Alexander Paul Weaver (born 3 January 1981) is an English actor, writer and part-time director, best known for his role as curate Leonard Finch in the ITV series Grantchester (2014-present).
Al Weaver | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alexander Paul Weaver 3 January 1981 |
| Years active | 2004–present |
Background
editWeaver was born in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. He went to Rivington and Blackrod High School and studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Career
editWeaver's first paid theatre role was in Trevor Nunn's 2004 production of Hamlet, at the Old Vic theatre in London. Weaver played the title role on Monday evenings and at all matinees, whilst Ben Whishaw took on the role for evening performances, from Tuesday to Saturday.
British politician Michael Portillo lauded Weaver's interpretation of Hamlet in The New Statesman: "He [Weaver] gave meaning to the poetry, refusing to be rushed in the soliloquies or intimidated by them, varying volume and pace well. Frame by frame, he made credible Hamlet's progression from self-indulgence to nobility, so we could nearly believe Fortinbras' remark that 'he was likely, had he been put on,/To have proved most royally'."
Weaver has appeared in minor roles in films such as Colour Me Kubrick (2005) (uncredited), The Merchant of Venice (2004), Marie Antoinette (2006), and Unmade Beds (2009); Me and Orson Welles (2009 film). he also played "The Kid" in Doom, "Schwob" in Colette, and an uncredited Gulf War soldier in Armistice (2014).
His television credits include D.C. Billy Slaven in The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (episodes "In Pursuit of a Proper Sinner" and "A Cry for Justice") and National Antiquities Museum employee Andy Galbraith in Sherlock episode "The Blind Banker". Weaver has been in Five Days (TV miniseries) as Josh Fairley. He has also been in Five Daughters (TV miniseries) played Tom Alderton. Weaver also has been in Secret State as Josh Leyton. Weaver also appeared in Southcliffe (TV miniseries), where he played Anthony. Weaver was in Life in Squares (TV miniseries) and played Young Leonard Woolf. He was also in The Smoke where he played Tom. Weaver was in The Nativity, in which he played Thomas. Weaver was in Personal Affairs playing Crawford Crawford.
His theatre credits include Meshak in the Royal National Theatre's 2006-07 production of Helen Edmundson's Coram Boy.
Weaver plays fledgling Anglican curate Leonard Finch in the TV series Grantchester (since 2014), who assists the Vicar of Grantchester, Sidney Chambers, and later, Will Davenport.
Radio credits include Bach: The Great Passion, a 2017 biographical radio play by the English writer James Runcie. Weaver also presents radio shows at a pub called the Boogaloo based in north London. One is called Film And Telly Stuff, which he presents with actor Luke Neal and the other is called The Theme's Of Our Youth, which he presents with actor Jack Whitam.
In September 2017, the BBC announced he had joined the cast of the mini-series PRESS.[1]
Weaver is also known for his role as protagonist Rex in the game Xenoblade Chronicles 2, released in December 2017. He reprised the role for the character's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as well as the trailer revealing Pyra and Mythra as playable characters.
In 2019 a fourth series of Grantchester aired, with Weaver reprising his role as Leonard Finch.[2]
In 2020, Weaver starred in a choose-your-own-adventure style sci-fi thriller video game The Complex as Dr. Rees Wakefield.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Merchant of Venice | Stephano | |
| 2005 | Planespotting | Steve | Television film |
| Colour Me Kubrick | Darren | Uncredited | |
| Doom | Mark "Kid" Dantalian | ||
| 2006 | Marie Antoinette | Charles, Count of Artois | |
| Viva Blackpool | Vibe | Television film | |
| 2008 | Me and Orson Welles | Sam Leve | |
| 2009 | Unmade Beds | Kevin | |
| 2010 | Spoiler | Tom | Short film |
| Honeymooner | Jon | ||
| 2011 | Powder | Helmet | |
| 2012 | Chemistry | Johan | Short film |
| The Frontier | Ben | Television film | |
| 2013 | The Theory of Everything | Hugo John Ellis | Short film |
| Armistice | Gulf war soldier | Uncredited | |
| Things He Never Said | Paul | Short film | |
| 2015 | Kill Your Friends | Bill | |
| 2016 | Love Is Thicker Than Water | Adam Berliner | |
| 2017 | We Are Tourists | Edward | |
| The Last Photograph | Colin | ||
| 2018 | Colette | Schwob | |
| Macbeth | Banquo | ||
| Blue Iguana | Tommy Tresham | ||
| Peterloo | Magistrate Hulton | ||
| 2020 | The Complex: Lockdown | Rees Wakefield | |
| 2021 | I'm Not in Love | Rob Lloyd |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Brum | Yellow Team | Episode: "Brum the Soccer Hero" |
| 2004 | The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Billy Slaven | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Five Days | Josh Fairley | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| 2008 | The Devil's Whore | Christian | Mini-series; 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Personal Affairs | Crawford | Mini-series; 4 episodes |
| 2010 | Survivors | Kevin | 2 episodes |
| Five Daughters | Tom Alderton | Mini-series; 2 episodes | |
| Sherlock | Andy Galbraith | Episode: "The Blind Banker" | |
| The Nativity | Thomas the Apostle | Mini-series; 4 episodes | |
| 2012 | Secret State | Joss Leyton | Mini-series; 4 episodes |
| 2013 | Southcliffe | Anthony | Mini-series; 4 episodes |
| 2014 | The Smoke | Tom | Mini-series; 1 episode |
| 2014 - present | Grantchester | Leonard Finch | Series regular; 44 episodes |
| 2015 | Life in Squares | Young Leonard Woolf | Mini-series; 2 episodes |
| 2016 | The Hollow Crown | Rivers | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Press | James Edwards | Series regular; 6 episodes |
| 2019 | The Mallorca Files | Richard Webb | Episode: "Number One Fan" |
| 2022 | The Chelsea Detective | Simon Turnball | Episode: "The Wages of Sin" |
| 2024 | Miss Scarlet and the Duke | Delaware | Episode: "Elysium" |
Video games
edit| Year | Game | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Xenoblade Chronicles 2 | Rex | English version |
| 2020 | The Complex | Rees Wakefield | |
| 2021 | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Rex | English version |
| 2022 | Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? | Toby |
Theatre credits
edit| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Hamlet | Prince Hamlet | The Old Vic, London | |
| 2005 | All the Ordinary Angels | Lino Raffa | Royal Exchange, Manchester | |
| 2006 | Malvolio and His Masters | Sir Andrew Aguecheek | Southwark Playhouse, London | |
| Coram Boy | Meshak | Olivier Theatre, London | ||
| 2007 | The Waltz of the Toreadors | Gaston | Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester | |
| How to Curse | Nick | Bush Theatre, London | ||
| 2009 | Toyer | Peter | Arts Theatre, London | |
| 2010 | House of Games | Billy Hahn | Almeida Theatre, London | |
| Bea | Not Gay Ray | Soho Theatre, London | ||
| 2011 | The Seagull | Konstantin Gavrilovich Treplev | Arcola Theatre, London | |
| Inadmissible Evidence | Jones | Donmar Warehouse, London | ||
| 2013 | Rough Cuts | Royal Court Theatre, London | ||
| The Pride | Oliver | Trafalgar Theatre, London | ||
| 2018 | Moonlight | Jake | Harold Pinter Theatre, London |
References
edit- ^ "Charlotte Riley, Ben Chaplin and David Suchet lead cast of BBC's Press". IMDb. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- ^ "Grantchester series 4 confirmed – but it's set to be James Norton's last". Radio Times.