Jack Davenport

Jack Davenport was born on 1 March 1973 in Wimbledon, London, England, the son of distinguished actors Nigel Davenport and Maria Aitken. After his parents divorced when he was seven, he was sent to the independent Dragon School in Oxford before attending Cheltenham College, where he developed a keen interest in drama. A gap year led him to work with Theatr Clwyd in Wales, performing bit parts in Hamlet and forging a friendship with Rhys Ifans. He later studied film and English literature at the University of East Anglia, briefly considering a behind‑the‑scenes career before a serendipitous letter to John Cleese earned him his first screen role in Fierce Creatures. Jack Davenport quickly rose to prominence with the BBC series This Life and the sitcom Coupling, showcasing his versatility across comedy and drama. His breakout Hollywood role came as the aristocratic James Norrington in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a performance that cemented his status as a dependable leading man. He has since delivered memorable turns in The Talented Mr. Ripley, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and the ensemble drama FlashForward, while also lending his voice to acclaimed audiobooks and high‑profile advertisements. In recent years, Davenport expanded his repertoire to the stage, debuting on Broadway as the Earl of Warwick in Saint Joan, and continued television success with roles in Smash, The Morning Show, and the ITV drama Breathless. Married to actress Michelle Gomez since 2000, the couple welcomed a son and, in 2023, both naturalised as American citizens, reflecting a transatlantic personal and professional journey that spans over two decades of film, television, and theatre achievements.