Leo Bill

Leo Bill (born 31 August 1980) is an English actor renowned for his versatile performances across film, television, and theatre, often portraying complex, introspective characters in independent and mainstream productions.^[1] Bill first gained prominence with his role as the unhinged Private Jones in Danny Boyle's zombie horror film 28 Days Later (2002), marking an early highlight in his career that showcased his ability to blend vulnerability with intensity. His subsequent film roles include John Warren in Becoming Jane (2007), the pompous suitor Hamish in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (2010) and its sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016), the hacker Trinity in David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), Reg Speaks, a hapless repairman, in Peter Strickland's surreal In Fabric (2018), and Artie in Cruella (2021).^[2][3][4][5] On television, Bill has delivered notable performances such as the scheming East India Company clerk Benjamin Wilton in Tom Hardy's Taboo (2017), and Mayor Indbur in the Apple TV+ series Foundation (2023). In theatre, he has been acclaimed for stage work at prestigious venues, including a manic Bottom in the gender-bending production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (2017) at the Young Vic, the rage-filled Bosola in The Duchess of Malfi (2019) at the Almeida Theatre, the loyal Horatio opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet (2015) at the Barbican, and the self-serving actor Aymeric in Mephisto (2019) at the Gate Theatre.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]} Beyond acting, Bill has ventured into directing, including the short film Buenos Aires (2021) and an animated piece encouraging creativity during lockdown, Whilst Confined (2020), reflecting his multifaceted creative pursuits.^[12][13]

Early life and education

Family background

Leo Martin Bill was born on 31 August 1980 in Warwickshire, England.^[1] His parents, Stephen Bill and Sheila Kelley, are both actors known for their work in British theatre and television.^[1] They notably portrayed the characters Finger and Honky, respectively, in Mike Leigh's 1976 Play for Today episode Nuts in May.^[1] Growing up in a family immersed in the performing arts, Bill participated in the Playbox Theatre Company, a young people's theatre group based in Warwick, from 1990 to 1998.^[14] This early involvement provided him with foundational exposure to stage performance.^[1]

Dramatic training

Bill began his formal dramatic training with A-Level Drama studies at Stratford-upon-Avon College from 1996 to 1998, where he developed foundational skills in performance and theatre arts.^[15] He then pursued advanced training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), enrolling in their prestigious three-year BA (Hons) Acting program. At RADA, Bill engaged in rigorous instruction emphasizing classical theatre techniques, including in-depth analysis and performance of Shakespearean texts, as well as ensemble-based collaborative exercises that fostered group dynamics and scene study.^[16][17] The curriculum integrated voice, movement, and acting methodologies drawn from practitioners like Stanislavski, preparing students for both stage and screen through practical showings and productions.^[17] Bill graduated from RADA in 2001, marking the completion of his vocational preparation for a professional acting career.^[16] Immediately following graduation, he transitioned into seeking professional opportunities by attending auditions for theatre and film roles.^[18]

Career

Early breakthrough roles

Bill made his film debut in Robert Altman's ensemble period drama Gosford Park (2001), portraying Jim, a young footman serving in the sprawling country estate household, marking his entry into feature films shortly after graduating from RADA. This supporting role provided initial exposure in a critically acclaimed production that highlighted British acting talent. His breakthrough in genre cinema arrived with the role of Private Jones in Danny Boyle's zombie apocalypse thriller 28 Days Later (2002). As one of the soldiers in Major West's isolated platoon, Jones participates in the group's desperate defense against the infected, showcasing Bill's ability to convey tense, militaristic urgency amid the film's raw survival horror. Shot primarily on digital video over 59 days across abandoned locations in the UK, the low-budget production—completed for around £6 million—revived interest in the zombie genre and grossed over $82 million worldwide, significantly boosting Bill's profile among directors seeking versatile young actors for intense ensemble dynamics. Following smaller parts in films like Mike Leigh's Vera Drake (2004), where he played the minor role of Ronny, a patient in a clandestine abortion ring, Bill secured a lead in the psychological horror The Living and the Dead (2006), directed by Simon Rumley. He portrayed James Brocklebank, the deeply troubled schizophrenic son of a rural English family, whose fragile mental state unravels as he attempts to care for his terminally ill mother while his father is away, blending hallucinatory terror with poignant family disintegration. Filmed on a modest budget in isolated Lincolnshire manor houses to emphasize claustrophobic dread, the role demanded nuanced depiction of psychological fragmentation, earning praise for Bill's raw, empathetic performance that anchored the film's slow-burn horror elements and established him as a compelling interpreter of unstable characters.^[19] Immediately after RADA, Bill's transition to professional work involved navigating the competitive landscape of British acting, with early efforts focused on securing auditions for both stage and screen amid limited initial opportunities typical for recent drama school graduates. He appeared in early TV roles such as a student in Spooks (2003) and Darren in Midsomer Murders (1997). While specific pre-2006 theatre credits remain sparsely documented, his swift pivot to film roles underscored a practical adaptation from formal training to industry demands.^[16]

Film and television work

Bill's screen work expanded significantly in the late 2000s, beginning with his portrayal of John Warren, Jane Austen's brother Henry’s priggish friend, in the period drama Becoming Jane (2007), directed by Julian Jarrold. This role highlighted his knack for understated supporting performances in historical settings. He followed this with the eccentric Hamish Ascot, the arrogant aristocrat rejected by Alice, in Tim Burton's fantasy adaptation Alice in Wonderland (2010), reprising the part in the sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016), showcasing his ability to infuse whimsy and pomposity into fantastical narratives. These collaborations with Burton underscored Bill's affinity for visually opulent, genre-blending productions. In the thriller genre, Bill delivered a memorable supporting turn as Trinity, one of Lisbeth Salander's hacker friends assisting journalist Mikael Blomkvist, in David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), contributing to the film's tense investigative atmosphere. His career trajectory continued with more recent independent projects, including the short film Perfect (2024), where he explores intimate psychological themes, and The Real Thing (2024), a drama examining relational complexities. In Peter Strickland's surreal horror-comedy Flux Gourmet (2022), he embodied Technical Assistant Wim, a key member of an experimental sound collective, exploring themes of artistic obsession in a bizarre culinary-artistic world. On television, Bill's roles have spanned crime, historical, and sci-fi genres, reflecting his versatility. In Tom Hardy's Taboo (2017), Bill portrayed the scheming Benjamin Wilton, a solicitor entangled in 19th-century power struggles, enhancing the series' gritty period intrigue. Earlier, he guest-starred as Pilot Bob in the Doctor Who Christmas special "A Christmas Carol" (2010), injecting subtle tension into the time-travel holiday tale. Looking ahead, Bill recurs as Mayor Indbur in the expansive sci-fi adaptation Foundation (2021–present) on Apple TV+, with significant appearances in the 2025 season that delve into galactic political machinations. He also played the strict Headmaster at Estella's school in the Disney origin story Cruella (2021), adding depth to the villainous ensemble amid its vibrant period aesthetics. Bill's evolution from peripheral supporting characters to more nuanced, character-driven roles is evident in his recent independent projects, including the short film Perfect (2024), where he explores intimate psychological themes, and The Real Thing (2024), a drama examining relational complexities. Upcoming works like The Thing with Feathers (2025), in which he plays Dr. Bowden in a poignant adaptation of Max Porter's grief-themed novel directed by Dylan Southern, and Brides (2025) as Jon in a tale of love and societal pressures, signal his continued shift toward introspective, ensemble-driven storytelling. This progression builds on his early breakthrough in Danny Boyle's horror landmark 28 Days Later (2002), evolving into a broad palette of genres—horror, period drama, fantasy, and sci-fi—that demonstrates his adaptability and depth as a screen actor.

Stage performances

Following his graduation from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 2002, Leo Bill began building his stage career with roles in British productions that showcased his versatility in both classical and contemporary works. One of his early breakthroughs came in 2010 as Alistair Ryle in Laura Wade's Posh at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Lyndsey Turner, where he portrayed a privileged Oxford undergraduate in a dining club rife with entitlement and violence; the production transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre in 2012, earning praise for Bill's depiction of simmering aggression within the ensemble.^[20][21] In 2011, Bill took on the role of Charles Surface in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The School for Scandal at the Barbican Theatre, under Deborah Warner's direction, interpreting the rakish character as a manic, drug-addled figure in a modernized 18th-century satire on gossip and hypocrisy, which critics noted for its energetic physicality and contribution to the production's chaotic vitality.^[22] His work in these early credits highlighted his ability to blend subtle psychological depth with heightened theatricality, often in ensemble-driven narratives that examined class and social dynamics. Bill's profile rose further with major roles in high-profile Shakespearean productions. In 2015, he played Horatio in Lyndsey Turner's staging of Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, where his portrayal of the loyal friend was described as a steadfast, backpack-toting everyman providing grounding amid the tragedy's frenzy, broadcast via National Theatre Live to wide acclaim for its emotional restraint.^[8][23] In 2017, as Bottom in Joe Hill-Gibbins's dark, immersive A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Young Vic, Bill subverted the character's traditional buffoonery into a manic, vulnerable figure—thin and haunted rather than boisterous—emphasizing themes of transformation and desire in a production lauded for its grotesque intimacy.^[6][24] More recent performances have solidified Bill's reputation in contemporary and adapted classics at key London venues. In 2019, he embodied the brooding, guilt-ridden Bosola in Rebecca Frecknall's gender-fluid The Duchess of Malfi at the Almeida Theatre, delivering a brutish yet nuanced anti-hero whose rage propelled the Jacobean tragedy's exploration of power and surveillance, with critics highlighting his sensational command of the role's moral complexity.^[25][26] That same year, as the ambitious actor Aymeric in Mephisto [A Rhapsody] at the Gate Theatre, directed by Kirsty Housley, Bill's intense, charismatic performance satirized artistic compromise under fascism, blending pretension and ferocity in a bravura turn that anchored the ensemble's political allegory.^[27][28] Bill continued his Almeida association in 2023 with Lulu Raczka's Women, Beware the Devil, directed by Rupert Goold, where he played the cavorting cavalier George, injecting manic energy into a tale of witchcraft and civil war intrigue, his caricature-like fervor enhancing the play's slippery blend of history and horror.^[29][30] In 2024, he narrated the Prologue in Joe Hill-Gibbins's stark production of Bartók's Duke Bluebeard's Castle at the English National Opera's London Coliseum, serving as a cabaret-tinged stagehand who underscored the opera's erotic unease through eloquent delivery and prop manipulation.^[31][32] Most recently, in 2025, Bill appeared in the ensemble of Deaf Republic at the Royal Court Theatre, adapted from Ilya Kaminsky's poetry by Dead Centre, contributing to a sublime, BSL-integrated staging of resistance and silence amid occupation, where his presence amplified the production's visceral ensemble dynamics.^[33][34] Throughout his stage career, Bill has been a key figure in contemporary British theatre, particularly at institutions like the Royal Court, Almeida, and National Theatre, where his performances often elevate ensemble interplay—balancing intensity with restraint—to illuminate social fractures, earning consistent recognition for advancing bold, interpretive approaches to both new writing and canonical texts.^[23]

Directing and other work

Short films

Leo Bill directed the short animation Whilst Confined in 2020, an encouraging piece on creativity produced during COVID-19 lockdown with illustrations by Cara Theobold and music by Jonathan Kitching.^[13] He followed with the short film When Held in 2022, co-created and performed by Tobias Menzies, exploring healing through movement therapy while a therapist works with him online.^[35] That same year, Bill directed Nobody Listens Anymore, marking a transition from his prolific acting career to behind-the-camera work.^[36] The film explores themes of communication breakdown and emotional isolation within middle-class domesticity, following a woman suffocated by the predictability of her life who shares a potentially disturbing anecdote at a dinner party, only to find her guests increasingly disengaged.^[36] Produced by Maëva Demurger under Blank Page Pictures, the project features a cast including Phoebe Fox in the lead role and Tobias Menzies, with cinematography by Dominic Colchester and editing by Paco Sweetman.^[37][38] Shot in a loose, handheld style reminiscent of John Cassavetes, it injects Bill's original voice through naturalistic performances that heighten the tension of unspoken frustrations.^[37] Nobody Listens Anymore premiered at several international festivals, including the Indie Shorts Awards Cannes in 2022 and Venezia Shorts, and received a nomination for Best Short Film at the British Independent Film Festival.^[39][40][41] The film continued screening on the festival circuit into 2023, underscoring Bill's emerging directorial presence.^[42] In parallel with his directing efforts, Bill continued acting in short films, appearing as "Him" in Perfect (2024), a heartfelt exploration of human connection between two strangers brought together by chance.^[43] Directed by Miranda Nolan, who also stars opposite him, the film reflects on the universal need for love and intimacy.^[43] Similarly, in The Real Thing (2024), directed by Charlie Fink, Bill portrays a customer service representative in a comedy-drama about a lonely man racing against time to evict a ghostly intruder before a Tinder date arrives, alongside Susan Wokoma and Thomas Gray.^[44] The film was officially selected for the BFI London Film Festival in 2024.^[45] These roles demonstrate how Bill's extensive acting experience continues to inform his selective short-form projects up to 2025.^[46]

Collaborations

Leo Bill's most notable family collaboration came in the 2018 stage production of Curtains, a black comedy written by his father, playwright Stephen Bill, and performed at the Rose Theatre Kingston from February 22 to March 17. Directed by Lindsay Posner, the play explores themes of end-of-life dignity with humor, earning Stephen Bill previous awards such as Drama Magazine's Best Play. Leo portrayed the character Michael, drawing on familial insights during rehearsals, which he described as a "perverse Truman Show" due to the unintentional family influences woven into the script. In an interview, Stephen noted the play's intent to address "the final taboo – the quality of death," while Leo highlighted the rehearsal room's atmosphere of "smart, talented, sensitive" collaborators, marking a rare professional overlap since his childhood role in his father's BBC series Broke.^[47] Bill has maintained recurring partnerships with prominent figures in film and television. He collaborated with actor Tom Hardy in the 2017 BBC/ FX miniseries Taboo, where Bill played Benjamin Wilton, a records officer for the East India Company, opposite Hardy's lead role as James Keziah Delaney. This period drama, co-created by Hardy, showcased Bill in a supporting capacity amid intense ensemble dynamics. Similarly, Bill worked twice with director Tim Burton, first as Hamish Ascot in the 2010 fantasy adventure Alice in Wonderland and reprising the role in the 2016 sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass, contributing to Burton's visually distinctive interpretations of Lewis Carroll's works. In 2019, Bill partnered with actress Billie Piper in her directorial debut Rare Beasts, a psychological romantic drama where he portrayed Pete, a traditionalist suitor clashing with Piper's character Mandy in a satirical take on modern relationships.^[48][49] Beyond these ties, Bill has engaged in ensemble collaborations, such as his role as John Tyas in Mike Leigh's 2018 historical drama Peterloo, which assembled a large cast to depict the 1819 Manchester massacre and its socio-political ramifications. In 2025, he appeared in Nadia Fall's Brides, playing Jon, the abusive boyfriend in a story of two British Muslim teenagers seeking belonging, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025 and emphasizes themes of alienation and radicalization. These partnerships, spanning theatre, historical epics, fantasy blockbusters, and intimate indies, have broadened Bill's exposure to diverse genres and directors up to 2025, fostering roles that highlight his ability to embody complex, often antagonistic figures and contributing to his trajectory as a versatile character actor.^[50][51]

Awards and nominations

Wins

In 2006, Leo Bill received the Jury Prize for Best Actor at the Austin Fantastic Fest for his portrayal of a mentally unstable young man grappling with his mother's schizophrenia in the psychological horror film The Living and the Dead, directed by Simon Rumley; this accolade highlighted his ability to convey raw emotional intensity in an early career role that marked a significant breakthrough.^[52][53] The following year, Bill won the Jury Award for Best Actor at the Kimera International Film Festival for the same performance in The Living and the Dead, further recognizing his nuanced depiction of psychological descent and contributing to the film's growing cult status in independent horror cinema.^[54][55] These two awards, both tied to his standout role in The Living and the Dead, represent Bill's primary acting wins as of 2025, underscoring his early acclaim in genre filmmaking without additional major honors in film, television, or theatre.^[54]

Nominations

Leo Bill received a nomination for Best Actor at the 2009 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards for his performance as James Brocklebank in the British horror film The Living and the Dead.^[54] The Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, presented annually by the horror magazine Fangoria, recognize excellence in the horror, thriller, and fantasy genres, often honoring performances overlooked by mainstream awards like the Oscars. Bill's nomination highlighted his portrayal of a mentally unstable son grappling with his mother's schizophrenia and his own psychological descent, competing against notable entries such as Ron Perlman's role in Hellboy II: The Golden Army and Kåre Hedebrant's in Let the Right One In.^[56] This recognition underscored Bill's early contributions to independent horror cinema, where genre-specific accolades emphasize atmospheric tension and psychological depth over commercial blockbusters.^[57]

Filmography

Film

• 2002: Two Men Went to War (Pvt. Leslie Cuthbertson), directed by John Henderson^[58]
• 2002: 28 Days Later (Private Jones), directed by Danny Boyle
• 2003: LD 50 Lethal Dose (Danny), directed by Simon De Selva
• 2004: Vera Drake (Ronny), directed by Mike Leigh
• 2005: Kinky Boots (Harry Sampson), directed by Julian Jarrold
• 2006: The Fall (Charles Darwin), directed by Tarsem Singh^[59]
• 2007: Becoming Jane (John Warren), directed by Julian Jarrold
• 2008: Me and Orson Welles (Norman Lloyd), directed by Richard Linklater
• 2010: Alice in Wonderland (Hamish), directed by Tim Burton
• 2011: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Trinity), directed by David Fincher^[60]
• 2014: A Long Way Down (Dr. Stephens), directed by Pascal Chaumeil^[61]
• 2014: Mr. Turner (J.E. Mayall), directed by Mike Leigh
• 2015: Mortdecai (Krampf), directed by David Koepp^[62]
• 2016: Alice Through the Looking Glass (Hamish), directed by James Bobin
• 2017: The Ritual (Hutch), directed by David Bruckner^[63]
• 2018: Peterloo (John Tyas), directed by Mike Leigh
• 2018: In Fabric (Reg Speaks), directed by Peter Strickland
• 2019: Rare Beasts (Pete), directed by Billie Piper
• 2020: The Old Guard (Booker), directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood^[64]
• 2021: Cruella (Headmaster), directed by Craig Gillespie
• 2022: Flux Gourmet (Technical Assistant), directed by Peter Strickland
• 2024: Perfect (various roles; also director), directed by Leo Bill^[43]
• 2025: The Thing with Feathers (Dr. Bowden), directed by Dylan Southern^[65]
• 2025: Brides (Jon), directed by Nadia Fall^[66]

Television

• 2003: Spooks as Corporal Eric Woods (1 episode)^[67]
• 2003: Midsomer Murders as Darren (1 episode)^[67]
• 2003: Eroica as Ries (TV movie)^[68]
• 2005: A Very Social Secretary as Flemming (TV movie)^[69]
• 2010: Doctor Who as Pilot (A Christmas Carol)^[70]
• 2013: Pramface as Richard (1 episode)^[71]
• 2013: The Borgias as Cardinal Costanzo (2 episodes)^[72]
• 2013: The White Queen as Reginald Bray (miniseries, 3 episodes)^[67]
• 2013–2016: The Fall as Peter Gillespie (5 episodes)^[73]
• 2014: Babylon as Neil (1 episode)^[74]
• 2017: Taboo as Benjamin Wilton (miniseries, 8 episodes)^[75]
• 2020–2021: Hitmen as The DJ (guest spot, 1 episode)
• 2022: Becoming Elizabeth as Henry Grey (8 episodes)^[76]
• 2023–present: Funny Woman as Tony Holmes (series regular)
• 2025: Foundation as Mayor Indbur (5 episodes)