| 2 episodes
2020–present \| Bridgerton \| Benedict Bridgerton \| Main role
2023 \| Transatlantic \|Hiram 'Harry' Bingham \|6 episodes

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2014

| The Suspicions of Mr Whicher

| Joshua Hallows

| Episode: "The Ties That Bind"

2014–2016

| In the Club

| Simon

| Main role

rowspan="2" | 2018

| Hamlet

| Laertes

| Television film

Kiss Me First

| Connor

| 2 episodes

2020–present

| Bridgerton

| Benedict Bridgerton

| Main role

2023

| Transatlantic

|Hiram 'Harry' Bingham

|6 episodes

=Stage=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role !Director ! class="unsortable" \| Venue !Ref.
rowspan="2" \| 2013 \| A Midsummer Night's Dream \| Lysander \|Dominic Dromgoole \| rowspan="3" \| Globe Theatre \|{{Cite web \|date=2024-02-29 \|title=Luke Thompson On Stage \|url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/ \|access-date=2024-03-01 \|website=London Theatre \|language=en}}
Blue Stockings \| Will Bennett \|John Dove \|
rowspan="2" \| 2014 \| Julius Caesar \| Mark Antony \|Dominic Dromgoole \|
Tiger Country \| James \|Nina Raine \| Hampstead Theatre \|{{Cite web \|last=Mountford \|first=Fiona \|date=2014-12-17 \|title=Tiger Country, Hampstead - theatre review \|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/tiger-country-hampstead-theatre-review-9930577.html \|access-date=2024-03-01 \|website=Evening Standard \|language=en}}
rowspan="2" \| 2015 \| The Broken Heart \| Ithocles \|Caroline Steinbeis \| Sam Wanamaker Playhouse \|{{Cite web \|last=Fisher \|first=Philip \|date=2015-03-21 \|title=The Broken Heart proves a stylish, amusing and thoughtful play at Shakespeare's Globe \|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/broken-heart-proves-stylish-amusing-8891487 \|access-date=2024-03-01 \|website=Wales Online \|language=en}}
Oresteia \| Orestes \| rowspan="3" \|Robert Icke \| rowspan="2" \| Almeida Theatre \|
rowspan="2" \| 2017 \| rowspan="2" \| Hamlet \| rowspan="2" \| Laertes \|
Harold Pinter Theatre \|{{Cite web \|title=Hamlet at Harold Pinter Theatre 2017 \|url=https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/108048-hamlet-at-harold-pinter-theatre-2017 \|access-date=2024-03-01 \|website=www.abouttheartists.com}}
2019 \| King Lear \| Edgar \|Jonathan Munby \| Duke of York's Theatre \|
rowspan="3" \|2023 \| rowspan="3" \|A Little Life \| rowspan="3" \|Willem \| rowspan="3" \|Ivo van Hove \|Harold Pinter Theatre \|{{Cite web \|last=Solomon \|first=Anna \|date=2023-04-04 \|title=Bridgerton's Luke Thompson on bringing A Little Life to the theatre \|url=https://luxurylondon.co.uk/culture/entertainment/luke-thompson-bridgerton-actor-interview/ \|access-date=2024-03-01 \|website=Luxury London \|language=en-GB}}
Richmond Theatre \|
Savoy Theatre \|{{Cite web \|date=2023-03-10 \|title=A Little Life to transfer to the Savoy Theatre starring James Norton, Omari Douglas, Luke Thompson, Zach Wyatt {{!}} West End Theatre \|url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/160091/news/a-little-life-to-transfer-to-the-savoy-theatre-starring-james-norton-omari-douglas-luke-thompson-zach-wyatt/ \|access-date=2024-03-01 \|website=www.westendtheatre.com \|language=en-GB}}
2024 \| Love's Labour's Lost \| Berowne \|Emily Burns \| Royal Shakespeare Theatre \|{{Cite web \|date=2022-11-23 \|title=Luke Thompson {{!}} West End Theatre \|url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/143972/star-watch/luke-thompson/ \|access-date=2024-03-01 \|website=www.westendtheatre.com \|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web \|title=Luke Thompson to star in LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST at RSC \|url=https://www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/luke-thompson-to-star-in-loves-labours-lost-at-rsc \|access-date=2024-03-01 \|website=West End Best Friend \|language=en-US}}

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

!Director

! class="unsortable" | Venue

!Ref.

rowspan="2" | 2013

| A Midsummer Night's Dream

| Lysander

|Dominic Dromgoole

| rowspan="3" | Globe Theatre

|{{Cite web |date=2024-02-29 |title=Luke Thompson On Stage |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=London Theatre |language=en}}

Blue Stockings

| Will Bennett

|John Dove

rowspan="2" | 2014

| Julius Caesar

| Mark Antony

|Dominic Dromgoole

Tiger Country

| James

|Nina Raine

| Hampstead Theatre

|{{Cite web |last=Mountford |first=Fiona |date=2014-12-17 |title=Tiger Country, Hampstead - theatre review |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/tiger-country-hampstead-theatre-review-9930577.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}

rowspan="2" | 2015

| The Broken Heart

| Ithocles

|Caroline Steinbeis

| Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

|{{Cite web |last=Fisher |first=Philip |date=2015-03-21 |title=The Broken Heart proves a stylish, amusing and thoughtful play at Shakespeare's Globe |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/broken-heart-proves-stylish-amusing-8891487 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}

Oresteia

| Orestes

| rowspan="3" |Robert Icke

| rowspan="2" | Almeida Theatre

rowspan="2" | 2017

| rowspan="2" | Hamlet

| rowspan="2" | Laertes

Harold Pinter Theatre

|{{Cite web |title=Hamlet at Harold Pinter Theatre 2017 |url=https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/108048-hamlet-at-harold-pinter-theatre-2017 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.abouttheartists.com}}

2019

| King Lear

| Edgar

|Jonathan Munby

| Duke of York's Theatre

rowspan="3" |2023

| rowspan="3" |A Little Life

| rowspan="3" |Willem

| rowspan="3" |Ivo van Hove

|Harold Pinter Theatre

|{{Cite web |last=Solomon |first=Anna |date=2023-04-04 |title=Bridgerton's Luke Thompson on bringing A Little Life to the theatre |url=https://luxurylondon.co.uk/culture/entertainment/luke-thompson-bridgerton-actor-interview/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Luxury London |language=en-GB}}

Richmond Theatre

Savoy Theatre

|{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=A Little Life to transfer to the Savoy Theatre starring James Norton, Omari Douglas, Luke Thompson, Zach Wyatt {{!}} West End Theatre |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/160091/news/a-little-life-to-transfer-to-the-savoy-theatre-starring-james-norton-omari-douglas-luke-thompson-zach-wyatt/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB}}

2024

| Love's Labour's Lost

| Berowne

|Emily Burns

| Royal Shakespeare Theatre

|{{Cite web |date=2022-11-23 |title=Luke Thompson {{!}} West End Theatre |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/143972/star-watch/luke-thompson/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Luke Thompson to star in LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST at RSC |url=https://www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/luke-thompson-to-star-in-loves-labours-lost-at-rsc |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=West End Best Friend |language=en-US}}

= Audio =

class="wikitable unsortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
rowspan="2" \| 2016 \| The Shepherd \| Narrator \| BBC Radio 3
Everyone Brave Is Forgiven \|Narrator \|Audible
rowspan="2" \| 2018 \| The Second Pan Book of Horror Stories: The Vertical Ladder \| Riz \| rowspan="2" \| BBC Radio 4{{Cite web\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000xqn/episodes/guide\|title=The Second Pan Book of Horror Stories: Episodes\|website=BBC\|accessdate=16 February 2021}}
The Second Pan Book of Horror Stories: The Judge's House \| Malcolmson
2021 \|The Brothers Karamazov \|Narrator \|Penguin Classics
2021 \|While Paris Slept \|Jean Luc \|Audible
2023 \|Seventeen: A Coming of Age Story \|Narrator \|Simon & Schuster Audio UK
2024 \|Hard by a Great Forest \|Narrator \|Audible

class="wikitable unsortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

rowspan="2" | 2016

| The Shepherd

| Narrator

| BBC Radio 3

Everyone Brave Is Forgiven

|Narrator

|Audible

rowspan="2" | 2018

| The Second Pan Book of Horror Stories: The Vertical Ladder

| Riz

| rowspan="2" | BBC Radio 4{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000xqn/episodes/guide|title=The Second Pan Book of Horror Stories: Episodes|website=BBC|accessdate=16 February 2021}}

The Second Pan Book of Horror Stories: The Judge's House

| Malcolmson

2021

|The Brothers Karamazov

|Narrator

|Penguin Classics

2021

|While Paris Slept

|Jean Luc

|Audible

2023

|Seventeen: A Coming of Age Story

|Narrator

|Simon & Schuster Audio UK

2024

|Hard by a Great Forest

|Narrator

|Audible

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Award

! Category

! Work

! Result

! Ref.

2013

| Evening Standard Theatre Awards

| Outstanding Newcomer

| rowspan="2" | A Midsummer Night's Dream

| {{nom}}

2014

| colspan="2" | Ian Charleson Awards

| {{nom}}

| {{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/jessie-buckley-jack-lowden-and-olivia-vinall-among_33935.html|title=Jessie Buckley, Jack Lowden and Olivia Vinall among Ian Charleson shortlist|website=WhatsOnStage|date=24 March 2014|accessdate=16 February 2021}}

2021

| Screen Actors Guild Awards

| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

| Bridgerton

| {{nom}}

| {{Cite web|title=The 27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards {{!}} Screen Actors Guild Awards|url=https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/27th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards|access-date=2021-02-04|website=www.sagawards.org|language=en}}

rowspan="3" |2024

| WhatsOnStage Awards

| Best Supporting Performer in a Play

| rowspan="2"|A Little Life

| {{won}}

| {{Cite web |date=2024-02-11 |title=James Norton and Luke Thompson win WhatsOnStage Awards for A Little Life |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/james-norton-and-luke-thompson-win-whatsonstage-awards-for-a-little-life_1568905/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |language=en-US}}

Laurence Olivier Awards

| Best Actor in a Supporting Role

| {{nominated}}

| {{Cite news |date=2024-03-12 |title=Olivier awards 2024: complete list of nominations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/mar/12/olivier-awards-2024-complete-list-of-nominations |access-date=2024-03-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Screen Actors Guild Awards

| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

| Bridgerton

| {{nom}}

|{{Cite magazine |last=Busis |first=Hillary |date=2025-01-08 |title=2025 SAG Awards Nominations: See the Full List Here |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/2025-sag-awards-nominations-full-list |access-date=2025-01-08 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}

References

External links

{{IMDb name|3451086}}

Category:Living people

Category:1988 births

Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol

Category:English male radio actors

Category:English male Shakespearean actors

Category:English male stage actors

Category:English expatriates in France

Category:People from Fontainebleau

Category:Male actors from Southampton