Matt Barber (actor)

Matt Barber
Born
Matthew Barber

(1983-03-26) 26 March 1983 (age 41)
Hammersmith, London, England
EducationBradfield College
(independent boarding school)
Durham University
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
OccupationActor
Years active2007–present

Matthew Barber (born 26 March 1983) is an English actor.

Early life and education

Born in Hammersmith, London, he grew up in Hampshire, training classically as a chorister at Winchester Cathedral before receiving academic and music scholarships to Bradfield College, where he was head boy.[citation needed]

Barber read Classical Studies and Philosophy at St Cuthbert's Society, Durham, and graduated there in 2005.[1]

He trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School[2] and finished in 2007.

Career

He is best known for his role as Atticus Aldridge in Downton Abbey. His previous roles include Freddie Eynsford-Hill in Peter Hall's Pygmalion, opposite Michelle Dockery at the Old Vic, and internationally as Lysander in Jonathan Kent's The Fairy-Queen at Glyndebourne.

In 2011, he acted in Edward II, as the main character. Stet Journal said: "Barber is an excellent Edward – naive, excitable, and ultimately pitiable... mesmerising".[3]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2024 Dagr Matt
2018 The Sonata James
2014-2015 Downton Abbey Atticus Aldridge Season 5, 6 episodes
2014 Deadly Virtues: Love. Honour. Obey Tom
2013 Dracula Campbell 2 episodes
2013 Plastic Dave
2012 The Other Wife Ben
2011 Bert and Dickie Merv Wood
2009 Being Human Young Kemp Season 2, episode 6
The Alchemistic Suitcase Youth Short Film
2008 Vivaldi, The Red Priest[4] Francois
2007 The Heart of Thomas Hardy[5] Alec D'Urberville

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Breakfast at Tiffany’s Fred directed by Nikolai Foster (the Curve, Leicester on 3 March 2016, UK & Ireland Tour, at the Haymarket Theatre in London’s West End from 30 June to 17 September 2016)[6]
2013 Savage Beauty, Paris (mythology)/Orestes/Jason/Oedipus directed by James Albrecht (St James's Theatre)
2012 The Fairy-Queen Lysander directed by Jonathan Kent (director) (Glyndebourne)
2011 Portraits Joe directed by Alex Marker (Finborough Theatre)[7]
2011 Edward II Edward II directed by Peter Darney (The Rose (theatre), Bankside)[8]
2011 The Misanthrope Acaste directed by Andrew Hilton (Bristol Old Vic, 2011),[9]
2009 Twelfth Night Orsino (Twelfth Night) directed by Andrew Normington (Birmingham Old Rep Theatre and International Tour)
2009 Human By Default Simon directed by Louisa Fitzgerald (Old Red Lion)
2008-2009 Pygmalion Freddie Eynsford-Hill directed by Peter Hall (director) (Old Vic, Bath Theatre Royal, 2008, and International Tour, 2009[10] 2008)
2007 You Can't Take It with You, Tony directed by Gavin McAlinden (Southwark Playhouse, 2007)
? Much Ado About Nothing Claudio and Verges directed by John Hartoch (RSC and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School)

References

  1. ^ "St Cuthbert's Society : Famous Alumni". Durham University. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  2. ^ Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. "Home - Bristol Old Vic Theatre School". oldvic.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Edward II at the Rose Theatre, Bankside". stetjournal.org. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  4. ^ "The life of the great composer Antonio Vivaldi | Condor Pictures". Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  5. ^ "BBC One - The Heart of Thomas Hardy". BBC. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  6. ^ Limited, London Theatre Direct (18 February 2016). "Matt Barber Joins Pixie Lott As Full Cast Announced For Breakfast At Tiffany's". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 12 December 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ "Portraits - 2011 Productions - Finborough Theatre". finboroughtheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  8. ^ "London UK - more on OffWestEnd.com - Listings and showtimes for over 80 Off West End theatres in London UK". offwestend.com. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Bristol Old Vic". bristololdvic.org.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  10. ^ "The Old Vic". Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2008.