Alex Waldmann (born 1979) is an
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
actor from
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
. He is married to director Amelia Sears.
Television
In 2010, Waldmann then went on to shoot a 90-minute World War Two docu-drama 'First Light' for Lion Television. He played the role of RAF pilot
John Fraser Drummond
John Fraser Drummond, DFC (19 October 1918 – 10 October 1940) was a fighter pilot and flying ace who flew with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He was killed after his aircraft collided with another during the Battle of Britain ...
. 'First Light' was broadcast on
BBC2 in September 2010.
He then took on the guest lead role of 'Drew' in the Halloween Special of the second series of BBC comedy '
Psychoville
''Psychoville'' is a British psychological horror-thriller black comedy mystery television series created and written by and starring '' The League of Gentlemen'' members Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton for the BBC. It debuted on BBC T ...
'. It was broadcast on the BBC in October 2010.
Waldmann also starred in the BBC 2's adaptation of
Sarah Waters
Sarah Ann Waters (born 21 July 1966) is a Welsh novelist. She is best known for her novels set in Victorian society and featuring lesbian protagonists, such as '' Tipping the Velvet'' and '' Fingersmith''.
Life and education
Early life
Sa ...
' best-selling novel, 'The Night Watch', which aired in July 2011. He played Alex Jennings.
In April 2016, Waldmann starred in the Shakespeare Live event, which was screened on BBC 2 to celebrate Shakespeare 400. Here Waldmann was reunited with his ''As You Like It'' co-star,
Pippa Nixon
Pippa Nixon (born 1980) is an English actress. She trained at Manchester School of Theatre.
Nixon has had numerous roles in film and television as well as recording drama for BBC Radio, but she is best known for her critically acclaimed thea ...
. Together they performed a scene from ''As You Like It''.
Radio
Waldmann has played numerous roles on radio. In 2012 he played John Eustace in ''The Eustace Diamonds'' for BBC Radio 4 drama. He starred in the afternoon drama, ''Julie'', in 2014 playing Richard Kemp. Later in 2014 he played Lancelot in ''The Once and Future King'' On 17 May 2015, the BBC broadcast the latest of their Shakespeare dramas, Macbeth, with Waldmann in the role of ''Malcolm''.
In August 2015, Waldmann starred in the third episode of the BBC drama Series, ''The Great Scott'', a series narrated by David Tennant. The episode was called, 'The Talisman', and Waldmann played Richard.
In March 2016, the BBC Broadcast ''Three Sisters'' and Waldmann played Andrei.
Early theatre career
After completing his training at
LAMDA
LaMDA, which stands for Language Model for Dialogue Applications, is a family of conversational neural language models developed by Google. The first generation was announced during the 2021 Google I/O keynote, while the second generation was ...
, Waldmann began his career in 2004 playing the role of Leto, in ''Fishbowl'', directed by Paul Higgins, at Theatre 503. Since that time he has played a large number of roles in regional theatre.
A break through came in Waldmann's career when he landed the role of
Troilus
Troilus ( or ; grc, Τρωΐλος, Troïlos; la, Troilus) is a legendary character associated with the story of the Trojan War. The first surviving reference to him is in Homer's ''Iliad,'' composed in the late 8th century BCE.
In Greek myth ...
, in Shakespeare's play ''
Troilus and Cressida
''Troilus and Cressida'' ( or ) is a play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1602.
At Troy during the Trojan War, Troilus and Cressida begin a love affair. Cressida is forced to leave Troy to join her father in the Greek camp. Meanwh ...
'', with
Cheek by Jowl
Cheek by Jowl is an international theatre company founded in the United Kingdom by director Declan Donnellan and designer Nick Ormerod in 1981. Donnellan and Ormerod are Cheek by Jowl's artistic directors and together direct and design all of ...
, at the
Barbican in 2008, directed by
Declan Donnellan
Declan Michael Martin Donnellan (born 4 August 1953) is an English film/stage director and author. He co-founded the Cheek by Jowl theatre company with Nick Ormerod in 1981. In addition to his Cheek by Jowl productions, Donnellan has made theat ...
. The play received positive reviews, and went on to tour in Europe after finishing its run in London.
Waldmann's greatest success so far came in 2009 when he played Sebastian in ''
Twelfth Night
''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vi ...
''; a Donmar West End production at the
Wyndhams Theatre with, among others,
Derek Jacobi
Sir Derek George Jacobi (; born 22 October 1938) is an English actor. He has appeared in various stage productions of William Shakespeare such as ''Hamlet'', ''Much Ado About Nothing'', '' Macbeth'', ''Twelfth Night'', '' The Tempest'', ''Kin ...
, and directed by
Michael Grandage
Michael Grandage CBE (born 2 May 1962) is a British theatre director and producer. He is currently Artistic Director of the Michael Grandage Company. From 2002 to 2012 he was Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse in London and from 2000 ...
. It was for this role that Waldmann received an
Ian Charleson Award Commendation.
That same year, Waldmann stayed working with Donmar on his next production, playing the part of
Laertes
In Greek mythology, Laertes (; grc, Λαέρτης, Laértēs ; also spelled Laërtes) was the king of the Cephallenians, an ethnic group who lived both on the Ionian islands and on the mainland, which he presumably inherited from his father A ...
, opposite
Jude Law in
Shakespeare's
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
''
Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
''. During this production Waldmann had the opportunity to display his stage fighting skills during the lengthy sword play with Law. Reviews for the play were excellent, and the play itself gained global attention even before moving to
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
.
Next, Waldmann went on to play the part of Joe, in Shraddha, by Natasha Langridge, at the Soho Theatre. The play was directed by Artistic Director Lisa Goldman. The synopsis of this play states: "The Games spell eviction for the Romany Gypsies. 17 year-old Pearl Penfold is one of them. As the bulldozers close in, Pearl falls in love with Joe, a boy from the local estate. Can Joe prove himself to Pearl and her family before they are gone forever?"
In early 2010, Waldmann worked with
Blake Ritson
Blake Adam Ritson (born 14 January 1978) is an English actor and director.
Early life
Blake was born on 14, June, 1978 in London and attended the Dolphin School in Reading, Berkshire until 1993, before going to St Paul's School in West Londo ...
and
Bertie Carvel
Robert Hugh Carvel (born 6 September 1977) is a British actor. He has twice won a Laurence Olivier Award: for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his role as Miss Trunchbull in '' Matilda the Musical'', and for Best Actor in a Suppo ...
in Patrick Hamilton's ''Rope,'' at the
Almeida Theatre
The Almeida Theatre, opened in 1980, is a 325-seat producing house with an international reputation, which takes its name from the street on which it is located, off Upper Street, in the London Borough of Islington. The theatre produces a diver ...
in Islington, directed by Roger Michell. He played the role of Charles Granillo, one of two young men who attempt to get away with the perfect motiveless murder. This play was once made into a
movie
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
of the same name by
Alfred Hitchcock, and was said to be inspired by the real-life murder of 14-year-old
Bobby Franks in 1924 by
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chic ...
students
Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb.
In the summer of 2010, Waldmann played in 'Speechless' at the
Sherman Cymru
The Sherman Theatre ( cy, Theatr y Sherman) is a venue in the Cathays district of Cardiff. It was built as a twin-auditorium venue in 1973 with financial support from Cardiff University. Sherman Cymru was the name of the Sherman Theatre between 2 ...
in Cardiff. Prior to this the show played in Edinburgh.
Prior to this, Waldmann appeared in the role of Jonny in Ryan Craig's 'The Holy Rosenbergs' at the National Theatre.
Royal Shakespeare Company (2012-13)
Since 2012, Waldmann has taken multiple roles with the
Royal Shakespeare Company:
* King John in ''King John'' (dir Maria Åberg): In 2012, he played the title role in Maria Aberg's production of
King John. In a production that centres on a re-interpretation of the role of the Bastard (played by
Pippa Nixon
Pippa Nixon (born 1980) is an English actress. She trained at Manchester School of Theatre.
Nixon has had numerous roles in film and television as well as recording drama for BBC Radio, but she is best known for her critically acclaimed thea ...
), reviews noted that Waldmann is "engaging, clear-sighted and always watchable" with "sufficient charisma to hold his own".
* Catesby in ''Richard III'' (dir Roxana Silbert): In
Richard III, he made a "quietly effective" and "notable Catesby" played with "dogged, nervy loyalty".
* Nezahualcoyotl in A Soldier in Every Son: He also played crown prince
Nezahualcoyotl Nezahualcoyotl may refer to:
* Nezahualcoyotl (tlatoani), the ruler of Texcoco
* Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, a city in the State of Mexico
* Nezahualcóyotl metro station, in Mexico City
* The Nezahualcóyotl Award, a literary prize in Mexico
* Nezah ...
in a production of
A Soldier in Every Son, a joint production between the RSC and the
National Theatre Company of Mexico.
* Orlando in ''As You Like It'' (dir Maria Åberg): In 2013, Waldmann was re-united with Nixon and Åberg in
As You Like It, with Waldmann and Nixon being hailed as "the two most exciting actors in the company today".
Reviews noted that "even without his impressive physique, [Waldmann] has a winning way about him with a wonderful engagement with the text and captures the impetuosity and passion of this slighted young noble perfectly"
with a performance that is "engagingly nerdy" with an "electrifying" sexual frisson.
* Horatio in ''Hamlet'' (dir David Farr): In
Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
, he played Horatio, an "affable, bespectacled housemaster who wears Scandinavian sweaters" played by "the now consistently worthwhile Alex Waldmann", "putting in yet more fine work for the RSC".
* Bertram in ''All's Well That End's Well'' (dir Nancy Meckler): In the summer of 2013, Waldmann played Bertram in
All's Well That Ends Well. The production received 5 star reviews from ''The Telegraph'' and ''The Guardian''. Charles Spencer writing in ''The Telegraph'' said, "Alex Waldman mercilessly lays bare the callow insolence of the hard-drinking, charmlessly laddish Bertram". Michael Billington noted, 'As for Alex Waldmann's Bertram, he is less an irredeemable rotter than the damaged product of a laddish, battle-hungry culture: it is clear he secretly fancies Helena but is seduced even more by the thrill of danger and a world in which the French gentry are "sick for breathing and exploit".'
* Brutus in ''Julius Caesar'' (dir Angus Jackson): In 2017, Alex will play the role of Brutus in Angus Jackson's
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, ...
. The play is part of the RSC's Rome Season.
Recent theatre career
* Sam Wanamaker Playhouse opening season:
** In January 2014, Waldmann was cast as Antonio i
The Duchess of Malfiwhich was the opening production of the new Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. The production was broadcast on the BBC on 25 May 2014.
** In February and March 2014, Alex played Jasper i
The Knight of the Burning Pestle
* ''
Jonah and Otto'' at Park Theatre (dir Tim Stark): In 2014, Waldmann played Jonah in Robert Holman's ''Jonah and Otto'' at the Park Theatre which was directed by Tim Stark. What's on Stage said "Alex Waldmann captures both the strength and the weakness of Jonah, a troubled 26-year-old trying to be a good father and carting his infant daughter around with him in a trolley. It is a challenging role and Waldmann gets the balance between Jonah's vulnerability and his abrasiveness just right, making him both likeable and, at the same time, repulsive.". The Evening Standard said "Waldmann's Jonah is a beguiling mix of mischief and shyness." Lynn Gardner in The Guardian praised Waldmann's performance stating, "Alex Waldmann is terrific, too, as the angelic and devilish Jonah, capturing the desolation that lurks behind the unnerving facade of alternating charm and aggression."
* ''Widowers' Houses'' Orange Tree Theatre (dir Paul Miller): In December 2014, Waldmann starred in the Orange's Tree production of ''Widowers' Houses'' Waldmann played the doctor, Harry Trench. Dominic Cavendish commented that "Alex Waldmann exudes bluff, wide-eyed likeability as Harry Trench, the young gentleman who falls for Sartorius's daughter only to (briefly) recoil on learning of this self-made man's insalubrious source of income, but his dawning cynicism needs to come at more evident personal cost." Michael Billington felt that there was "There is lively support from Alex Waldmann as the culpably naive Trench". Paul Taylor in the Independent described Waldmann as "excellent". and Sarah Hemming in ''The Financial Times'' felt, "Alex Waldmann's touchingly impulsive Trench blithely flouts convention to the despair of Cokane."
* ''King John'' Shakespeare's Globe (dir James Dacre)
* Temple Church, London: Waldmann is now playing the Bastard in the Globe's production of ''King John''. Michael Coveney on ''What's On Stage'' comments that he thought. "Waldman,
ictoo, transforms the character's villainy into comic and appealing complexity." Sam Marlow in ''The Times'' was also very positive about the production and gave it 4 stars. Marlowe observed that, "Alex Waldmann, as the Bastard, Lionheart's illegitimate son, supplies both swashbuckling swagger and sardonic commentary." ''The Express'' gave the production five stars and commenting on Alex's role, said, "The key player here is the common man Faulconbridge, the bastard son of Richard the Lionheart and a kind of proto Bolingbroke, fearless, tribal and a bit of a bruiser with a native intelligence."
* Holy Sepulchre Church, Northampton: Reviews for Waldmann's performance at
The Holy Sepulchre, Northampton
The Holy Sepulchre is a Norman round church in Sheep Street, Northampton, England. It is a Grade I listed building. Dating from circa 1100, it was possibly built by Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northampton.
There are four medieval round churches st ...
were very positive from both the local and national Press. There was praise for Alex's performance from the ''Northampton Herald and Post''. "The whole cast is strong with Alex Waldman
icas The Bastard witlessly brimming with lionhearted courage particularly eyecatching." ''The Stage Review'' gave the production five stars, saying, "Waldmann excels as the hot-headed bastard heir who acts as narrator and rabble-rouser. When not talking to the audience, he blasts John with rhetoric in a hopeless attempt to give the king some backbone." ''The Stage'' gave the production five stars saying, "Alex Waldmann excels as the Bastard, but his comic ability and the intimacy of his dialogue to individual members of the audience shows a touch of genius." Lyn Gardner in ''The Guardian'' saw Waldmann demonstrating his ability to play future roles. She said, "Alex Waldmann, clearly limbering up for an assault on Richard III – just as many believe Shakespeare was himself doing with this play – is entertaining as the Bastard."
* Shakespeare's Globe:. After playing for four nights at Salisbury Cathedral, King John moved on to play at the Globe until 27 June 2015. The ''Exeunt Magazine'' said, '
..the show belongs to Alex Waldmann as The Bastard
.., and continues 'Waldmann's smiling unpolished Bastard nevertheless develops a similar easy complicit relationship with the audience.' ''Time Out'' said, "Alex Waldmann's charismatic The Bastard works the audience nicely
"
* Wars of the Roses, Rose Theatre (dir Trevor Nunn): Waldmann played Henry VI in Trevor Nunn's Wars of the Roses which was staged at the Rose Theatre, and finished on 31 October 2015. Waldmann received enormously positive reviews for his portrayal of Henry VI. Henry Hitching writing in ''The Evening Standard'' said, "The undoubted star is Alex Waldmann as Henry VI. At first he seems absurdly childlike, fidgety and uncertain. As he develops into a passive and politically limp monarch, Waldmann delicately conveys his mix of fecklessness and saintly idealism, contrasting strikingly with the steely, dominant Joely Richardson as his queen, Margaret of Anjou." Alex Ramon writing in the ''Reviews Hub'' was equally full of praise for Waldmann's performance saying, "Alex Waldmann is a sensational King Henry, growing and deepening from innocent youth to a kind of piousness that seems indistinguishable from deep inner strength. Buffeted so much by fortune, his Henry finally seems to be able to accept both victory and defeat with equal equanimity, even, in a startling final moment of forgiveness, tenderly kissing his murderer."
* In the Night Time (Before the Sun Rises) at the Gate Theatre (dir Ben Kidd): Waldmann was cast as the man in The Gate Theatre's ''In the Night Time (Before the Sun Rises) by Nina Segal '' The production closed on Saturday 27 February 2016. Waldmann received very positive reviews for his performance. For example, ''The Stage'' described the production as "Witty, bold and confrontational debut play which is as smart and funny as it is provocative."
* All My Sons, Rose Theatre (dir Michael Rudman): Alex is starred as Chris Keller in Michael Rudman's production of All My Sons at the Rose Theatre, Kingston-On-Thames.
Royal Shakespeare Company 2017
Waldmann was cast as Brutus in ''Julius Caesar'' for the Royal Shakespeare Company 2017 Roman season. Michael Billington said, "Alex Waldmann portrays Brutus as a troubled neurotic who masks his uncertainty by making a series of wrong-headed decisions: my abiding image is of him sitting alone, after the conspirators have departed, trembling with fear at the task ahead."
References
External sources
IMDB.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waldmann, Alex
Living people
1979 births
English male television actors
English male stage actors
English male radio actors