Editing Toby Stephens (section)

== Career ==
Stephens began his film career with the role of Othello in 1992, in [[Sally Potter]]'s ''[[Orlando (film)|Orlando]]''.{{cn|date=January 2025}}  He has since made regular appearances on television (including in ''[[The Camomile Lawn (TV serial)|The Camomile Lawn]]'', 1992) and on stage.{{cn|date=January 2025}} 

He played the title role in a [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] production of ''[[Coriolanus]]'' shortly after graduation from LAMDA; that same season he played Claudio in ''[[Measure for Measure]]'' for the RSC.{{cn|date=January 2025}}  He played [[Stanley Kowalski]] in a [[West End theatre|West End]] production of [[Tennessee Williams]]' ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire]]'', and ''[[Hamlet]]'' in 2004.{{cn|date=January 2025}}  He has appeared on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in ''Ring Round the Moon''.{{cn|date=January 2025}}  He played the lead in the film ''[[Photographing Fairies]]'' and played Orsino in [[Trevor Nunn]]'s [[Twelfth Night (1996 film)|1996 film adaptation]] of [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Twelfth Night]]''.{{cn|date=January 2025}}  In 2002, he took on the role of Gustav Graves in the [[James Bond]] film ''[[Die Another Day]]''. Aged 33 at the time of film's release, he remains the youngest actor to have played a [[Bond villain]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Larushka |last=Ivan-Zadeh |title=Black Sails actor Toby Stephens: Most British scripts you get sent are just awful |date=20 March 2014 |url=http://metro.co.uk/2014/03/20/black-sails-actor-toby-stephens-most-british-scripts-you-get-sent-are-just-awful-4656483/ |publisher=Metro |access-date=31 October 2015}}</ref> The following year, he depicted British double-agent [[Kim Philby]] in the BBC miniseries ''[[Cambridge Spies]]'', co-starring with [[Tom Hollander]], [[Samuel West]], and [[Rupert Penry-Jones]].{{cn|date=January 2025}} 

In 2005, he played the role of a [[British Army]] captain in the Indian film, ''[[The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey]]'', portraying events in the [[Indian rebellion of 1857]]. The following year he returned to India to play a renegade [[British East India Company]] officer in ''[[Sharpe's Challenge]]''.{{cn|date=January 2025}}  In late 2006, he starred as [[Edward Rochester]] in the highly acclaimed [[BBC]] television adaptation of ''[[Jane Eyre (2006 TV series)|Jane Eyre]]'' (broadcast in the United States on [[PBS]] in early 2007) and ''The Wild West'' in February 2007 for the [[BBC]] in which he played [[General George Armstrong Custer]] in ''[[Custer's Last Stand]]''.{{cn|date=January 2025}} 

During mid-2007, Stephens played the role of Jerry in a revival of [[Harold Pinter]]'s ''[[Betrayal (play)|Betrayal]]'' under the direction of [[Roger Michell]].{{cn|date=January 2025}} Later that year, Stephens starred as Horner in [[Jonathan Kent (director)|Jonathan Kent]]'s revival of [[William Wycherley]]'s ''[[The Country Wife]]''. The play was the inaugural production of the Theatre Royal Haymarket Company.<ref>David Benedict, "Theatre Royal Haymarket Gambles", ''Variety,'' 23 July 2007, online edition. [https://variety.com/2007/legit/news/theater-royal-haymarket-gambles-1117968953/]</ref>

[[File:Toby Stephens (retouched).jpg|thumb|Stephens in 2014]]
In February 2008, the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] gave the go-ahead to cast Stephens as the lead in a potential one-hour, primetime US television show, ''Inseparable'', to be produced by [[Shaun Cassidy]]. Billed as a modern [[Jekyll and Hyde]] story, the show was to feature a partially paralysed [[forensic psychologist]] whose other personality is a charming criminal. Stephens' casting was highly unusual, because Fox had not yet approved a script nor purchased a pilot for the show. However, in mid-May 2008, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' announced that "[b]y the time the network picked up the pilot (...) [the producers'] hold on Stephens had expired (...)"<ref>Nellie Andreeva, "Busy Pre-upfront Weekend", ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', 10 May 2008, updated 11 May 2008, Online edition. [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i5e732e045deaaba38a97b3781febda02]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130210010042/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-fox200909schedulebuzz,0,3485063.story "Pilot Buzz", ''zap2it'', 12 May 2008]</ref>

In May 2008, Stephens performed the role of [[James Bond]] in a [[BBC Radio 4]] production of [[Ian Fleming]]'s ''[[Dr. No (novel)|Dr. No]]'', as part of the centenary celebration of Fleming's birth. The production was reportedly the first BBC radio dramatisation of the novel though ''Moonraker'' was on South African radio in 1956, with [[Bob Holness]] providing the voice of Bond.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Bob_Holness | title=Bob Holness on Game Shows | access-date=14 September 2007 }}</ref> He has since appeared in a number of adaptations of other James Bond novels.{{cn|date=January 2025}} 

Also in May 2008, Stock-pot Productions announced that Stephens would have the lead role in a feature-length film entitled ''Fly Me'', co-starring [[Tim McInnerny]].<ref>[http://www.stockpotproductions.co.uk/ Stock-pot Productions Limited, Blog, 27 May 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060421050551/http://www.stockpotproductions.co.uk/ |date=21 April 2006 }}</ref> Stock-pot was the producer of ''One Day'', a short 2006 film shown at international film festivals, in which Stephens played a small part as the boss of McInnerny's character.{{cn|date=January 2025}} 

On 5 October 2008, Stephens appeared on stage at the [[London Palladium]] as part of a benefit entitled "The Story of James Bond, A Tribute to [[Ian Fleming]]". The event, organised by Fleming's niece, [[Lucy Fleming]], featured music from various James Bond films and Bond film stars reading from Fleming's Bond novels. Stephens took the part of James Bond himself in the readings.{{cn|date=January 2025}} 

In early December 2008, Stephens read from ''Coda'', the last book written by friend [[Simon Gray]], for [[BBC Radio 4]]. The excerpts from which Stephens read included Gray's description of his participation as godfather at the christening of Stephens' son Eli.{{cn|date=January 2025}} 

Early in 2009, Stephens appeared as Prince John in season 3 of the [[BBC]] series ''[[Robin Hood (2006 TV series)|Robin Hood]]''. The series aired on [[BBC America]] in the United States.{{cn|date=January 2025}}  Stephens appeared in two episodes of a six-part television series, ''[[Strike Back (TV series)|Strike Back]]'', based on the novel by [[Chris Ryan]].<ref>Dan French, "Richard Armitage for Sky1's 'Strike Back'", "Digital Spy", 24 August 2009 [http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a173500/richard-armitage-for-sky1s-strike-back.html]</ref> The series aired in May 2010.{{cn|date=January 2025}} 

In mid-2009, Stephens returned to the London stage in the [[Donmar Warehouse]] production of [[Ibsen]]'s ''[[A Doll's House]]'' alongside [[Gillian Anderson]] and [[Christopher Eccleston]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Spencer |title=A Doll's House, at the Donmar Warehouse – review |date=20 May 2009 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/charles-spencer/5354252/A-Dolls-House-at-the-Donmar-Warehouse-review.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412104732/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/charles-spencer/5354252/A-Dolls-House-at-the-Donmar-Warehouse-review.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2014 |publisher=The Telegraph |access-date=31 October 2015}}</ref>

In 2010, he starred in the made-for-television film ''The Blue Geranium'', a further sequel to the television series and films based on [[Agatha Christie]]'s [[Miss Marple]] character.<ref>"Julia McKenzie returns as the fictional sleuth Miss Marple, in her seventh film The Blue Geranium for ITV1", ITV.com, 21 January 2010 {{cite web |url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/juliamckenziereturnsasthefictionalsleuthmissmarpleinherseventhfilmthebluegeraniumforitv1/default.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131132737/http://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/juliamckenziereturnsasthefictionalsleuthmissmarpleinherseventhfilmthebluegeraniumforitv1/default.html |archive-date=31 January 2010  }}</ref> The show was broadcast in the US on [[PBS]] in June 2010. Stephens starred as a highly self-centred detective opposite [[Lucy Punch]] in a three-part comedy television series for [[BBC Two]] entitled ''[[Vexed]]''.<ref>Katherine Rushton, "Greenlit Gets First BBC Order with Cop Comedy", "Broadcast", 23 July 2009 [http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/greenlit-gets-first-bbc-order-with-cop-comedy/5003838.article]</ref>

Stephens took on a small supporting role in a short film, ''The Lost Explorer'', the directorial debut of photographer [[Tim Walker]]. The film is based on a short story by author [[Patrick McGrath (novelist)|Patrick McGrath]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dazedmagonline.com/dazedmag/201005?pg=27#pg27|title=Sam Elliott Connor, "The Lost Explorer," "Dazed & Confused," May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304154314/http://www.dazedmagonline.com/dazedmag/201005?pg=27#pg27|archive-date=4 March 2012}}</ref>

On the London stage in the spring of 2010, Stephens received outstanding reviews for his performance as Henry in a revival of [[Tom Stoppard]]'s ''[[The Real Thing (play)|The Real Thing]]'', directed by [[Anna Mackmin]] at the [[Old Vic Theatre]] in London.<ref>Leo Benedictus, "What to say about...The Real Thing", "The Guardian", 23 April 2010 [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/apr/23/the-real-thing-tom-stoppard-reviews]</ref> Of debuting at the Old Vic, where his parents performed as part of [[Laurence Olivier]]'s [[Royal National Theatre]] Company.<ref>Louise Jury, "Toby's emotional debut for classic Stoppard play", ''[[London Evening Standard]]'', 7 December 2009. {{cite web |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23780593-tobys-emotional-debut-for-classic-stoppard-play.do |title=Toby's emotional debut for classic Stoppard play &#124; News |access-date=22 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213011210/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23780593-tobys-emotional-debut-for-classic-stoppard-play.do |archive-date=13 December 2009  }}</ref>

In 2010, Stephens appeared as [[Georges Danton]] in ''[[Danton's Death]]''. The play was another debut for Stephens, this time at London's Royal National Theatre.<ref>"Slumdog's Danny Boyle Returns to the Stage as Frankenstein," Theatre News, ''[[London Evening Standard]]'', 21 January 2010. [https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/national-theatre-announce-future-productions-2010]</ref><ref>Terri Paddock, "20 Questions with... Toby Stephens," ''whatsonstage.com'' 19 November 2001. {{cite web |url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/interviews/theatre/london/E8821005841402/20+Questions+With...Toby+Stephens.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=23 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121155048/http://www.whatsonstage.com/interviews/theatre/london/E8821005841402/20+Questions+With...Toby+Stephens.html |archive-date=21 January 2010  }}</ref>

Over the years, Stephens has continued to prolifically narrate audiobooks and perform in broadcast radio dramas. In January 2011, Stephens joined other stars in narrating portions of the [[King James Version]] of the Bible for [[BBC Radio 4]] as part of a celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Bible's publication. Stephens performed the role of [[Raymond Chandler]]'s [[Philip Marlowe]] in a radio serial, which debuted in February 2011. Stephens narrated another audiobook, ''Paul Temple and the Geneva Mystery'', released in February 2011.{{cn|date=January 2025}} 

From 2014 to 2017, Stephens starred as Captain James Flint in the [[Starz]] television series ''[[Black Sails (TV series)|Black Sails]]'', a prequel to ''[[Treasure Island]],'' set in the early 18th century during the [[Golden Age of Piracy]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=13 September 2012|title=Toby Stephens Set As The Lead In Starz's Michael Bay-Produced Series 'Black Sails'|url=https://deadline.com/2012/09/toby-stephens-set-as-the-lead-in-starzs-michael-bay-produced-series-black-sails-335492/|access-date=1 November 2020|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2016, he was cast as former British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] in the film ''[[The Journey (2016 film)|The Journey]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/john-hurt-toby-stephens-freddy-highmore-the-journey-1201589815/|title=Toronto: John Hurt, Toby Stephens, Freddie Highmore Join 'The Journey'|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=10 September 2015|work=Variety|access-date=9 May 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

Between 2018 and 2021, he appeared as John Robinson in ''[[Lost in Space (2018 TV series)|Lost in Space]]'', the [[Netflix]] remake of the [[Lost in Space|1965 TV series]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title=Toby Stephens To Topline 'Lost in Space' Netflix Remake, Maxwell Jenkins To Co-Star|url=https://deadline.com/2016/09/toby-stephens-to-topline-lost-in-space-netflix-remake-maxwell-jenkins-co-stars-1201823340/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=20 September 2016|date=20 September 2016}}</ref> In 2021, he featured as Damian Cray in the second season of ''[[Alex Rider (TV series)|Alex Rider]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-02|title='Lost in Space' dad Toby Stephens turns baddie for 'Alex Rider' |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/12/02/lost-in-space-dad-toby-stephens-turns-baddie-for-alex-rider/|access-date=2021-12-06|website=Boston Herald|language=en-US}}</ref>

He appeared as the Greek God [[Poseidon]] in the series ''[[Percy Jackson and the Olympians (TV series)|Percy Jackson and the Olympians]]'', the [[Disney+]] adaption of the [[Percy Jackson & the Olympians|books by the same name]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=2023-01-26 |title='Percy Jackson' Disney+ Series Casts Lance Reddick, Toby Stephens (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/percy-jackson-disney-plus-series-cast-lance-reddick-toby-stephens-1235503230/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>