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Paterson Davis Joseph (born 22 June 1964)[1][3] is an English actor and author.

Key Information

Joseph began his career in the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) productions of King Lear and Love's Labour's Lost (1990). On television, he is known for his roles in the BBC One series Casualty (1997–1998) and Survivors (2008–2010); the Channel 4 series Peep Show (2003–2015) and Green Wing (2004–2006); the ITV series Boy Meets Girl (2009), Law & Order: UK (2013–2014) and Safe House (2015–2017); the HBO series The Leftovers (2014–2015); and the NBC series Timeless (2016–2018). Vigil (BBC One 2021-2023) His films include The Beach (2000), Greenfingers (2000), Æon Flux (2005), The Other Man (2008) and Wonka (2023).

Joseph is also a writer. His debut novel The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho (2022) won the 2023 Christopher Bland Prize awarded by the Royal Society of Literature. He was announced as Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University in October 2022.

Early life

[edit]

Joseph was born on 22 June 1964 in Willesden Green, Middlesex to parents from Saint Lucia.[4] He was the youngest of five, including an elder brother and three sisters in between.[5] His mother spoke Creole until Joseph was three when she stopped suddenly.[5] He attended Cardinal Hinsley R.C. High School in north-west London, a predominantly Irish Catholic school.[6] He has described himself as a "terrible bunker" while at school, opting to spend the best part of two years in the local public library instead.[7][8]

He worked briefly as a catering assistant at a hospital, before deciding to pursue acting as a profession. Joseph first trained at the Studio '68 of Theatre Arts, London (South Kensington Library), from 1983 to 1985 with Robert Henderson. He later attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), before going on to perform for the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Royal National Theatre.[9]

Career

[edit]

Theatre

[edit]

In 1991, Joseph won second prize in the Ian Charleson Awards, for his 1990 performances of Oswald in King Lear, Dumaine in Love's Labour's Lost, and the Marquis de Mota in The Last Days of Don Juan, all at the Royal Shakespeare Company.[10] In 1992, he starred as Richard Henry in Blues for Mister Charlie by James Baldwin, directed by Greg Hersov at the Royal Exchange, Manchester.

Joseph's theatre credits include the title role in Othello at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, as well as parts in Henry IV, King Lear, and Hamlet for a performance in New York City.[11] In 2012, he played Brutus in a performance by the RSC of Julius Caesar set in Africa. In 2004, he undertook a project, filmed for Channel 4 in a documentary entitled My Shakespeare, to direct a version of Romeo & Juliet, using 20 young non-actors from the deprived Harlesden area of London.[12]

In 2006, he became a patron of OffWestEnd.com, a listings site for theatre outside the mainstream.[13] Other stage appearances in 2006 and 2007 include the leads in The Royal Hunt of the Sun and The Emperor Jones at the Olivier Theatre, London.[14][15] In 2015, Sancho: An Act of Remembrance, a solo play written and performed by Joseph and based on the life of Ignatius Sancho, was staged in Oxford and Birmingham, and toured in the US starting in October.[16][17][18]

In late 2019 and early 2020, Joseph starred as Ebenezer Scrooge at the Old Vic Theatre in London in their production of A Christmas Carol.

Television

[edit]

He has played many roles in British television programmes, both drama and comedy. These include Reuben in William and Mary, alongside Martin Clunes; Mark Grace in Casualty; the Marquis de Carabas in Neverwhere; Alan Johnson in Peep Show; Lyndon Jones in Green Wing; and Shorty in the first episode of Jericho.

Joseph also appeared in the acclaimed drama Sex Traffic (2004), in the 2005 TV version of Kwame Kwei-Armah's acclaimed play Elmina's Kitchen and in the Doctor Who episodes "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of the Ways" as Rodrick, a contestant on a futuristic version of The Weakest Link game show. He has also appeared in various supporting roles in Dead Ringers.[19] In 2006, he appeared in the television sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Look, in which he played Simon, a contestant on the game show Numberwang.[11]

In 2007, Joseph played Space Marshall Clarke in two series of the BBC sci-fi sitcom Hyperdrive, and was Benjamin Maddox in the BBC drama series Jekyll. Joseph also provided the voice of K.O. Joe in Chop Socky Chooks.

From 2008 to 2010, Joseph played Greg Preston in Survivors, the BBC remake of the 1970s science-fiction drama of the same name. Also in 2008, Joseph appeared as former hitman Patrick Finch in Series 1, Episode 5 of The Fixer.

Joseph played DI Wes Layton in Law & Order: UK from 2013 to 2014.

He played the messianic "Holy Wayne" Gilchrest on the original HBO dramatic series The Leftovers, which began airing in 2014, and General Arnold Gaines on You, Me and the Apocalypse.

He took up the main role of Connor Mason in the television series Timeless, which ended in 2018.[20]

In 2020, Joseph played the part of Home Secretary Kamal Hadley in the series of Noughts + Crosses.[21]

As voice actor, Joseph provided the narration for the National Geographic series Mega Cities from 2005 to 2011, Wild Russia in 2009 and the BBC Two documentary Inside Obama's White House in 2016.[22] He played Tyler in the BBC Switch film Rules of Love in 2010.

Film

[edit]

Joseph's first feature film role was as Benbay in Jim Sheridan's In the Name of the Father.

In 2000, Joseph appeared as Keaty in Danny Boyle's adventure drama film The Beach, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio. In the same year, he also appeared in The Long Run and Greenfingers.

In 2005, he portrayed Giroux in the science-fiction action film Æon Flux, which starred Charlize Theron. Then in 2008 he played a supporting role in The Other Man, opposite Liam Neeson and Antonio Banderas.

Joseph appears as villain Arthur Slugworth, part of an ensemble cast in the 2023 musical fantasy film Wonka, directed by Paul King.[23]

Joseph has also appeared in several short films, including Stop the World, directed by Richard Leaf. He voiced the character of Victor in the 2023 drama short film Bet Your Bottom Dollar[24] produced by British-Canadian filmmaker Jonathan Tammuz.

Voice work

[edit]

In 2011, Joseph returned to Doctor Who, where he appeared in the audio drama Earth Aid, playing Victor Espinosa.[25] In November 2016 he played the title role in the BBC radio adaptation of the short story by Neil Gaiman, How the Marquis Got His Coat Back. Joseph had previously played the part of the Marquis de Carabas in the 1996 BBC TV six-part drama Neverwhere. He played the role of Colonel Arbuthnott in the Audible production of Murder on the Orient Express.

Joseph read the BBC Radio 4 abridgement of Barbadian writer George Lamming's 1953 debut novel In the Castle of My Skin first broadcast in December 2020.[26]

Lectures

[edit]

Joseph has delivered such keynote public lectures as the Memorial 2007 Annual Lecture at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies[27] and at Lancaster University.[28]

Writing

[edit]

In October 2022, Joseph's debut novel The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho was released, published by Dialogue Books.[29] The book charts the life of Charles Ignatius Sancho through fictionalised diary entries, letters and commentary. Writing in The New York Times, reviewer Thomas Mallon concluded: "With the conjuring tricks of historical fiction, Joseph has taken an actual man and, two and a half centuries later, made him as thoroughly himself, and as fully present, as he was the first time round."[30] The novel was shortlisted for the 2023 Jhalak Prize,[31] and won the 2023 RSL Christopher Bland Prize.[32][33] Joseph was also a contributor to the 2024 book Encounters with James Baldwin: Celebrating 100 Years.

Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University

[edit]

In October 2022, Joseph was announced as the next Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University[34][35] (previous holders of the role including Helena Kennedy, Jon Snow, Shami Chakrabarti and Katherine Grainger) and was officially installed in May 2023.[36][37]

Personal life

[edit]

Joseph lived in the Loire Valley, France, with his French ex-wife Emmanuelle and their son, before moving back to his native London.[38][39][40][41] Joseph supports the Brazil national football team.[42]

Filmography

[edit]
Key
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1989 Streetwise Dave 9 episodes
1990 South of the Border Julian Henry Episode 2.7
1992 Bunch of Five Compton Episode: "Dead at Thirty"
1992 The Bill Michael Tapscott Episode: "Soft Target"
Between the Lines Sgt. Viv Jones Episode: "Words of Advice"
1993 ScreenPlay Busi Episode: "Not Even God Is Wise Enough"
1994 Funky Black Shorts Ellis Episode: "Home and Away"
Soldier Soldier Fusilier Eddie Nelson Episode: "Changing the Guard"
Casualty Michael Episode: "Hidden Agendas"
1996 Neverwhere Marquis de Carabas 6 episodes
1997–1998 Casualty Mark Grace 42 episodes
2000 Safe as Houses Gabriel James TV movie
2001 Armadillo Alan 3 episodes
Now You See Her Mark TV movie
Cold Feet Suggs Episodes: 4.5 and 4.6
2002 Waking the Dead Dermot Sullivan Episodes: "Life Sentence Part 1" and "Life Sentence Part 2"
Silent Witness Sergeant Terry Harding Episodes: "The Fall Out Part 1" and "The Fall Out Part 2"
Bodily Harm Undertaker Two 1 episode
2003 Loving You Felix Fisher TV movie
A Touch of Frost Colin Stokes Episode: "Close Encounters"
Ghosts of Albion: Legacy Nigel Townsend 7 episodes
2003–2005 William and Mary Reuben 10 episodes
2003–2015 Peep Show Alan Johnson 16 episodes
2004 Murphy's Law Dr. Mark Maddison Episode: "The Group"
Dead Ringers Mickey Stone 2 episodes
Ghost of Albion: Embers Nigel Townsend 5 episodes
Sex Traffic Martin 2 episodes
My Dad's the Prime Minister Detective Gary McRyan 6 episodes
My Shakespeare Self TV movie documentary
2004–2006 Green Wing Lyndon Jones 9 episodes
2005 Dalziel and Pascoe Mr Alisdair Collinson Episodes: "Heads You Lose Part 1" and "Heads You Lose Part 2"
Elmina's Kitchen Deli TV movie
Doctor Who Rodrick Episodes: "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of the Ways"
Rose and Maloney Harry Callaghan Episode: "Carl Callaghan"
Jericho Shorty Episode: "A Pair of Ragged Claws"
Open Wide Neil TV movie
2006 Mayo Dr. Rossi Episode: "Cast a Cold Eye"
2006–2008 That Mitchell and Webb Look Various characters 8 episodes
2006–2007 Hyperdrive Space Marshal Clarke 7 episodes
2007–2008 Mega Cities Narrator Episodes: "Hong Kong" and "Taipei"
2007 Jekyll Benjamin Lennox 4 episodes
2007–2008 Chop Socky Chooks KO Joe 26 episodes
2008–2010 Survivors Greg Preston 12 episodes
2008 The Fixer Patrick Finch Series 1, Episode 5
Thrilla in Manila Narrator TV movie documentary
2008-2009 World of Quest General Ogun 26 episodes
2009 Japan's Wild Secrets Narrator Tv movie documentary
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Cephas Buthelezi Episodes: "Beauty and Integrity" and "A Real Botswana Diamond"
Boy Meets Girl Jay Metcalfe 4 episodes
10 Minute Tales Paul Episode: "Let It Snow"
2010 Blood and Oil Ed Daly TV movie
Clash of the Continents Narrator Episode: "End of Eden"
Rules of Love Tyler TV movie
On Christmas Night Presenter Reading from the Gospel of John
2011 Case Histories Patrick Carter 2 episodes
Coming Up: Food English man 1 episode
Death in Paradise William 1 episode
2012 The Hollow Crown Henry V Duke of York TV film
Julius Caesar Brutus Live recording performance by RSC
Hustle Dexter Gold[43] Series 8, Episode 1
In Love with... Sir Robert Chiltern Episode: "In Love with Wilde"
2013 Wild Thailand Narrator 2 episodes
Wild Burma: Nature's Lost Kingdom Narrator 3 episodes
2013–2014 Law & Order: UK DCI Wes Leyton Series 7–8
2014 Babylon Assistant Commissioner Charles Inglis Series 1
2014-2015 The Leftovers "Holy" Wayne Gilchrest Season 1
Season 2, two episodes
2015 Thunderbirds Are Go Robert Williams (voice) 1 episode
You, Me and the Apocalypse General Arnold Gaines Main Role
Safe House Mark
2016 Inside Obama's White House Narrator 4 episodes
The Coopers vs the Rest Toby Pilot episode
2016–2018 Timeless Connor Mason[20] 26 episodes
2017 Rellik Dr Isaac Taylor 6 episodes
2018 The Prosecutors: Real Crime and Punishment Narrator Episodes: "Modern Day Slavery" and "Prisons, Drugs and Drones"
Urban Myths Chuck D Episode: "Public Enemy (feat Kev Wells)"
2019 Grantchester Reverend Nathaniel Todd 1 episode
Counterpart Elan Episode: "You to You"
The End of the F***ing World Kevan 1 episode
Avenue 5 Harrison Ames 2 episodes
2020 Unprecedented George 1 episode
Noughts + Crosses Home Secretary Kamal Hadley 6 episodes
2021 Inside No. 9 Pantalone Episode: “Wuthering Heist”
The Mosquito Coast Calaca 2 episodes
Vigil Commander Neil Newsome, Captain of HMS Vigil 6 episodes
2022 That Dirty Black Bag Thompson 8 episodes
Unearthed Narratives Himself TV mini series
2023 Boat Story Samuel TV mini series
2025 Wolf King Duke Bergan Voice role, 8 episodes

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Director Notes
1993 In the Name of the Father Benbay Jim Sheridan Docudrama / Legal Drama / True Crime / Tragedy
2000 The Long Run Gasa Jean Stewart Drama / Sport
The Beach Keaty Danny Boyle Adventure / Romance / Thriller / Drama
Greenfingers Jimmy Joel Hershman True Crime / Comedy / Drama / Romance
2004 The Baby Juice Express Sean Boetang Michael Hurst Comedy / Crime
2005 Æon Flux Giroux Karyn Kusama Adventure / Action / Superhero
2008 The Other Man Ralph Richard Eyre
2011 Stop the World Pat Richard Leaf Short film
2012 Julius Caesar Brutus Gregory Doran Filmed stage play
2015 Between Lambs and Lions President Nebuchadnezzar Ted Wilkes Short film
Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny Narrator Rhodri Huw Music
2019 Since Yesterday Old friend Alexander Bradley Short film
2022 Daddy's Girl Saul Jessica Magaye
Geronimo Doctor Geraint Morgan
2023 Bet Your Bottom Dollar Victor Brandon Ashplant
The Velveteen Rabbit King Jennifer Perrott and Rick Thiele
Wonka Arthur Slugworth Paul King Musical Fantasy

Stage

[edit]
Year Play Role Venue Notes
1987–88 Raping the Gold Leon Bush Theatre
1988-89 The Tempest Adrian Donmar Warehouse
1989 Whale 1st Inuit Lover Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre
Soloman & the Big Cat Soloman The Young Vic
1990 The Last Days of Don Juan Marquis de Mota Swan Theatre Press performance; second prize in the Ian Charleson Awards
Troilus and Cressida Patroclus Press performance
King Lear Oswald Royal Shakespeare Theatre Second prize in the Ian Charleson Awards
Love's Labour's Lost Dumaine
1990-91 The Last Days of Don Juan Marquis de Mota Barbican Theatre
Love's Labour's Lost Dumaine
King Lear Oswald
1991 King Lear Theatre Royal, Newcastle Press performance
The Last Days of Don Juan Marquis de Mota Newcastle Playhouse
Love's Labour's Lost Dumaine
Troilus and Cressida Patroclus Press performance
Love's Labour's Lost Dumaine Barbican Theatre
The Last Days of Don Juan Marquis de Mota Pit London
King Lear Oswald Barbican Theatre
Troilus and Cressida Troilus Pit London Taking over Troilus from Ralph Fiennes; press performance
The Pretenders Haakon Press performance
1991–92 The Pretenders Barbican Theatre
1992 The Recruiting Officer Mr Worthy Olivier Theatre
Blues for Mister Charlie Richard Henry Royal Exchange, Manchester
1995 Hamlet Horatio Hackney Empire and Belasco Theatre
1996–97 Henry IV Part I and Part II Henry Percy / Pistol Theatre Royal, Bath and The Old Vic UK tour
2000 A Doll's House Torvald Ambassadors Theatre, London
2001 Les Blancs Tshembe Matoseh Royal Exchange, Manchester Best Actor, Barclays TMA Awards 2001
2002 Othello Othello Royal Exchange, Manchester
2003 Elmina's Kitchen Deli Cottesloe Theatre
2005 The Emperor Jones Brutus Jones, Emperor Gate Theatre
2006 The Royal Hunt of the Sun Atahualpa Olivier Theatre
2007 The Emperor Jones Brutus Jones, Emperor
Saint Joan Cauchon
2012 Julius Caesar Brutus Royal Shakespeare Theatre Set in Africa; live recording performance by RSC
2015 Sancho: An Act of Remembrance Charles Ignatius Sancho Oxford, Birmingham and US tour A one-man show conceived, written and performed by himself
2019-20 A Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge The Old Vic

Audio and radio

[edit]
Year Play Role Station Notes
1998 Twelfth Night Feste Arkangel Complete Shakespeare
1999 Titus Andronicus Aaron
2005 Troilus and Cressida Troilus BBC Radio 3
2011 Earth Aid Victor Espinosa BBC radio Doctor Who spin-off produced by Big Finish Productions
2016 How the Marquis Got His Coat Back Marquis de Carabas BBC radio Reprising his role from the 1996 BBC TV six-part drama Neverwhere.
Strangeness in Space The Puppetmaster Podcast series 1 episode
2017 Murder on the Orient Express Colonel Arbuthnott Amazon
2020 In the Castle of My Skin Narrator BBC Radio 4
2020-21 The Sandman The Demon Choronzon Podcast series 21 episodes
2021 Michael Spicer: Before Next Door Charlie Roland BBC Radio series 1 episode, “Silver Badge”.[44]
2021 Getting Better - The Fight for the NHS King George VI Podcast series 2 episodes
2022 Chelmsford 123: The Revival Functio 3 episodes
Severus Septimius Severus BBC Radio 4
2025 Just a Minute Contestant BBC Radio 4

Accolades

[edit]
Year Body Award Nominated work Result Ref
2023 EdiPlay International Film Festival, Paris Best Supporting Actor Bet Your Bottom Dollar Won [45]
2024 New York Movie Awards Gold Award - Actor Won [46]
Paris Film Awards Silver Award - Actor Won [47]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia

Paterson Joseph (born 22 June 1964) is a British actor, author, and university chancellor recognised for his extensive work in theatre, television, film, and historical literature.
Joseph trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and began his professional career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing in productions such as King Lear and Love's Labour's Lost.
On television, he gained prominence for portraying the manipulative Alan Johnson in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show from 2003 to 2015, as well as roles in series including Survivors, Green Wing, and Vigil.
His film credits encompass appearances in The Beach (2000), Æon Flux (2005), and more recently as Arthur Slugworth in Wonka (2023).
As an author, Joseph has contributed to historical narratives, notably with The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho (2022), a novel drawing on the life of the 18th-century Black British composer and abolitionist, and Julius Caesar and Me: Exploring Shakespeare's African Play (2018).
In 2023, he was installed as Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, where he advocates for inclusivity in higher education.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Paterson Joseph was born on 22 June 1964 in Willesden Green, north-west , to parents of Saint Lucian descent who immigrated separately to the in the late . His father worked as a for the local council, and his mother was employed at a biscuit factory, reflecting the working-class immigrant experiences common among arrivals during that era. As the youngest of five siblings, Joseph grew up in a modest household above a shop in Willesden Green, sharing three bedrooms in a supportive family environment that emphasized , humor, and contribution among the children. His mother's use of Creole at home connected the family to their Saint Lucian roots, fostering a culturally rich upbringing amid London's diverse yet challenging post-war immigrant communities. The family resided in a close-knit neighborhood during the , where Joseph, often the only black child in his early schooling, developed resilience against experiences of racial , bolstered by parental encouragement and home-based instruction before formal education. This background instilled a strong sense of identity, as Joseph later reflected on navigating systemic barriers while drawing strength from familial solidarity.

Formal training and early influences

Joseph initially encountered through youth theatre, having been dismissed by his system as intellectually limited due to his immigrant background. He progressed to an unaccredited drama school, where he was introduced to the writings of theatre innovators and , whose emphasis on stripped-down, essential performance profoundly shaped his early artistic perspective. Subsequently, Joseph enrolled in a conventional institution, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (), completing his professional training there. This rigorous program equipped him with classical techniques, including Shakespearean performance, enabling a swift transition to professional stages such as the Royal Shakespeare Company within two years of beginning formal studies. Among his early influences, actor stood out as a pivotal figure; as a prominent black performer educated at a top and versed in classical roles, Warrington exemplified attainable excellence in the field for Joseph. These foundational experiences, blending experimental theory with structured technique, informed Joseph's versatile approach to character depth and physicality in subsequent work.

Acting career

Theatre and stage work

Joseph's stage career began with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1990, where he appeared in productions including (as Oswald, 1991) and (as , 1991). For his RSC performances in the 1990–1991 season, he received second prize in the inaugural , recognizing emerging classical actors under 30. At the National Theatre, Joseph performed in multiple productions, including Elmina's Kitchen (2005), The Royal Hunt of the Sun (as Atahuallpa, 2006), (as Brutus Jones, 2007), and Saint Joan (as Louchon, 2007). These roles spanned contemporary and classical works, showcasing his versatility in ensemble and lead capacities. In 2002, he took the title role of at the Royal Exchange Theatre in , directed by Gregory Thompson, with as ; critics noted Joseph's portrayal emphasized the character's intellectual depth and vulnerability amid jealousy. He returned to the RSC in 2012 as Marcus Brutus in Gregory Doran's , a production set in a modern African context that toured internationally as part of the World Shakespeare Festival. Later stage appearances included at the Royal Exchange (as Tshembe Matoseh) and , alongside and . In 2019, Joseph starred as in Jack Thorne's immersive adaptation of at , directed by , which ran annually and incorporated sensory elements like food and scents to evoke Victorian . His performance was praised for balancing the miser's with redemptive .

Television appearances

Joseph's early television work included the role of the Marquis de Carabas in the BBC fantasy miniseries Neverwhere (1996). He followed this with a recurring part as nurse Mark Grace in the medical drama Casualty across 1997 and 1998. One of his most recognized television roles came in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, where he portrayed the smug, affluent Alan Johnson from 2003 to 2015, appearing in multiple episodes as the on-off partner of the character Jez's love interest. In 2004, he played hospital porter Lyndon Jones in the surreal comedy Green Wing, contributing to the series through its two seasons until 2006. Joseph took on supporting roles in other series, including Dr. Mark Maddison in the crime drama (2004) and Benjamin Maddox in the psychological thriller Jekyll (2007). He appeared as Space Marshall Clarke in the BBC sci-fi comedy Hyperdrive (2009–2010). In the post-apocalyptic drama Survivors (2008–2010), he played a key character amid the outbreak narrative. Later, Joseph portrayed Detective Inspector Wes Layton in the final two seasons of ITV's Law & Order: UK (2013–2014). He secured a main role as tech mogul Connor Mason in the NBC time-travel series Timeless (2016–2018), appearing in all 28 episodes as the founder of a lifeboat project central to the plot. In 2020, he depicted Home Secretary Kamal Hadley, a powerful political figure in a dystopian society, in the BBC adaptation Noughts + Crosses. Additional guest appearances include episodes of Inside No. 9.
Year(s)SeriesRoleNotes
1996NeverwhereMarquis de CarabasMiniseries, 6 episodes
1997–1998CasualtyMark GraceRecurring, medical drama
2003–2015Peep ShowAlan JohnsonRecurring, 20+ episodes, sitcom
2004–2006Green WingLyndon JonesMain cast, comedy series
2013–2014Law & Order: UKDI Wes LaytonSeasons 7–8, procedural drama
2016–2018TimelessConnor MasonMain role, 28 episodes
2020Noughts + CrossesKamal HadleyHome Secretary, dystopian drama

Film roles

Paterson Joseph's film debut came in 1993 with a minor role as Benbay in In the Name of the Father, Jim Sheridan's historical drama depicting the Guildford Four case, starring Daniel Day-Lewis. In 2000, he gained wider visibility as Keaty, an enthusiastic backpacker managing a Thai beach resort, in Danny Boyle's adventure thriller The Beach, which featured Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role and adapted Alex Garland's novel. That same year, Joseph portrayed Jimmy Sunday, a fellow inmate discovering a talent for horticulture, in the comedy-drama Greenfingers, inspired by the real-life story of prison gardening competitions at HMP North Sea Camp. He also appeared as Gasa in The Long Run, a South African drama about a long-distance runner training for a major race. In 2005, Joseph played Giroux, a loyal operative in a futuristic rebellion, in the science fiction action film , directed by and starring as the titular assassin in a dystopian society. His subsequent film work included a supporting role in Richard Eyre's 2008 thriller The Other Man, which explored themes of infidelity and revenge with and . Joseph provided the voice of the King in the 2023 animated family film , an adaptation of ' classic children's story emphasizing themes of love and transformation. A prominent recent role was as Arthur Slugworth, the scheming rival chocolatier spying on the protagonist's inventions, in Paul King's 2023 musical fantasy Wonka, starring as a young and serving as a to Roald Dahl's . This performance marked one of Joseph's most high-profile appearances, contributing to the film's commercial success with over $634 million in global earnings.

Voice acting and radio

Joseph has provided voice work for various documentary series and projects. He narrated the National Geographic Channel's MegaCities from 2005 to 2011, exploring urban environments worldwide. He also voiced the narration for the BBC's Wild Russia in 2009 and contributed to the Horizon documentary on the Cassini Saturn mission. In animation, Joseph voiced characters including K.O. Joe in OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes and Loki in related media. In radio, Joseph has appeared in several BBC productions. He played the title role of Faustus in a 2007 BBC Radio 3 adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. In 2005, he starred in the BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play The Moon Is Mine. He portrayed the lead in the 2016 BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Neil Gaiman's short story How the Marquis Got His Coat Back. More recently, Joseph featured on BBC Radio 4's Just a Minute in September 2025 alongside Paul Merton and others, and discussed literature on A Good Read in episodes including one with Richard Coles in 2024. He also presented The Essay on BBC Radio 4 in 2023, retracing the life of Ignatius Sancho. Joseph has narrated numerous , often drawing on his for dramatic delivery. He narrated Simon Schama's Rough Crossings in a 2015 Audible edition spanning 16 hours. For his own works, he provided the audiobook narration for The Secret Diaries of Charles in 2023, including an exclusive interview segment, and TEN: Children Who Changed The World in 2025. Other credits include collections such as Iain Banks's adaptations and Kate Atkinson's Normal Rules Don't Apply.

Writing and historical scholarship

Non-fiction works

Paterson Joseph's primary non-fiction work is the children's book TEN: Children Who Changed the World, published on 11 September 2025 by Hachette Children's Group. The illustrated volume, aimed at readers aged 9 and older, profiles ten children who, at the age of ten, undertook acts of , bravery, or adventure that shaped historical outcomes. Among the figures featured are poet , actor Ira Frederick Aldridge, aristocrat , and Billy Sancho, son of the 18th-century composer and recognized as Britain's first Black librarian. The narratives draw on Joseph's research into overlooked Black contributions to , emphasizing empirical accounts of individual agency amid systemic constraints like and . Illustrated by Rumbidzai Savanhu, the book presents these stories as inspirational examples of youthful impact, supported by verifiable historical records rather than speculative reinterpretations.

Fictional adaptations and novels

Paterson Joseph's debut and only novel to date, The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, is a work of historical fiction published in the United Kingdom on 6 October 2022 by Dialogue Books, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, with a United States edition released on 11 April 2023 by Henry Holt and Company. The narrative is structured as imagined diary entries chronicling the life of Charles Ignatius Sancho (c. 1729–1780), an enslaved African born aboard a ship en route from West Africa to the Americas, who later gained freedom in England, worked as a valet and grocer, composed music, corresponded with literary figures, and became the first known Black person of African descent to vote in a British parliamentary election in 1774. Drawing on Sancho's real surviving letters—the earliest published collection by an African living in —Joseph fills historical gaps with fictionalized introspection to depict Sancho's navigation of 18th-century British society, including encounters with luminaries like the actor and philosopher , amid themes of enslavement, , and . The novel begins with Sancho's traumatic origins at sea and traces his rise to social prominence in , emphasizing his self-taught literacy, entrepreneurial ventures, and abolitionist sentiments, while portraying the era's racial hierarchies without romanticization. Joseph has described the work as an effort to humanize an overlooked figure, likening it to a "Black " in its elements, though grounded in verifiable biographical details such as Sancho's employment in the household of the Duchess of Montagu and his posthumously published letters in 1782. Critical reception has highlighted the novel's blend of humor, poignancy, and historical insight, with praising it as "an entertaining portrait that also illuminates rare Black history," noting its life-affirming tone even amid brutality. Reviewers have commended Joseph's research into primary sources, including Sancho's correspondence, which underscores the text's fidelity to documented events while acknowledging its speculative diary format as a creative reconstruction rather than verbatim history. No adaptations of the into film, television, or other media have been announced as of October 2025. Paterson Joseph's engagement with the life of began with the solo performance piece Sancho: An Act of Remembrance, which he wrote and starred in, portraying the 18th-century composer, writer, and first Black Briton known to have voted in a . The play, which dramatizes Sancho's journey from enslavement on a to his roles as a , , and abolitionist correspondent in , premiered in the UK and toured internationally, including performances at the National Black Theatre in in collaboration with the Classical Theatre of . This stage work served as the foundation for Joseph's 2022 novel The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, with the performance evolving into dramatized readings and expanded narratives drawn from the fictionalized diaries. In subsequent adaptations, Joseph developed Sancho & Me – For One Night Only, a storytelling event blending , excerpts from the novel, and live music by Ben Park, where Joseph performs as alongside reflections on his own research process. The production has been staged at venues including Stratford East in (May 2025), the Lyric (February 2024), and Playhouse Square in , emphasizing themes of identity, , and Black contributions to British history. Joseph has also presented related lectures and performances, such as "An Evening with … and Me?" at in September 2025, incorporating monologues and historical reenactments to highlight 's polymathic achievements amid limited primary sources. These works underscore Joseph's method of using performance to revive overlooked historical figures, bridging his background with scholarly inquiry into 18th-century Black , though no screen adaptations of the novel or play have been produced as of October 2025.

Public engagements and advocacy

Lectures and speaking engagements

Paterson Joseph has engaged in numerous public lectures and speaking events, often focusing on Black British history, his The Secret Diaries of Charles , techniques, and identity. These engagements blend performative readings, historical analysis, and personal reflections, drawing from his research into overlooked 18th-century Black figures in Britain. In April 2023, Joseph delivered the Hanson Fund Lecture at , where he presented a reading from The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho and discussed themes of historical representation and authorship. The event, hosted by the Africana Studies Program, English Department, and College of Arts, Media and Design, highlighted his transition from to writing. On September 28, 2023, he gave the Memorial 2007 Annual Lecture at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, titled "Seeing is Believing," which examined the narrative power of images in commemorating historical events and figures. Later that month, Joseph participated in a conversational event at the University of Oxford's Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama on October 17, discussing his debut novel and its basis in the life of Ignatius Sancho, Britain's first Black voter, with ancient historian Dr. Mai Musié. In May 2023, Joseph offered remarks on The Secret Diaries of at a City Club of Book Club event, emphasizing the novel's role in reclaiming suppressed Black narratives from Georgian . He extended this theme in a January 2024 session at the University of Birmingham's CLiCC project, sharing insights on writing history as performance and his experiences portraying historical characters. Joseph addressed , race, and identity in a September 2024 talk at the Institute of Art and Ideas (IAI), critiquing modern casting practices and the erasure of pre-20th-century presence in British history, which he attributed to educational gaps rather than absence of . In September 2025, he performed "An Evening with Sancho … and Me?" at Emory University's Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry, portraying the life of through dramatic narrative to underscore forgotten contributions to British society. Additional engagements include a career talk for Speakers for Schools in May 2025, aimed at inspiring students on paths in and writing, and discussions at venues like on Shakespearean roles and racial dynamics in casting. Joseph is also available for bookings through platforms like Authors Unbound, positioning him as a speaker on , , and .

Chancellorship at Oxford Brookes University

Paterson Joseph was announced as the next Chancellor of on 11 October 2022. The role serves as the ceremonial figurehead and ambassador for the institution, involving representation at key events and support for its strategic objectives. Joseph was officially installed as Chancellor on 25 May 2023 during a ceremony at the university. In this capacity, he emphasized promoting the university's inclusivity and openness, stating, "My main aim as Chancellor will be to highlight the inclusivity and openness of ." He has described higher education, in alignment with his chancellorial perspective, as a means not only for but for learning how to live life. As of October 2025, Joseph continues in the role alongside his acting, writing, and teaching commitments, having praised Oxford Brookes for its diversity upon appointment.

Views on race, , and identity

Paterson Joseph has emphasized the longstanding presence of black individuals in British , predating the post-World War II Windrush arrivals, and critiques the educational system's neglect of these contributions, which he encountered personally during his schooling in the 1960s and 1970s. He argues that "black is often ignored," attributing this to a focus by historians—predominantly white middle-class men—on narratives excluding non-white and female figures, resulting in "complete ignorance of the black story and the black contribution to the British story." Through works like his 2022 novel The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, Joseph highlights figures such as Sancho (c. 1729–1780), an enslaved African who became a composer, writer, and the first known black man to vote in Britain in 1774, using epistolary fiction and one-man performances to "fill in those gaps" and reveal black agency in Georgian England. He views such storytelling as essential to countering historical erasure, stating that black forms "a vital part of our national story." On race, Joseph describes racism as "a strange mental illness where you look at somebody and say, ‘I hate you because of the colour of your skin,’" linking it to societal conditioning, power imbalances, and insidious undercurrents rather than solely overt acts, drawing from his experiences as the only in his classroom feeling "so alien" and facing warnings like "I’d only be playing slaves and servants." He rejects "race" as a valid biological category, asserting it as a human invention designed to justify exploitation during the slave , and stresses humanity's underlying unity: "one race." Despite acknowledging personal encounters with , including like "n*****s go home," he maintains it has not defined him, prioritizing over victimhood. Regarding identity, Joseph advocates decolonizing curricula to foster black British belonging, arguing the current "colonised curriculum" hinders understanding of local black histories and empowerment. He credits historical research, inspired by texts like Gretchen Gerzina's Black England: Life Before Emancipation, with reshaping his self-perception amid "scientific racism" in London's education system, enabling him to "carve out my own sense of belonging" through and performance. Figures like symbolize affirmation—"he’s about saying ‘you belong here’"—instilling confidence in black English identity and countering exclusion by demonstrating Britain's multiracial past: "Britain’s never been just white." Joseph promotes narrative-driven education over rote memorization, as in his children's book TEN: Children Who Changed the World (2025), to engage youth with black achievements globally, including in , reinforcing identity through potential rather than dates alone.

Recognition and legacy

Awards and nominations

In 1991, Joseph received second prize in the inaugural , recognizing emerging classical theatre actors under 30, for his performances as Oswald in , Dumaine in , and the Marquis de Mota in The Last Days of Don Juan. For his role as Johnson in the series Peep Show, Joseph won a British Comedy Award in 2006 in the best TV comedy actor category. Joseph earned a Screen Nation Film and Television Award in 2013 for best male performance in television, for portraying Brutus in the Royal Shakespeare Company's African-set production of , broadcast on . His debut novel The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho (2022) won the Royal Society of Literature's Christopher Bland Prize in 2023, a £10,000 for outstanding debuts by writers aged 50 or over, selected for its historical insight into the life of an 18th-century Black British and abolitionist. The same work was shortlisted for the 2023 Jhalak Prize, which honors writers of colour in the UK and , and won the Historical Writers' Association's Debut Crown . In 2024, Joseph received multiple international accolades for his , including a Gold Award for from the Awards and from the Film Awards.

Critical reception and impact

Joseph's one-man play Sancho: An Act of Remembrance, first performed in 2015 and touring internationally through 2018, garnered positive reviews for its engaging portrayal of the 18th-century figure Charles Ignatius , with critics praising Joseph's charismatic delivery and ability to differentiate between the character's younger and older selves. Reviewers highlighted the production's effectiveness in confronting historical while celebrating Sancho's achievements as a , , and the first known Black Briton to vote in a parliamentary in 1774. His debut novel, The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho (2022), received commendation from outlets including The Guardian, which described it as illuminating a "giant of the Georgian era" through vivid historical fiction blending real letters and imagined diary entries, and The New York Times, which noted its success in evoking the polymath's picaresque life amid 18th-century Britain's racial hierarchies. The work, shortlisted for the 2023 Fiction Prize at the Nero Book Awards, has been credited with expanding public knowledge of overlooked Black contributions to British cultural and political history. In television, Joseph's portrayal of the pompous yet insecure across nine series of Peep Show (2003–2015) achieved cult status, with the character frequently cited for its comedic precision and quotable lines, later spawning memes and fan discussions that extended the show's legacy. His lead role as Albion Party leader Dominic Cross in (2020–2022) drew specific acclaim for conveying patriarchal authority and internal conflict, contributing to the series' exploration of inverted racial dynamics despite mixed overall reception. Joseph's career, spanning Royal Shakespeare Company productions since the 1980s to recent films like Wonka (2023), has been recognized for advancing versatile Black representation in British theatre and screen, though he has publicly stated that the industry remains structurally unfair, prompting calls for sustained diversity efforts. His Sancho projects, in particular, have had a measurable cultural impact by popularizing the historical figure's story, influencing discussions on British identity and prompting renewed interest in primary sources like Sancho's letters published in 1782.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Paterson Joseph was married to , a French national, and the couple resided in the region of for a period. They have one son, Glenn. The family later relocated to following the end of the marriage. Joseph has described himself as divorced in interviews, with no public records of subsequent relationships. Of descent through his parents, Joseph was born and raised in a close-knit community in Willesden Green, northwest , during the and .

Health and philanthropy

Paterson Joseph serves as a patron of the Shakespeare Schools Foundation, a charity that delivers Shakespeare workshops and performances to primary and secondary schools across the United Kingdom to foster literacy and creativity among young people. In March 2024, Joseph formally opened the Ignatius Sancho Café in Greenwich Park, an initiative by The Royal Parks charity aimed at enhancing public access to green spaces and commemorating historical figures like the 18th-century abolitionist Ignatius Sancho. He has supported Minority Rights Group International, presenting a donation appeal for the organization in October 2020 to aid minority communities facing worldwide. Joseph is associated with Evolve Housing + Support, a provider of housing and community services that assists individuals recovering from challenges, contributing to efforts that have reportedly improved residents' and . In October 2025, he participated in the MENtalk festival at The Exchange in , a two-day event dedicated to addressing men's through discussions and activities.

References

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