Laurie Davidson (actor)

Laurie Davidson (born 1 July 1992) is an English actor. He played a fictionalised version of a young William Shakespeare in the 2017 TNT television series Will, and played Mr. Mistoffelees in the 2019 musical fantasy Cats based on the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Laurie Davidson
Born (1992-07-01) 1 July 1992
Dulwich, London, England
Alma materLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Years active2013–present

Early life

Davidson was born in the Dulwich neighbourhood of South London.[1][2] He is a 2016 graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Career

After arriving at the LAMDA, he earned a part in Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, which is where his agent first noticed him.[3] Davidson was a newcomer to television prior to his Will casting; his prior work included stage work and a minor role in the film Vampire Academy.[4] He has also been cast in the BBC film Diana & I as a journalist who is present at the time of the death of Princess Diana.

Will

A casting director for Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite suggested that he audition for Will. He had several rounds of auditions. Just as school was set to resume following Christmas of his final year at LAMDA and as he was set to play Tevye in a school production of Fiddler on the Roof, he was informed in January 2016 that he was cast in Will, and he dropped out of Fiddler to shoot the show's pilot.[5][4]

To prepare for his modern take on Shakespeare, Davidson did not focus on modern depictions of Shakespeare, such as Joseph Fiennes performance in Shakespeare in Love,[6] but he did use Straight Outta Compton and 8 Mile for inspiration, on the advice of director Shekhar Kapur.[7] He also relied on the works attributed to Shakespeare to learn about him.[8] TNT picked up the show in May 2016,[9] but Davidson graduated from LAMDA in July 2016—on schedule.[5] Will premiered on 10 July 2017.[10]

Cats

In September 2018, he joined the cast of Cats.[11]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2014 Vampire Academy Party Host uncredited
2019 The Good Liar Hans Taub
Cats Mr. Mistoffelees

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2017 Will William Shakespeare Main role, 10 episodes
Diana and I Michael Lewis TV movie
2021 Guilty Party George Main role
2022 The Sandman Mark Brewer 1 episode
2023 The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Ingilmundr Television film
Masters of the Air Lt. Herbert Nash Upcoming miniseries
Mary & George Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset Upcoming Miniseries

Theater
Year Title Role Theatre Notes
2018 The Meeting Nathaniel Burns Chichester Festival Theatre
2022 Jack Absolute Flies Again Jack Absolute National Theatre Main role

Notes
  1. "Laurie Davidson displays a strong 'Will.'". 25 July 2017.
  2. Nordstrom, Leigh (10 July 2017). "Laurie Davidson Is Not Your High School Shakespeare". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  3. Nordstrom, Leigh (10 July 2017). "Laurie Davidson Is Not Your High School Shakespeare". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (7 January 2016). "Young William Shakespeare TNT Pilot 'Will' Casts Lead, Shekhar Kapur To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  5. Radish, Christina (10 July 2017). "'Will' Star Laurie Davidson on Upending Preconceived Notions of Shakespeare". Collider. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  6. Lenker, Maureen Lee (10 July 2017). "Will star Laurie Davidson on giving Shakespeare a rock 'n' roll makeover". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  7. Kis, Eva (23 June 2017). "TNT's 'Will' Laurie Davidson used rap to get into Shakespeare". Zimbabwe Metro. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  8. Butler, Karen (10 July 2017). "Laurie Davidson went to the text to play Shakespeare in TNT's 'Will'". United Press International. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (18 May 2016). "'Will' Drama About Young William Shakespeare Picked Up To Series By TNT—Watch Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  10. Kinane, Ruth (20 April 2017). "Sharpen thy wit, TNT's Shakespeare series will premiere in July". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  11. D'Alessandro, Anthony (25 September 2018). "'Cats' Cast Grows: Tom Hooper-Directed Musical Adds Laurie Davidson". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
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