Jonathan Firth


Jonathan Stephen Firth is an English actor best known for his roles in such noted British television productions as Middlemarch, Far from the Madding Crowd, and Victoria & Albert. He lives in Islington, North London.

Early life

Jonathan Firth was born in Brentwood, Essex, England, to David Norman Lewis and Shirley Jean Firth. His parents were both children of Methodist missionaries in India, who worked as teachers in Nigeria after their marriage. He is the younger brother of actor Colin Firth and voice coach Kate Firth. The family moved many times, from Billericay to Brentwood, Essex, and then to St. Louis, Missouri for a year when Jonathan was five.
Upon returning to England the family settled in Winchester, Hampshire, where his father became a history lecturer at King Alfred's College and his mother was a comparative religion lecturer at King Alfred's College, Winchester.
Firth studied at Central School of Speech and Drama and Peter Symonds College in Winchester. His flatmate at one time was actor Rufus Sewell.
After graduation, he toured with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he made his debut at the age of twenty-seven as Henry VI.

Acting career

In addition to his roles in the theatre, Firth has acted in cinematic films and radio dramas, narrated audiobooks, and has also made notable television appearances, such as Linton Heathcliff in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights ; Fred Vincy in Middlemarch ; Sergeant Troy in Far from the Madding Crowd, for which he received a nomination for best actor; Lord Arthur Goring in An Ideal Husband ; and Prince Albert in Victoria & Albert. He portrayed Joshua in the 2000 biblical film, In the Beginning.
In 2003, he acted in the BBC's dramatised documentary '. That same year, Firth appeared in the film Luther, portraying Cardinal Aleander, the papal adviser who sought Luther's excommunication. For his performance, he received the CFT Excellence Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture.
He has also guest-starred in Van der Valk, Inspector Morse ; Covington Cross ; Cadfael ; Agatha Christie's Poirot: Hickory Dickory Dock ; Tales from the Crypt ; Midsomer Murders ; Kangaroo Palace, an Australian drama set in the 1960s; The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns ; The Inspector Lynley Mysteries ; Sparkling Cyanide ; and Jericho. He appeared in ', ' and '.
In 2008, Firth starred as the chef in a short film, The Chef's Letter, played Evan in the radio production of Dame Daphne du Maurier's September Tide, and was also featured in an episode of the American television series Ghost Whisperer. In 2009, he portrayed Dr. David Fuller in the German film production of Albert Schweitzer.
In 2016, he appeared as Rex Bishop in the BBC series Father Brown episode 4.1 "The Mask of the Demon".

Theatre