Brian Blessed

Brian Blessed is one of Britain’s most famous stage and screen actors, best known for his numerous Shakespearean roles on television and in the theatre. His booming voice and comedic personality has made him extremely popular with audiences. One of his first stage roles came when he starred in the original production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical: Cats in 1981, and saw him nominated for a SWET award.

Leading on from this, Brian appeared in multiple Shakespearian roles and has been part of the Royal Shakespeare Society for years, specifically appearing in four of the five Shakespeare films directed by Kenneth Branagh. This included significant parts in Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet. His role as Prince Vultan in cult science fiction movie Flash Gordon in 1980 a role he is still fondly remembered for to this day.

Having played over 100 different characters in his career, he has also made famous appearances in Doctor Who, Blackadder and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. He has leant his unique voice to numerous parts in his career including CGI character Boss Nass in Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace, the villain Clayton in Disney’s Tarzan and Judge Jawbreaker in Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return.  Away from acting, he is also a published author having released nine books so far including The Turquoise Mountain: Brian Blessed on Everest which documents his remarkable ascent of the largest peak on earth becoming the oldest person to reach the 28,000 feet mark without the assistance of oxygen.

He has also embarked on numerous other expeditions including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, trekking across the North Pole and exploring the Lost World in Venezuela. His naturally adventurous nature shows no signs of ceasing and he has previously expressed an interest about travelling into space.