Andrew Scott (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andrew Scott
Scott at the 2019 TV BAFTAs
Born	1975/1976 (age 48–49) Dublin, Ireland
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1994–present
Awards	Full list

Andrew Scott (born 1975/1976) is an Irish actor. He is well-known for his exciting roles in movies, TV shows, and plays. He has won several important awards, including a British Academy Television Award and two Laurence Olivier Awards. He has also been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.

Many people first noticed Andrew when he played the clever villain Jim Moriarty in the BBC show Sherlock (2010–2017). He even won a BAFTA award for this role! He became even more famous as 'The Priest' in the comedy show Fleabag (2019), winning a Critics' Choice Television Award for it. He also acted in popular movies like Pride (2014), Spectre (2015), and 1917 (2019). In 2023, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his main role in the movie All of Us Strangers. In 2024, he starred as Tom Ripley in the thriller series Ripley, which brought him more Golden Globe and Emmy nominations.

On stage, Andrew played the main character, Garry Essendine, in the play Present Laughter in 2019. For this, he won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor. He also won another Laurence Olivier Award in 2005 for his role in A Girl in a Car with a Man.

Early Life and Acting Start

Andrew Scott was born in Dublin, Ireland, on October 21, 1976. His mother was an art teacher, and his father worked at an employment agency. He is the middle child of three. He has an older sister, Sarah, and a younger sister, Hannah.

Andrew went to Gonzaga College and also took acting classes on weekends. He even appeared in two TV commercials in Ireland! When he was 17, he got a main role in his first movie, Korea. He chose to study drama at Trinity College Dublin but left after six months. He then joined the Abbey Theatre in Dublin before moving to London when he was 22. He once said he always loved acting very much.

Andrew's Acting Journey

Early Roles (1992–2009)

In 1992, Andrew played Stan in the play Brighton Beach Memoirs in Dublin. His first movie role was in Korea (1995). He worked with director Karel Reisz in the play Long Day's Journey into Night (1998). For this, he won the Actor of the Year award in 1998.

Andrew had small roles in the movie Nora and the TV show The American. He then performed in London theatre for the first time in Dublin Carol. He also appeared in the drama Longitude (2000) and Steven Spielberg's miniseries Band of Brothers (2001).

In 2004, he was named one of Europe's "Shooting Stars." He won his first Laurence Olivier Award for his role in A Girl in a Car with a Man. He also won an award for his performance in Aristocrats. In 2006, he acted on Broadway in the play The Vertical Hour with Julianne Moore. He was nominated for a Drama League Award for this play.

Andrew played Col. William Smith in the miniseries John Adams (2008). In 2009, he starred in Sea Wall, a play written just for him. He also appeared in Cock, which won an Olivier Award in 2010. His role in Foyle's War was called a "standout performance." He played Paul McCartney in the BBC film Lennon Naked.

Rising to Fame (2010–2017)

Andrew became very famous for playing Jim Moriarty, the enemy of Sherlock Holmes, in the BBC series Sherlock. He acted alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. For this role, he won the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor. Andrew said that Sherlock changed all their careers and made them well-known.

He had a guest role in Garrow's Law (2010). In 2011, he played the main role of Julian in Emperor and Galilean. He also had a part in the BBC Two drama The Hour. Besides acting, Andrew is known for his voice work in radio plays and audiobooks, like The Great Gatsby and Ulysses.

In 2013, Andrew took part in "50 Years on Stage," a live TV event celebrating theatre. He performed a scene from the play Angels in America. In 2014, he starred in Birdland, playing a rock star. Critics praised his performance, calling it "beautifully played."

In 2015, he appeared in the James Bond movie Spectre as Max Denbigh. Andrew said he found it hard to be in the film and felt a bit intimidated by its big budget. The next year, he was in the romantic drama This Beautiful Fantastic (2016).

In 2017, Andrew played Hamlet in the play Hamlet. His performance received great reviews and earned him a nomination for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor. The play was filmed and shown on BBC Two. Andrew also voiced Obake in Big Hero 6: The Series (2017).

Recent Successes (2018–Present)

Scott in 2022

In 2018, Andrew played Edgar in the TV version of William Shakespeare's King Lear. He acted with famous stars like Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. The next year, he played 'The Priest' in the comedy-drama Fleabag. This role made him very popular and earned him a Critics' Choice Television Award.

In 2019, he appeared in the show Black Mirror, as the main character Chris in the episode "Smithereens". He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for this role. Also in 2019, he acted in the war movie 1917, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

From June to August 2019, Andrew starred in the play Present Laughter at the Old Vic in London. He won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for this performance. He also played Colonel John Parry in His Dark Materials (2019–2022). He was Lord Merlin in the miniseries The Pursuit of Love (2021) and Terje Rød-Larsen in the film Oslo (2021). In 2022, he acted in the comedy Catherine Called Birdy.

In 2023, Andrew starred with Paul Mescal in the romantic drama All of Us Strangers. His acting earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. He also starred in Vanya, a one-man play based on Uncle Vanya, which was highly praised.

Andrew's next big role was as Tom Ripley in the TV series Ripley. For this, he received nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Personal Life

Andrew Scott has worked with the charity IdeasTap. He helped young actors start their careers by mentoring them. The charity closed in 2015.

Acting Credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and Nominations

Andrew Scott has won many awards. These include a BAFTA TV Award, two Laurence Olivier Awards, a Critics' Choice Television Award, and a British Independent Film Award. He has also been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.