Stephen Campbell Moore (born Stephen Moore Thorpe; 1978 or 1979) is a British actor. He is best known for his roles in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys and the film based on it. He has starred in several TV series, including War of the Worlds (2019–2021).
Early life and education Stephen Campbell Moore was born in 1978 or 1979 in London as Stephen Moore Thorpe.
He was educated at Berkhamsted School in Hertfordshire and trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, alongside Orlando Bloom, where he was awarded the gold medal in his final year. Career Campbell Moore made his screen debut in Stephen Fry's Bright Young Things. On stage he has performed with the RSC and the Royal National Theatre.
He created the role of Irwin in the original West End stage production of Alan Bennett's play The History Boys, and also played the character in the Broadway, Sydney, Wellington, and Hong Kong productions, and in the film version of the play. Bennett, participating in a Q&A with the play's director, Nicholas Hytner, said: "I think, of the three teachers, Stephen Campbell Moore, who plays Irwin, has the hardest job because he doesn't have the audience's sympathy until two-thirds of the way through the second act. Both Hector and Mrs Lintott have the audience on their side whereas he – who is teaching and getting results, which, in the ordinary way, parents would approve of – is not thought to be sympathetic until he reveals himself as quite vulnerable. That came as a surprise to me when I saw it rehearsed. In a sense, it takes the actors to show you what you've written". Reviewing the play for The Guardian in May 2004, Michael Billington wrote: "Stephen Campbell Moore makes Irwin both meretricious in his methods, yet effective in his results".
In 2004, he starred as Lord Darlington alongside Scarlett Johansson in A Good Woman, based on Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde, shot on location in Italy. In the same year, Campbell Moore played the part of Hugh Stanbury in Andrew Davies' BBC adaptation of Anthony Trollope's novel He Knew He Was Right.
In 2005, he starred as Edward VIII alongside Joely Richardson as Wallis Simpson in the British television drama Wallis & Edward. In 2008, he appeared in one episode of the television series Lark Rise to Candleford as headteacher James Delafield, featuring alongside star Julia Sawalha, and had a regular role in the BBC series Ashes to Ashes. He worked on the ABC miniseries Ben-Hur in 2009, and appeared in the 2011 film Season of the Witch. In 2012, he starred as Titus in Jean Racine's Berenice, alongside Anne-Marie Duff in the title role, at the Donmar Warehouse in London.
Campbell Moore played the role of Viscount Hugh Trimingham in the BBC's 2015 adaptation of L. P. Hartley's novel The Go-Between.
The same year, he played the role of Maurice Wilkins in Anna Ziegler's play Photograph 51, with Michael Billington writing: "The play is also anything but a one-person show. Stephen Campbell Moore catches perfectly the obduracy and awkwardness of Maurice Wilkins, forever tugging at his slightly too-long sleeves".
In 2017, he stayed in the cast of the BBC series The Last Post despite learning shortly before the start of filming that he required surgery for a brain tumour.
An August 2018 announcement indicated that Campbell Moore would be among the new cast to join the original actors in the feature film Downton Abbey, which started principal photography at about the same time.Imelda Staunton, Geraldine James Join 'Downton Abbey' Movie
Recognition and awards Campbell Moore was nominated for a 2006 Drama Desk Award for his work on the Broadway production of The History Boys.
Personal life Campbell Moore underwent surgery to remove brain tumours in 2012 and 2017.
He married actress Claire Foy in 2014,Radio Times, 29 January 2015, p.16 having met while working together on the film Season of the Witch. They have a daughter together. In February 2018, Foy confirmed that the couple had separated.
In 2017, he met actress Sophie Cookson on the set of Red Joan; they reportedly began dating in November 2018. They have one child together.
Credits Theatre Year Title Role Venue 2004–2006 The History Boys Irwin Lyttelton Theatre, Royal National Theatre, South Bank (2004–5)Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (2006)St. James Theatre, Wellington (2006)Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney (2006)Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway (2006) 2010 All My Sons Chris Keller Apollo Theatre, West End, London 2011 Clybourne ParkClybourne Park in the West End http://www.clybournepark.co.uk/ Wyndham's Theatre, West End, London 2012 BereniceBerenice Donmar Warehouse, West End, London 2013 Chimerica Joe Schofield Almeida Theatre, London 2015 Photograph 51 Maurice Wilkins Noël Coward Theatre, London 2023 When Winston Went to War with the Wireless John Reith Donmar Warehouse, London
Film Year Title Role Notes 2003 Bright Young Things Adam Fenwick-Symes 2004 A Good Woman Lord Darlington 2006 Amazing Grace James Stephen The History Boys Irwin 2008 The Bank Job Kevin Swain Burlesque Fairytales Peter Blythe-Smith The Children Jonah 2011 Season of the Witch Debelzaq Johnny English Reborn The Prime Minister 2015 Man Up Ed The Lady in the Van Doctor The Ones Below Justin Burnt Jack 2017 Goodbye Christopher Robin Ernest Shepard 2018 Red Joan Max 2019 Downton Abbey Major Chetwode 2023 Freud's Last Session J. R. R. Tolkien 2024 The Union Cameron Foster 2026 De Gaulle Harold Macmillan
Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 Byron John Cam Hobhouse Miniseries, 2 episodes 2004 He Knew He Was Right Hugh Stanbury Miniseries, 4 episodes 2005 Wallis & Edward Edward VIII Television film 2006 Hustle Quenton Cornfoot 1 episode2008 Lark Rise to Candleford James Delafield 1 episode Ashes to Ashes Evan White Recurring role, 8 episodes 2009 A Short Stay in Switzerland Edward Television film 2010 Ben Hur Messala Miniseries, 2 episodes 2011 Just Henry Joseph Dodge Television film 2012 Titanic Thomas Andrews Miniseries, 4 episodes Hunted Stephen Turner Miniseries, 8 episodes2013 Complicit Tony Coveney Television film The Wrong Mans Smoke Recurring role, 5 episodes 2014 Our Zoo Reverend Aaron Webb Main role, 6 episodes 2015 The Go-Between Viscount Hugh Trimingham Television film 2016 Stag Johnners Miniseries, 3 episodes2017 The Child in Time Charles Television film The Last Post Lieutenant Ed Laithwaite Main role, 6 episodes 2018 Action Team Agent 49 1 episode2019 Traitors Phillip Jarvis Miniseries, 2 episodes Responsible Child Dr. Johann Keaton Television film 2019–2021 War of the Worlds Jonathon Gresham Main role, 15 episodes 2021 The One Damien Brown Main role, 8 episodes2022 Anne Edward Fitzgerald Miniseries, 1 episode The Confessions of Frannie Langton George Benham Miniseries, 4 episodes Litvinenko Ben Emmerson Miniseries, 1 episode 2023 The Gold Tony Lundy 1 episode2024 Criminal Record Leo Hanratty Main role, 13 episodes Masters of the Air Major Marvin "Red" Bowman Miniseries, 8 episodes2025Little DisastersRobMiniseries, 6 episodes2026IndustryTony Day1 episode TBA The Siege TBA Upcoming drama series
Video game Year Title Role Company Notes 2015 Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward Regula van Hydrus Square Enix
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