Tom Cullen | |
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Cullen in 2011
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Born |
Aberystwyth, Dyfed, Wales |
17 July 1985
Occupation | Actor, writer |
Years active | 2006–present |
Partner(s) |
Tatiana Maslany (2011–present) |
Tom Cullen (born 17 July 1985) is a Welsh actor, writer and director. He is best known for his role in the award-winning independent film Weekend (2011) and as Viscount Gillingham in the television series Downton Abbey.
Cullen was born in Aberystwyth, Dyfed. He spent his early years in Llandrindod Wells and moved to Cardiff at age 12, where he attended Llanishen High School. He is the son of two writers and has two siblings. Before pursuing an acting career he was involved in music. He graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2009 with First Class Honours degree in Acting after spending a year at the Central School of Speech and Drama.
Whilst still in training, Cullen was taken out of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to appear in Daddy's Girl, which won the BAFTA Cymru for Best Film, and to star in Watch Me, which won the BAFTA Cymru for Best Short. His stage roles include Gorgio at the Bristol Old Vic, Assembly and A Good Night Out in the Valleys at National Theatre Wales, and The Sanger at Sherman Cymru. In 2011, he was named on the Screen International Stars of Tomorrow list.
Cullen starred in the 2011 film Weekend as Russell, a Nottingham lifeguard. Weekend collected numerous awards including the Grand Jury award at the Nashville Film Festival and Best Achievement in Production at the British Independent Film Awards. Cullen won Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards and Best Actor at the Nashville Film Festival in 2011 for his role as Russell. His television roles include Jonas in Black Mirror, drug trafficker Yoram in Banged Up Abroad. and Richard in Pen Talar. He starred as Wulfric in the 2012 miniseries World Without End. He had a recurring role as Mary Crawley's suitor Anthony Foyle (the Viscount Gillingham) in Downton Abbey.