Matthew Macfadyen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Matthew Macfadyen
Macfadyen in 2019
Born	David Matthew Macfadyen (1974-10-17) 17 October 1974 (age 50) Great Yarmouth, England
Education	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (BA)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1994–present
Spouse(s)	Keeley Hawes ​ (m. 2004)​
Children	2

Matthew Macfadyen (born October 17, 1974) is a talented English actor. He is famous for his roles in movies and TV shows. Many people know him as Mr. Darcy from the 2005 film Pride & Prejudice.

He also became very well-known for playing Tom Wambsgans in the TV series Succession (2018–2023). For this role, he won several big awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards, two BAFTA TV Awards, and a Golden Globe Award.

Matthew Macfadyen first appeared on TV in 1998 in Wuthering Heights. He also starred as Tom Quinn in the spy series Spooks (2002–2004, 2011). Later, he played Inspector Edmund Reid in the mystery series Ripper Street (2012–2016). He won a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Criminal Justice (2009).

He has also been in many mini-series, playing characters like Henry Wilcox in Howards End (2017), Charles Ingram in Quiz (2020), and John Stonehouse in Stonehouse (2023). In movies, he has appeared in Death at a Funeral (2007), Frost/Nixon (2008), Anna Karenina (2012), and Operation Mincemeat (2021). In 2024, he joined the superhero world as Mr. Paradox in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Early Life and Education

Matthew Macfadyen was born on October 17, 1974, in Great Yarmouth, England. His mother, Meinir, was a drama teacher and actress. His father, Martin, was an oil engineer. Matthew's grandparents came from Scotland and Wales.

Because of his father's job, Matthew grew up in many different places. He lived in England, Scotland, and even Jakarta, Indonesia. He went to Oakham School in England. When he was 17, he was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). He studied acting there from 1992 to 1995. While studying, he was greatly inspired by the movie Fanny and Alexander, which he felt showed amazing acting.

Acting Career Highlights

A bust of Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy from the 2005 film Pride & Prejudice.

After finishing RADA, Matthew Macfadyen became known for his work in British theater. He performed with a group called Cheek by Jowl. He played important roles in plays like The Duchess of Malfi and Much Ado About Nothing. In 2005, he played Prince Hal in Henry IV, Parts One and Two at the Royal National Theatre.

His big break on television came in 1998 when he appeared in Wuthering Heights. He then starred in other TV dramas like Warriors (1999) and The Way We Live Now (2001). In 2001, he was praised for his role in Perfect Strangers.

In 2002, he began starring in Spooks, a popular spy series on BBC One. He played Tom Quinn and became a fan favorite. He left the show in 2004 but made a special return in 2011. He won the Best Actor award at the Royal Television Society Awards in 2007 for his role in Secret Life. He also appeared in a short comedy sketch for Comic Relief with Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean.

Matthew also acted in films like Enigma (2001) and In My Father's Den. For the latter, he won an award in New Zealand. In 2005, he took on the famous role of Fitzwilliam Darcy in the movie Pride & Prejudice.

Nicholas Braun and Matthew Macfadyen at the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2024.

He continued to appear in many films, including Death at a Funeral (2007) and Frost/Nixon (2008), where he played John Birt. In 2008, he starred as Arthur Clennam in the BBC's adaptation of Charles Dickens' Little Dorrit. In 2009, he acted alongside Helena Bonham Carter in Enid, a movie about the author Enid Blyton.

In 2010, he played the Sheriff of Nottingham in the film Robin Hood. He also starred in the TV series The Pillars of the Earth and Any Human Heart. In June 2010, he won a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Criminal Justice.

In 2012, he played Oblonsky in the movie Anna Karenina. From 2012 to 2016, he was Detective Inspector Edmund Reid in the BBC One series Ripper Street. This show was very popular and even got picked up by Amazon Prime for more seasons.

From 2018 to 2023, Matthew Macfadyen played Tom Wambsgans in the HBO series Succession. This role brought him huge success, and he won two Primetime Emmy Awards (in 2022 and 2023) and a Golden Globe Award (in 2024) for his acting. In 2020, he played Major Charles Ingram in Quiz, a TV drama about a game show scandal. In 2024, he appeared in the superhero movie Deadpool & Wolverine as Mr. Paradox.

Personal Life

Matthew Macfadyen met his wife, Keeley Hawes, while they were working together on the TV series Spooks in 2002. They got married in November 2004 and have two children together. Matthew is also a stepfather to Keeley's son from her previous marriage.

Acting Credits

Film

Television

Radio

Documentary

Theatre

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Matthew Macfadyen para niños