Adrian Lester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adrian Lester
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Born |
Anthony Harvey
14 August 1968 Birmingham, England
|
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Lolita Chakrabarti
(m. 1997; div. 2024) |
| Children | 2 |
Adrian Anthony Lester is a famous British actor known for his work in theatre, television, and movies. He was born on August 14, 1968. For his amazing acting, he has won several major awards, including a Laurence Olivier Award. This is one of the highest honors in British theatre.
He has also been recognized by the Queen of England for his contributions to drama, receiving an honor known as a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire).
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Adrian Lester was born in Birmingham, England. His parents had moved to England from Jamaica. From a young age, Adrian showed a talent for performing. When he was nine, he started singing as a boy treble (a young male singer with a high voice) in the choir at St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham.
At age 14, he joined the Birmingham Youth Theatre, where he began to develop his acting skills. After high school, he trained at the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, graduating in 1989.
Career on Stage and Screen
Theatre Stardom
Adrian is highly respected for his work in the theatre. In 1991, he earned praise for playing the female character Rosalind in an all-male production of Shakespeare's As You Like It.
He has played some of the most famous characters in theatre history. He starred as the lead character in Hamlet and played King Henry in Henry V at the National Theatre in London. In 2013, he played the title role of Othello in Shakespeare's famous tragedy. His performance was so good that he and his co-star, Rory Kinnear, both won the Best Actor award at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Usually, only one person wins, but the judges couldn't decide between them.
He also won a Laurence Olivier Award for his role in the musical Company. In 2021, he starred in The Lehman Trilogy on Broadway in New York City, which earned him a nomination for a Tony Award, America's top theatre prize.
Television Roles
Many people know Adrian from the popular BBC show Hustle, where he played the smart con artist Michael "Mickey Bricks" Stone from 2004 to 2012.
He has appeared in many other TV shows, including:
- Girlfriends, an American comedy series.
- Bonekickers, a BBC drama about a team of archaeologists.
- Merlin, where he played a character named Myror.
- The Sandman, a Netflix series where he plays the character Destiny.
Movie Appearances
Adrian has also acted in several movies. In 1998, he appeared in the American film Primary Colors, playing a character based on a real-life political advisor. This role earned him a nomination for "Most Promising Actor" from the Chicago Film Critics Association.
He also had a role in the disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow as a scientist named Simon. He even filmed scenes for Spider-Man 3, but they were removed from the final version of the movie.
Personal Life
In 1997, Adrian married actress and writer Lolita Chakrabarti. They met as students at RADA. They have two daughters. The couple divorced in 2024.
In 2007, he was part of a TV documentary called Empire's Children. The show explored the stories of people whose families moved from the Caribbean to the United Kingdom, like his own family.
Besides acting, Adrian has a black belt in the martial art of Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo.
Awards and Honours
Adrian Lester has received many awards for his acting. He was also given special honours for his service to drama:
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013.
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2020.
He has also received honorary degrees from several universities, including the University of Warwick and the University of Birmingham, recognizing his important contributions to the arts.
See also
In Spanish: Adrian Lester para niños
