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Tom Cullen
Tom Cullen
Tom Cullen
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Thomas Cullen (born 17 July 1985) is a Welsh actor and director. He had roles in the independent film Weekend (2011), as Anthony Foyle, Viscount Gillingham in the television series Downton Abbey,[1] and as Sir Landry in the historical drama series Knightfall.[2] He also appeared in another historical drama playing the role of Thomas Seymour in Becoming Elizabeth.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Cullen was born in Aberystwyth, Wales. He is the son of two writers. His father is Irish and his mother is English.[3] He spent his early years in Llandrindod Wells and moved to Cardiff at age 12,[4] where he attended Llanishen High School.[5] He has two siblings.[6]

Before pursuing an acting career he was involved in music.[7] He graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2009 with First Class Honours degree in Acting after spending a year at the Central School of Speech and Drama.[8]

Career

[edit]

Acting

[edit]

Whilst still in training, Cullen was taken out of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to appear in Daddy's Girl, which won the BAFTA Cymru for Best Film,[9] and to star in Watch Me, which won the BAFTA Cymru for Best Short.[10] His stage roles include Gorgio at the Bristol Old Vic, Assembly and A Good Night Out in the Valleys at National Theatre Wales, and The Sanger at Sherman Cymru.[11] In 2011, he was named on the Screen International Stars of Tomorrow list.[12]

Cullen starred in the 2011 film Weekend as Russell, a Nottingham lifeguard. Weekend collected numerous awards including the Grand Jury award at the Nashville Film Festival and Best Achievement in Production at the British Independent Film Awards. Cullen won Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards and Best Actor at the Nashville Film Festival in 2011 for his role as Russell.[13] His television roles include Jonas in Black Mirror. He starred as Wulfric in the 2012 miniseries World Without End.[14] He had a recurring role as Mary Crawley's suitor Anthony Foyle (the Viscount Gillingham) in Downton Abbey.[15]

Recent films include Desert Dancer, the story of Iranian dancer Afshin Ghaffarian, who risked his life to become a dancer despite a nationwide dancing ban, and the science fiction The Last Days on Mars, based around the first crewed mission to Mars. Upcoming films include Happily Ever After, No Compass in the Wilderness, A Hundred Streets opposite Idris Elba and Gemma Arterton, and Mine opposite Armie Hammer.[11][16]

Cullen played Joe Rose in the three-part ITV drama The Trials of Jimmy Rose, that aired in September 2015.[17] He starred in a Canadian indie from production company Motel Pictures, The Other Half.[18] He played the lead role of Mark in Harlan Coben's 2015 series The Five, a ten-part Sky 1 mystery series.[19] He also starred as Landry in the History series Knightfall,[2] which started in December 2017.[20] Cullen played Guy Fawkes alongside Kit Harington and Liv Tyler in Gunpowder on BBC One.

Cullen's editorial work includes L'Uomo Vogue, Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, and 10 Magazine.[citation needed]

Writing

[edit]

In 2008, Cullen wrote and produced the short film Naughties with Alexander Vlahos. In 2009, he and Vlahos co-founded the Welsh company Undeb Theatre.[21] He wrote and directed his full-length play, Kingfisher, about a man returning from prison, in 2010, as well as other short plays performed by Undeb.[22]

Directing

[edit]

Cullen made his directorial debut with the 2019 film Pink Wall starring Tatiana Maslany and Jay Duplass. The film is described by Screen Daily as "the story of a couple’s struggles with the pressures of gender expectations and the conflict between life and ambition."[23]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2006 Daddy's Girl Boy (Jason) U.S. title: Cravings
2008 Watch Me Tom Short film
Nominated for BAFTA Cymru Best Short Film
2009 Twenty Questions Adam Short film
2010 Balance Nico Short film
2011 Weekend Russell British Independent Film Award for Best Newcomer
2012 Henry Henry Short film
2013 Room 8 Ives Short film
BAFTA Award for Best British Short Film
The Last Days on Mars Richard Harrington
2014 Desert Dancer Ardavan
2015 Black Mountain Poets Richard
The Batsman and the Ballerina Simon Short film
2016 The Other Half Nickie Also executive producer
Happily Ever After Colin
100 Streets Jake
Mine Tommy Madison
Trial Ryan / New Aaron Short film
2018 Souls of Totality Guy 3 Short film
2019 Pink Wall Chris Also writer, director and co-producer
Castle in the Ground Jimmy
2021 Zebra Girl Dan
My Son Frank
Barbarians Lucas
2023 My Happy Ending Dr. Hanson

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Pen Talar Richard Episodes 7 & 8
Banged Up Abroad Yoram Series 5; 1 episode
2011 Black Mirror Jonas Series 1; episode 3: "The Entire History of You"
2012 World Without End Wulfric Mini-series; episodes 1–8
2013–2014 Downton Abbey Anthony Gillingham Series 4 & 5; 12 episodes
2015 The Trials of Jimmy Rose Joe Rose Mini-series; episodes 1–3
2016 The Five Mark Wells Mini-series; episodes 1–10
2017 Orphan Black Leonard Sipp Season 5; episode 6: "Manacled Slim Wrists"
Gunpowder Guy Fawkes Mini-series; episodes 1–3
2017–2019 Knightfall Landry du Lauzon Lead role. Seasons 1 & 2; 18 episodes
2018 Genius Luc Simon Season 2; episodes 6 & 10: "Picasso: Chapters Six and Ten"
2021 Invasion Mr. Edwards Season 1; episodes 2–4
2022 Becoming Elizabeth Thomas Seymour Episodes 1–6 & 8
2023–2025 The Gold John Palmer Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes[24]
2024 The Way Jack Price MP Episode 1: "The War"[25]
Insomnia Robert Averill Episodes 1–6[26]
2025 Mudtown Peter Burton Main cast[27]
Trespasses Michael Agnew Main cast[28]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result
2011 London Film Critics Circle Awards British Actor of the Year Weekend Nominated
BFI London Film Festival Best British Newcomer Nominated
Nashville Film Festival Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Won
British Independent Film Award Most Promising Newcomer Won
2016 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Won

References

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

Tom Cullen

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Tom Cullen (born 17 July 1985) is a Welsh actor, director, and writer best known for his leading role as Russell in the independent romantic drama film Weekend (2011) and for portraying Anthony Foyle, Viscount Gillingham, in the ITV period drama series Downton Abbey (2012–2015). Born in Aberystwyth, Wales, Cullen is the son of an Irish father and an English mother, both of whom were actors before becoming writers. He spent his early childhood in Llandrindod Wells before moving to Cardiff, where he attended Llanishen High School. After briefly studying at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, he graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2009. Cullen's acting career began with early films such as Daddy's Girl (2006), which won a BAFTA Cymru for Best Film. His breakthrough came with Weekend, directed by Andrew Haigh, for which he received critical acclaim and a British Independent Film Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. Following this, he gained international recognition for his role in Downton Abbey, appearing in 12 episodes as a romantic interest for Lady Mary Crawley. Other notable television roles include Danny in the Black Mirror episode "The Entire History of You" (2011), Sir Landry de Saint Aldebert in the History Channel series Knightfall (2017–2019), and Stephen Ward in the BBC drama The Trial of Christine Keeler (2020). In film, Cullen has starred in projects like (2013), (2016), and The Other Half (2016), the latter of which he also executive produced. He made his directorial debut with the romantic drama Pink Wall (2018), which he also wrote and starred in, earning praise at film festivals including Raindance. More recently, Cullen portrayed gangster John Palmer in the crime drama The Gold (2023–2025), which depicted the and received strong viewership. In 2024–2025, he appeared in the Welsh-language series Ar y Ffin and the thriller , and is set to star in upcoming projects including the drama Trespasses, the ITV adaptation The Party, and the feature film Black Church Bay.

Early years

Family background

Tom Cullen was born on 17 July 1985 in , . His parents, former actors who later became writers, with an Irish father and an English mother, whose creative professions significantly influenced his early pursuits in . He has a brother and a sister, both of whom have also entered the profession. Cullen's family relocated from to during his early childhood, before moving again to when he was 12 years old. This peripatetic upbringing in , shaped by his parents' involvement in regional , fostered his initial interest in acting through family storytelling traditions.

Education and formative experiences

Cullen attended Llanishen High School in , where he developed an early interest in through the school's supportive department. Influenced by his parents' involvement in and writing, he pursued further training in the . After high school, Cullen initially worked as a DJ and ran club nights in to support himself, experiences that exposed him to diverse social environments while he grappled with his career direction. He later enrolled at the Central School of Speech and in but was asked to leave after one year due to disruptive behavior amid frustrations with inconsistent teaching. This setback prompted personal reflection, leading him to appeal directly to the head of acting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and (RWCMD) in , where he was accepted. At RWCMD, Cullen matured as a performer, overcoming earlier insecurities and building confidence through rigorous training. He graduated in 2009 with First Class Honours in , recommitting fully to his passion for the craft.

Professional career

Theatre and writing

Tom Cullen's early involvement in was shaped by his training at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD), where he graduated in 2009 and began collaborating with fellow students on original works. In 2009, shortly after graduating, Cullen co-founded the Welsh theatre company Undeb Theatre with actor , aiming to produce accessible, innovative performances in non-traditional venues across that addressed contemporary issues relevant to young audiences. The company launched with The Project, a one-day of short plays, monologues, , and live , emphasizing new writing and performances that explored themes of youth, identity, and emotional turmoil. Undeb Theatre's early productions highlighted Welsh cultural contexts and modern , such as in the 2010 full-length play Straight, which Cullen co-directed with Vlahos and delved into fraternal power struggles, emotional manipulation, and the quest for . Other works under the company banner focused on raw, site-specific stagings that tackled , familial bonds, and personal reconciliation, often performed in intimate settings like galleries and nightclubs to foster direct audience engagement. As a playwright, Cullen wrote and starred in his debut full-length play, , which premiered in 2010 and centered on a man returning from after 12 years, confronting the irreversible changes in his family life and grappling with themes of regret, violence, and redemption. The production, developed through Undeb's script-in-hand readings, underscored Cullen's interest in psychological depth and relational tensions. During his student years at RWCMD, Cullen co-wrote and produced the Naughties in 2008 with Vlahos, a comedic exploration of youthful mischief that marked his initial foray into collaborative writing and production.

Acting roles

Cullen's breakthrough in came with his leading role as Russell in the 2011 independent drama Weekend, directed by , where he depicted a navigating a fleeting yet profound same-sex romance with an over a single weekend in . The low-budget production highlighted his nuanced portrayal of vulnerability and intimacy in LGBTQ+ relationships, earning critical acclaim and propelling him from stage to screen prominence. His theatre background informed the naturalistic, dialogue-driven performance that defined the 's intimate realism. Transitioning to television, Cullen made his mainstream debut as Anthony Foyle, Viscount Gillingham, in seasons 4 and 5 of the period drama (2013–2014), playing a charismatic suitor entangled in the aristocratic world of the family. The role introduced him to a broader audience, showcasing his ability to embody refined yet conflicted Edwardian gentlemen amid high-society intrigue. Building on this visibility, he took the lead as Landry du Lauzon in the historical series Knightfall (2017–2019), portraying a devout yet tormented warrior grappling with faith, loyalty, and the order's downfall during the era. The action-oriented drama allowed him to explore physical intensity alongside moral complexity in a narrative centered on medieval and . In 2022, Cullen portrayed Thomas Seymour in , a series delving into Tudor court politics through the young Elizabeth I's perspective, where he embodied the ambitious and manipulative uncle whose flirtations with the future queen underscore themes of power and forbidden desire. His recent television work has diversified across genres, including the role of gold dealer John Palmer in BBC's The Gold (2023–2025), a character based on the real-life figure entangled in the aftermath, spanning both seasons as Palmer navigates criminal laundering and evasion. In 2024, he appeared as supportive husband Robert Averill in the , dealing with familial strain amid his wife's unraveling mental health, and as local MP Jack Price in the satirical drama The Way, addressing industrial unrest in a Welsh town. In 2025, Cullen starred as Protestant Michael Agnew in the adaptation Trespasses, set against 1970s Northern Ireland's sectarian tensions, and as Saint Pete in the Welsh Mudtown, a shadowy kingpin influencing courtroom proceedings in Newport. As of 2025, Cullen is set to star in the ITV adaptation The Party alongside , and is involved in the post-production mystery thriller Black Church Bay, where he stars in a story of unraveling secrets following an intimate encounter in a remote Welsh village.

Directing projects

Cullen made his feature directorial debut with the 2019 independent romantic drama Pink Wall, which he also wrote, starring —his partner at the time—and as a couple navigating personal and relational challenges. The film premiered at the (SXSW) Film Festival in March 2019. Structured around six non-linear scenes spanning six years, Pink Wall examines the gradual erosion of a relationship, highlighting themes of gender expectations, conflicting ambitions, and the emotional toll of intimacy in a modern context, elements drawn from Cullen's own relationship experiences. In crafting the film, Cullen prioritized intimate, dialogue-driven to evoke authenticity, incorporating semi-improvisational techniques that allowed actors to explore nuanced emotional dynamics. His prior experience significantly shaped this approach, enabling him to intuitively guide performances and foster a collaborative set environment. Shot in just nine days on a micro-budget, the production emphasized raw, character-focused narrative over elaborate visuals, reflecting influences from filmmakers like . Pink Wall garnered positive critical reception for its emotional depth and honest depiction of relational complexities, with reviewers praising its bold structure and Maslany's layered performance. It holds a 71% approval rating on based on 28 reviews, though the film's limited commercial release confined its reach primarily to festival circuits, including the in 2019. Despite its modest distribution, the project marked Cullen's successful pivot to directing, showcasing his ability to blend personal insight with cinematic restraint.

Filmography

Film

Cullen made his feature film debut in the 2011 independent romantic drama Weekend, directed by Andrew Haigh, where he portrayed Russell, a lifeguard navigating a fleeting romance over a single weekend. In 2013, Cullen starred in the sci-fi horror film The Last Days on Mars, a studio production depicting a Mars mission gone wrong, playing the role of Richard Harrington, a young astronaut facing zombie-like threats. He followed this with Desert Dancer (2014), an indie biographical drama about Iranian ballet dancers, in which he played Ardavan, a friend and supporter of the protagonist. Cullen's 2016 output included multiple films, beginning with the romantic drama The Other Half, where he acted as Nickie, a man grappling with , while also serving as on the indie project. Later that year, he featured in the drama 100 Streets as Jake, a entangled in personal and professional crises, highlighting London's interconnected lives in this British indie . Also in 2016, Cullen led the survival thriller Mine, portraying Tommy Madison, a U.S. Marine sniper pinned down by a landmine in a remote , emphasizing themes of isolation and resilience in a mid-budget . In 2019, he directed, wrote, and produced the independent romantic drama Pink Wall, starring and , exploring a couple's relationship over six pivotal years through non-linear storytelling. That year, Cullen also acted in the indie horror-thriller as Jimmy, a drug dealer whose life spirals amid a sibling's crisis. In 2021, he appeared in the thriller My Son as Frank, a involved in a case. Also in 2021, Cullen took on the role of Lucas, a developer caught in a violent , in the action thriller Barbarians, part of an international co-production. Cullen took on the supporting role of Liam Somers, a tutor with hidden motives, in the 2023 psychological thriller The Lesson, a British indie film centered on family secrets and literary ambition. Also in 2023, he played Sean in the comedy-drama My Happy Ending, depicting a woman's chaotic quest for meaning after a cancer , blending humor and in a character-driven indie. Upcoming is the 2025 mystery-thriller Black Church Bay, an indie Welsh production where Cullen portrays a whose life unravels following a student's disappearance and personal secrets in a coastal village.

Television

Cullen began his television career with a guest appearance in the anthology series , marking his entry into the medium following early film roles, with providing a significant breakthrough in mainstream British television. His subsequent credits include leading and recurring roles in historical dramas and thrillers, often portraying complex characters in period or contemporary settings.
Year(s)TitleRoleEpisodesNotes
2011Jonas1Guest role in the episode "The Entire History of You"; .
2012World Without EndWulfric8Main role in the miniseries; historical drama.
2013–2015Anthony Foyle, Viscount Gillingham12Recurring role across seasons 4 and 5; period drama series.
2015The Trials of Jimmy RoseJoe Rose3Recurring role in the miniseries.
2016The FiveDanny10Main role in the miniseries; crime drama.
2017–2019KnightfallLandry du Lauzon18Lead role across both seasons (10 episodes in season 1, 8 in season 2); historical drama series.
2022Thomas Seymour8Main role in the miniseries; historical drama.
2023–2025The GoldJohn Palmer12Lead role across two seasons (6 episodes each); crime drama series.
2024Robert Averill6Main role in the miniseries; .
2024The WayJack Price1Guest role in episode "The War"; limited series.
2024Ar y FfinPeter Burton6Main role; Welsh-language crime drama series (English title: Mudtown).
2025MudtownSaint Pete6Main role; English-language version of Ar y Ffin, crime drama series.
2025TrespassesMichael AgnewTBAMain role in the miniseries; drama set during .

Recognition

Awards

Cullen received the British Independent Film Award (BIFA) for Most Promising Newcomer for his leading role as Russell in the 2011 film Weekend, presented at the 14th ceremony on December 4, 2011. For the same performance in Weekend, he won the Best Actor award at the Nashville Film Festival in April 2011. As part of the ensemble cast of , Cullen shared in the (SAG) Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, awarded at the 22nd SAG Awards on January 30, 2016.

Nominations

In 2012, he was nominated for British Actor of the Year by the London Film Critics' Circle for the same performance in Weekend. His directorial debut Pink Wall (2019) was longlisted for the BIFA Raindance Discovery Award, recognizing emerging British directors. The television series Knightfall (2017–2019), in which Cullen starred as Landry de Saint Jean, received a for Best Fantasy Television Series at the in 2018. The BBC series The Gold (2023), starring Cullen as John Palmer, was nominated for Best Drama Series at the 2024 BAFTA Television Awards.

References

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