National Post (National Edition)
Come on over ...
For some actors, all the world's a stage and traversing the Atlantic Ocean is merely a commute. Take, for example, the U.K.-born thespians who've found success both at home and in North America.
While they've amassed film and TV credits in the U.K. — and been awarded for their work — audiences this side of the pond might only know them for their North American projects. But with streaming services increasingly stacked with global offerings, it's easy to discover other gems in their careers.
Here, in particular, are some U.K.-born actors who have noteworthy shows now streaming on BritBox.
Who: Hugh Laurie, Will Poulter
You may know them from: Laurie earned six Emmy nominations as the titular grumpy doctor on House (2004-12). His other TV credits include The Night Manager and Veep, as well as films such as 101 Dalmatians and Stuart Little. Poulter was in The Maze Runner (2014), The Revenant (2015) and We're the Millers (2013). He's also Emmy-nominated for starring in the Hulu miniseries Dopesick.
You may not know them from:
Why Didn't They Ask Evans? Laurie adapted and directed this limited series based on the like-named 1934 Agatha Christie novel. It follows Bobby Jones (Poulter) and his socialite friend Lady Frances Derwent (Lucy Boynton) as they try to solve the mystery of a man whose last words were the show's title.
Who: Martin Freeman
You may know him from:
Freeman was young Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit film trilogy, as well as Everett K. Ross in the Marvel films Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). He'll also play the latter character in the upcoming Disney+ series Secret Invasion.
You may not know him from: The Responder. Freeman stars as a man who drives a front-line response vehicle in Liverpool. Infused with dark humour, it chronicles his exposure to violence on the streets, as well as his personal demons.
Who: David Morrissey, Lesley Manville
You may know them from: Morrissey played antagonist The Governor in AMC's zombie drama The Walking Dead, with film credits including Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008). Manville was in the 2014 movie Maleficent and its sequel, plus last year's fashion-focused film Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. She's also Princess Margaret in the final two seasons of Netflix's drama The Crown.
You may not know them from: Sherwood. A complex political past has divided the villages around Sherwood Forest, and old wounds are reopened when two local residents are killed. Morrissey plays detective chief inspector Ian St Clair, while Manville is resident Julie Jackson. The show is inspired by real-life murders in Nottinghamshire, England, in 2004.
Who:
You may know him from:
Matthew Macfadyen
Macfadyen stars in HBO's Succession as Tom Wambsgans, and has won an Emmy for the role. He's also appeared in the movies Frost/Nixon (2008) and Anna Karenina (2012).
You may not know him from: Stonehouse. The three-part series centres on disgraced British government minister John Stonehouse, with Macfadyen in the leading role. Stonehouse, the man, unsuccessfully faked his death in 1974.