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{{short description|English actor, writer and director}}
{{Short description|English actor, writer and director (born 1957)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
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| name = Simon McBurney
| name = Simon McBurney
| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|OBE|size=100%}}
| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|OBE|size=100%}}
| image = The Encounter 5468-Michelides.jpg
| image = Simon McBurney 'The Encounter' 5468-Michelides 2015 (cropped-J1).jpg
| caption = McBurney in ''[[Loren McIntyre|The Encounter]]'', August 2015
| caption = McBurney in ''[[Loren McIntyre|The Encounter]]'' 2015
| birth_name = Simon Montagu McBurney
| birth_name = Simon Montagu McBurney
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1957|8|25}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|8|25|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Cambridge]], [[Cambridgeshire]], England
| birth_place = [[Cambridge]], England
| alma_mater = [[Peterhouse, Cambridge]]<br>[[L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq|Lecoq International School of Theatre]], Paris
| alma_mater = [[Peterhouse, Cambridge]]<br>[[L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq|Lecoq International School of Theatre]], Paris
| years_active = 1988–present
| years_active = 1988–present
| spouse = Cassie Yukawa
| spouse = Cassie Yukawa
| children = 3
| children =
| father = [[Charles McBurney (archaeologist)|Charles McBurney]]
| father = [[Charles McBurney (archaeologist)|Charles McBurney]]
| relatives = [[Gerard McBurney]] (brother) <br>
| relatives = [[Gerard McBurney]] (brother) <br>
[[Charles McBurney (surgeon)|Charles McBurney]] (great-grandfather)
[[Charles McBurney (surgeon)|Charles McBurney]] (great-grandfather)
}}
}}
'''Simon Montagu McBurney''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|OBE}} (born 25 August 1957)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=2v0HdeIXvD9K4%2BEFK12GUQ&scan=1|title=Index entry|access-date=20 January 2014|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref> is an English actor, playwright, and theatrical director. He is the founder and artistic director of the [[Complicité|Théâtre de Complicité]], London. He has had roles in the films ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'', ''[[Friends with Money]]'', ''[[The Last King of Scotland (film)|The Last King of Scotland]]'', ''[[The Golden Compass (film)|The Golden Compass]]'', ''[[The Duchess (film)|The Duchess]]'', ''[[Robin Hood (2010 film)|Robin Hood]]'', ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1]]'', ''[[Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (film)|Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy]]'', ''[[Magic in the Moonlight]]'', ''[[The Theory of Everything (2014 film)|The Theory of Everything]]'', and ''[[Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation]]''. He played Cecil the choirmaster in BBC's ''[[The Vicar of Dibley]]''.
'''Simon Montagu McBurney''' (born 25 August 1957) is an English actor, playwright, and theatre and opera director. He is the founder and artistic director of the [[Complicité|Théâtre de Complicité]], London. He has had roles in the films ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'' (2004), ''[[Friends with Money]]'', ''[[The Last King of Scotland (film)|The Last King of Scotland]]'' (both 2006), ''[[The Golden Compass (film)|The Golden Compass]]'' (2007), ''[[The Duchess (film)|The Duchess]]'' (2008), ''[[Robin Hood (2010 film)|Robin Hood]]'', ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1]]'' (both 2010), ''[[Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (film)|Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy]]'' (2011), ''[[Magic in the Moonlight]]'', ''[[The Theory of Everything (2014 film)|The Theory of Everything]]'' (both 2014), ''[[Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation]]'' (2015) and ''[[Nosferatu (2024 film)|Nosferatu]]'' (2024). He played Cecil the choirmaster in BBC's ''[[The Vicar of Dibley]]'' (1994–2004).


==Early life==
==Early life==
McBurney was born in [[Cambridge]], England. His father, [[Charles McBurney (archaeologist)|Charles McBurney]], was an American archaeologist and academic of [[Scottish people|Scottish]] descent. His paternal great-grandfather was American surgeon [[Charles McBurney (surgeon)|Charles McBurney]], who was credited with describing the medical sign [[McBurney's point]]. Simon McBurney's mother, Anne Francis Edmondstone (née Charles), was a British secretary of English, Scottish and Irish ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/sep/11/a-life-in-theatre-simon-mcburney|title=A life in theatre: Simon McBurney|work=[[The Guardian]]|first=Maddy|last=Costa|date=11 September 2010}}</ref> His parents were distant cousins who met during [[World War II]].<ref name="Profile">{{cite web|url=http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1381383,00.html|title=Anarchy in the UK - Profile: Simon McBurney|work=[[The Guardian]]|first=John|last=O'Mahony|date=1 January 2005}}</ref> His older brother is composer and writer [[Gerard McBurney]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gerard McBurney {{!}} British Youth Music Theatre|url=https://britishyouthmusictheatre.org/our-people/gerard-mcburney|access-date=7 July 2020|website=britishyouthmusictheatre.org}}</ref>
McBurney was born on 25 August 1957<ref>{{cite web |title=Playbill Vault's Today in Theatre History: August 25 |url=https://playbill.com/article/playbill-vaults-today-in-theatre-history-august-25-com-107870 |website=[[Playbill]] |access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Wiśniewski |first=Tomasz |title=Complicite, Theatre and Aesthetics From Scraps of Leather |date=27 October 2016 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=9783319334431 |page=58 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BqNlDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA58}}</ref> in [[Cambridge]], England. His father, [[Charles McBurney (archaeologist)|Charles McBurney]], was an American archaeologist and academic of [[Scottish people|Scottish]] descent. His paternal great-grandfather was American surgeon [[Charles McBurney (surgeon)|Charles McBurney]], who was credited with describing the medical sign [[McBurney's point]]. Simon McBurney's mother, Anne Francis Edmondstone (née Charles), was a British secretary of English, Scottish and Irish ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/sep/11/a-life-in-theatre-simon-mcburney|title=A life in theatre: Simon McBurney|work=[[The Guardian]]|first=Maddy|last=Costa|date=11 September 2010}}</ref> His parents were distant cousins who met during [[World War II]].<ref name="Profile">{{cite web|url=http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1381383,00.html|title=Anarchy in the UK - Profile: Simon McBurney|work=[[The Guardian]]|first=John|last=O'Mahony|date=1 January 2005}}</ref> His older brother is composer and writer [[Gerard McBurney]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gerard McBurney {{!}} British Youth Music Theatre|url=https://britishyouthmusictheatre.org/our-people/gerard-mcburney|access-date=7 July 2020|website=britishyouthmusictheatre.org}}</ref>


He studied [[English literature]] at [[Peterhouse, Cambridge|Peterhouse]], [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], graduating in 1980. After his father died, he moved to [[Paris]] and trained for the theatre at the [[L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq|Jacques Lecoq Institute]].<ref name="Profile" />
He studied [[English literature]] at [[Peterhouse, Cambridge|Peterhouse]], [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], graduating in 1980. He moved to [[Paris]] and trained for the theatre at the [[L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq|Jacques Lecoq Institute]].<ref name="Profile" />


==Career==
==Career==
[[File:The Encounter 3610-Peralta.jpg|thumb|right|200px|McBurney at the [[Edinburgh International Festival]] on 6 August 2015]] McBurney is a founder and artistic director of the UK-based theatre company [[Complicite]], which performs throughout the world.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thorpe|first=Vanessa|title=Sophie Hunter: The Opera Director Who Has to Dodge Paparazzie|url=http://sophiehunter.net/post/123849640525/sophie-hunter-the-opera-director-who-has-to-dodge|publisher=Sophie Hunter Central}}</ref> In 1997 he was awarded the [[Europe Theatre Prize|Europe Prize Theatrical Realities]], with the [[Complicité|Théâtre de Complicité]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Europe Theatre Prize - V Edition - Reasons |url=https://archivio.premioeuropa.org/open_page.php%EF%B9%96id=738.html |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=archivio.premioeuropa.org}}</ref> He directed their productions of ''Street of Crocodiles'' (1992); ''The Three Lives of Lucie Cabrol'' (1994), which was adapted from the [[John Berger]] trilogy ''Into Their Labors''; ''[[To the Wedding]]'' (another Berger collaboration); ''[[Mnemonic (play)|Mnemonic]]'' (1999); ''[[The Elephant Vanishes]]'' (2003); ''[[A Disappearing Number]]'' (2007); ''A Dog's Heart'' (2010); ''[[The Master and Margarita]]'' (2011), and ''[[The Kid Stays in the Picture#Stage production|The Kid Stays in the Picture]]'' (2017).
[[File:The Encounter 3610-Peralta.jpg|thumb|right|200px|McBurney at the [[Edinburgh International Festival]] on 6 August 2015]] McBurney is a founder and artistic director of the UK-based theatre company [[Complicité]], which performs throughout the world.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thorpe|first=Vanessa|title=Sophie Hunter: The Opera Director Who Has to Dodge Paparazzie|url=http://sophiehunter.net/post/123849640525/sophie-hunter-the-opera-director-who-has-to-dodge|publisher=Sophie Hunter Central}}</ref> In 1997 he was awarded the [[Europe Theatre Prize|Europe Prize Theatrical Realities]], with the [[Complicité|Théâtre de Complicité]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Europe Theatre Prize - V Edition - Reasons |url=https://archivio.premioeuropa.org/open_page.php%EF%B9%96id=738.html |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=archivio.premioeuropa.org}}</ref> He directed their productions of ''Street of Crocodiles'' (1992); ''The Three Lives of Lucie Cabrol'' (1994), which was adapted from the [[John Berger]] trilogy ''Into Their Labours''; ''[[To the Wedding]]'' (another Berger collaboration); ''[[Mnemonic (play)|Mnemonic]]'' (1999); ''[[The Elephant Vanishes]]'' (2003); ''[[A Disappearing Number]]'' (2007); ''A Dog's Heart'' (2010); ''[[The Master and Margarita]]'' (2011), and ''[[The Kid Stays in the Picture#Stage production|The Kid Stays in the Picture]]'' (2017).


''[[A Disappearing Number]]'' was a devised piece conceived and directed by McBurney, taking as its inspiration the story of the collaboration between two of the 20th century's most remarkable pure mathematicians, the Indian genius [[Srinivasa Ramanujan]], and Cambridge don [[G.H. Hardy]].<ref>[http://www.barbican.org.uk/theatre/event-detail.asp?ID=4928 A Disappearing Number at the Barbican]</ref> It played at the [[Barbican Arts Centre|Barbican]] in autumn 2008 and toured internationally. In February 2009, McBurney directed the Complicite production ''Shun-kin'', based on two texts by [[Jun'ichiro Tanizaki]]. It was produced in London and Tokyo in 2010.
''[[A Disappearing Number]]'' was a devised piece conceived and directed by McBurney, taking as its inspiration the story of the collaboration between two of the 20th century's most remarkable pure mathematicians, the Indian genius [[Srinivasa Ramanujan]], and Cambridge don [[G. H. Hardy]].<ref>[http://www.barbican.org.uk/theatre/event-detail.asp?ID=4928 A Disappearing Number at the Barbican]</ref> It played at the [[Barbican Arts Centre|Barbican]] in autumn 2008 and toured internationally. In February 2009, McBurney directed the Complicité production ''Shun-kin'', based on two texts by [[Jun'ichiro Tanizaki]]. It was produced in London and Tokyo in 2010.


On a freelance basis, McBurney directed the following: ''[[The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui]]'' and ''[[All My Sons]]'' (2008) (both in New York City), and live comedy shows, including [[Lenny Henry]]'s ''So Much Things To Say'' and [[French and Saunders]]' ''Live in 2000''.
On a freelance basis, McBurney directed the following: ''[[The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui]]'' and ''[[All My Sons]]'' (2008) (both in New York City), and live comedy shows, including [[Lenny Henry]]'s ''So Much Things To Say'' and [[French and Saunders]]' ''Live in 2000''.
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McBurney is an established screen actor. He played the recurring role of Cecil the choirmaster in ''[[The Vicar of Dibley]]'', CIA computer whiz Garland in ''[[Body of Lies (film)|Body of Lies]]'', Dr. Atticus Noyle in ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'' (2004), British diplomat Nigel Stone in ''[[The Last King of Scotland (film)|The Last King of Scotland]]'', the [[metrosexual]] husband Aaron in ''[[Friends with Money]]'', Fra Pavel in ''[[The Golden Compass (film)|The Golden Compass]]'', [[Charles James Fox]] in ''[[The Duchess (film)|The Duchess]]'', and Oliver Lacon in ''[[Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (film)|Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy]]''. He also wrote the story and was an executive producer for ''[[Mr. Bean's Holiday]]''.
McBurney is an established screen actor. He played the recurring role of Cecil the choirmaster in ''[[The Vicar of Dibley]]'', CIA computer whiz Garland in ''[[Body of Lies (film)|Body of Lies]]'', Dr. Atticus Noyle in ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'' (2004), British diplomat Nigel Stone in ''[[The Last King of Scotland (film)|The Last King of Scotland]]'', the [[metrosexual]] husband Aaron in ''[[Friends with Money]]'', Fra Pavel in ''[[The Golden Compass (film)|The Golden Compass]]'', [[Charles James Fox]] in ''[[The Duchess (film)|The Duchess]]'', and Oliver Lacon in ''[[Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (film)|Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy]]''. He also wrote the story and was an executive producer for ''[[Mr. Bean's Holiday]]''.


From 2010 to 2014, he appeared in the [[BBC]] comedy television series ''[[Rev. (TV series)|Rev.]]'', portraying the role of Archdeacon Robert. McBurney provided the voice of [[Magical creatures in Harry Potter#Kreacher|Kreacher]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1]]'' (2010). In the series ''[[The Borgias (2011 TV series)|The Borgias]]'', he portrayed the canon law expert [[Johann Burchard|Johannes Burchart]]. He is the Artiste Associé of the 66th [[Festival d'Avignon]] (2012). He starred in ''The Encounter'', about photographer [[Loren McIntyre]] becoming lost in the Javari Valley in Brazil and his experiences with locals, which premiered at the 2015 [[Edinburgh International Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eif.co.uk/2015/encounter#.VdJg3flVhHw|title=The Encounter|publisher=Edinburgh International Festival}}</ref> In July 2015, he starred as Atlee, the director of [[MI6]] in the film ''[[Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation]]'', and in 2016, he portrayed paranormal investigator [[Maurice Grosse]] in the horror film sequel ''[[The Conjuring 2]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/2015/film/news/conjuring-2-simon-mcburney-harry-potter-1201595946/|title='Harry Potter' Actor Simon McBurney Joins 'Conjuring 2' (EXCLUSIVE)|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=17 September 2015}}</ref>
From 2010 to 2014, he appeared in the [[BBC]] comedy television series ''[[Rev. (TV series)|Rev.]]'', portraying the role of Archdeacon Robert. McBurney provided the voice of [[Magical creatures in Harry Potter#Kreacher|Kreacher]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1]]'' (2010). In the series ''[[The Borgias (2011 TV series)|The Borgias]]'', he portrayed the canon law expert [[Johann Burchard|Johannes Burchart]]. He is the Artiste Associé of the 66th [[Festival d'Avignon]] (2012). He starred in ''The Encounter'', about photographer [[Loren McIntyre]] becoming lost in the Javari Valley in Brazil and his experiences with locals, which premiered at the 2015 [[Edinburgh International Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eif.co.uk/2015/encounter#.VdJg3flVhHw|title=The Encounter|publisher=Edinburgh International Festival}}</ref> In July 2015, he starred as Atlee, the director of [[MI6]] in the film ''[[Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation]]'', and in 2016, he portrayed paranormal investigator [[Maurice Grosse]] in the horror film sequel ''[[The Conjuring 2]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/2015/film/news/conjuring-2-simon-mcburney-harry-potter-1201595946/|title='Harry Potter' Actor Simon McBurney Joins 'Conjuring 2' (Exclusive)|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=17 September 2015}}</ref>


In 2013, he directed the [[English National Opera]] production of Mozart's ''[[The Magic Flute]]'' at the [[London Coliseum]],<ref>{{cite news |title=The Magic Flute - review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/nov/10/magic-flute-simon-mcburney-eno-review|access-date=30 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=10 November 2013}}</ref> and the same opera at the New York [[Metropolitan Opera]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=This 'Magic Flute' Has Ringtones, Bird Tracks and a Foley Artist |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/18/arts/music/die-zauberflote-simon-mcburney-metropolitan-opera.html|access-date=30 September 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=18 May 2023}}</ref>
⚫
In September 2019, the Complicité production of ''The Encounter'' was ranked by ''[[The Guardian]]'' writers as the 13th best theatre show since 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Billington|first=Michael|last2=Soloski|first2=Alexis|last3=Love|first3=Catherine|last4=Fisher|first4=Mark|last5=Wiegand|first5=Chris|date=17 September 2019|title=The 50 best theatre shows of the 21st century|language=en|newspaper=The Guardian|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/sep/17/the-50-best-theatre-shows-of-the-21st-century|url-status=live|access-date=17 February 2021}}</ref>

⚫
In September 2019, the Complicité production of ''The Encounter'' was ranked by ''[[The Guardian]]'' writers as the 13th best theatre show since 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Billington|first1=Michael|last2=Soloski|first2=Alexis|last3=Love|first3=Catherine|last4=Fisher|first4=Mark|last5=Wiegand|first5=Chris|date=17 September 2019|title=The 50 best theatre shows of the 21st century|language=en|newspaper=The Guardian|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/sep/17/the-50-best-theatre-shows-of-the-21st-century|access-date=17 February 2021}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
In 2007, he met concert pianist Cassandra "Cassie" Yukawa.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Costa|first=Maddy|date=10 September 2010|title=A life in theatre: Simon McBurney|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/sep/11/a-life-in-theatre-simon-mcburney|access-date=7 July 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Fingleton|first=Eamonn|title=Wronged?: An Unwed English Mother, A Flinty Japanese Employer, And History's Worst Plane Crash|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/eamonnfingleton/2015/08/16/wronged-an-unwed-english-mother-a-flinty-japanese-employer-and-historys-worst-plane-crash/|access-date=7 July 2020|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> They have since married, and reside in [[Stroud]], [[Gloucestershire]], with their three children, having previously lived in [[north London]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-simon-mcburney-amp-kathryn-hunter-2347009.html|work=The Independent|title=How We Met: Simon McBurney and Kathryn Hunter|first=Adam|last=Jacques|date=20 September 2011}}</ref> His sister-in-law is violinist [[Diana Yukawa|Diane Yukawa]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ward|first=David|date=8 March 2002|title=Air crash payout after 17 years|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/mar/08/japan.davidward|access-date=7 July 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
In 2007, he met concert pianist Cassandra "Cassie" Yukawa.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Costa|first=Maddy|date=10 September 2010|title=A life in theatre: Simon McBurney|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/sep/11/a-life-in-theatre-simon-mcburney|access-date=7 July 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Fingleton|first=Eamonn|title=Wronged?: An Unwed English Mother, A Flinty Japanese Employer, And History's Worst Plane Crash|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/eamonnfingleton/2015/08/16/wronged-an-unwed-english-mother-a-flinty-japanese-employer-and-historys-worst-plane-crash/|access-date=7 July 2020|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> They previously lived in [[north London]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-simon-mcburney-amp-kathryn-hunter-2347009.html|work=The Independent|title=How We Met: Simon McBurney and Kathryn Hunter|first=Adam|last=Jacques|date=20 September 2011}}</ref> His sister-in-law is violinist [[Diana Yukawa|Diane Yukawa]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ward|first=David|date=8 March 2002|title=Air crash payout after 17 years|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/mar/08/japan.davidward|access-date=7 July 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>


In the [[2005 New Year Honours]], McBurney was appointed [[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) "for services to Drama".<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=57509|date=31 December 2004|page=12 |supp=y}}</ref> He is an Ambassador for [[Survival International]], the global movement for tribal peoples' rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.survivalinternational.org/news/11558|work=Survival International|title=Actor and director Simon McBurney becomes Survival International Ambassador|date=2 February 2017}}</ref>
In the [[2005 New Year Honours]], McBurney was appointed [[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) "for services to Drama".<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=57509|date=31 December 2004|page=12 |supp=y}}</ref> He is an Ambassador for [[Survival International]], the global movement for tribal peoples' rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.survivalinternational.org/news/11558|work=Survival International|title=Actor and director Simon McBurney becomes Survival International Ambassador|date=2 February 2017}}</ref>
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|rowspan=4| 1994
| rowspan="4"|1994
| ''[[A Business Affair]]''
| ''[[A Business Affair]]''
| Salesman
| Salesman
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| 1999
| 1999
| ''[[Onegin (film)|Onegin]]''
| ''[[Onegin (1999 film)|Onegin]]''
| Monsieur Triquet
| Monsieur Triquet
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|rowspan=3| 2003
| rowspan="2"|2003
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| ''[[The Reckoning (2003 film)|The Reckoning]]''
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| Stephen
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|-
| ''[[Bright Young Things (film)|Bright Young Things]]''
| ''[[Bright Young Things (film)|Bright Young Things]]''
| Sneath (Photo-Rat)
| Sneath (Photo-Rat)
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|rowspan=2| 2004
| rowspan="3"|2004
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| ''[[The Reckoning (2004 film)|The Reckoning]]''
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| Stephen
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|
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|-
| ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]''
| ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]''
| Dr. Atticus Noyle
| Dr. Atticus Noyle
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|rowspan=2| 2006
| rowspan="2"|2006
| ''[[Friends with Money]]''
| ''[[Friends with Money]]''
| Aaron
| Aaron
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|-
|-
|rowspan=2| 2008
| rowspan="2"|2008
| ''[[Body of Lies (film)|Body of Lies]]''
| ''[[Body of Lies (film)|Body of Lies]]''
| Garland
| Garland
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|-
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|rowspan=2| 2010
| rowspan="2"|2010
| ''[[Robin Hood (2010 film)|Robin Hood]]''
| ''[[Robin Hood (2010 film)|Robin Hood]]''
| Father Tancred
| Father Tancred
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| Voice
| Voice
|-
|-
|rowspan=2| 2011
| rowspan="2"|2011
| ''[[Jane Eyre (2011 film)|Jane Eyre]]''
| ''[[Jane Eyre (2011 film)|Jane Eyre]]''
| Mr. Brocklehurst
| Mr. Brocklehurst
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|rowspan=2| 2014
| rowspan="2"|2014
| ''[[Magic in the Moonlight]]''
| ''[[Magic in the Moonlight]]''
| Howard Burkan
| Howard Burkan
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|-
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|rowspan=2| 2016
| rowspan="2"|2016
| ''[[The Conjuring 2]]''
| ''[[The Conjuring 2]]''
| [[Maurice Grosse]]
| [[Maurice Grosse]]
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|2018
| 2018
|''[[The Mercy]]''
| ''[[The Mercy]]''
|[[Sir Francis Chichester]]
| [[Sir Francis Chichester]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2020
| rowspan="2"|2020
|''[[Siberia (2020 film)|Siberia]]''
| ''[[Siberia (2020 film)|Siberia]]''
|Magician
| Magician
|
|
|-
|-
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| ''[[Wolfwalkers]]''
|2020
⚫
| Lord Protector [[Oliver Cromwell]]
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|''[[Wolfwalkers]]''
⚫
|Lord Protector [[Oliver Cromwell]]
| Voice
| Voice
|-
|-
|2022
| 2022
|''[[The Pale Blue Eye]]''
| ''[[The Pale Blue Eye]]''
|Captain Hitchcock
| Captain Hitchcock
|
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|-
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| rowspan="2"|2024
| TBA
| ''[[The Actor (upcoming film)|The Actor]]''
| ''[[A Mistake (film)|A Mistake]]''
| Andrew McGrath
⚫
|
|-
| ''[[Nosferatu (2024 film)|Nosferatu]]''
⚫
| Herr Knock
|
|
⚫
| Post-production
|-
|-
| {{TableTBA}}
| TBA
| ''[[Nosferatu (upcoming film)|Nosferatu]]''
| ''[[The Actor (upcoming film)|The Actor]]''
| {{TableTBA}}
⚫
|Herr Knock
⚫
| Post-production
| Filming
|}
|}


Line 248: Line 253:
| Episode: "Man of the People"
| Episode: "Man of the People"
|-
|-
| 1992–1993
| 1992–93
| ''[[The Comic Strip|The Comic Strip Presents]]''
| ''[[The Comic Strip|The Comic Strip Presents]]''
| Mick / Madman
| Mick / Madman
Line 273: Line 278:
| Episode: "Death of a Stranger"
| Episode: "Death of a Stranger"
|-
|-
| 2010–2014
| 2010–14
| ''[[Rev. (TV series)|Rev.]]''
| ''[[Rev. (TV series)|Rev.]]''
| Archdeacon Robert
| Archdeacon Robert
| 19 episodes
| 19 episodes
|-
|-
| 2011–2013
| 2011–13
| ''[[The Borgias (2011 TV series)|The Borgias]]''
| ''[[The Borgias (2011 TV series)|The Borgias]]''
| [[Johann Burchard|Johannes Burchart]]
| [[Johann Burchard|Johannes Burchart]]
Line 284: Line 289:
|-
|-
| 2013
| 2013
| ''[[Utopia (UK TV series)|Utopia]]''
| ''[[Utopia (British TV series)|Utopia]]''
| Christian Donaldson
| Christian Donaldson
| 3 episodes
| 3 episodes
Line 298: Line 303:
| Miniseries; 3 episodes
| Miniseries; 3 episodes
|-
|-
|rowspan=2| 2019-2023
| 2019
⚫
| ''[[Carnival Row]]''
⚫
| Runyan Millworthy<ref>{{cite web|last1=Petski|first1=Denise|title='Carnival Row' Casts Simon McBurney; Jonny Coyne Joins 'The Blacklist'|url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/carnival-row-casts-simon-mcburney-jonny-coyne-the-blacklist-1202184528/|website=Deadline|access-date=15 December 2017|date=9 October 2017}}</ref>
| Recurring
⚫
|-
| ''[[The Loudest Voice]]''
| ''[[The Loudest Voice]]''
| [[Rupert Murdoch]]
| [[Rupert Murdoch]]
| Miniseries
|-
| 2019–2023
⚫
| ''[[Carnival Row]]''
| Runyan Millworthy
⚫
| Recurring<ref>{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|title='Carnival Row' Casts Simon McBurney; Jonny Coyne Joins 'The Blacklist'|url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/carnival-row-casts-simon-mcburney-jonny-coyne-the-blacklist-1202184528/|website=Deadline|access-date=15 December 2017|date=9 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Hijack (TV series)|Hijack]]''
| Edgar
| Miniseries
| Miniseries
|}
|}


==Accolades==
==Accolades==
* 1997: [[Europe Theatre Prize|Europe Prize Theatrical Realities]] (with the [[Théâtre de Complicité]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=V EDIZIONE |url=https://www.premioeuropa.org/v-edizione/ |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=Premio Europa per il Teatro |language=it-IT}}</ref>
* 1997: [[Europe Theatre Prize|Europe Prize Theatrical Realities]] (with the [[Théâtre de Complicité]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=V Edizione |url=https://www.premioeuropa.org/v-edizione/ |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=Premio Europa per il Teatro |language=it-IT}}</ref>
* 1998: [[Laurence Olivier Award]] (''Best Choreography'' for "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" ("[[Der kaukasische Kreidekreis]]"), [[Royal National Theatre]], Olivier Stage, [[London]])
* 1998: [[Laurence Olivier Award]] (''Best Choreography'' for "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" ("[[Der kaukasische Kreidekreis]]"), [[Royal National Theatre]], Olivier Stage, [[London]])
* 1999: [[Critics' Circle Theatre Award]] (''Best new play'' for "Mnemonic" at the Riverside Theatre)
* 1999: [[Critics' Circle Theatre Award]] (''Best new play'' for "Mnemonic" at the Riverside Theatre)
Line 321: Line 332:


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|564402}}
* {{IMDb name|564402}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IBDB name}}
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[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English people of American descent]]
[[Category:British people of American descent]]
[[Category:English people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:English people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
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[[Category:English theatre directors]]
[[Category:English theatre directors]]
[[Category:Laurence Olivier Award winners]]
[[Category:Laurence Olivier Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Cambridge]]
[[Category:Male actors from Cambridge]]
[[Category:Alumni of Peterhouse, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Alumni of Peterhouse, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Male actors from Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century English male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century English male actors]]

Latest revision as of 22:22, 6 January 2025

Simon McBurney
OBE
McBurney in The Encounter 2015
Born
Simon Montagu McBurney

(1957-08-25) 25 August 1957 (age 67)
Cambridge, England
Alma materPeterhouse, Cambridge
Lecoq International School of Theatre, Paris
Years active1988–present
SpouseCassie Yukawa
FatherCharles McBurney
RelativesGerard McBurney (brother)
Charles McBurney (great-grandfather)

Simon Montagu McBurney (born 25 August 1957) is an English actor, playwright, and theatre and opera director. He is the founder and artistic director of the Théâtre de Complicité, London. He has had roles in the films The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Friends with Money, The Last King of Scotland (both 2006), The Golden Compass (2007), The Duchess (2008), Robin Hood, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (both 2010), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), Magic in the Moonlight, The Theory of Everything (both 2014), Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) and Nosferatu (2024). He played Cecil the choirmaster in BBC's The Vicar of Dibley (1994–2004).

Early life

[edit]

McBurney was born on 25 August 1957[1][2] in Cambridge, England. His father, Charles McBurney, was an American archaeologist and academic of Scottish descent. His paternal great-grandfather was American surgeon Charles McBurney, who was credited with describing the medical sign McBurney's point. Simon McBurney's mother, Anne Francis Edmondstone (née Charles), was a British secretary of English, Scottish and Irish ancestry.[3] His parents were distant cousins who met during World War II.[4] His older brother is composer and writer Gerard McBurney.[5]

He studied English literature at Peterhouse, Cambridge, graduating in 1980. He moved to Paris and trained for the theatre at the Jacques Lecoq Institute.[4]

Career

[edit]
McBurney at the Edinburgh International Festival on 6 August 2015

McBurney is a founder and artistic director of the UK-based theatre company Complicité, which performs throughout the world.[6] In 1997 he was awarded the Europe Prize Theatrical Realities, with the Théâtre de Complicité.[7] He directed their productions of Street of Crocodiles (1992); The Three Lives of Lucie Cabrol (1994), which was adapted from the John Berger trilogy Into Their Labours; To the Wedding (another Berger collaboration); Mnemonic (1999); The Elephant Vanishes (2003); A Disappearing Number (2007); A Dog's Heart (2010); The Master and Margarita (2011), and The Kid Stays in the Picture (2017).

A Disappearing Number was a devised piece conceived and directed by McBurney, taking as its inspiration the story of the collaboration between two of the 20th century's most remarkable pure mathematicians, the Indian genius Srinivasa Ramanujan, and Cambridge don G. H. Hardy.[8] It played at the Barbican in autumn 2008 and toured internationally. In February 2009, McBurney directed the Complicité production Shun-kin, based on two texts by Jun'ichiro Tanizaki. It was produced in London and Tokyo in 2010.

On a freelance basis, McBurney directed the following: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and All My Sons (2008) (both in New York City), and live comedy shows, including Lenny Henry's So Much Things To Say and French and Saunders' Live in 2000.

McBurney is an established screen actor. He played the recurring role of Cecil the choirmaster in The Vicar of Dibley, CIA computer whiz Garland in Body of Lies, Dr. Atticus Noyle in The Manchurian Candidate (2004), British diplomat Nigel Stone in The Last King of Scotland, the metrosexual husband Aaron in Friends with Money, Fra Pavel in The Golden Compass, Charles James Fox in The Duchess, and Oliver Lacon in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. He also wrote the story and was an executive producer for Mr. Bean's Holiday.

From 2010 to 2014, he appeared in the BBC comedy television series Rev., portraying the role of Archdeacon Robert. McBurney provided the voice of Kreacher in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010). In the series The Borgias, he portrayed the canon law expert Johannes Burchart. He is the Artiste Associé of the 66th Festival d'Avignon (2012). He starred in The Encounter, about photographer Loren McIntyre becoming lost in the Javari Valley in Brazil and his experiences with locals, which premiered at the 2015 Edinburgh International Festival.[9] In July 2015, he starred as Atlee, the director of MI6 in the film Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, and in 2016, he portrayed paranormal investigator Maurice Grosse in the horror film sequel The Conjuring 2.[10]

In 2013, he directed the English National Opera production of Mozart's The Magic Flute at the London Coliseum,[11] and the same opera at the New York Metropolitan Opera in 2023.[12]

In September 2019, the Complicité production of The Encounter was ranked by The Guardian writers as the 13th best theatre show since 2000.[13]

Personal life

[edit]

In 2007, he met concert pianist Cassandra "Cassie" Yukawa.[14][15] They previously lived in north London.[16] His sister-in-law is violinist Diane Yukawa.[17]

In the 2005 New Year Honours, McBurney was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to Drama".[18] He is an Ambassador for Survival International, the global movement for tribal peoples' rights.[19]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1991 Kafka Assistant Oscar
1994 A Business Affair Salesman
Being Human Hermas
Tom & Viv Dr. Reginald Miller
Mesmer Franz
1996 The Ogre Brigadier
1997 The Caucasian Chalk Circle Azdak the Judge Video
1998 Cousin Bette Vauvinet
1999 Onegin Monsieur Triquet
2000 Eisenstein Sergei Eisenstein
2003 Bright Young Things Sneath (Photo-Rat)
Skagerrak Thomas
2004 The Reckoning Stephen
The Manchurian Candidate Dr. Atticus Noyle
Human Touch Bernard
2006 Friends with Money Aaron
The Last King of Scotland Nigel Stone
2007 The Golden Compass Fra Pavel
2008 Body of Lies Garland
The Duchess Charles James Fox
2009 Boogie Woogie Robert Freign
2010 Robin Hood Father Tancred
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Kreacher Voice
2011 Jane Eyre Mr. Brocklehurst
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Oliver Lacon
2013 For Those Who Can Tell No Tales Tim Clancy
2014 Magic in the Moonlight Howard Burkan
The Theory of Everything Frank Hawking
2015 Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation Director Atlee
2016 The Conjuring 2 Maurice Grosse
Allied S.O.E. Official
2018 The Mercy Sir Francis Chichester
2020 Siberia Magician
Wolfwalkers Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell Voice
2022 The Pale Blue Eye Captain Hitchcock
2024 A Mistake Andrew McGrath
Nosferatu Herr Knock
TBA The Actor TBA Post-production

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1988 Screenplay Martin Episode: "Burning Ambition"
1989 The Two of Us The Man Episode: "Trust"
1992 The Bill Shaun Anderton Episode: "Man of the People"
1992–1993 The Comic Strip Presents Mick / Madman 2 episodes
1994–2004 The Vicar of Dibley Choirmaster Cecil 4 episodes
1995 Performance Ancient Pistol Episode: "Henry IV"
1996 Absolutely Fabulous Conductor Episode: "The Last Shout (Part 1)"
1999 Midsomer Murders Henry Carstairs Episode: "Death of a Stranger"
2010–2014 Rev. Archdeacon Robert 19 episodes
2011–2013 The Borgias Johannes Burchart 6 episodes
2013 Utopia Christian Donaldson 3 episodes
2014 Knifeman Houdyshell Unsold pilot
2015 The Casual Vacancy Colin "Cubby" Wall Miniseries; 3 episodes
2019 The Loudest Voice Rupert Murdoch Miniseries
2019–2023 Carnival Row Runyan Millworthy Recurring[20]
2023 Hijack Edgar Miniseries

Accolades

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Playbill Vault's Today in Theatre History: August 25". Playbill. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  2. ^ Wiśniewski, Tomasz (27 October 2016). Complicite, Theatre and Aesthetics From Scraps of Leather. Springer International Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 9783319334431.
  3. ^ Costa, Maddy (11 September 2010). "A life in theatre: Simon McBurney". The Guardian.
  4. ^ a b O'Mahony, John (1 January 2005). "Anarchy in the UK - Profile: Simon McBurney". The Guardian.
  5. ^ "Gerard McBurney | British Youth Music Theatre". britishyouthmusictheatre.org. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  6. ^ Thorpe, Vanessa. "Sophie Hunter: The Opera Director Who Has to Dodge Paparazzie". Sophie Hunter Central.
  7. ^ "Europe Theatre Prize - V Edition - Reasons". archivio.premioeuropa.org. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  8. ^ A Disappearing Number at the Barbican
  9. ^ "The Encounter". Edinburgh International Festival.
  10. ^ Kroll, Justin (17 September 2015). "'Harry Potter' Actor Simon McBurney Joins 'Conjuring 2' (Exclusive)". Variety.
  11. ^ "The Magic Flute - review". The Guardian. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  12. ^ "This 'Magic Flute' Has Ringtones, Bird Tracks and a Foley Artist". The New York Times. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  13. ^ Billington, Michael; Soloski, Alexis; Love, Catherine; Fisher, Mark; Wiegand, Chris (17 September 2019). "The 50 best theatre shows of the 21st century". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  14. ^ Costa, Maddy (10 September 2010). "A life in theatre: Simon McBurney". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  15. ^ Fingleton, Eamonn. "Wronged?: An Unwed English Mother, A Flinty Japanese Employer, And History's Worst Plane Crash". Forbes. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  16. ^ Jacques, Adam (20 September 2011). "How We Met: Simon McBurney and Kathryn Hunter". The Independent.
  17. ^ Ward, David (8 March 2002). "Air crash payout after 17 years". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  18. ^ "No. 57509". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2004. p. 12.
  19. ^ "Actor and director Simon McBurney becomes Survival International Ambassador". Survival International. 2 February 2017.
  20. ^ Petski, Denise (9 October 2017). "'Carnival Row' Casts Simon McBurney; Jonny Coyne Joins 'The Blacklist'". Deadline. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  21. ^ "V Edizione". Premio Europa per il Teatro (in Italian). Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  22. ^ Wildermann, Patrick (21 October 2008). "Bitte schnell was trinken". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Berlin. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simon McBurney.
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