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David Avery
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David Avery (born 6 April 1986) is an English actor. He has appeared in the television series The Night Manager, and films Starred Up and Lost in London.
Key Information
Background
[edit]Avery was born 6 April 1986 in Birmingham. He is of Cypriot descent. He attended Baverstock Secondary School in Druids Heath, Birmingham until 2002. After graduating Avery relocated to London with his immediate family. In 2008 he graduated from the Central School of Speech and Drama with an MA in Acting for Screen.[1]
Career
[edit]Avery's first on screen role came in 2009 by starring in the third series of Sofia's Diary. He joined the lead cast as Flex featuring throughout the series. Sofia's Diary, produced by Sony Television, was one of the first online web series to make the transition to UK television.[2] Avery's first feature film part was in Fit written and directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair. Shortly after, Avery landed the part of Nicos in The Inbetweeners Movie. The film went on to break UK box office records for the opening weekend.[3] In 2012 Avery took part in the June edition of Monologue Slam UK. Actors take to the stage to compete against each other by performing monologues to a professional industry panel. Avery won first prize for his performance, "The monologue that David performed captivating the room was 'Nowhere in America' by Bathsheba Doran".[4]
Avery is also notable for playing lead character Marcus Graham in the multi-award-winning web-to-television series Brothers With No Game. The series amassed a huge international following when the first episode was released online in June 2012.[5] Avery and the cast later returned for a second series with the public demand being so high and winning six awards at the LA Web Festival 2013.[6] The show's popularity got the attention of London Live and went on to be broadcast in 2014. The lead cast of the show also went on to win Favourite Web Series Ensemble at the first ever Screen Nation Digital-iS awards.[7]
Avery's television work continued when he joined the cast of CBBC's The Dumping Ground. Avery played Kingsley Jackson alongside Victoria Alcock. The family were a popular addition to the first series, so much so they were asked to return to the show for a Christmas Special episode, "Jody in Wonderland". The series went on to win a BAFTA that year for Best Drama.[8] His next major role was landing the part of Ashley in feature film Starred Up opposite Jack O'Connell and Ben Mendelsohn. The film received excellent reviews ("Raw and Immediate" – Variety) and 4/5 stars from Empire magazine.[9][10] The film was directed by David Mackenzie and went on to win various awards including Best Feature Film at BAFTA Scotland 2014.[11]
His career gained momentum in 2016 with a stand out performance as Freddie Hamid in the BBC/AMC series The Night Manager. The British-American production is based on the 1993 novel of the same name by John le Carré. The series was directed by Susanne Bier and the lead cast included Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman. The series won two Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globes.
Later that year Avery joined the lead cast of Borderline, a retro-scripted comedy series following the work of UK Border Force staff at the fictional Northend Airport. Avery received a number of positive reviews for his performance as Agent Tariq Mansour. The Guardian wrote – "For instance, there's border agent Tariq, a failed DJ and one of characters who succeeds in injecting genuine humour into his part with subtle timing and a good line in kill-me-now-I-hate-my-life facial expressions."[12]
In 2017 Avery starred in Lost in London opposite Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson. It was the first film ever to broadcast live into movie theatres worldwide as it was shot in real time. The film was captured in one take using 24 shooting locations and included car and foot chase scenes.
Deadline announced in December 2022 that Avery would be joining the cast of MGM+’s and Sky's second season of Domina playing the role of Domitius.[13]
Filmography
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sofia's Diary | Flex | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Missing | Pete Walsh | Episode 2.2 |
| Coming Up – DIP | Theo | Episode 8.7 | |
| 2012 | Brothers With No Game | Marcus Graham[14] | 14 episodes (Seasons 1 & 2) |
| Pini | Dave | Episode "Gorillas in the Mist" | |
| 2013 | Doctor Who | Fabian | Episode "The Name of the Doctor" |
| The Dumping Ground | Kingsley Jackson | 2 Episodes "S.O.S" & "Jody in Wonderland". | |
| 2014 | 24: Live Another Day | Donny | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Spotless | Yilmaz | Episode 1.7 |
| 2016 | The Night Manager | Freddie Hamid | 2 episodes |
| Doctors | Jake Ashby | Episode "Promises, Promises" | |
| Borderline | Tariq Mansoor | 6 episodes | |
| The Dumping Ground | Kingsley Jackson | Episode "Two For Joy" | |
| 2017 | Liar | Officer Brown | 2 episodes |
| Cormoran Strike | Nico Kolovas-Jones | 2 episodes "The Cuckoo's Calling" | |
| Borderline | Tariq Mansoor | 6 episodes | |
| 2018 | Troy: Fall of a City | Xanthius | 7 episodes |
| Urban Myths | Freddie Mercury | Episode: "Backstage at Live Aid" | |
| 2019 | Urban Myths | Freddie Mercury | Episode: "Princess Diana, Freddie And Kenny – One Normal Night" |
| London Kills | Alex Barker | Episode: "Sex Games" | |
| Gold Digger | Zac | Episode: "Her Daughter" | |
| Man Like Mobeen | Cal | Episode: "Return of the Pack" | |
| 2020 | Bancroft | Det. Sup. Jake Harper | 3 episodes |
| Man Like Mobeen | Cal | Episode: "You Reap What You Sow" | |
| Gangs of London | Anthony | 4 episodes | |
| 2021 | We Are Lady Parts | Abdullah | 5 episodes |
| Stath Lets Flats | Bambos | 2 episodes[15] | |
| 2023 | Domina | Domitius[16] | TBC |
Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Fit | Marios | Nominated – Grand Prize Chéries-Chéris – Feature Film |
| 2011 | The Inbetweeners Movie | Nicos | Won – Empire Award – Best Comedy Nominated – Empire Award – Best British Film Nominated – Evening Standard British Film Award – Blockbuster of the Year |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Ashley | Won – BAFTA Awards, Scotland – Best Feature Film Nominated – British Independent Film Awards – Best British Independent Film |
| 2015 | Drift | Bisher | Won – Best Drama at Portobello Film Festival |
| Kill Your Friends | Fisher | ||
| 2016 | Criminal | Kebab Clerk | |
| Mona | Frasier | Won – Grand Prize at Luxor Film Festival | |
| 2017 | Lost in London | Sayed |
Awards
[edit]Screen Nation Digital-iS Awards – Favourite Web Series Ensemble – Brothers With No Game
LA Web Festival 2013 – Brothers With No Game – Winner Outstanding Ensemble David Avery, Jay Marsh, Zephryn Taitte and Isaac Sosanya.
Monologue Slam UK – June 2012 Champion
References
[edit]- ^ "David Avery: He's got game". voice-online.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
- ^ "'Sofia's Diary' penciled in on U.K. TV". The Hollywood Reporter. 17 April 2008.
- ^ John Plunkett (22 August 2011). "The Inbetweeners Movie breaks UK comedy box office record". The Guardian.
- ^ "David Avery – Bloodyqwerty's Blog". wordpress.com.
- ^ Annika Allen (11 June 2012). "Brothers with no Game web series is here". FLAVOURMAG.
- ^ "Hit UK web series wins six awards at LA Web Festival". voice-online.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ^ "CEREMONY". DIGITAL-iS MEDIA AWARDS. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
- ^ "Children's in 2013". bafta.org.
- ^ Peter Debruge (September 2013). "'Starred Up' Review: David Mackenzie Takes Brutal Look at Prison Life – Variety". Variety.
- ^ "Empire's Starred Up Movie Review". Empire.
- ^ "British Academy Scotland Awards 2014 Winners Announced". bafta.org.
- ^ "Borderline: as Brent as a nine point memo". the Guardian. 2 August 2016.
- ^ Whittock, Jesse (5 December 2022). "'Domina': Trio Join Cast For Season 2 Of Sky And MGM+'s Ancient Rome Drama Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022.
- ^ "Marcus – Characters – Brothers With No Game Characters – London Live". londonlive.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ "Julia Davis, Charlie Cooper and David Avery to guest star in Stath Lets Flats". Royal Television Society. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Whittock, Jesse (5 December 2022). "'Domina': Trio Join Cast For Season 2 Of Sky And MGM+'s Ancient Rome Drama Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022.
External links
[edit]- David Avery at IMDb
David Avery
View on GrokipediaEarly Life and Education
Early Life
David Avery was born on 6 April 1986 in Birmingham, England.[1] He spent his formative years in Birmingham, attending Baverstock Academy in Druids Heath until 2002.[3] In 2002, at the age of 16, Avery relocated to London with his family.[9] During his upbringing in Birmingham, Avery showed early interests in creative pursuits, including video production, which later shaped his path toward the performing arts.[3]Education
After secondary school, Avery began a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising with Video Production at Thames Valley University but left midway to pursue acting.[9] David Avery enrolled in the MA Acting for Screen program at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London in 2007.[9] He graduated in 2008 with a Master of Arts degree in Acting for Screen.[3] The one-year intensive program focused on professional preparation for film, television, and screen-related media, distinguishing screen acting from stage performance through techniques such as adapting to shot sizes, visual storytelling, and camera awareness.[10] It incorporated psychophysical approaches, including methods from Michael Chekhov and Konstantin Stanislavski, alongside training in voice, body movement, and audition skills to equip actors for diverse genres like drama, comedy, and soap operas.[10] Avery's training emphasized practical screen tests and industry-standard rehearsals led by experienced staff and visiting professionals.[10]Career
Early Career
David Avery entered the acting profession with his professional debut in 2009, portraying the character Flex in two episodes of the third series of the teen drama television series Sofia's Diary. This role introduced him to on-screen work shortly after completing his training.[11] Building on his educational foundation at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where he earned a Master of Arts in Acting for Screen, Avery secured minor roles that helped establish his presence in the industry. In 2011, he appeared as Nicos, a supporting character, in the coming-of-age comedy film The Inbetweeners Movie, which depicted British teenagers on a holiday abroad.[9][12] In 2012, Avery gained early recognition through his participation in the Monologue Slam UK event, where he performed a piece from Billy Bishop Goes to War by John MacLachlan Gray during the showcase at RichMix in East London. That same year, he took on the role of Marcus Graham in the web series Brothers With No Game, a comedy-drama produced for London Live that followed four twenty-something friends navigating quarter-life crises, social dynamics, and romantic entanglements in the city; Avery's character was a confident, cocky intern at a men's fashion magazine who evolves into a content editor.[13][14][15] As a newcomer during this period, Avery encountered typical challenges of the profession, including financial pressures from juggling jobs like retail work at Homebase to save for drama courses and auditions, as well as the turbulence of an unpredictable career path with no immediate guarantee of steady employment. Transitioning from stage performances to screen required adapting to the technical demands of film and television sets, a shift he navigated after his screen-focused studies.[9]Breakthrough Roles
David Avery's breakthrough began with his supporting role as Ashley, a fellow inmate navigating the harsh dynamics of adult prison, in the 2013 British prison drama Starred Up, directed by David Mackenzie. The film, which explores themes of violence, rehabilitation, and fractured family ties through the story of a volatile young offender transferred to an adult facility, earned widespread critical acclaim for its raw authenticity and strong ensemble performances. It holds a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 108 reviews, with an average score of 7.9/10, and a Metacritic score of 81/100 from 26 critics.[16] Roger Ebert's review praised the movie as a "superbly acted drama" that avoids clichés in the prison genre, highlighting its unflinching intensity.[17] Avery's contribution to this gritty ensemble helped establish him as a compelling presence in independent British cinema. Avery's profile rose further in 2016 with his portrayal of Freddie Hamid, a wealthy and volatile Egyptian playboy entangled in an arms-dealing conspiracy, in the BBC/AMC miniseries The Night Manager, adapted from John le Carré's novel and directed by Susanne Bier. Starring alongside high-profile actors including Tom Hiddleston as the titular night manager and Hugh Laurie as the enigmatic arms dealer Richard Roper, Avery's performance as Hamid—a ruthless ally whose personal life intersects with the intrigue—was noted for its intensity and nuance. The series received strong critical reception, achieving a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 78 reviews, with praise for its sophisticated spy thriller elements and stellar cast.[18] This role marked a significant escalation in Avery's visibility, transitioning him from supporting parts in indie films to international television prominence.[5] In 2017, Avery appeared as Nico Kolovas-Jones, a driver with connections to the elite, in the BBC series Strike (also known as C.B. Strike), based on J.K. Rowling's Cormoran Strike novels. He also took on the role of Al in the 2015 production of Nine at the Arcola Theatre in London, diversifying into theatre alongside his screen work. That same year, Avery appeared as Sayed, a club associate caught in the chaotic night of the protagonist, in Woody Harrelson's directorial debut Lost in London, a semi-autobiographical comedy-drama starring Harrelson and Owen Wilson. The project was groundbreaking as the first feature film shot in a single continuous take and broadcast live to over 500 cinemas in the United States, with filming commencing at 2 a.m. in London to align with U.S. prime time. This innovative format, inspired by Harrelson's real-life 2002 escapade involving a tabloid scandal and arrest, added a layer of immediacy and risk to the production. The film garnered positive reviews for its ambitious execution and humor, earning a 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from eight reviews.[19] [20][21][6] These mid-2010s projects, complemented by earlier accolades such as the ensemble win for Brothers With No Game at the 2013 Screen Nation Digital-iS Media Awards, where Avery played Marcus Graham in the web series about underachieving friends, propelled Avery's career forward. The award recognized the cast including Nemide May, Zephryn Taitte, and Isaac Sosanya for their comedic portrayal of modern urban life.[22] Collectively, Starred Up, The Night Manager, and Lost in London enhanced Avery's reputation for versatile, scene-stealing supporting roles, leading to increased opportunities in both film and television.[5]Recent Work
In the years following his breakthrough performances, David Avery expanded his presence in international television productions, showcasing versatility across genres from historical epics to action thrillers. In 2018, he portrayed Xanthius, a Trojan warrior, in the BBC/Netflix miniseries Troy: Fall of a City, a role that highlighted his ability to embody complex characters in large-scale ensemble narratives. Avery continued this trajectory with supporting roles in high-profile series, including Anthony, an undercover police officer infiltrating the criminal underworld, in the Sky Atlantic drama Gangs of London (2020). He then appeared as Stephen Mannion, a CIA operative, across multiple episodes of Amazon Prime Video's Hanna (2020–2021), contributing to the show's blend of espionage and family drama. These projects marked a shift toward more global collaborations, often involving co-productions with platforms like Amazon and Sky. By 2023, Avery took on the ambitious aristocrat Domitius in the second season of Sky Atlantic's historical series Domina, where his character navigates the treacherous politics of ancient Rome through marriage into a powerful family. That same year, he played Charlie Drummond in the Apple TV+ thriller Liaison, an international espionage story co-produced with France, further emphasizing his draw to cross-border ensemble work.[4] In 2024, Avery joined Bluebird Pictures, the independent production company founded by Dreaming Whilst Black director Adjani Salmon, as an executive producer to support emerging film and TV projects, signaling a growing involvement in behind-the-scenes development alongside his acting career.[8] His most recent on-screen appearance came in 2025 as Dale Buckingham, a suspect in a murder investigation, in an episode of BBC's long-running crime series Death in Paradise, and as Craig Gardner in an episode of the BBC comedy series How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge). This body of work underscores Avery's evolution toward diverse, high-stakes television roles that leverage his established range from earlier successes.[23]Filmography
Television
David Avery made his television debut in 2009 and has since appeared in a variety of series, ranging from guest spots to recurring roles in dramas, comedies, and miniseries.[2] The following is a chronological overview of his television credits:- 2009: Sofia's Diary UK as Flex (guest role, 2 episodes).[24]
- 2013: Doctor Who as Fabian (guest role, 1 episode: "The Name of the Doctor").[25]
- 2013–2016: The Dumping Ground as Kingsley Jackson (recurring role, multiple episodes across seasons 1–3).
- 2012–2018: Brothers with No Game as Marcus Graham (lead role, 17 episodes across 3 series).[14]
- 2014: 24: Live Another Day as Donny (recurring role, 2 episodes).[26]
- 2014: Spotless as Yilmaz (guest role, 1 episode).
- 2016: The Night Manager as Freddie Hamid (recurring role, 2 episodes in the miniseries).[27]
- 2016: Doctors as Jake Ashby (guest role, 1 episode).[28]
- 2016–2017: Borderline as Tariq Mansoor (series regular, multiple episodes across 2 series).[28]
- 2017: Liar as Officer John Brown (guest role, 2 episodes).
- 2017: C.B. Strike as Nico Kolovas-Jones (recurring role, 3 episodes).[29]
- 2018: Troy: Fall of a City as Xanthius (recurring role, 7 episodes in the miniseries).[30]
- 2018: Urban Myths as Freddie Mercury (guest role, 1 episode: "Backstage at Live Aid").[31]
- 2019: London Kills as Alex Barker (guest role, 1 episode).
- 2019: Urban Myths as Freddie Mercury (guest role, 1 episode: "Princess Diana, Freddie and Kenny: One Normal Night").
- 2019–2020: Man Like Mobeen as Cal (recurring role, multiple episodes in series 2–3).
- 2019: Hanna as Stephen Mannion (recurring role, 3 episodes in season 1).[28]
- 2020: Gangs of London as Anthony (guest role, 1 episode in season 1).[32]
- 2020–2021: Hanna as Stephen Mannion (recurring role, multiple episodes in seasons 2–3).[28]
- 2021: We Are Lady Parts as Abdullah (recurring role, 6 episodes in season 1).[33]
- 2021: Stath Lets Flats as Bambos (guest role, 2 episodes).
- 2023: Domina as Domitius (series regular, 8 episodes in season 2).[34]
- 2023: Liaison as Charlie Drummond (recurring role, 3 episodes in the miniseries).[35]
- 2024: And Did Those Feet... With Alan Partridge as Craig Garner (guest role, 1 episode).[36]
- 2025: Death in Paradise as Dale Buckingham (guest role, 1 episode in season 14).[28]
Film
David Avery's feature film career began with supporting roles in independent British productions and expanded into larger ensemble casts in international thrillers and comedies.| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Fit | Marios | Supporting role in the indie drama directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair, exploring themes of love and identity among young adults.[37][38] |
| 2011 | The Inbetweeners Movie | Nicos | Supporting role as a holidaymaker in the comedy sequel directed by Ben Palmer, adapted from the popular TV series.[39] |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Ashley | Co-starring supporting role in the prison drama directed by David Mackenzie, alongside Jack O'Connell.[40][32] |
| 2014 | Kill Your Friends | Fisher | Supporting role in the black comedy thriller directed by Owen Harris, based on the novel by John Niven.[41][42] |
| 2016 | Criminal | Kebab Clerk | Minor supporting role in the action thriller directed by Ariel Vromen, featuring Ryan Reynolds and Gary Oldman.[43][44] |
| 2017 | Lost in London | Sayed | Supporting role in Woody Harrelson's semi-autobiographical comedy, filmed in a single continuous take.[45][32] |
