Award-winning actor David Morrissey was born June 21, 1964 in Liverpool, England. He began acting at Everyman’s Youth Theater in Liverpool and made his debut in their 1983 production, One Summer. After completing his studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he became part of the Royal Shakespeare Company for two years before moving on to the National Theater. Among his film credits are Captain Corelli’s Mandolin with Nicolas Cage, Derailed with Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen, Basic Instinct 2 with Sharon Stone and had a role alongside Hilary Swank in The Reaping. Morrissey also has his own production company, Tubedale Films. He is known to be married to Esther Freud who is the great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud, considered to be the father of psychoanalysis.
David Morrissey’s earlier works include performances in Peter Greenaway’s Drowning by Numbers in 1988 and the TV film The Widowmaker in 1990. He continued his string of made-for-TV productions at that time, being cast in The Storyteller: Greek Myths, Robin Hood, Clubland and Black and Blue. In 1992, he was given a role in the drama Waterland, starring Jeremy Irons. He later worked with Robin Williams and Robert Carlyle for the fantasy comedy Being Human. Morrissey soon got a guest role in Between the Lines and had a recurring role in The Knock. He later found himself playing the character Jim ‘Lew’ Llewlyn on Out of the Blue, before acting on the TV miniseries Our Mutual Friend. In 2000 he starred opposite Jonathan Pryce in the drama The Suicide Club. He soon landed roles in Clocking Off and State of Play, and starred alongside Michael Sheen in The Deal. Morrisey was nominated for Best Television Actor at the 2004 BAFTA awards for his portrayal in the drama serial State of Play, and found himself with Sheen receiving the award for Best Single Drama for The Deal. Morrissey later joined the cast of Blackpool before he signed on to play the bar owner Danny Brogan in the series Meadowlands. In 2007, David Morrisey played Captain Hamilton in the film The Water Horse: The Legend of the Deep, before working on 2008’s film The Other Boleyn Girl starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson.
(Photos courtesy of Showtime)