Michael Jayston

Michael Jayston (born Michael James) born 29 October 1935 is an English actor.

Career

Jayston played Shakespearean roles on TV including Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968), Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice (1973) and Edmund in King Lear (1975). An early recurring television role was as civil servant Dowling in the final series of boardroom drama The Power Game in 1969.

In 1970, he played Henry Ireton in Cromwell. In 1971, he starred as Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in the film Nicholas and Alexandra, in 1972 he played Sir Henry Royce alongside Robert Powell in the BBC Drama series 'The Edwardians' episode 'Mr.Rolls and Mr.Royce' then in 1973 took the lead role of Mr Rochester in a BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre opposite Sorcha Cusack. He appeared as Gratiano opposite Laurence Olivier as Shylock in the National Theatre's film The Merchant of Venice (1974). He made two appearances in the anthology series Thriller in 1974 and in 1975 played Quiller, a spy who never used a gun, in the British TV series of the same name. He appeared as Dornford Yates' gentleman hero Jonathan Mansel in the 1977 BBC adaptation of She Fell Among Thieves. In 1979, he played Peter Guillam opposite Alec Guinness in the serial Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

In 1986, Jayston played the role of the Valeyard in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. In the serial The Ultimate Foe, the Valeyard is revealed to be a manifestation of the Doctor's dark side. He later reprised the part of the Valeyard in He Jests at Scars..., Trial of the Valeyard, and The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure, audio plays released by Big Finish Productions.

Jayston played Neville Badger in the 1989 television adaptation of David Nobbs's comedy of manners A Bit of a Do. He portrayed James Bond in a radio adaptation of You Only Live Twice in 1990. In 1991 he appeared as Colonel Mustard in the television series Cluedo and a year later made a guest appearance in the Press Gang episode "UnXpected". Other TV appearances include in EastEnders, Coronation Street, Only Fools and Horses, The Darling Buds of May, Tales of the Unexpected, The Bill and the character of Donald De Souza in Emmerdale. He also appeared in Holby City and Tracy Beaker Returns as Mr Spooner.

Jayston reads all of John le Carre's novels in audiobook format, providing a link with his role as Peter Guillam in the 1979 TV series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Filmography

• Cromwell (1970)
• Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)
• Follow Me! (1972)
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972)
• Mr.Rolls and Mr.Royce, the BBC's 'The Edwardians' series.
• Bequest to the Nation (1973)
• Tales That Witness Madness (1973)
• The Homecoming (1973)
• Craze (1974)
• The Internecine Project (1974)
• Dominique (1978)
• Zulu Dawn (1979)
• Highlander: The Final Dimension (1994)
• Element of Doubt (1996)

External links

• Michael Jayston at the Internet Movie Database
• Michael Jayston in Jane Eyre