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Jeremy Irons

Acting Born Sep 19, 1948 Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, UK 223 credits

Biography

Jeremy John Irons, born 19 September 1948 in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, England, is an English actor and activist. He received classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School before beginning his professional stage career in 1969. Irons has performed extensively in West End productions, notably in Shakespearean works such as The Winter’s Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew and Richard II. He achieved international recognition with his television breakthrough as Charles Ryder in the ITV adaptation Brideshead Revisited (1981). In addition to acting, he is noted for his activist engagements.

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Career

Career overview

Jeremy Irons began his professional acting work on the London stage in 1969 after completing classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He quickly became a regular presence in West End productions, appearing in a series of Shakespearean revivals that included The Winter’s Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew and Richard II. These early roles established his reputation for delivering nuanced performances in classical repertoire. His first major television exposure arrived with the 1981 ITV miniseries Brideshead Revisited, in which he portrayed Charles Ryder. The series has since been frequently cited among the greatest British television dramas and celebrated literary adaptations, cementing Irons’s status as a leading actor on the small screen. In 1984 Irons expanded his career to the United States with a Broadway debut in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing. His portrayal earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, marking a significant milestone in his transatlantic work. Across film, television and stage, Irons has accumulated more than two hundred credited performances, reflecting a versatile and enduring presence in the performing arts.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

The Beekeeper 2
The Crystal PlanetLast MoviesDracula's Hidden KingdomWhat is dyslexia?
The Count of Monte CristoPalestine 36The Lion King at the Hollywood BowlMara: RebirthThis Ordinary Thing
The BeekeeperQuintessentially IrishThe Immortals: The Wonder of the Museo EgizioAlec Guinness: A Class Act
The FlashOnce Upon a StudioTom Hanks: The NomadLiv Ullmann: A Road Less TravelledThe Cello
The PentaverateUltimate Enemies: RevealedEternal Enemies: RevealedLiving With Big Cats: RevealedRelentless Enemies: Revealed
Zack Snyder's Justice LeagueHouse of GucciNapoleon: In the Name of ArtMunich - The Edge of WarNepal Beyond · Executive Producer
Love, Weddings & Other DisastersJade Eyed Leopard
The Morning ShowWatchmenThe Prado Museum: A Collection of Wonders
Red SparrowBetter Start RunningBetter Start Running · Executive ProducerAn Actor Prepares
Justice LeagueBirds Like UsTheir Finest
Batman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeAssassin's CreedThe Man Who Knew InfinityRaceDC Films Presents Dawn of the Justice League
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse TysonHigh-RiseMetropolisEmotional UncertaintiesEmotional Uncertainties · Thanks
Late Night with Seth MeyersEndless CorridorThe Voysey Inheritance
Beautiful CreaturesNight Train to LisbonMuse of FireGame of LionsGoodbye Granadaland
The Hollow CrownThe WordsTrashedRacing LegendsShakespeare Uncovered
The BorgiasMargin CallProhibitionThe Last Lions
The Majestic Plastic BagHarold Pinter: A Celebration
The Pink Panther 2Waking Sleeping BeautyGeorgia O'KeeffeThe ChronoscopeThe Power of the Powerless
The Colour of MagicAppaloosaThe Color of Magic - Die Reise des Zauberers Teil 1The Color of Magic - Die Reise des Zauberers Teil 2Eden at the End of the World
Lynch 2J.M.W. Turner: A National Gallery of Art Film Presentation
EragonInland EmpireThe Path to RedemptionEye of the LeopardRelentless Enemies: Lions and Buffalo
The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonKingdom of HeavenCasanovaElizabeth IGallipoli
Who Do You Think You Are?The Merchant of VeniceBeing Julia
Working ShakespeareCheck the Gate: Putting Beckett on FilmBroadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were ThereUltimate Enemies: Elephants and LionsKingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites
The Time MachineHeart of the FestivalLast CallOhio ImpromptuCallas Forever
The Fourth AngelThe Short Life of Anne FrankThe Making of "Dungeons and Dragons"
Dungeons & DragonsLongitudeLongitude
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitFaeries
The Man in the Iron MaskThe Lolita Story

Full filmography

  • The Beekeeper 2 (2027) as Wallace Westwyld
  • The Crystal Planet (2026) as Governor Mordokan (voice)
  • Last Movies (2026) as Self - Narrator
  • Dracula's Hidden Kingdom (2026) as Self - Narrator
  • What is dyslexia? (2026) as The Inventor
  • The Count of Monte Cristo (2025) as Abbé Faria
  • Palestine 36 (2025) as High Commissioner Wauchope
  • The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl (2025) as Self
  • Mara: Rebirth (2025) as Narrator (voice)
  • This Ordinary Thing (2025) as Self (voice)
  • The Beekeeper (2024) as Wallace Westwyld
  • Quintessentially Irish (2024) as Self
  • The Immortals: The Wonder of the Museo Egizio (2024)
  • Alec Guinness: A Class Act (2024) as self
  • The Flash (2023) as Alfred Pennyworth
  • Once Upon a Studio (2023) as Scar (voice)
  • Tom Hanks: The Nomad (2023) as Self (archive footage)
  • Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled (2023) as Self
  • The Cello (2023) as Francesco
  • Making The Flash: Worlds Collide (2023) as Self - 'Alfred'
  • Making The Flash: Worlds Collide (2023) Thanks
  • Codice Carla (2023) as Self
  • Seeing Through the Mists of Oblivion (2023) as Traveller (archived audio)
  • The Pentaverate (2022) as Jeremy Irons
  • Ultimate Enemies: Revealed (2022) as Narrator (voice)
  • Eternal Enemies: Revealed (2022) as Narrator (voice)
  • Living With Big Cats: Revealed (2022) as Narrator
  • Relentless Enemies: Revealed (2022) as Narrator (voice)
  • Franco Zeffirelli: Rebel Conformist (2022) as Self
  • Eye of the Leopard: Revealed (2022) as Narrator (voice)
  • The Way of the Cheetah (2022) as Narrator (voice)
  • Prisoners of Our Own History: The First Four Films of Roland Joffé (2022) as Self (archive footage)
  • Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) as Alfred
  • House of Gucci (2021) as Rodolfo Gucci
  • Napoleon: In the Name of Art (2021)
  • Munich - The Edge of War (2021) as Neville Chamberlain
  • Nepal Beyond (2021) Executive Producer
  • Architects of Ancient Arabia (2021) as Narrator
  • Marina Cicogna - La vita e tutto il resto (2021) as Self
  • Armin Mueller-Stahl - Ein Gaukler in Hollywood (2021) as Self
  • Love, Weddings & Other Disasters (2020) as Lawrence Philips
  • Jade Eyed Leopard (2020) as Narrator (voice)
  • The Morning Show (2019) as Martin Levy
  • Watchmen (2019) as Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias
  • The Prado Museum: A Collection of Wonders (2019) as Self - Host / Narrator (voice)
  • Red Sparrow (2018) as Vladimir Korchnoi
  • Better Start Running (2018) as Garrison
  • Better Start Running (2018) Executive Producer
  • An Actor Prepares (2018) as Atticus
  • Justice League (2017) as Alfred
  • Birds Like Us (2017) as Mi (voice)
  • Their Finest (2017) as Secretary of War
  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) as Alfred
  • Assassin's Creed (2016) as Alan Rikkin
  • The Man Who Knew Infinity (2016) as G. H. Hardy
  • Race (2016) as Avery Brundage
  • DC Films Presents Dawn of the Justice League (2016)
  • Correspondence (2016) as Ed Phoerum
  • I Wish For You (2016) as Grandfather
  • The Sultan and the Saint (2016) as Narrator
  • StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson (2015) as Self
  • High-Rise (2015) as Anthony Royal
  • Metropolis (2015)
  • Emotional Uncertainties (2015) as Self
  • Emotional Uncertainties (2015) Thanks
  • The Genius of George Boole (2015) as Narrator (voice)
  • Earthquake On Everest (2015) as Narrator (voice)
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
  • Endless Corridor (2014) as Narrator
  • The Voysey Inheritance (2014) as Edward Voysey
  • Beautiful Creatures (2013) as Macon Ravenwood
  • Night Train to Lisbon (2013) as Raimund
  • Muse of Fire (2013) as Self
  • Game of Lions (2013) as Narrator (voice)
  • Goodbye Granadaland (2013) as Self
  • The Wind Gods (2013) as Narrator (voice)
  • The Sunflower Superjam 2012 (2013) as Self
  • The Hollow Crown (2012) as Henry IV
  • The Words (2012) as The Old Man
  • Trashed (2012) as Himself
  • Racing Legends (2012) as Self
  • Shakespeare Uncovered (2012) as Himself
  • Seeds of Freedom (2012) as Narator
  • Another Way Home (2012) as Narrator
  • The Borgias (2011) as Rodrigo Borgia
  • Margin Call (2011) as John Tuld
  • Prohibition (2011) as Reader (voice)
  • The Last Lions (2011) as Narrator
  • The Majestic Plastic Bag (2010) as Narrator
  • Harold Pinter: A Celebration (2010) as Self
  • The Pink Panther 2 (2009) as Avellaneda
  • Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009) as Self (archive footage)
  • Georgia O'Keeffe (2009) as Alfred Stieglitz
  • The Chronoscope (2009) as Narrator
  • The Power of the Powerless (2009)
  • The Colour of Magic (2008) as Patrician
  • Appaloosa (2008) as Randall Bragg
  • The Color of Magic - Die Reise des Zauberers Teil 1 (2008) as Patrician
  • The Color of Magic - Die Reise des Zauberers Teil 2 (2008) as Patrician
  • Eden at the End of the World (2008) as Narrator
  • 1984 (2008) as Television Voice
  • Magic in the air, Bantry House Music (2008) as Festival audience member
  • Lynch 2 (2007) as Self
  • J.M.W. Turner: A National Gallery of Art Film Presentation (2007) as Narrator
  • Eragon (2006) as Brom
  • Inland Empire (2006) as Kingsley Stewart
  • The Path to Redemption (2006) as Self
  • Eye of the Leopard (2006) as Narrator
  • Relentless Enemies: Lions and Buffalo (2006) as Narrator (voice)
  • The Secret Policeman's Ball: The Ball in the Hall (2006) as Self
  • Mathilde (2006) as Col. De Petris
  • The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
  • Kingdom of Heaven (2005) as Tiberias
  • Casanova (2005) as Pucci
  • Elizabeth I (2005) as Earl of Leicester
  • Gallipoli (2005) as Narrator
  • The Merchant of Venice (2005) as Himself
  • Fiat Croma (2005) as Lead
  • Revisiting Brideshead (2005) as Self
  • Who Do You Think You Are? (2004) as Self
  • The Merchant of Venice (2004) as Antonio
  • Being Julia (2004) as Michael Gosselyn
  • Working Shakespeare (2003) as Host
  • Check the Gate: Putting Beckett on Film (2003) as Self - Reader / Self - Listener ("Ohio Impromptu")
  • Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003) as Self
  • Ultimate Enemies: Elephants and Lions (2003) as Narrator (voice)
  • Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites (2003) as Readings (Voice)
  • The Hittites: A Civilization that Changed the World (2003) as Narrator
  • The Time Machine (2002) as Über-Morlock
  • Heart of the Festival (2002) as Self (archive footage)
  • Last Call (2002) as F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • Ohio Impromptu (2002) as Reader / Listener
  • Callas Forever (2002) as Larry Kelly
  • And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen... (2002) as Valentin Valentin
  • The Fourth Angel (2001) as Jack Elgin
  • The Short Life of Anne Frank (2001) as Narrator (English version)
  • The Making of "Dungeons and Dragons" (2001) as Self
  • Dungeons & Dragons (2000) as Profion
  • Longitude (2000) as Rupert Gould
  • Longitude (2000) as Rupert Gould
  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Dr. Cap Jackson
  • Faeries (1999) as The Shapeshifter (voice)
  • The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) as Aramis
  • The Lolita Story (1998) as Himself
  • The View (1997) as Self
  • Lolita (1997) as Humbert Humbert
  • Chinese Box (1997) as John
  • Stealing Beauty (1996) as Alex Parrish
  • E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
  • Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995) as Simon
  • A Night to Die For (1995) as Self
  • The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) as Self
  • The Lion King (1994) as Scar (voice)
  • Brisant (1994) as Self
  • Inside the Actors Studio (1994) as Self
  • The Making of the Lion King (1994) as Self
  • Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! (1994) as Self (archive footage)
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
  • The House of the Spirits (1993) as Esteban Trueba
  • M. Butterfly (1993) as René Gallimard
  • Damage (1992) as Dr. Stephen Fleming
  • HBO First Look (1992)
  • Blast 'Em (1992) as Self (uncredited)
  • Earth and the American Dream (1992) as Reader (voice)
  • Tales from Hollywood (1992) as Odon Von Horvath
  • Waterland (1992) as Tom Crick
  • From Time to Time (1992) as H.G. Wells
  • Performance (1991) as Odon Von Horvath
  • Kafka (1991) as Kafka
  • 'Still Life' at the Penguin Cafe (1991) as Narrator
  • The Beggar's Opera (1991) as Prisoner
  • The Civil War (1990) as Various (voice)
  • Reversal of Fortune (1990) as Claus von Bülow
  • Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly! (1990) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Simpsons (1989) as Bar Rag (voice)
  • Danny the Champion of the World (1989) as William Smith
  • A Chorus of Disapproval (1989) as Guy Jones
  • Australia (1989) as Edouard Pierson
  • Danny and the Dirty Dog: The Making of 'Roald Dahl's Danny the Champion of the World' (1989) as Narrator
  • The Dream (1989)
  • Comic Relief (1988)
  • Dead Ringers (1988) as Beverly Mantle / Elliot Mantle
  • Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie (1988) as Self
  • The Making of Dead Ringers (1988) as Self - Actor
  • Daytime Live (1987)
  • The Mission (1986) as Father Gabriel
  • Rabbit Ears - The Steadfast Tin Soldier (1986) as Narrator (voice)
  • Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary (1986) as Self
  • Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
  • The Statue of Liberty (1985) as Self (voice)
  • Swann in Love (1984) as Charles Swann
  • The Wild Duck (1984) as Harold
  • Betrayal (1983) as Jerry
  • The Captain's Doll (1983) as Captain Alexander Hepburn
  • Nature (1982) as Narrator
  • American Playhouse (1982) as Ödön von Horváth
  • Moonlighting (1982) as Nowak
  • Wetten, dass..? (1981) as Self
  • Brideshead Revisited (1981) as Charles Ryder
  • The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) as Charles Henry Smithson / Mike
  • Nijinsky (1980) as Mikhail Fokine
  • Langrishe, Go Down (1978) as Otto Beck
  • BBC2 Play of the Week (1977) as Otto Beck
  • Love for Lydia (1977) as Alex Sanderson
  • Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
  • The Pallisers (1974) as Frank Tregear
  • Churchill's People (1974) as Samuel Ross
  • Notorious Woman (1974) as Franz Liszt
  • Great Performances (1971) as Self
  • Film '72 (1971) as Self
  • The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971) as Nephew
  • BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Edward Voysey
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
  • Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Host
  • The Oscars (1953) as Self
  • Highlander
  • Encore as Nigel
  • Broadway: The Next Generation as Self
  • RSC Meets USA: Working Shakespeare as Self (Host)
  • Rihana as Julian Miles
  • The Well of Saint Nobody as William
  • Water People: The Story of Us as The Ocean (voice)
  • A Magnificent Death from a Shattered Hand