Matthew Macfadyen gained widespread recognition for his role in the popular HBO show “Succession.” This role earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. In addition, Macfadyen’s acting skills have also been showcased in the film, notably his portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the 2005 movie “Pride & Prejudice.”
Matthew Macfadyen Bio Summary
Full name: David Matthew Macfadyen
Date of birth: October 17, 1974
Age: 50 years old (2024)
Gender: Male
Place of birth: Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
Marital status: Married
Wife’s name: Keely Hawes (m. 2004)
Kids: 2
Education: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation: Actor
Early Life & Education
David Matthew Macfadyen was born on October 17, 1974, in Norfolk, England. He was raised by his parents, Meinir and Martin Macfadyen. Due to his father’s job, he and his family moved often, leading to his upbringing in various locations such as Scotland, Indonesia, and England.
Among multiple schools, he attended ‘Oakham School’ in Rutland. Upon turning 17, he gained admission to the ‘Royal Academy of Dramatic Art’ (RADA) in London. While pursuing his studies at the academy, he found inspiration in Ingmar Bergman’s historical period drama, ‘Fanny and Alexander.’
While enrolled at ‘RADA,’ he took part in numerous theatrical productions, including performances in works such as
- The Crimson Island by Mikhail Bulgakov
- Lorca’s Death by Ben Benison
- The Feigned Inconstancy by Marivaux
- The Beggar’s Opera by John Gay,
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Dale Wasserman
- The Libertine by Stephen Jeffreys
After completing his studies at the ‘Royal Academy of Dramatic Art’ in 1995, he joined the renowned theatre group ‘Cheek by Jowl.’ The following year, he teamed up with the ‘Royal Shakespeare Company’ (RSC) and took on a significant role in William Shakespeare’s production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’
Career
Following his time at RADA, which concluded in 1995, Macfadyen was heavily involved with the renowned British theatre group Cheek by Jowl.
Throughout this time, he took on roles in productions such as “The Duchess of Malfi,” “The School for Scandal,” and “Much Ado About Nothing.” In the following years, he collaborated with the Royal National Theatre, appearing in “Henry IV” (parts one and two) before joining the ensemble of “The Pain and the Itch” play.
Matthew Macfadyen also ventured into the realm of television. He made his first TV appearance in 1998 in “Wuthering Heights.” In the following years, he was seen in TV shows such as “Warriors” and “The Way We Live.”
After gaining recognition from his starring roles, he was able to pursue other opportunities in productions such as “Perfect Strangers” during the early 2000s.
In 2002, he continued his success with “The Project” and also landed a role in “Spooks” that same year. He returned to this role for the second and third seasons but left after the second episode of season three.
The A&E Network rebranded this series as “MI-5” before its broadcast. In 2007, Macfadyen pursued his television acting career with “Secret Life,” earning the Royal Television Society’s Best Actor accolade. He was also a BAFTA nominee for his performance.
Following several other movie roles in the early 2000s, including “In My Father’s Den,” he landed a pivotal role as Mr. Darcy in the 2005 film “Pride and Prejudice.” The movie was a commercial success, grossing nearly $122 million on a $28 million budget.
It also garnered widespread acclaim from critics, resulting in Macfadyen receiving a nomination for the London Film Critics Circle’s British Newcomer of the Year award.
Matthew Macfadyen’s addition to the “Succession” cast in 2018 marked a significant advancement for his career and garnered widespread recognition in the United States, earning him a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award.
During an interview, Matthew expressed his surprise at how quickly he adapted to the extravagant filming locations of the series, including luxurious hotels and extravagant yachts. Despite this, he continued to act in “Succession” for several years while also pursuing other acting opportunities.
Personal Life
In 2002, Matthew Macfadyen started dating his fellow actor from ‘Spooks’, Keeley Hawes. When he married Keeley Hawes in November 2004, Macfadyen became Myles’ stepfather.
Myles was born from Hawes’ previous marriage with Spencer McCallum. In December 2004, Macfadyen and Hawes welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Maggie. Their second child, a son named Ralph, was born in September 2006.
Net Worth
With a net worth of $5 million, English actor Matthew Macfadyen has gained recognition for his role in the HBO show “Succession.” His outstanding performance in the series earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
