Philip James Dunster is an English actor. He began his career in theatre, earning a Laurence Olivier Award nomination, and the Sky One drama Strike Back (2017–2018), the Channel 4 series Humans (2018), and the ITV series The Trouble with Maggie Cole (2020). He gained prominence with his role as Jamie Tartt in the Apple TV+ sports series Ted Lasso (2020–2026), which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He has since appeared in the Amazon Prime thriller The Devil's Hour (2022) and the Apple TV+ series Surface (2025).

Early life and education Philip James Dunster was born in Northampton, England.

He attended Leighton Park School in Reading, where he served as head boy. He played rugby as a child, though he realised at the age of fifteen that he was too small after a failed trial for London Irish. He also considered following in the footsteps of his father and brother and joining the military.

Dunster went on to train at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting in 2014.

Career In 2015, Dunster played Claudio in the Reading Theatre production of Much Ado About Nothing and made his television debut in the Channel 4 sitcom Catastrophe. He also played Dickie Baker in the low budget film The Rise of the Krays, a role he would reprise in its sequel the following year The Fall of the Krays.

Dunster starred as Arthur in Pink Mist at the Bristol Old Vic and Bush Theatre in London, for which he received an affiliate Laurence Olivier Award nomination in 2016. That same year, he appeared in The Entertainer at the Garrick Theatre and two episodes of the Sky One crime drama Stan Lee's Lucky Man.

From 2017 to 2018, Dunster was in the main cast of Strike Back as Lance Corporal Will Jensen for its sixth series, also known as Strike Back: Retribution, also on Sky One. He had recurring roles in the Sky Atlantic drama Save Me as BJ McGory, and the third series of the Channel 4 science fiction series Humans as Tristan. He also appeared in the films Megan Leavey, Murder on the Orient Express, and All Is True. In 2019, he appeared in the Sky Atlantic miniseries Catherine the Great as well as the films Judy and The Good Liar.

In 2020, Dunster began starring as footballer Jamie Tartt in the Apple TV+ sports comedy Ted Lasso, which earned him a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2023.

In 2020 he played Jamie Cole in the ITV comedy-drama The Trouble with Maggie Cole, and appeared in the BBC One three-parter Dracula. He played Mike Stevens in the 2022 Amazon Prime thriller The Devil's Hour.

In January 2026, it was announced that Dunster would play Eret in Universal's live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon 2.

Personal life Dunster is a lifelong football fan, supporting AFC Wimbledon. He has been in a relationship with filmmaker Ellie Heydon since November 2017. They announced their engagement In August 2024. In March 2026, Dunster confirmed the two had married.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2013 The Film-Maker's Son Big Robbie 2015 The Rise of the Krays Dickie Baker Shadows Jogger Short film 2016 The Fall of the Krays Dickie Baker 2017 Megan Leavey Coletta Murder on the Orient Express Colonel John Armstrong 2018 All Is True Henry, the Student 2019 Judy Ben The Good Liar Roy Courtnay 2022 Pragma Jack Hurt Short film; also producer 2023 Panda Waiter Short film 2024 Idiomatic Alex Short film; also writer and director 2025 Picture This Milo Bonner 2027 How to Train Your Dragon 2 Eret Post-production TBA Hello Out There Rex Post-production Hello & Paris Filming

Television Year Title Role Notes 2015–2017 Catastrophe Nico 2 episodes 2016 Stan Lee's Lucky Man JC 2 episodes 2017 Benidorm Ryan 1 episode Man in an Orange Shirt Bruno 1 episode 2017–2018 Strike Back Lance Corporal Will Jensen Main role, 8 episodes 2018 Save Me BJ McGory Recurring role, 5 episodes Humans Tristan Recurring role, 6 episodes No Offence Chief Inspector Pembroke 2 episodes 2019 Catherine the Great Andrey Razumovsky Miniseries, 2 episodes 2020 Dracula Quincey Morris Miniseries, 1 episode The Trouble with Maggie Cole Jamie Cole Main role, 6 episodes 2020–2026 Ted Lasso Jamie Tartt Main role, 35 episodes 2022 Ten Percent Jordan O’Connor 1 episode 2022–2024 The Devil's Hour Mike Stevens 7 episodes 2023 Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas Self TV special 2025 Surface Quinn Huntley 8 episodes 2026–present Rooster Archie Bates Main role

Video games Year Title Role Notes2022FIFA 23Jamie Tartt 2023 Valorant Max Bot@LoreScribes (24 June 2023). Voice

Audio YearTitleRoleNotes2022The War MasterScarp / KerrifPodcast series2024A Beginner's Guide to Breaking and Entering by Andrew Hunter MurrayNarratorRead by2024The Mysterious Affair at StylesJohn CavendishAudible original2025The Impossible ThingNarratorRead by

Stage Year Title Role Writer Director Venue 2015 Much Ado About Nothing Claudio William Shakespeare Hal Chambers Reading Between the Lines Theatre Company (now RABBLE Theatre) 2016Pink Mist Arthur Owen Sheers George Mann and John Retallack Bush Theatre and Bristol Old Vic The Entertainer Graham John Osborne Rob Ashford Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company at the Garrick Theatre 2024 Oklahoma! Curly McLain Rodgers and Hammerstein Bill Deamer Theatre Royal, Drury LanePhil Dunster and Zizi Strallen to star in Oklahoma! concert at Theatre Royal Drury LaneBrace, BraceRayOli ForsythDaniel RaggettRoyal Court Theatre

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref. 2016 Laurence Olivier Awards Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre Pink Mist 2017 Offie Best Male Performance in a Play 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Ted Lasso 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards 2023 Just About Write Awards Outstanding Supporting Performance - Comedy Online Film & Television Association awards Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 2024 Hollywood Creative Alliance TV Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy Critics' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 75th Primetime Emmy Awards Access date July 12, 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series

References

External links

Phil Dunster at Spotlight