Iain Glen

Iain Alan Sutherland Glen, born on 24 June 1961, is a distinguished Scottish actor. He is renowned for his roles as Dr. Alexander Isaacs/Tyrant in three films of the Resident Evil film series (2004–2016) and as Jorah Mormont in the HBO fantasy television series Game of Thrones (2011–2019).


Among his other notable film and television roles are John Hanning Speke in Mountains of the Moon (1990), Larry Winters in Silent Scream (1990), a performance that earned him the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlin International Film Festival, Manfred Powell in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Brother John in Song for a Raggy Boy (2003), the title role in Jack Taylor (2010–2016), Sir Richard Carlisle in Downton Abbey (2011), James Willett in Eye in the Sky (2015), and Bruce Wayne in Titans (2019–2021).


In addition to his accomplishments in film and television, Glen is a seasoned stage actor, having performed in a diverse range of theatrical productions. He has taken on titular roles in Shakespearean productions such as Hamlet, Macbeth, and Henry V. Glen received three Laurence Olivier Award nominations for his outstanding performances in the original production of the musical Martin Guerre, the West End production of The Blue Room, and the 2006 West End revival of The Crucible, where he portrayed John Proctor.


Iain Alan Sutherland Glen was born on 24 June 1961 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He received his education at the Edinburgh Academy, an independent school for boys that is now co-educational. Later, he attended the University of Aberdeen. Glen pursued training in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, choosing it because it was the only institution holding auditions at that time. In 1985, he graduated with an Acting (RADA Diploma), earning the prestigious Bancroft Gold Medal. Notably, his older brother is Hamish Glen, the artistic director of the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry and the former artistic director of the Dundee Repertory Theatre.


Glen made his significant screen debut in the 1988 production Paris by Night alongside Charlotte Rampling and Michael Gambon. The same year witnessed his appearance in Gorillas in the Mist, starring opposite Sigourney Weaver. By 1990, Glen secured the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival, showcasing his talent in Silent Scream. In that very year, he landed the role of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, in Tom Stoppard's film adaptation of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, earning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.


Fast forward to 1998, Glen earned a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in The Blue Room, sharing the screen with Nicole Kidman.In 2002, Glen partnered with Emilia Fox for the Italian-French-British romance-drama film The Soul Keeper directed by Roberto Faenza. 2008 marked his portrayal of Samson in the BBC Radio 3 production of Samson Agonistes directed by John Tydeman.


Transitioning to television, Glen took on the role of John Feilding in the 2008 British TV mini-series City of Vice, a production centered around London's first professional police, initiated by Henry Feilding, portrayed by Iain McDiarmid.


Glen entered the realm of Game of Thrones in 2009, embodying Ser Jorah Mormont. His journey continued in 2010 with a stint in Doctor Who as Father Octavian, leader of a clerical sect on a mission against Weeping Angels.


From 2010 to 2016, Glen headlined the Irish TV crime series Jack Taylor. In 2012, he assumed the role of Paul in the BBC drama series Prisoners' Wives. Simultaneously, he starred in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo.


In 2019, Glen undertook the portrayal of Bruce Wayne in the DC Universe TV show Titans. The year 2023 showcased his versatility, featuring in The Rig as Magnus MacMillan and in Operation Napoleon as William Carr.


Glen's acting prowess extends to the upcoming Belgian film The Last Front, where he portrays Leonard, a broken man taking a stand during the First World War. Noteworthy is Glen's acclaim for his role in Game of Thrones, securing the Best Actor award at the 2016 Taormina Film Fest.

Selected theatre

• Edward II, Royal Exchange, Manchester 1986
• The Man Who Had All the Luck Bristol Old Vic 1990
• Hamlet, Bristol Old Vic, 1991
• Macbeth (1993)
• Henry V (1995)
• Martin Guerre (1996–1997)
• The Blue Room (1998) [8]
• A Streetcar Named Desire (2002)
• Hedda Gabler (2005)
• The Crucible (2006)
• Scenes of a Marriage (2008)
• Wallenstein (2009, Minerva Theatre, Chichester) – title role
• Separate Tables (2009) – roles of Mr Martin and Major Pollock – Chichester Festival Theatre
• Ghosts (2010) – also directed
• Uncle Vanya, The Print Room, 2012 – title role
• Fortune's Fool, The Old Vic, 2013[27]
• The Seagull
• Here
• King Lear
• Coriolanus
• She Stoops to Conquer
• Hapgood
• Road
• Small Engine Repair
• The Recruiting Officer
• Love From A Stranger

References

1.  Morrison, Lennox (28 October 2001). "Gabriel and Me". Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
2. ^ Murphy, Mekado (2008). "The New York Times". Movies & TV Dept. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
3. a b c d e f Fisher, Mark (23 April 1993). "Out, out damned spotlight". The List. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
4. a b "RADA Student & graduate profiles - Iain Glen". rada.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
5. ^ "10 years at the top for our Artistic Director, Hamish Glen". Belgrade Theatre Coventry. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
6. a b c "41st Berlin International Film Festival – Prizes & Honours 1991". Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
7. ^ "Berlinale: 1990 Prize Winners". Berlinale.de. Archived from the original on 24 January 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
8. a b c "1999 Olivier Nominees Announced; Many To Reach Broadway". playbill.com. 14 January 1999.
9. a b "The Soul Keeper". variety.com. 21 January 2003.
10. ^ "John Milton season on Radio 3 - Drama On 3: Samson Agonistes". bbc.co.uk. 20 November 2008.
11. a b "Game of Thrones Cast and Characters". hbo.com. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
12. a b c "The Time of Angels - Doctor Who Series 5 Episode 4 of 13". bbc.co.uk. 7 March 2014.
13. a b c "Flesh and Stone - Doctor Who Series 5 Episode 5 of 13". bbc.co.uk. 7 March 2014.
14. a b "The 20 most despicable characters in Downton Abbey history, ranked". sbs.com.au. 18 April 2016.