Derek Jacobi
Birth Place: London, ENGLAND
Greenwich Theatre To Present THE LITTLE MERMAID, ROMEO AND JULIET, and More in 2026 (Dec 3, 2025)
Greenwich Theatre Unveils Spring/Summer 2026 Season Featuring Four Major Productions and Expanded Artist Support (Dec 3, 2025)
Neil LaBute's AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL and More Set for Greenwich Theatre Spring/Summer 2026 Season (Dec 2, 2025)
BIO
He is known for his work at the Royal National Theatre and for his film and television roles. He has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Olivier Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Tony Award. He was given a knighthood for his services to theatre by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994.
Jacobi started his professional acting career with Laurence Olivier as one of the founding members of the National Theatre. He has appeared in numerous Shakespearean stage productions including Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, The Tempest, King Lear, and Romeo and Juliet. Jacobi received the Laurence Olivier Award, for the title role in Cyrano de Bergerac in 1983 and Malvolio in Twelfth Night in 2009. He also won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing in 1985.
On television, he portrayed Claudius in the BBC series I, Claudius (1976), for which he won the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. He received two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for The Tenth Man (1988), and Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Frasier (2001). He also took roles in ITV drama series Cadfael (1994–1998), the HBO film The Gathering Storm (2002), the sitcom Vicious (2013-2016), in BBC's Last Tango in Halifax (2012–2020), and the Netflix series The Crown in 2019.
Jacobi has acted in numerous films including Othello (1965), The Day of the Jackal (1973), Henry V (1989), Dead Again (1991), Hamlet (1996), Nanny McPhee (2005), The Riddle (2007), My Week with Marilyn (2011), Anonymous (2011), Cinderella (2015), and Murder on the Orient Express (2017). Jacobi portrayed Senator Gracchus in Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) and Gladiator II (2024). Jacobi has also earned two Screen Actors Guild Awards along with the ensemble cast for Robert Altman's Gosford Park (2001), and Tom Hooper's The King's Speech (2010).
Photos
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SIR MICHAEL GAMBON as Hirst and SIR DEREK JACOBI as Spooner in Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land (first performed at the NT in 1975 with Sir John Gielgud and Sir Ralph Richardson)
From: Photo Coverage: NT50 - The National Theatre's Birthday Celebrations, With Dench, Mirren, And More!
STAGE CREDITS
Movies
[ 1968 ] Paul
[ 1970 ] Andrei
[ 1973 ] Caron
[ 1974 ] Gregory
[ 1974 ] Klaus Wenzer
[ 1978 ] Moulton - John's Publisher
[ 1979 ] Arthur Davis
[ 1980 ] Martin Beck
[ 1981 ] Daberlohn
[ 1982 ] Nicodemus
[ 1987 ] Arthur Clennam
[ 1989 ] Chorus
[ 1990 ] Mr. Frederick, Sir John
[ 1991 ] Franklyn Madson
[ 1996 ] Claudius
[ 1998 ] Father Frederick
[ 1998 ] Francis Bacon
[ 1999 ] Father Leonor Fousnel
[ 2000 ] Gracchus
[ 2000 ] Lucky Leadbetter
[ 2001 ] Father Lavelle
[ 2001 ] Librarian
[ 2001 ] Narrator
[ 2001 ] Probert
[ 2001 ] Theseus
[ 2002 ] Duke
[ 2002 ] Major Merton
[ 2004 ] Nezo
[ 2004 ] Victor
[ 2005 ] Lord Dempsey
[ 2005 ] Mr Wheen
[ 2006 ] Corvinus Sir Derek Jacobi
[ 2007 ] Balzer
[ 2007 ] Guido, Commander
[ 2007 ] Magisterial Emissary
[ 2008 ] Dr. Nathan Gross
[ 2008 ] Nigel Dewberry
[ 2009 ] Quentin Neely
[ 2009 ] Rudolph Agnew
[ 2010 ] Archbishop Cosmo Lang
[ 2010 ] Derek Jacobi
[ 2011 ] Baron Reginald de Cornhill
[ 2011 ] Honorio Soto
[ 2011 ] King Lear
[ 2011 ] Prologue
[ 2011 ] Sir Owen Morshead
[ 2012 ] Sulla
[ 2014 ] Count Fernando D Aillieres Sir Derek Jacobi
[ 2014 ] Travers Twiss
[ 2015 ] King
[ 2016 ] Léo Gursky
[ 2016 ] Lord Fortnum
[ 2016 ] Mercutio
[ 2017 ] Edward Henry Mterman
[ 2017 ] Ross
[ 2018 ] Mr. Yaffe
[ 2019 ] Claudius
[ 2019 ] Lord Palmerston
[ 2019 ] Professor Wright
[ 2020 ] Dr. Hobson
[ 2020 ] Father Enoch
[ 2020 ] Mr Brown
[ 2021 ] David
[ 2021 ] Narrator
[ 2022 ] Ambrose
[ 2024 ] Gracchus
[ 2024 ] Gracchus
[ 2025 ] Friar Lawrence
[ 2025 ]
[ 2025 ]
[ 2025 ] Lucian Freud
TV Shows
Metatron
Webster, Dennis Fulcher
Alan
Narrator, Lord Henry
Brother Cadfael
The Stranger, Drioli
Stuart Bixby
[ 2017-2024 ] The War Master
Rupert
Mr. Todd
The Master
Audio Book Narrator
[ 2017-2024 ] The War Master
Rupert
Mr. Todd
The Master
Audio Book Narrator
[ 2017-2026 ] The War Master (voice)
[ 2019-2026 ] Metatron
[ 2003-2027 ] The Master
Awards and Nominations
Derek JacobiKing Lear
winner
Derek JacobiTwelfth Night
Derek JacobiDon Carlos
winner
Derek Jacobi, Uncle Vanya
winner
Derek Jacobi, Uncle Vanya
winner
Derek JacobiBreaking The Code
Derek Jacobi, Breaking the Code
Derek Jacobi, Breaking the Code
Derek JacobiBreaking The Code
Derek Jacobi, Cyrano de Bergerac
Derek Jacobi, Much Ado About Nothing
winner
Derek Jacobi, Much Ado About Nothing
winner
Derek JacobiCyrano De Bergerac
Derek Jacobi, The Suicide
Derek JacobiIvanov
Derek JacobiHamlet
Videos
Video: JULIET & ROMEO Star Jamie Ward Teases 'Insane' Pop Music in New Film
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-14 15:55:03
Exclusive: Rebel Wilson Shares Personal Connections to JULIET & ROMEO Role
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-09 14:08:31
Exclusive: Jamie Ward Explains How the Music of JULIET & ROMEO Transforms a Familiar Tale
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-09 12:21:04
Video: Rebel Wilson Teases JULIET & ROMEO Pop Musical on LIVE WITH KELLY AND MARK
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-08 12:43:44
Video: Paul Mescal Sings in GLADIATOR II Musical Parody on SNL
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-12-08 10:04:50
VIDEO: Watch the Official Trailer For the Digital Production of WHAT A CARVE UP!
by Stephi Wild - 2020-10-26 09:33:02
VIDEO: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins Star in the Second Trailer for TOLKIEN
by Kaitlin Milligan - 2019-03-06 10:01:17
VIDEO: Watch the New Trailer for Michael Grandage Company's RED
by Stephi Wild - 2018-02-16 08:26:04
VIDEO: Leslie Odom Jr, Josh Gad Star in Kenneth Branagh's MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
by Caryn Robbins - 2017-09-21 09:56:27
STAGE TUBE: New Trailer & Teaser for Kenneth Branagh's ROMEO AND JULIET, Hitting U.S. Cinemas This Week
by Stage Tube - 2016-07-06 19:28:32
STAGE TUBE: NYC PRIDE PARADE Grand Marshals Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi Get the Confetti Flying Early!
by Stage Tube - 2015-06-26 17:54:20
STAGE TUBE: The Princes Express Jealousy of CINDERELLA in New 'Agony' Parody
by Sally Henry Fuller - 2015-03-21 10:39:40
VIDEO: First Look - Cate Blanchett & More in All-New CINDERELLA Trailer!
by Caryn Robbins - 2015-02-11 07:47:57
VIDEO: First Look - Teaser Trailer for Disney's CINDERELLA, Coming in 2015
by Caryn Robbins - 2014-11-18 08:57:47
News
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 3, 2025
Greenwich Theatre has announced its Spring Summer 2026 season featuring the UK premiere of Neil LaBute's America The Beautiful, a vivid new Romeo and Juliet, The Little Mermaid and the 2026 Greenwich Theatre Pantomime
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 3, 2025
Greenwich Theatre will unveil an expansive Spring/Summer 2026 season featuring four in-house productions, new writing initiatives, and performances from visiting companies.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 2, 2025
Greenwich Theatre has unveiled its Spring Summer 2026 season featuring the UK premiere of Neil LaBute's America The Beautiful, The Little Mermaid, and more!
by Stephi Wild - Nov 13, 2025
With just two weeks to curtain up, final touches are being made to the beautifully reimagined auditorium, and anticipation is building across the city for the return of one of Cambridge's most cherished cultural landmarks.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 30, 2025
The Olivier Award-winning Oedipus, an adaptation created and directed by Robert Icke, will begin performances on Broadway on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Meet the cast of Oedipus here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 17, 2025
bergenPAC will present three new shows for this season, Tyrese, Rick Wakeman, and Grand Kyiv Ballet now on Sale at BergenPAC. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 4, 2025
A film adaptation is in the works of Frank and Percy, starring Ian McKellen and Roger Allam. Kaleidoscope Film Distribution has picked up world sales rights for the film, which starts production this month.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 20, 2025
The Delaunay, in partnership with the Royal Theatrical Fund, will host an exclusive evening with acclaimed actor Russell Tovey, as part of its ‘The Delaunay Presents, An Evening With…’ series.
by Kat Mokrynski - Aug 12, 2025
We had the chance to speak with Leonard about taking on the role of Pierre Peters. We discussed how he first got started in the world of theatre, what it’s like to perform in a new piece of theatre versus a revival of a classic work and what he thinks audiences will be talking about on the way home after the show.
by Stephi Wild - Jul 29, 2025
Laura Whitmore will take centre stage at The Everyman this August, starring as Rachel Watson in the smash-hit Wiltshire Creative production of The Girl on the Train.
by June August - Jul 14, 2025
Have you ever left a theater wishing the performer you just enjoyed could be your friend? That’s how I felt after hearing Susan Edwards Martin sing at CV Rep’s Cabaret Series. Susan has the knack of embracing you with her voice and making a place for you in the living room of her heart.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 9, 2025
British theatre icons Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, and Sir Derek Jacobi have joined forces in a new campaign film championing the ambitious redevelopment of The Arts Theatre Cambridge, one of the region’s most historic and influential cultural venues.
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 26, 2025
On 14th July, Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment will release the original pop musical, Juliet & Romeo, on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital in the UK. Fans of the film will be treated to some exciting bonus features, including an alternate ending, behind-the-scenes interviews, and more.
by Stephi Wild - May 19, 2025
Theatrical charity Acting for Others has announced that more than £110,000 was raised at their fifth annual West End Flea Market, held on Saturday 17 May at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden, making it their most successful event to date.
by Josh Sharpe - May 14, 2025
During a recent visit to The Kelly Clarkson Show, Juliet & Romeo star Jamie Ward shed light on the new pop musical reimagining of the Shakespeare play, now in theaters. Watch the interview here!
by Josh Sharpe - May 9, 2025
A new Shakespeare adaptation is always an event. Juliet & Romeo, a movie musical reimagining of the classic play, tells the familiar story of the star-crossed lovers with a pop twist. Find out what critics think of the movie here!
by Josh Sharpe - May 9, 2025
With Juliet & Romeo now in theaters, BroadwayWorld caught up with Rebel Wilson to talk about playing the role of Lady Capulet in the pop musical, the anthemic song 'The Mask I Wear,' and how becoming a mother herself helped her better understand the character.
by Josh Sharpe - May 9, 2025
BroadwayWorld caught up with Jamie Ward to discuss the new pop musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, playing the iconic character of Romeo, and how the pop songs breathe new life into a familiar tale.
by Josh Sharpe - May 8, 2025
On a recent visit to Live with Kelly and Mark, Rebel Wilson shared why she chose to appear as Lady Capulet in the new pop musical rendition of Romeo and Juliet, hitting theaters tomorrow. Watch the interview now!
by Stephi Wild - May 2, 2025
A new UK Tour of the Wiltshire Creative Production of The Girl on the Train is coming to Milton Keynes Theatre this June. Learn more about the show here!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Derek Jacobi has appeared on Broadway in 5 shows.
Derek Jacobi has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.
Derek Jacobi's first West End show was Romeo and Juliet which opened in 2016
Best Actor (Olivier Awards) for King Lear, Best Actor (Olivier Awards) for Twelfth Night, Best Actor (Olivier Awards) for Don Carlos, Outstanding Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Uncle Vanya, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Uncle Vanya , Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Breaking The Code, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Breaking the Code, Outstanding Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Breaking the Code, Actor of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Breaking The Code, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Cyrano de Bergerac, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Much Ado About Nothing, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Much Ado About Nothing, Actor of the Year in a Revival (Olivier Awards) for Cyrano De Bergerac, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Suicide, Actor of the Year in a Revival (Olivier Awards) for Ivanov and Actor of the Year in a Revival (Olivier Awards) for Hamlet.
Derek Jacobi has won several prestigious awards throughout his career. He received the Best Actor Olivier Award for Twelfth Night. He was honored with the Outstanding Actor in a Play Drama Desk Award for Uncle Vanya, as well as the Outstanding Actor in a Play Outer Critics Circle Award for the same production. Jacobi won the Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production Helen Hayes Award for Breaking The Code. Additionally, he earned the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play Tony Award for Much Ado About Nothing, and was named Actor of the Year in a Revival at the Olivier Awards for Cyrano De Bergerac.
Videos