Rupert Friend

**Rupert William Anthony Friend**, born in October 1981, is an acclaimed English actor. His illustrious acting career began in 2004 with roles in 'The Libertine' and 'Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont', winning him awards for best newcomer. Friend's portrayal of characters, ranging from George Wickham in 'Pride & Prejudice' to Peter Quinn in 'Homeland', has showcased his acting prowess. He's also played in 'The Death of Stalin' as Vasily Stalin and in 'At Eternity's Gate' as Theo van Gogh. Besides his acting career, Friend has displayed his creativity as a director, screenwriter, and producer of award-winning short films 'The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers' and 'Steve'. His lyric writing skills have also graced the Kairos 4Tet 2013 album 'Everything We Hold'. Friend was born and raised in Cambridge, England. His early ambition was to become an archaeologist inspired by 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' which later shifted towards acting inspired by Marlon Brando and Daniel Day-Lewis. Friend received professional acting training in the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Rupert garnered early recognition by working with Johnny Depp in 'The Libertine'. His career grew, encompassing roles from 'The Kid', 'Pride and Prejudice', to the recent collaboration with Wes Anderson in films like 'The French Dispatch'. The early 2020s saw Friend playing pivotal roles including James Whitehouse in 'Anatomy of a Scandal' and the Grand Inquisitor in Disney+'s 'Obi-Wan Kenobi'. His detailed character preparation involving extensive historical and background research for his portrayals is highly appreciated, helping him engage audiences with his empathetic performances.