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Rupert Vansittart

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Rupert Vansittart
Vansittart in July 2017
Born
Rupert Nicholas Vansittart

(1958-02-10) 10 February 1958 (age 66)
Cranleigh, England
Alma materCentral School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActor
Spouse
Emma Kate Watson
​
(m. 1987)​
Children2

Rupert Nicholas Vansittart (born 10 February 1958) is an English actor. He has appeared in a variety of roles in film, television, stage and radio, often playing comic characters. He is best known for his role as Lord Ashfordly in the ITV drama Heartbeat (1992–2009) and for playing Lord Yohn Royce in the HBO series Game of Thrones (2014–2019).

Early life and education

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Vansittart was raised in Cranleigh, Surrey,[1] and is of partial Dutch ancestry. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.[citation needed]

Career

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Vansittart started his acting career in an episode of Bulman in 1985.[1] In 1992, he began playing his regular role as North Yorkshire aristocrat Lord Ashfordly in the police drama series Heartbeat, which he continued to play until 2009. He appeared in Remains of the Day (1993) as Sir Geoffrey Wren, a character based on the 1930s British fascist Sir Oswald Mosley.[2] He appeared in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)[1] as George the Boor at the Boatman.[3] He appeared in Braveheart (1995) as Lord Bottoms.[1] He was also cast in the serial Pride and Prejudice (1995)[1] as Mr Hurst, the brother-in-law of Charles and Caroline Bingley.

Vansittart has worked with Rowan Atkinson on a number of occasions, appearing as a guest star in two episodes of Mr. Bean, as well as appearing in The Thin Blue Line[2] and Johnny English Reborn (2011).[2]

In 2002, Vansittart appeared in the Midsomer Murders episode "Market for Murder".[1] He also portrayed General Asquith in the Doctor Who episodes "Aliens of London" and "World War Three".[2] In 2003, he appeared in the West End adaptation of Arsenic and Old Lace. In 2006, Vansittart portrayed Thomas J. Dodd in the BBC three-part drama documentary Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial.[2] In 2007, he appeared in another episode of Midsomer Murders, "The Axeman Cometh". He also appeared in the 2008 BBC serial Spartacus as Consul Lentulus.[2]

In 2009, Vansittart was cast as Conservative MP Peter Morrison in Margaret, a television film about Margaret Thatcher's life, career, and downfall. Two years later, in The Iron Lady with Meryl Streep, he played Cabinet minister John Biffen.[4] He has also played political characters on stage: in 2014 he was one of the main actors in the cast of Great Britain at the Royal National Theatre.[5]

2009 also saw Vansittart's third appearance in Midsomer Murders, in the episode "The Dogleg Murders".[1] In 2010, he appeared in Doctors as Anthony Chippington, a friend of Charlie's. He played Harrison Ashton Lard, the "posh girl's father", in How Not to Live Your Life. He provided additional voice-over for World's Craziest Fools. He appeared in the final two seasons of Foyle's War as Sir Alec Myerson, the title character's boss at MI5.[1] Vansittart also appeared in the BBC Three comedy Bad Education, playing Mr. Humpage.[2] In 2014, Vansittart started playing Lord Yohn Royce in the HBO series Game of Thrones,[1] making recurring appearances in season 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.[1] In 2016, he appears in the BBC TV series Father Brown as Arthur Le Broc in episode 4.7 "The Missing Man".[2] In January 2016, he played Peter Jennings in an episode of the BBC series Casualty.[2]

Personal life

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Vansittart has been married to Emma Kate, daughter of the actors Moray Watson and Pamela Marmont, since 1987.[1] They have two children. When Emma Watson was cast for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Emma Kate Watson changed her name to Emma Vansittart, adopting her husband's surname as her new stage name, to avoid being confused with the young actress.[6]

Theatre

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  • The Revengers' Comedies (1989)
  • Taking Steps (1990)
  • The Revengers' Comedies (1991)
  • A Westwood Diary (1996)
  • Arsenic and Old Lace (2003)
  • This House (2013)
  • Great Britain (2014)

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 Plenty Client's Asst.
1986 Half Moon Street Alan Platts-Williams
1987 Eat the Rich Rupert
1988 Buster Fairclough
1993 The Remains of the Day Sir Geoffrey Wren
1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral George the boor at The Boatman - Wedding One
1995 Braveheart Lord Bottoms
Cutthroat Island Captain Perkins
1997 Diana & Me Chef
1998 Monk Dawson Fr Timothy
2000 Kevin & Perry Go Large Bank Manager
2008 The Bank Job Sir Leonard Plugge
2011 Johnny English Reborn Derek
The Iron Lady Cabinet Minister
2013 Austenland Mr. Wattlesbrook
2016 A United Kingdom Sir Ian Fraser
2017 The Children Act Sherwood Runcie
2020 Misbehaviour Lord Bly

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 Bulman Jack 1 episode
1986 The Comic Strip Presents... Jeremy 1 episode
1988; 1989 Wish Me Luck Guard in Factory / German Soldier at Station 2 episodes
1989 The Saint: The Brazilian Connection Wyatt Television film
1990; 1991 The Piglet Files Zemskov / KGB Officer 2 episodes
1992-2009 Heartbeat Lord Ashfordly Main role, 75 episodes
1993 Love Hurts Richard Hollis 1 episode
1993 Chef! Diner 1 episode
1993 Frank Stubbs Promotes Businessman 1 episode
1994; 1995 Mr. Bean Police Officer / Guardsman 2 episodes
1995 Pride and Prejudice Mr Hurst Miniseries, 4 episodes
1995 The Thin Blue Line Commander Crow 1 episode
1996 Wilderness Jeremy Miniseries, 2 episodes
1997 Supply & Demand Police Personnel Television film
1997 Noah's Ark Mark Villiers 1 episode
1997 A Dance to the Music of Time Soper Miniseries, 1 episode
1997 Painted Lady Henry Fellows Television film
1998 Berkeley Square Lord Percy Wilton Miniseries, 2 episodes
1998 Vanity Fair Smith Miniseries, 1 episode
1998; 2014 Birds of a Feather Counsel / Wayne 2 episodes
1999 CI5: The New Professionals Chairman 1 episode
2000 The Bill Solicitor 1 episode
2000 Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show Various 2 episodes
2000 Black Books Rich Guy 1 episode
2000 Take a Girl Like You Headmaster 2 episodes
2000; 2001 My Family Mr. Davis / Mr. Quince 2 episodes
2001 Sword of Honour Commander-in-Chief Television film
2001 Sam's Game Robert 1 episode
2001 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Brian Babbacombe 1 episode
2001 The Way We Live Now Sir Damask Monogram Miniseries, 1 episode
2002 The Falklands Play Sir Robert Armstrong Television film
2002; 2007; 2009 Midsomer Murders Alistair Kingslake / Desmond Harcourt / Selwyn Proctor 3 episodes
2003-2004 My Dad's the Prime Minister Chancellor Recurring role, 8 episodes
2004 The Brief Prettyman Miniseries, 1 episode
2004 Roman Road Farmer Television film
2005 Twisted Tales Dr. Mantle 1 episode
2005 Doctor Who General Asquith 2 episodes
2005 Wallis & Edward Chief Whip Television film
2006 Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial Thomas J. Dodd Miniseries, 2 episodes
2007 Hustle Jonathan Mortimer-Howe 1 episode
2007 Sensitive Skin Interview Guest 1 episode, uncredited
2008 Heroes and Villains Lentulus 1 episode
2009 Margaret Peter Morrison Television film
2010 How Not to Live Your Life Harrison 1 episode
2010 Any Human Heart The Earl Miniseries, 2 episodes
2010; 2012; 2014 Doctors Benedict 'Bennie' Harley / Mr. Graham Fitch / Anthony Chippington 3 episodes
2011 Comedy Showcase Headmaster 1 episode
2011 Holy Flying Circus Bernard Barnard QC Television film
2012 The Royal Bodyguard Roderick Finch Miniseries, 1 episode
2012 Bad Education Mr. Humpage 1 episode
2013-2015 Foyle's War Sir Alec Meyerson Recurring role, 5 episodes
2014 The Midnight Beast Headmaster 1 episode
2014 Death in Paradise Colin Campbell 1 episode
2014-2019 Game of Thrones Yohn Royce Recurring role, 13 episodes
2015 Chewing Gum Big Boss 1 episode
2015 Versailles Throckmorton 2 episodes
2016 Father Brown Arthur Le Broc 1 episode
2016; 2021 Casualty Peter Jennings/Kenneth Stair 2 episodes
2016 Plebs Tarquin 1 episode
2016 Tutankhamun Flinders Petrie Miniseries, 1 episode
2017 King Charles III Sir Matthew Television film
2017 Outlander Lord William Dunsany 1 episode
2017-2022 Doc Martin Professor Langan 2 episodes
2019-2022 Gentleman Jack Charles Lawton Recurring role, 6 episodes
2019 Four Weddings and a Funeral George Miniseries, 2 episodes
2019 The Crown Cecil Harmsworth King 1 episode
2020 Spy City Ian Stuart-Hay Miniseries, 4 episodes
2021-2023 The Nevers Lord Broughton Recurring role, 5 episodes
2022 Bridgerton Mr. Brookes 1 episode
2022 Andor Chief Hyne 2 episodes
2022 The Larkins Dean 1 episode
2023–present The Diplomat Hoope 3 episodes
2023 The Chelsea Detective Patrick Blythe 1 episode
2023 Sister Boniface Mysteries Sir Swinton Usher 1 episode
2024 Belgravia: The Next Chapter Lord Netherbury Miniseries, 4 episodes
TBA Amadeus Upcoming miniseries

Video games

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Year Title Voice role Notes
2019 Du Lac & Fey: Dance of Death John Waldron

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ian Molyneaux (10 February 2022). "ITV Heartbeat: Rupert Vansittart's 35-year marriage and why Harry Potter meant his wife had to change her name". mylondon.news.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Rupert Vansittart Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  3. ^ Rupert Vansittart – Rotten Tomatoes
  4. ^ Roya Nikkah (14 January 2012). "The Iron Lady: Thatcher's men deliver verdict on film". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  5. ^ Anita Singh (25 June 2014). "Billie Piper to star as tabloid editor in National Theatre satire about press and prime minister". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  6. ^ Richard Eden (22 April 2012). "Look Out! The original Emma Watson stages a comeback". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
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