James Dreyfus

James Dreyfus
Born (1968-10-09) 9 October 1968
France
Nationality British
Occupation Actor
Years active 1993present
Notable work The Thin Blue Line (199596)
Absolutely Fabulous (199596)
Gimme Gimme Gimme (199901)
My Hero (2006)
The Sarah Jane Adventures (2011)
Mount Pleasant (2012)

James Dreyfus (born 9 October 1968) is an English actor. He is most notable for his roles on television sitcoms The Thin Blue Line as Constable Kevin Goody, and Gimme Gimme Gimme as Tom Farrell. He is most recently known for his role as Reverend Roger in Mount Pleasant.

Early life and career

He was born in France but moved to England at an early age and was educated at Harrow School[1] and then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[2] His parents divorced when he was very young.[3][4]

In 1998, Dreyfus won the Best Supporting Performance in a Musical Olivier Award for his work in The Lady In The Dark at the National Theatre. In the same year he was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award for his performance as Cassius in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at the Birmingham Rep.

Career

Dreyfus' first television break came with the BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous.[5]

Dreyfus has created some memorable comedy characters, particularly on British television, including Constable Kevin Goody in Ben Elton's sitcom The Thin Blue Line and Tom Farrell, the gay flatmate of Linda (Kathy Burke) in Gimme Gimme Gimme. Dreyfus played opposite Bette Midler in the short-lived American sitcom Bette.

Known for portraying "camp, endearing characters," Dreyfus (in a Sheengate Publishing interview) compared the character Frank Spencer from Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, who he described as a campy but married heterosexual, to Dreyfus' character Kevin Goody from The Thin Blue Line. Moreover, Dreyfus described Goody as "naïve and silly, and gormless and stupid." In response to viewers' assumptions that the character is gay, Dreyfus said that Goody is attracted to a female character in the series.[6] Regarding his character Tom Farrell from Gimme Gimme Gimme, Dreyfus hypothesized that, even if the character were heterosexual, the actor would still portray Tom as campy and flamboyant.[6] Furthermore, Dreyfus said that he felt that he became typecast due to his portrayals of "flamboyant" characters.[6]

In November 2004, Dreyfus played Carmen Ghia in the London premiere of Mel Brooks' musical The Producers, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He played the role for 10 months until August 2005.

He played Thermoman in the BBC One comedy My Hero, a role he took over in the sixth series from Ardal O'Hanlon. Although the same character, he used the name George Monday, as opposed to Ardal O'Hanlon's character's name, George Sunday. After disappointing ratings, the show was axed.

Dreyfus also starred as Mr. Teasy-Weasy in the 2004 comedy film Churchill: The Hollywood Years.

In March 2006, he returned to the West End stage in a revival of Michael Frayn's comedy Donkeys' Years at the Comedy Theatre alongside Samantha Bond, David Haig and Mark Addy. He left in August of that year to prepare for his new lead role as the Emcee in a West End revival of Cabaret. In 2008 he appeared in a revival of Simon Gray's The Common Pursuit at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

From September 2009 to January 2010 he appeared in Breakfast At Tiffany's at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London.

In January 2012 he appeared in the Midsomer Murders episode "A Rare Bird" as Ralph Ford.

Since 2012 Dreyfus has been appearing as Reverend Roger in the Sky Living series Mount Pleasant.

In February 2015 Dreyfus appeared on stage in Harvey, directed by Lindsay Posner. The production ran at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre until 21 February, before a UK tour and the West End.[7]

In January 2016, he appeared as Dr Herdal in "The Master Builder" at the Old Vic Theatre.

Selected works

Year Title Role Notes
1995Thin Ice Greg
1995–96The Thin Blue LineConstable Kevin Goody TV series (14 episodes)
1995–96Absolutely FabulousChristopher TV series (2 episodes)
1996BoyfriendsPaul
1999Notting HillMartin
1999–2001Gimme Gimme GimmeTom FarrellTV series (19 episodes)
2000GormenghastProfessor FlukeTV
2000BetteOscarU.S. TV series (18 episodes)
2004Fat SlagsFidorTV
2004Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination LondonGordon
2005Willo the WispVoice
2006Colour Me KubrickMelvyn Prescott
2006My HeroGeorge Monday / Thermoman TV series (8 episodes)
2007CabaretEmceeWest End theatre production
2007Double TimeLawrence Nixon/George McCabe
2007Nina and the NeuronsFelix (voice)
2009CasualtyRoryTV
2011The Sarah Jane AdventuresHarrisonTV
2012Midsomer MurdersRalph FordTV
2012Holby CityFelixTV
2012WhitechapelRipperologist Charlie CrossTV
2012–presentMount PleasantReverend RogerTV
2013ShamelessSchool InspectorTV
2013Dandelion & BurdockDandelionTV
2015 Father Brown Binkie Cadwaller Episode 3.10 "The Judgment of Man"

References

  1. "How We Met: James Dreyfus & Robert Portal". The Independent. 11 May 2008.
  2. Wylie, Ian. "Double trouble for James". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  3. Fletcher, Mary, Why life's looking Goody for James, TV Times, pg 31.
  4. Thomas Quinn. "Interview: James Dreyfus". thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  5. "Our interview with James Dreyfus". sheengate.co.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 Our interview with James Dreyfus. Interviewed by Rob Edwards. Sheengate Publishing. 31 January 2013.
  7. "James Dreyfus To Star In New Production Of Harvey". British Theatre. Retrieved 2016-02-27.

External links



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