Bradley James | |
---|---|
Born | 1983 or 1984 (age 40–41) |
Education | Drama Centre London (BA) |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2008–present |
Bradley James (born 1983 or 1984)[1] is an English actor. He is best known for starring as Arthur Pendragon in the BBC series Merlin (2008–12), Damien Thorn in Damien (2016), Varga in Underworld: Blood Wars, Giuliano de' Medici in Medici: The Magnificent (2018–2020), and Lieutenant Colonel Felix Sparks in The Liberator (2020).
James was born in Exeter, Devon, England.[2] He became interested in acting at the early age of six, whilst in primary school.[3] His family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, when he was nine.[2] During his time there, he attended Crown Point Elementary School[4] and then Fletcher Middle School,[4] before returning to England to attend Madeley High School in Madeley, Staffordshire, England.[4] From 2004 to 2007 James attended Drama Centre London, graduating after three years.[4]
In 2008, James appeared in an episode of Lewis, then played the part of Ben Davis in the BBC Three comedy-drama film Dis/Connected.[5] The same year, he was cast as Arthur Pendragon, in the BBC One fantasy TV series Merlin.[6] The show was a consistent hit series in the US; its first season was shown on the broadcast network NBC and its second, third, fourth, and fifth seasons on NBC's affiliate cable network Syfy. Merlin ended its 5-year run in 2012.[7] James went on an exploration of Arthurian legends for BBC Wales, The Real Merlin & Arthur, in 2009.[8]
In 2014, James guest-starred as Edgar in the fourth season of the Emmy Award-winning political thriller television series Homeland.[9]
In 2015, James was cast as a villain in Underworld: Blood Wars.[10] The same year, he appeared in the television series iZombie as recurring character Lowell Tracey, a love interest for main character Liv.[11] He starred as title character Damien Thorn on the television series Damien, created by Glen Mazzara a sequel to the Omen film series.[2]
In 2018, James was cast as Giuliano de' Medici in Medici: The Magnificent,[2] alongside Daniel Sharman as Lorenzo de' Medici, a series which follows the Medici family, bankers of the Pope, during Renaissance Florence.[12]
In 2020, James played the lead role of American war hero Felix Sparks in The Liberator, Netflix's four-part World War II drama series based on the book by Alex Kershaw.[13] This is the first project produced in Trioscope, a new enhanced hybrid technology that combines state-of-the-art CGI with live-action performance.[13]
In 2023, he starred as a local Norwegian farmer and chieftain Harekr, in the second season of the Netflix historical drama Vikings: Valhalla,[14] created by Jeb Stuart as a sequel to History's Vikings, and was filmed in County Wicklow, Ireland.[14]
James has two sisters, Natalie and Stephanie.[15] He is a big Arsenal F.C. supporter.[3] He is also a keen football player, and likes to play for charity whenever possible.[2] He is also a fan of the Miami Dolphins of the American Football Conference.[4]
Year | Title | Role | Note |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Fast Girls | Carl | |
2016 | Underworld: Blood Wars | Varga | |
2019 | Kurier | Tom Dunbar |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | Lewis | Jack Roth | "Music to Die For" |
2008 | Dis/Connected | Ben | TV film [5] |
2008–2012 | Merlin | Arthur Pendragon | Main role - 65 episodes [6][16] |
2009 | Children in Need | Arthur Pendragon | "1.30" |
2014 | Homeland | J.G. Edgars | Episode: "The Drone Queen"[17] |
2015 | iZombie | Lowell Tracey | Recurring role - 5 episodes [18] |
2016 | Damien | Damien Thorn | Lead role- 10 episodes [19] |
2017–2019 | Bounty Hunters | Webb Sherman, Keegan Sherman | Main role - 5 episodes |
2018–2019 | Medici: Masters of Florence | Giuliano de' Medici | Main role - 11 episodes [12] |
2020 | The Liberator | Felix Sparks | Lead role - all 4 episodes [20] |
2023 | Vikings: Valhalla | Harekr | Season 2 - 5 Episodes [14] |