Alex Jennings facts for kids

Alex Michael Jennings (born 10 May 1957) is a talented English actor. He has performed a lot on stage and in movies and TV shows. He is known for his work with famous theatre groups like the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Alex Jennings has won three Olivier Awards, which are big awards for theatre in London. He won for his roles in Too Clever by Half (1988), Peer Gynt (1996), and My Fair Lady (2003). He is the only actor to win Olivier awards for comedy, drama, and musical roles.

He is also famous for playing Prince Charles in the movie The Queen (2006). In this film, he acted alongside Helen Mirren. He also appeared in movies like The Wings of the Dove (1997) and The Lady in the Van (2015).

On TV, Alex Jennings played Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, in the Netflix series The Crown. He also played Leopold I of Belgium in the ITV series Victoria. Other TV roles include A Very English Scandal and Small Axe: Mangrove.

Early Life and Training

Alex Jennings was born in Romford, Essex, England. His parents are Peggy Patricia and Michael Thomas Jennings. He went to Abbs Cross Technical High School in Hornchurch.

He later studied English and Theatre at the University of Warwick. He finished his studies there in 1978. Alex has said that seeing his first play in high school at the Old Vic Theatre made him want to become an actor. After university, he trained for two years at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Acting Career

Starting Out in the 1980s

Alex Jennings began his acting career in the early 1980s. He performed in many different plays in local theatres. In 1985, he played several roles, including Maximilien Robespierre in The Scarlet Pimpernel. During this time, he met director Nicholas Hytner, and they have worked together many times since.

In 1988, he won his first Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance. This was for his role as Gloumov in Too Clever by Half. He also performed for the Royal National Theatre in plays like The Winter's Tale.

During the 1980s, Alex Jennings also appeared in TV shows. These included Smiley's People and Inspector Morse. He also did a lot of radio work, narrating books and plays.

Success in the 1990s

In the 1990s, Alex Jennings took on many important roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He played the main character in Peer Gynt, winning another Olivier Award for Best Actor in 1996. He also played Richard II and Hamlet in Shakespeare's plays.

He appeared in the film version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. He was also in the movie Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1999). In 1997, he played Lord Mark in the movie The Wings of the Dove. This film was very popular and received many award nominations.

2000s: Big Screen Roles

In 2002, Alex Jennings won his third Olivier Award. This was for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady. He also appeared in the film The Four Feathers (2002).

A major film role for him came in 2006. He played Charles, Prince of Wales in The Queen. The movie showed the events after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. It was a huge success and received many awards.

In 2007, he played the Rev. Hutton in the BBC miniseries Cranford. He also played John Le Mesurier in the BBC drama Hancock and Joan. Alex Jennings also recorded audio versions of many popular books during this time.

2010s: Diverse Roles

In 2010, Alex Jennings appeared in the children's TV show Grandpa in my Pocket. He also starred in the film Belle (2013). From 2011 to 2014, he played Alan Cowdrey QC in the BBC legal drama Silk.

In 2014, he took on the role of Willy Wonka in the musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical in London. In 2015, he played writer Alan Bennett in the film The Lady in the Van. He acted alongside Dame Maggie Smith in this movie.

From 2016 to 2017, Alex Jennings played Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor in the Netflix series The Crown. He also played King Leopold I of Belgium in the TV series Victoria. In 2018, he played Peter Bessell in the BBC series A Very English Scandal.

Recent Work in the 2020s

In 2020, Alex Jennings appeared in the Small Axe miniseries. He played Judge Edward Clarke in the TV movie Mangrove. This story was based on the true events of the Mangrove Nine. These were British activists who protested against unfair police actions in 1970. The film was praised for showing the challenges of unfair treatment by systems.

In 2024, he appeared in the TV series Mr Bates vs The Post Office. He also played Sir Edward Young in A Very Royal Scandal.

Film Appearances

Television Roles

Theatre Performances

Filmed Theatre Shows

• 1999: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Butler
• 2010: National Theatre Live: The Habit of Art as Henry / Benjamin Britten
• 2011: National Theatre Live: Collaborators as Mikhail Bulgakov
• 2013: National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage as Henry Higgins
• 2019: National Theatre Live: Hansard as Robin Hesketh

Awards and Honors

Alex Jennings received a special honor called Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2024. This award is given for great services to drama.

See also

In Spanish: Alex Jennings para niños