Hugh William Skinner (born 6 January 1985) is an English actor. He is best known for starring in sitcoms W1A (2014–2017) and The Windsors (2016–present), and his appearances in musical films Les Misérables (2012) and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018).

Hugh Skinner
Skinner in 2018
Born
Hugh William Skinner

(1985-01-06) 6 January 1985 (age 39)
London, England
Alma materLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Years active2007–present

Early life

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Skinner grew up in London and Tunbridge Wells,[1] and attended Eastbourne College from 1998 to 2003.[2] He lived in Perth, Australia, for a year at age four.[3] He graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2006.[4]

Career

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Early work (2007–2015)

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Skinner's first professional acting role was in the English Touring Theatre's 2007 production of French Without Tears.[1] In addition to his work on stage, he played supporting roles in the BBC series Tess of the D'Urbervilles as Felix Clare in 2008,[5] and Any Human Heart as Lionel in 2010.[6] He also played the role of Joly, one of the student revolutionaries, in the 2012 film of Les Misérables.[4]

In the autumn of 2013, Skinner played the role of Luis Carruthers, a closeted gay man who is in love with the show's protagonist, Patrick Bateman, in the world premiere of American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre.[7] He also appeared on the London cast album, which was released in 2016. While performing in American Psycho, he began filming the first series of the comedy W1A, playing the role of Will Humphries, an inept yet endearing intern at the BBC.[4] The first series was released in 2014, with subsequent series airing on BBC2 in 2015 and 2017.

Skinner played the role of Dr. Barnaby Ford in the BBC series Our Zoo. He also appeared at the Theatre Royal, Bath as Camille in Helen Edmundson's adaptation of Thérèse Raquin,[8] and as Yepikhodov in Simon Stephens' new translation of The Cherry Orchard at the Young Vic.[9] He returned to the Young Vic in the summer of 2015 to play dual roles in Nick Gill's adaptation of The Trial.[10] In the autumn of 2015, it was announced that he had been cast as Unwin Trevaunance, an aspiring Member of Parliament, in the second series of the BBC production of Poldark, which aired in 2016.[11]

Breakthrough (2016–present)

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Skinner starred in The Windsors, a spoof of the British royal family, as Prince William which aired on Channel 4 in 2016.[12] The same year, he had a role in Fleabag, a BBC3 and Amazon production, where he played the protagonist's hapless boyfriend Harry.[13] The following year, he played Sir George Howard in the first series of Harlots, an 18th-century costume drama that premiered on ITV Encore and Hulu in March.[14] Also in 2017, he played a supporting role in Hampstead opposite Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson,[15] and appeared in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.[16]

Skinner co-starred in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, the 2018 sequel to the 2008 film Mamma Mia!, in which he played Young Harry, a version of the character originated by Colin Firth in the first film.[17] In 2018 he also starred in the eighth and final episode of Matthew Weiner's anthology series The Romanoffs, playing the role of Simon Burrows.[18]

He reprised his role as Harry in series 2 of Fleabag, which was released on BBC3 in March 2019 and was released on Amazon Prime in May 2019.[19] On 5 April 2019, it was announced that Skinner had joined the cast of the period drama Little Birds, which premiered on Sky Atlantic in August 2020.[20] In December 2019, it was announced that he would be co-starring in the film Falling for Figaro with Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley.[21] In September 2021, he featured in the Radiohead music video for the song "If You Say the Word".[22]

Personal life

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Skinner is gay.[23] He commented on his sexuality in 2018: "I feel like if I talk about being gay I have to say something and I don't know what to say other than that just is my life and I haven't got anything very interesting to say about it. It just is".[24]

Skinner is good friends with his W1A co-star Jonathan Bailey.[25]

Acting credits

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Film

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Year Title Role Ref
2008 Day of the Dead Kyle
2012 Les Misérables Joly [4]
2015 Kill Your Friends John
2017 Hampstead Erik [15]
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Geno Namit [16]
2018 Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Young Harry [17]
2019 Steven Berkoff's Tell Tale Heart Sunny [26]
2021 Falling for Figaro Max
2022 The Invitation Oliver Alexander [27]
2023 Wicked Little Letters Constable Papperwick [28]
TBA Real Love (Yes, It's Real Love!) Newman [29]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2007 Bonkers Daniel Episode 6
2008 Tess of the D'Urbervilles Felix Clare Miniseries; 4 episodes [5]
2010 Any Human Heart Lionel Mountstuart Miniseries; 2 episodes [6]
2011 Law & Order: UK Ian Naylor Episode: "The Wrong Man"
2013 The Wipers Times Barnes Television film [30]
2014 Our Zoo Dr. Barnaby Ford Miniseries; 4 episodes [31]
2014–2017 W1A Will Humphries Main role; 15 episodes [4]
2015 Bugsplat! James Television film [32]
2016 Poldark Unwin Trevaunance Series 2; 5 episodes [33]
2016–2019 Fleabag Harry Main role; 12 episodes [34]
2016–present The Windsors Wills Main role [12]
2017–2018 Harlots Sir George Howard Main role (series 1); guest star (series 2) [14]
2018 The Romanoffs Simon Burrows Episode 8: "The One That Holds Everything" [18]
Zog Zog Television film; voice [35]
2020 Little Birds Hugo Cavendish-Smyth Main role; 6 episodes
Zog and the Flying Doctors Zog Television film; voice [36]
2023 The Witcher Prince Radovid Series 3 [37]
Partygate Josh Fitzmaurice Television docudrama [38]

Theatre

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Year Title Role Director Venue Notes Ref
2007 French Without Tears Kit Paul Miller English Touring Theatre [39]
Senora Carrar's Rifles Jose Paul Hunter Young Vic [40]
The Enchantment Viggo Paul Miller Royal National Theatre [41]
2008 Angry Young Man D Ben Woolf West End; Trafalgar Studios [42]
2009 The Great Game Ensemble Nicolas Kent & Indhu Rubasingham Tricycle theatre [43]
suddenlossofdignity.com Various Josie Rourke Bush Theatre [44][45]
2 May 1997 Ian George Perrin [46][47]
2010 'Tis Pity She's a Whore Giovanni Chris Meads Liverpool Everyman [48]
2011 Where's My Seat Conor Tamara Harvey Bush Theatre [49]
You Can't Take It With You Tony Paul Hunter Manchester Royal Exchange [50]
2012 Wild Oats Harry Mark Rosenblatt & Catherine Alexander Bristol Old Vic [51]
2013 Pastoral Manz Steve Marmionn Soho Theatre [52]
2013-2014 American Psycho Luis Rupert Goold Almeida Theatre [53]
2014 Thérèse Raquin Camille Jonathan Munby Theatre Royal, Bath [8]
The Cherry Orchard Yephidikhov Kate Mitchell Young Vic [9]
2015 The Trial Kyle/Block Richard Jones [10]
2024-5 The Importance of being Earnest Jack Worthing Max Webster Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre, London

Music videos

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Year Title Artist Notes
2021 If You Say the Word Radiohead

Audio dramas

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Year Title Role Notes
2019 Torchwood: Monthly Range Sebastian Vaughn Episode: "The Vigil"
2022 The Lone Centurion Sir Lancelot 3 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b "20 Questions: Hugh Skinner". WhatsOnStage.com. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Hugh Skinner (Pennell 1998–2003) appears in new series of Poldark". Eastbournian Society. 5 September 2016. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Mamma Mia! 2 Exclusive: Jeremy Irvine, Hugh Skinner & Josh Dylan". Studio 10. 18 July 2018. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2018 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ a b c d e Fishwick, Samuel (16 April 2015). "Why W1A's Ophelia Lovibond and Hugh Skinner are fronting the next generation of British talent". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Tess of the D'Urbervilles press pack: cast and crew". BBC Press Office. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  6. ^ a b Fox, Killian (21 November 2010). "Meet the rising stars of Any Human Heart". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  7. ^ "'Doctor Who' star Matt Smith for 'American Psycho' musical". Digital Spy. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  8. ^ a b Billington, Michael (8 August 2014). "Thérèse Raquin review – Pippa Nixon seems destined for stardom". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  9. ^ a b "The Cherry Orchard". Young Vic. 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  10. ^ a b "The Trial". Young Vic. 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Filming under way for Poldark series two". BBC Media Centre. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  12. ^ a b Taylor, Frances (24 December 2016). "Meet the cast of Channel 4's The Windsors". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag coming to BBC Three". BBC Media Centre. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  14. ^ a b Bley Griffiths, Eleanor (18 May 2017). "Meet the cast of Harlots". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  15. ^ a b Cranswick, Amie (5 March 2017). "First trailer for Hampstead starring Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson". Flickering Myth. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  16. ^ a b "All the amazing cameos in Star Wars: The Last Jedi". Radio Times. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Principal Photography Begins for Film Sequel to Mamma Mia". Playbill. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  18. ^ a b "'The Romanoffs': Amazon Sets Premiere Date, Unveils Teaser For Matt Weiner Series". Deadline Hollywood. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  19. ^ "BBC Three's Fleabag series two cast announced as filming commences". BBC Media Centre. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  20. ^ "Hugh Skinner, Rossy De Palma, Nina Sosanya and Jean-Marc Barr join the cast of Little Birds as filming commences on the Sky original production". Sky Group. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  21. ^ "Hugh Skinner, Shazad Latif, Rebecca Benson board UK comedy 'Falling For Figaro' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  22. ^ "Radiohead - If You Say The Word". 21 September 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ Strick, Katie (28 July 2020). "Hugh Skinner: All the Little Bird characters are outside social norms". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  24. ^ Steafel, Eleanor (21 December 2018). "Hugh Skinner on Phoebe Waller-Bridge, playing posh Britons and shaking off imposter syndrome". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  25. ^ Wise, Louis. "Jonathan Bailey: brilliant from top to bottom". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Steven Berkoff's Tell Tale Heart". Parkland Pictures. 2017. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  27. ^ "Nathalie Emmanuel Regrets Meeting The Family In The Invitation Trailer". Empire. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  28. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (29 September 2022). "Olivia Colman & Jessie Buckley Underway On Wicked Little Letters; Anjana Vasan, Timothy Spall, Joanna Scanlan, Malachi Kirby Among Cast To Join". Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Real Love (Yes, It's Real Love!) Working Title". Film Hub Wales | Canolfan Ffilm Cymru. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  30. ^ Hughes, Sara (12 September 2013). "TV review: The Wipers Times, BBC2 – A bit like Blackadder, only true". The Independent. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  31. ^ "Our Zoo, Episode 3". BBC One. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  32. ^ Hogan, Michael (6 May 2015). "Bugsplat!, Channel 4, review: 'current'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  33. ^ "Filming under way for Poldark series two". BBC Media Centre. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  34. ^ "Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag coming to BBC Three". BBC Media Centre. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  35. ^ Brown, Helen (25 December 2018). "Zog, review: a hypnotising, inspiring tale for all the family". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  36. ^ "Zog and the Flying Doctors". BBC. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  37. ^ Hibberd, James (14 April 2022). "'The Witcher' Casts 4 Actors in Season 3 Roles, Including Hugh Skinner". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  38. ^ "Charlotte Ritchie and Hugh Skinner star in Channel 4's 'Partygate'!". Sue Terry Voices. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  39. ^ "French Without Tears (2007) – cast". English Touring Theatre. 2007. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  40. ^ Berkowitz, Gerald (25 April 2007). "The Big Brecht Fest II: How Much Is Your Iron? and Senora Carrar's Rifles review at Young Vic". The Stage. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  41. ^ Billington, Michael (2 August 2007). "Theatre review: The Enchantment / Cottesloe, London". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  42. ^ Cavendish, Dominic (21 January 2008). "On the road: Angry Young Man, Metamorphosis and Purgatorio". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  43. ^ Clapp, Susannah (26 April 2009). "Theatre review: The Great Game / Tricycle, London". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  44. ^ "suddenlossofdignity.com". Bush Theatre. 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  45. ^ Coveney, Michael (5 August 2009). "suddenlossofdignity.com, Bush Theatre, London". The Independent. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  46. ^ "2ND MAY 1997 by Jack Thorne". Bush Theatre. 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  47. ^ Billington, Michael (15 September 2009). "2nd May 1997". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  48. ^ "'Tis Pity She's a Whore (Liverpool)". WhatsOnStage.com. 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  49. ^ "Where's my Seat?". Bush Theatre. 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  50. ^ Gardner, Lyn (15 December 2011). "You Can't Take It With You – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  51. ^ "Wild Oats". Bristol Old Vic. 2012. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  52. ^ "Pastoral". Soho Theatre. 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  53. ^ "American Psycho – Cast". Headlong. 2013. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
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