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Matthew MacFadyen

Matthew MacFadyen is currently filming Incendiary, adapted from the novel of the same name by Chris Cleave. A contemporary drama about the emotional aftermath of a suicide bombing in London, the film, from the producers of 'Girl With a Pearl Earring' also stars Michelle Williams and Ewan McGregor. Next, Matthew will start work on the feature film Frost/Nixon, based on the award-winning play written by Peter Morgan, which appeared at the Donmar Warehouse (London), London's West End and on Broadway. This version, directed by Ron Howard, sees Matthew playing the role of John Birt, the producer of Frost's TV show. The film retells the story of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon.

Later this year Matthew will star in the black comedy Death at a Funeral, directed by Frank Oz and co-starring Rupert Graves, Ewen Bremner and Keeley Hawes. Also this year, Matthew will return to the stage in The Pain And The Itch at the Royal Court Theatre in June. Directed by Dominic Cooke, Matthew will play a wealthy stay-at-home father who hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for friends, but it all goes wrong when his daughter becomes ill and a Muslim friend drops dead. On television, Matthew has just been seen in the Channel 4 drama, Secret Life in which he plays a convicted paedophile newly released from prison and the drama has received outstanding reviews.

In September 2005, Matthew won critical acclaim for the lead role of Mr Darcy in the Oscar nominated adaptation of Pride and Prejudice directed by Joe Wright. The Working Title film starred Keira Knightley, Brenda Blethyn and Donald Sutherland. Also in this year, Matthew was nominated as Best Actor for his role in In My Father's Den at the British Independent Film Awards. Directed by Brad McGann, Matthew played the lead of Paul, a disillusioned war journalist. The film follows Paul, whose return home is wrecked when he becomes implicated in the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl he has befriended.

Matthew's other film credits include: Middletown, directed by Brian Kirk, starring Daniel May and Eva Birthistle, released early this year, The Reckoning with Tom Hardy, Enigma directed by Michael Apted and also starring Kate Winslet and Tom Hollander, and Maybe Baby directed by Ben Elton.

He is well known for his television appearance in the second series of Spooks as Tom, starring alongside David Oyelowo. He also starred in the role of Paul Tibbenham in The Project, directed by Peter Kosminsky and Sir Felix Cadbury in The Way We Live Now directed by David Yates. Other television credits include: Perfect Strangers, Bloodline (BBC), Warriors (BBC) and Wuthering Heights (LWT).

As well as television and film, Matthew has appeared on stage in challenging roles such as Henry IV Parts 1 & 2 (National Theatre) Battle Royal (National Theatre/RSC/Stratford), School for Scandal (Barbican/Cheek by Jowl), Much Ado About Nothing (West End), Duchess of Malfi (West End/New York) and Midsummer Nights Dream (RSC).


Matthew MacFadyen Facts

OccupationActor
BirthdayOctober 17, 1974 (34)
SignLibra
BirthplaceGreat Yarmouth, England, United Kingdom
Height6' 2" (1m88)

Selected Filmography

In My Father's Den (2005) user recommendation
Pride and Prejudice (2005) as Mr Darcy (breakthrough)
Spartacus (2004)
MI-5 (2003) tv
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
Equilibrium (2002)
Enigma (2001)
Maybe Baby (2001)
Titus (2000)
Wuthering Heights (1998)
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