British actor, Julian Ovenden is an accomplished thespian and musician, who has also had memorable performances in globally renowned television and film projects over the span of his 17-year career. He has starred on Broadway and in the West End, in high profile television series on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as fashioning an international career as a concert and recording artist.
His musical education began as a chorister at St.Paul's Cathedral, London and later as a music scholar both at Eton College and subsequently at New College, Oxford. While training as an opera singer, Ovenden was naturally drawn to musical theatre and continued his academic studies as an actor at The Webber-Douglas Academy of Performing Arts.
Ovenden will appear next as ‘Bobby Kennedy’ in Season 2 the nine-time Emmy Award nominated Netflix series, “The Crown.” Winner of two Golden Globe Awards, the critically acclaimed story follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.
Additionally, Ovenden will star as ‘William De Nogaret’ in HISTORY’s “Knightfall,” created by Don Handfield and Richard Rayner and executively produced by Jeremy Renner. The story centers on the mysterious but true accounts of the Knights Templar, the elite warriors of the Crusades. It delves into the great secrets protected by the Templars and tells the story of faith, loyalty, and brotherhood that help sustain these warriors on the battlefield and the dark events that would forever sear the infamous date of Friday the 13th into the world’s psyche. The series has concluded production and is set to premiere this year.
As a solo singer, Ovenden has appeared with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including The New York Philharmonic, The New York Pops, The Northern Sinfonia, The Liverpool Philharmonic, The RPO, The LPO, The Belfast Symphony Orchestra, the John Wilson Orchestra, The BBC Symphony, The Royal Concertgebouw, and The BBC Concert Orchestra. He has had particular success at the Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall and has since become a reoccurring performer. Ovenden made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2014 and with much success, performed an additional headlining concert in 2016.
In 2013, Ovenden recorded a debut album for Decca records entitled “If You Stay” and has since made a “Rogers and Hammerstein” record with John Wilson for Warner Classics and a “Downton Abbey Christmas” record for Warner Music that went double platinum earlier this year. In late 2015, he signed a multiple record deal with East West music and his latest album was released in April 2016.
On stage at the Booth theatre in 2006, Ovenden made his Broadway debut in “Butley,” as ‘Joseph Keyston’ opposite Nathan Lane. In 2011, Ovenden starred as ‘Death’ in “Death Takes a Holiday” for The Roundabout Theatre Company and appeared as ‘J.M. Barrie’ in The Weinstein Company’s “Finding Neverland.” Most recently in 2015, Ovenden took the stage as ‘Gaylord’ in “Show Boat” at Lincoln Center.
Other notable theater roles include the multi award-winning “Merrily We Roll Along” (2000), Adrian Noble’s “A Woman of No Importance” (2003), “Grand Hotel” (2004), “Marguerite” (2008), “Annie Get your Gun” (2009), “Sunday in the Park with George” (2013), and “My Night with Reg” (2014).
Ovenden first appeared on British television as ‘Andrew Foyle’ starring opposite Michael Kitchen in the widely adored “Foyle’s War” for five seasons. He has also appeared as ‘Charles Blake’ in two seasons of the worldwide phenomenon “Downton Abbey.” Domestically, Ovenden is best known for playing ‘Jeremy Lambert’ in Season 3 and 4 of CBS’s drama series, “Person of Interest.”
Further television credits include ‘Val Dartie’ in “The Forsyte Saga,” ‘Ernest Hemingway’ in “Any Human Heart,” ‘Dr. David Cheriton’ in “The Royal,” the greatly acclaimed ‘Captain Von Trapp’ in ITV’s recent live version of “The Sound of Music Live” opposite Kara Tointon, “Cashmere Mafia,” “Related,” and “SMASH.”
Ovenden can be seen in the films, “Colonia” opposite Emma Watson and Daniel Bruhl, “The Confessions” with Daniel Auteuil, Toni Servillo and Connie Nielsen, and the British indie war film “Allies.”
Ovenden currently resides in England with opera singer Kate Royal, their son Johnny Beau, daughter Audrey, and Roman the dog.
Little Known Fact: In 1996, his father became the Royal family vicar, and he has had the opportunity to sing for the Queen. Welcome Julian Ovenden!