Rupert Vansittart

Vansittart was raised in Cranleigh, Surrey,{{cite web| url= https://www.mylondon.news/news/celebs/itv-heartbeat-rupert-vansittarts-35-23056044#lni5c2rk5bu85stech3 |title= ITV Heartbeat: Rupert Vansittart's 35-year marriage and why Harry Potter meant his wife had to change her name |author= Ian Molyneaux |work= mylondon.news |date= 10 February 2022 }} and is of partial Dutch ancestry. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Vansittart started his acting career in an episode of Bulman in 1985. In 1992, he began playing his regular role as North Yorkshire aristocrat Lord Ashfordly in the police drama series Heartbeat, which he continued to play until 2009. He appeared in Remains of the Day (1993) as Sir Geoffrey Wren, a character based on the 1930s British fascist Oswald Mosley. He appeared in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) as George the Bore at the Boatman.[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rupert_vansittart/?seo=a3 Rupert Vansittart – Rotten Tomatoes] He appeared in Braveheart (1995) as Lord Bottoms. He was also cast in the serial Pride and Prejudice (1995) as Mr Hurst, the brother-in-law of Charles and Caroline Bingley.

Vansittart has worked with Rowan Atkinson on a number of occasions, appearing as a guest star in two episodes of Mr. Bean, as well as appearing in The Thin Blue Line and Johnny English Reborn (2011).{{cite web| url= https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/rupert-vansittart/credits/3030091903/ |title= Rupert Vansittart Credits |work= tvguide.com |access-date= October 9, 2023}}

In 2002, Vansittart appeared in the Midsomer Murders episode "Market for Murder". He also portrayed General Asquith in the Doctor Who episodes "Aliens of London" and "World War Three". In 2003, he appeared in the West End adaptation of Arsenic and Old Lace. In 2006, Vansittart portrayed Thomas J. Dodd in the BBC three-part drama documentary Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial. In 2007, he appeared in another episode of Midsomer Murders, "The Axeman Cometh". He also appeared in the 2008 BBC serial Spartacus as Consul Lentulus.

In 2009, Vansittart was cast as Conservative MP Peter Morrison in Margaret, a television film about Margaret Thatcher's life, career, and downfall. Two years later, in The Iron Lady with Meryl Streep, he played Cabinet minister John Biffen.{{cite web| url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/margaret-thatcher/9014887/The-Iron-Lady-Thatchers-men-deliver-verdict-on-film.html |title=The Iron Lady: Thatcher's men deliver verdict on film | access-date=11 May 2017 | author=Roya Nikkah| date=14 January 2012| publisher = The Daily Telegraph }} He has also played political characters on stage: in 2014 he was one of the main actors in the cast of Great Britain at the Royal National Theatre.{{cite web| url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/10936049/Great-Britain-Nationals-Lyttelton-Theatre-review-Laughter-gives-way-to-shame.html| title=Billie Piper to star as tabloid editor in National Theatre satire about press and prime minister| author=Anita Singh| access-date=11 May 2017| date=25 June 2014 | publisher=The Daily Telegraph }}

2009 also saw Vansittart's third appearance in Midsomer Murders, in the episode "The Dogleg Murders". In 2010, he appeared in Doctors as Anthony Chippington, a friend of Charlie's. He played Harrison Ashton Lard, the "posh girl's father", in How Not to Live Your Life. He provided additional voice-over for World's Craziest Fools. He appeared in the final two seasons of Foyle's War as Sir Alec Myerson, the title character's boss at MI5. Vansittart also appeared in the BBC Three comedy Bad Education, playing Mr. Humpage. In 2014, Vansittart started playing Lord Yohn Royce in the HBO series Game of Thrones, making recurring appearances in season 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

In 2016, he appears in the BBC TV series Father Brown as Arthur Le Broc in episode 4.7 "The Missing Man". In January 2016, he played Peter Jennings in an episode of the BBC series Casualty.

Vansittart has been married to Emma Kate, daughter of the actors Moray Watson and Pamela Marmont, since 1987. They have two children. When Emma Watson was cast for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Emma Kate Watson changed her name to Emma Vansittart, adopting her husband's surname as her new stage name, to avoid being confused with the young actress.{{cite web|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9218666/Look-out-The-original-Emma-Watson-stages-a-comeback.html |access-date= 11 May 2017|title= Look Out! The original Emma Watson stages a comeback |author= Richard Eden| publisher= The Daily Telegraph |date= 22 April 2012}}

• The Revengers' Comedies (1989)
• Taking Steps (1990)
• The Revengers' Comedies (1991)
• A Westwood Diary (1996)
• Arsenic and Old Lace (2003)
• This House (2013)
• Great Britain (2014)

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• {{IMDb name|889338}}

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Category:1958 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century English male actors

Category:21st-century English male actors

Category:Actors from the Borough of Waverley

Category:English male stage actors

Category:English male television actors

Category:English people of Dutch descent

Category:Male actors from Surrey

Category:People from Cranleigh

Rupert