Alexandru "Alec" Secăreanu (; born 4 December 1984) is a Romanian actor. He gained international recognition for playing Gheorghe in the 2017 film God's Own Country.
Early life Alexandru Secăreanu was born in Bucharest. He completed drama study at the Caragiale Academy of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 2007.
Career After appearing in a number of Romanian films, Secăreanu appeared in his first English-language role in director Francis Lee's God's Own Country (2017), in which he played a Romanian migrant worker Gheorghe, who begins a relationship with a sheep farmer played by British actor Josh O'Connor on a farm in rural West Yorkshire. Lee had insisted on casting a Romanian actor in the role of Gheorghe. After winning the role, he worked on a farm for two weeks before filming. His performance in God's Own Country earned him a London agent, membership of Equity (formerly officially titled the British Actors' Equity Association), and a nomination for 2017 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) in Best Actor category.
Personal life As of 2017, Secăreanu lives in Bucharest.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2007 Short film; Vlad Fenesan, director 2008 Short film; Dorin Moldoveanu, director Short film; Ivo Baru, director 2011 Adalbert's Dream Credited as Alexandru Secareanu; Gabriel Achim, director Short film; Evgeny Gromik, director Alex Short film; Piperkoski Ilija, director 2013 Treizeci (Thirty) Răzvan Short film; Credited as Alexandru Secareanu; Victor Dragomir, director 2014 Love Bus: (Love Bus: Five Love Stories from Bucharest) George Omnibus film composed of five different episodes; Episode 5 Cișmigiu; Andrei Georgescu, director 2015 Candy Crush George Short film; Andrei Georgescu, director 2016 (Lie to Me Nicely in the Old Town) Barman Directed by Iura Luncasu Tudo Seba Directed by Iura Luncasu Love Short film; Franz Galo, director Chosen Schacht Directed by Jasmin Dizdar 2017 God's Own Country Gheorghe Ionescu Main role; directed by Francis Lee The Best Customer Postman/Policeman (voice) Animation/Short film; Serghei Chiviriga, director 2018 Doing Money Luca BBC Two TV movie; Lynsey Miller, director 2020 Amulet Tomaz Directed by Romola Garai Ammonite Dr. Lieberson Directed by Francis Lee The Rider Directed by Matt Chambers 2024Double of NothingDaniel Panaitshort film; Mihai Pircalabu, writer and director
Television Year Title Role Notes 2006 Florin Cernea 2007 One Step Ahead 2 episodes ("Striptease" and "")Full stop. And from the top 2011 Bet with life Rapitor 1 2 episodes ("" and "")A lady and a vagabond 2014 The teacher’s daughters Marcel 2017 The Saint Bashir 2019 Baptiste Constantin Baracu BBC TV 2020 Strike Back: Vendetta Zayef Hiraji Sky One, Cinemax TV series, 7 episodes 2021 RUXX Andrei Dobrev HBO Europe TV series, 8 episodes 2022 Spy/Master Victor Godeanu HBO Europe TV series 2023 Happy Valley (TV series) S3 Darius Knezevic BBC, 6 episodes 2024 The Veil S1 Emir Hulu, 2 episodes Moonflower Murders Stefan Leonida PBS Masterpiece Theatre, 3 episodes
Stage
Year Title Role Venue 2018 Gundog Guy Royal Court Theatre This is a Set Up Ovidiu Ohanesian National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest 2015 Fight Club Tyler Durden Teatrul Apropo, Bucharest, Romania Recviem National Theatre Bucharest 2013 Immaterial Retrospective of the Venice Biennale Romanian Pavilion, Venice 2012 Crisis (Crize – the Gay Version) Teatrul Tabu, Bucharest Ferdinand the VIII Comedy Theatre, Bucharest Flowers, Movies, Girls & Boys Godot Café, Bucharest Get Out! O2G No One Metropolis Theatre, Bucharest Of Mice and Men Port (Casandra Studio) The Forest, Captain's Bride Nottara Theatre, Bucharest
Accolades Award Year Category Nominated work Result British Independent Film Awards 2017 Best Actor God's Own Country
References
External links
profile at castforward.de (German) Primul film britanic îi aduce un agent londonez lui Alec Secăreanu – Interview with Evantia Barca at eranews.ro, 6 July 2016 (Romanian) profile at teatrul.ro (Romanian)