Marcus Richard Lloyd Owen (born 14 April 1966) is a British actor. Despite being born in London, he considers himself Welsh due to both his parents being from Wales and only having moved to London for purposes of professional progression.Trained at the National Youth Theatre and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, he is known for portraying Indiana Jones's father Professor Dr. Henry Jones Sr. in George Lucas's The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles between 1992 and 1993 and Paul Bowman-MacDonald in the BBC Scotland series Monarch of the Glen from 2002 to 2005. He starred as solicitor William Heelis in the film Miss Potter (2006) and commander Nathan Walker in Apollo 18 (2011). He plays the role of Elendil in the Amazon Prime fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022).

Lloyd Owen
Owen in 2006
Born
Marcus Richard Lloyd Owen

(1966-04-14) 14 April 1966 (age 58)
Charing Cross, London, England
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Years active1987–present
SpouseJuliette Mole
Children2
Parent

Early life edit

Owen was born on 14 April 1966 at the Charing Cross Hospital in Westminster, London.[1] He was brought up in London, although both of his parents were Welsh – his father, actor Glyn Owen (1928–2004), was from Caernarfon, Gwynedd, while his mother, actress Patricia Mort, was from Morriston in Swansea. Owen considers himself Welsh.[2] His sister is the actress Cathy Owen (b. 1968).

Owen said he grew up around "a mob of entertaining, troublesome, fascinating" actors involved in challenging the Lord Chamberlain during some of the most exciting days of a very controversial Royal Court Theatre.[3] When he was at Highgate School,[4] because his father was an actor, his teachers thought that he should be able to act, too. However, at first he was not interested. "I was always made to read plays at school but I never wanted to. Then I was made to take part in a school play and I didn't want to do that either but I started to get approval for my acting. I was reasonably academic, good at sport, but somehow with the acting, people said 'that was fantastic'. So I thought, 'maybe that's what I'll do then".[5]

At 16, Owen went straight from school to the National Youth Theatre, and subsequently received formal training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, after which he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.[6] While at RADA he managed to get an acting job and an Equity card, but when he told the principal he needed a term off, the request was denied and he was expelled from the Academy after just a year. Fortunately, Owen landed a job with Cheek by Jowl and followed the theatre company on tour around the world performing Shakespeare plays.[5] Owen has said that he wished he had gone to university, and that he had been "in too much of a rush".[7]

Career edit

Owen's breakthrough role was Professor Henry Jones, Sr., father of Indiana Jones, in eight episodes of the TV series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles in 1992 and 1993. Subsequently, he portrayed the lead role of Paul Bowman-MacDonald in 28 episodes of the popular BBC Scotland series Monarch of the Glen between 2002 and 2005.[8] He also played Professor Jon Ford in the BBC Northern Ireland series The Innocence Project (2006–2007).[9] In 2014, Owen appeared in the second season of The CW's supernatural show The Originals as Ansel, Klaus's father. He also had a recurring role of the U.S. President Farrell in 2015 comedy series You, Me and the Apocalypse.[10] In 2019, he played Dominic Swanson in the ITV drama Cleaning Up. In 2020, it was announced that Owen joined the cast of the Amazon Prime Video fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), where he plays the role of Elendil.[11][12]

Owen's film career has included appearances in short films, and supporting roles in The Republic of Love (2003) (as Peter),[13] which was based on a novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Carol Shields, and in Miss Potter (2006) (as a solicitor named William Heelis who married children's author Beatrix Potter).[14] In 2011, he starred in sci-fi film Apollo 18 as Commander Nathan "Nate" Walker. He also played officer John Clive in the 2018 Hindi film Thugs of Hindostan.

However, Owen's first love has always been the theatre. Early in his professional career he was involved in the Cheek by Jowl productions of Philoctetes and the Shakespeare plays Macbeth, The Tempest and Twelfth Night. Owen's break on stage was playing Nick in Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, directed by Howard Davies, at the Almeida Theatre in London in 1996. Owen studied the play during his A-levels, and it is his favourite play. Other highlights of his stage career include playing Dan in Closer by Patrick Marber in 1998 and George in The York Realist by Peter Gill in 2002.[1] Critics praised his performance in the latter play as "astonishing in its power, throttled fury and sadness"[15] and "superb, richly voiced",[16] and called him "a fast-rising star".[17]

Personal life edit

Owen is married to actress and artist Juliette Mole. Together they have two children, Maxim (b. 1990) and Mimi (b. 1998).[2][5]

Owen speaks fluent French.[18]

Filmography edit

Film edit

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Between DreamsStephen TredreShort film
2002The Seasons AlterOberonShort film
2003The Republic of LovePeter
ConfusedJohnnyShort film
2004Get the PictureJake WellsShort film
2006Miss PotterWilliam Heelis
2011Apollo 18Nathan Walker
2013Free RideThe Captain
2017The Man with the Iron HeartCommandant Schuster
2018Thugs of HindostanJohn Clive
2022BounceSurgeonShort film; director and producer
2023WonderwellAdam

Television edit

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988BoonPete BlissetSeries 3, episode 7: "Honourable Service"
1991The ChiefPC FarrellSeries 2, episode 3: "Jack and Jill"
1992Forever GreenPaul SherringhamSeries 2, episode 4
Science FictionLord ByronSeries 2, episode 6: "The Story of Frankenstein"
1992–1993The Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesProfessor Henry Jones, Sr.8 episodes
1993Stay LuckyGerry CookSeries 4, episode 3: "A Quick Killing"
All in the GameDarren Matthews
1994The Cinder PathCharlie MacFell
1996The BillDavid SeabrookSeries 12, episode 24: "Boy Meets Girl"
Young Indiana Jones: Travels with FatherProfessor Henry Jones, Sr.Television film
1998Get RealAdam
1999CasualtyJack Chandler2 episodes: "Calm Before the Storm"
2000Harbour LightsInspector Nick PrestonSeries 2, episode 2: "Thicker Than Water"
2001Gypsy GirlJackSeries 1, episode 1
Hearts and BonesJames Norton
2001–2002Des del balcóPatrick O'Brien
2002CouplingJames3 episodes
Dead GorgeousVicTelevision film
Wire in the BloodSpencer Watts2 episodes: "Justice Painted Blind"
2002–2005Monarch of the GlenPaul Bowman-MacDonald
2003The ViceDelaneySeries 5, episode 5: "Outcast"
2004Dragons AliveNarratorDocumentary
2005The Ghost SquadDI BryceSeries 1, episode 1: "One of Us"
2006–2007The Innocence ProjectProfessor Jon Ford
2007Viva LaughlinRipley Holden
2008InseparableJustin / ClydeTelevision film
2009Taking the FlakJackSeries 1, episode 1: "Bigfooting"
Inside the BoxKenneth DonneganTelevision film
2012Fairly LegalRobin Archer2 episodes
2013National Theatre Live: 50 Years On StageTony BlairTelevision film; segment "Stuff Happens"
2014The OriginalsAnsel2 episodes
2015Midsomer MurdersLouis PayntonSeries 17, episode 4: "A Vintage Murder"
You, Me and the ApocalypseU.S. President Farrell6 episodes
Der BeobachterTom WardTelevision film
2016Death in ParadiseDr Sam BlakeSeries 5, episode 1: "The Complex Murder"
Silent WitnessDet Supt Mitchell2 episodes: "Life Licence"
2019Cleaning UpDominic Swanson
2022–presentThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerElendil

Stage edit

YearTitleRoleVenueRef.
As You Like ItCharles / WilliamWolsey Theatre[19]
The PassportYoung Vic
The Parquet FloorYoung Vic
1987Twelfth NightSebastianCheek by Jowl / Swan Theatre[19]
1987–1988MacbethDonalbainCheek by Jowl / York Theatre Royal
1988–1989The TempestFerdinandCheek by Jowl / Donmar Warehouse
PhiloctetesSailorCheek by Jowl / Donmar Warehouse
1989HamletLaertesLeicester Haymarket Theatre
1994Henry VI, Part 3Edward IVRoyal Shakespeare Company / The Other Place
1995Our BoysJoeDonmar Warehouse
Grab the DogRoyal National Theatre / The Studio
1996East LynneCaptain Francis LevisonGreenwich Theatre
1996–1997Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?NickAlmeida Theatre / Aldwych Theatre, West End[20]
1998CloserDanLyric Theatre, West End[21]
1999Morphic ResonanceWallaceDonmar Warehouse
2000The Way of the WorldMirabellRoyal Exchange Theatre[22]
Julius CaesarBrutusYoung Vic[23]
2001Edward IIMortimer the YoungerCrucible Theatre[24]
2001–2002The York RealistGeorgeThe Lowry / Bristol Old Vic / Royal Court Theatre / Strand Theatre, West End[17][25]
2003IphigeniaAgamemnonCrucible Theatre[26]
2004CloudsOwen ShorterCambridge Arts Theatre / Yvonne Arnaud Theatre[27]
2005PaulPeterRoyal National Theatre / Cottesloe Theatre[28]
2010Blood and GiftsJim WarnockRoyal National Theatre / Lyttelton Theatre
2011LoyaltyNick BeechingHampstead Theatre
2012–2013The BodyguardFrank FarmerAdelphi Theatre, West End[29]
2014Good PeopleMikeHampstead Theatre / Noël Coward Theatre, West End
2016The End of LongingJosephPlayhouse Theatre, West End[30]
2019–2020Noises OffLloyd DallasGarrick Theatre, West End

Radio edit

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001'Tis Pity She's a WhoreSoranzoBBC Radio 3
2007Keep Your PantheonLupus AlbusBBC Radio 4
2009The Man in the Wooden HatTerryBBC Radio 4
2010GoldfingerFelix LeiterBBC Radio 4
The School for Husbands and The Imaginary CuckoldValéreL.A. Theatre Works
2011The RivalsCaptain Jack AbsoluteL.A. Theatre Works
England, Their EnglandPendragonBBC Radio 4
2012Uncle Fred in the SpringtimeHorace Pendlebury-DavenportBBC Radio 4
2014On Her Majesty's Secret ServiceFranklinBBC Radio 4
2015Michael Frayn's Matchbox TheatrePerformerBBC Radio 4
2020The Man with the Golden GunChief-of-StaffBBC Radio 4
Leave It to PsmithSebastian BeachBBC Radio 4

Video games edit

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Star Wars: The Old RepublicVarious characters
2017Horizon Zero DawnTed Faro / Jarm
2022Horizon Forbidden WestTed Faro

References edit

  1. ^ a b Terri Paddock (3 February 2003), 20 questions with... Lloyd Owen, WhatsOnStage.com, archived from the original on 30 November 2007.
  2. ^ a b Driscoll, Rob (4 November 2006). "Lloyd Owen: Everything but my dad". WalesOnline. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. ^ Marshall, Charlotte (7 December 2012). "The Big Interview: Lloyd Owen". Official London Theatre. Society of London Theatre. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  4. ^ As an alumnus of Highgate School, Owen is a member of the Old Cholmeleian Society and Old Cholmeleian Sports Club, both named after the school's founder Sir Roger Cholmeley: Famous Old Cholms: Lloyd Owen, Old Cholmeleian Sports Club, 21 December 2005, archived from the original on 9 October 2007, retrieved 27 June 2007.
  5. ^ a b c Alison Maloney (October 2006), "From laird to lawyer", Sunday Post Magazine Online, archived from the original on 28 September 2007."
  6. ^ Taylor, Bryony Rae (2 October 2019). "Interview: Lloyd Owen Talks Noises Off at the Garrick Theatre". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  7. ^ Monarch of the Glen: Live chat: Lloyd Owen, BBC, 15 November 2003, archived from the original on 27 August 2006, retrieved 25 January 2010.
  8. ^ See Return of the Monarch: Lloyd Owen talks about the final series of Monarch of the Glen, GMTV, 15 September 2005, archived from the original on 28 September 2007, retrieved 25 January 2010.
  9. ^ A BBC spokeswoman said the remaining episodes will "definitely be shown", but that it was not yet known when: Ben Dowell (3 December 2006), "Innocence lost on BBC1 viewers: Prime-time drama of young lawyers righting wrongs has been pulled from the schedules", The Guardian, archived from the original on 15 June 2009.
  10. ^ Lee, Ben (13 February 2015). "Lloyd Owen cast in Sky1 and NBC's Apocalypse Slough". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  11. ^ Otterson, Joe (3 December 2020). "'Lord of the Rings' Series at Amazon Adds 20 Actors to Cast". Variety. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  12. ^ Coggan, Devan (13 July 2022). "Welcome to Númenor: Get an exclusive look at The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  13. ^ "The Republic of Love (2003)", Movies & TV Dept., The New York Times, 2012, archived from the original on 26 October 2012, retrieved 25 January 2010.
  14. ^ About Miss Potter: The actors on their characters: Interview: Matyelok Gibbs and Lloyd Owen (Miss Wiggin & William Heelis), Visual Hollywood, 2006, archived from the original on 19 June 2008, retrieved 25 January 2010.
  15. ^ Nicholas de Jongh in the Evening Standard (9 January 2002): see Lloyd Owen at Actors in Good Company. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  16. ^ Stephen Brown in The Times Literary Supplement (25 January 2002): Lloyd Owen at Actors in Good Company. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  17. ^ a b Billington, Michael (9 January 2002). "The York Realist: Royal Court, London [theatre review]". The Guardian.
  18. ^ Lloyd Owen at the website of Hamilton Hodell, his agent Archived 5 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  19. ^ a b "The production programme for Cheek by Jowl's 1987 – 1988 production of Macbeth" (PDF). Cheek by Jowl. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  20. ^ Spencer, Charles (28 September 1996). "Howls of pain from the marital bearpit [review of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]". The Daily Telegraph. [dead link]
  21. ^ "Archive Page for Closer". Albemarle of London. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  22. ^ Hopkin, James (26 April 2000). "Just enough tomfoolery: The Way of the World: The Royal Exchange, Manchester [review]". The Guardian.
  23. ^ Billington, Michael (22 September 2000). "Poor start at the Young Vic [review of Julius Caesar]". The Guardian.
  24. ^ Billington, Michael (15 March 2001). "Majestic decline of Joseph Fiennes: Edward II: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield [review]". The Guardian. Spencer, Charles (15 March 2001). "Fiennes leaves Shakespeare in Hollywood [review of Edward II]". The Daily Telegraph.
  25. ^ Macaulay, Alastair (10 January 2002). "Flawless acting on a Yorkshire farm [review of The York Realist]". Financial Times. [permanent dead link] Spencer, Charles (10 January 2002). "Before the sixties began to swing [review of The York Realist]". The Daily Telegraph. "Say it with Vaseline: The York Realist: Royal Court, London SW1 [review]". The Guardian. 13 January 2002. Grayling, A.C. (13 January 2002). "The York Realist by Peter Gill: Royal Court Theatre 4 January – 2 February 2002". Online Review London. Archived from the original on 30 May 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2007. Dalglish, Darren (15 January 2002). "The York Realist". The London Theatre Guide Online. Retrieved 27 June 2007. "Reviews of Past Productions: The Royal Court presents The English Touring Theatre production of The York Realist written and directed by Peter Gill". Royal Court Theatre. 2002. Archived from the original on 26 April 2004. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  26. ^ Billington, Michael (12 February 2003). "Iphigenia". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 January 2022. Spencer, Charles (13 February 2003). "How to rip the heart out of Euripides". The Daily Telegraph. Shuttleworth, Ian (19 February 2003). "Unspeakable actions of wartime [review of Iphigenia]". Financial Times. [permanent dead link]
  27. ^ Spencer, Charles (18 November 2004). "Lost in the tropical haze [review of Clouds]". The Daily Telegraph. Billington, Michael (24 November 2004). "Clouds: Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford (theatre review)". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 January 2022. van Emst, Christine (24 November 2004). "Cirrus comedy". This is Local London. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  28. ^ Billington, Michael (10 November 2005). "Paul: National, London". The Guardian. Nightingale, Benedict (10 November 2005). "Theatre: Paul". The Times. Spencer, Charles (10 November 2005). "A powerful and thrilling act of heresy [review of Paul]". The Daily Telegraph. Hemming, Sarah (11 November 2005). "The apostle, the songstress and the superficial Scrooge [review of Paul]". Financial Times. [permanent dead link] Sierz, Aleks (11 November 2005). "Paul". The Stage. Hemming, Sarah (15 November 2005). "Paul". Financial Times. [permanent dead link]
  29. ^ Limited, London Theatre Direct (1 May 2012). "Lloyd Owen to star in West End's hottest new show The Bodyguard". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Casting announced for Matthew Perry's The End of Longing". whatsonstage.com. Whats On Stage. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.

External links edit