Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons (born 19 September 1948) is an English actor and activist. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969 and has appeared in many West End theatre productions, including the Shakespeare plays The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew and Richard II. In 1984, he made his Broadway debut in Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing, receiving the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. Irons's break-out role came in the ITV series Brideshead Revisited (1981) and is frequently ranked among the greatest British television dramas as well as greatest literary adaptations. It would earn him a Golden Globe Award nomination. His first major film role came in the romantic drama The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor. After starring in dramas, such as Moonlighting (1982), Betrayal (1983), and The Mission (1986), he was praised for portraying twin gynaecologists in David Cronenberg's psychological thriller Dead Ringers (1988). Irons has won multiple awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his portrayal of the accused attempted murderer Claus von Bülow in Reversal of Fortune (1990). Irons had roles in Steven Soderbergh's mystery thriller Kafka (1991), the period drama The House of the Spirits (1993), the romantic drama M. Butterfly (1993), voiced Scar in Disney's The Lion King (1994), played Simon Gruber in the action film Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Humbert Humbert in Lolita (1997) and Aramis in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998). He starred in the action adventure Dungeons & Dragons (2000), played Antonio in The Merchant of Venice (2004), appeared in Being Julia (2004), the historical drama Kingdom of Heaven (2005), the fantasy-adventure Eragon (2006), the Western Appaloosa (2008), and the indie drama Margin Call (2011). In 2016, he appeared in Assassin's Creed and portrayed Alfred Pennyworth in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League (2017), and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021). On television, Irons appeared in the historical miniseries Elizabeth I, receiving a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor. From 2011 to 2013, he starred as Pope Alexander VI in the Showtime historical series The Borgias. In 2019, he appeared as Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias in HBO's Watchmen. He is one of the few actors who have achieved the "Triple Crown of Acting" in the US, winning an Oscar for film, an Emmy for television and a Tony Award for theatre. In October 2011, he was nominated the Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Known For
Credits
- 2025 · The Count of Monte Cristo as Abbé Faria
- 2024 · The Beekeeper as Wallace Westwyld
- 2023 · Once Upon a Studio as Scar (voice)
- 2023 · The Flash as Alfred Pennyworth
- 2021 · Munich – The Edge of War as Neville Chamberlain
- 2021 · Marina Cicogna - La vita e tutto il resto as Self
- 2021 · Zack Snyder's Justice League as Alfred
- 2019 · The Morning Show as Martin Levy
- 2019 · Watchmen as Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias
- 2019 · The Prado Museum: A Collection of Wonders as Self - Host / Narrator (voice)
- 2018 · Red Sparrow as Vladimir Korchnoi
- 2017 · Justice League as Alfred
- 2016 · The Sultan and the Saint as Narrator
- 2016 · Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as Alfred
- 2015 · High-Rise as Anthony Royal
- 2015 · StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson as Self
- 2014 · Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
- 2013 · Night Train to Lisbon as Raimund
- 2012 · The Hollow Crown as Henry IV
- 2011 · Margin Call as John Tuld
- 2011 · The Borgias as Rodrigo Borgia
- 2009 · Waking Sleeping Beauty as Self (archive footage)
- 2006 · The Path to Redemption as Self
- 2005 · Kingdom of Heaven as Tiberias
- 2005 · The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as Self
- 2004 · Who Do You Think You Are? as Self
- 2003 · Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There as Self
- 2002 · The Time Machine as Über-Morlock
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Dr. Cap Jackson
- 1998 · The Man in the Iron Mask as Aramis
- 1997 · Lolita as Humbert Humbert
- 1997 · The View as Self
- 1996 · Stealing Beauty as Alex Parrish
- 1995 · The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies as Self
- 1995 · Die Hard: With a Vengeance as Simon
- 1994 · The Lion King as Scar (voice)
- 1994 · Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! as Self (archive footage)
- 1994 · Brisant as Self
- 1993 · Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- 1992 · HBO First Look as
- 1991 · Performance as Odon Von Horvath
- 1990 · The Civil War as Various
- 1989 · The Simpsons as Bar Rag (voice)
- 1987 · Daytime Live as
- 1984 · Swann in Love as Charles Swann
- 1982 · Nature as Narrator
- 1981 · Wetten, dass..? as Self
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- 1971 · Great Performances as Self
- 1965 · BBC Play of the Month as Edward Voysey
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self
- Future · Broadway: The Next Generation as Self
- 2027 · The Beekeeper 2 as Wallace Westwyld
- 2025 · Palestine 36 as High Commissioner Wauchope
- 2024 · Alec Guinness: A Class Act as self
- 2024 · Quintessentially Irish as Self
- 2023 · Codice Carla as Self
- 2023 · The Cello as Francesco
- 2023 · Making The Flash: Worlds Collide as Self - 'Alfred'
- 2022 · Prisoners of Our Own History: The First Four Films of Roland Joffé as Self (archive footage)
- 2021 · House of Gucci as Rodolfo Gucci
- 2021 · Armin Mueller-Stahl - Ein Gaukler in Hollywood as Self
- 2018 · Better Start Running as Garrison
- 2017 · Their Finest as Secretary of War
- 2016 · Assassin's Creed as Alan Rikkin
- 2016 · The Man Who Knew Infinity as G. H. Hardy
- 2016 · Race as Avery Brundage
- 2016 · DC Films Presents Dawn of the Justice League as Self
- 2015 · Emotional Uncertainties as Self
- 2014 · The Voysey Inheritance as Edward Voysey
- 2013 · Goodbye Granadaland as Self
- 2013 · Beautiful Creatures as Macon Ravenwood
- 2012 · The Words as The Old Man
- 2011 · Prohibition as Reader (voice)
- 2009 · The Pink Panther 2 as Avellaneda
- 2008 · Appaloosa as Randall Bragg
- 2008 · The Colour of Magic as Patrician
- 2006 · Eragon as Brom
- 2006 · Inland Empire as Kingsley Stewart
- 2005 · Casanova as Pucci
- 2005 · Elizabeth I as Earl of Leicester
- 2004 · The Merchant of Venice as Antonio
- 2003 · Working Shakespeare as Host
- 2003 · The Hittites: A Civilization that Changed the World as Narrator
- 2002 · Heart of the Festival as Self (archive footage)
- 2000 · Dungeons & Dragons as Profion
- 2000 · Longitude as Rupert Gould
- 2000 · Longitude as Rupert Gould
- 1998 · The Lolita Story as Himself
- 1993 · The House of the Spirits as Esteban Trueba
- 1992 · Damage as Dr. Stephen Fleming
- 1989 · Danny and the Dirty Dog: The Making of 'Roald Dahl's Danny the Champion of the World' as Narrator
- 1989 · A Chorus of Disapproval as Guy Jones
- 1988 · Sesame Street: Put Down the Duckie as Self
- 1988 · Dead Ringers as Beverly Mantle / Elliot Mantle
- 1988 · Comic Relief as
- 1986 · The Mission as Father Gabriel
- 1981 · Brideshead Revisited as Charles Ryder
- 1977 · BBC2 Play of the Week as Otto Beck
- 1974 · Churchill's People as Samuel Ross
- 1974 · The Pallisers as Frank Tregear
- 1971 · The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes as Nephew
- Future · Water People: The Story of Us as The Ocean (voice)
- Future · The Well of Saint Nobody as William
- Future · A Magnificent Death from a Shattered Hand as
- 2025 · This Ordinary Thing as Self (voice)
- 2025 · The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl as Self
- 2023 · Seeing Through the Mists of Oblivion as Traveller (archived audio)
- 2023 · Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled as Self
- 2023 · Tom Hanks: The Nomad as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · The Pentaverate as Jeremy Irons
- 2020 · Love, Weddings & Other Disasters as Lawrence Philips
- 2018 · An Actor Prepares as Atticus
- 2017 · Birds Like Us as Mi (voice)
- 2016 · Correspondence as Ed Phoerum
- 2015 · The Genius of George Boole as Narrator (voice)
- 2015 · Metropolis as
- 2013 · Muse of Fire as Self
- 2012 · Racing Legends as Self
- 2012 · Shakespeare Uncovered as Himself
- 2011 · The Last Lions as Narrator
- 2010 · Harold Pinter: A Celebration as Self
- 2009 · Georgia O'Keeffe as Alfred Stieglitz
- 2008 · 1984 as Television Voice
- 2006 · The Secret Policeman's Ball: The Ball in the Hall as Self
- 2006 · Relentless Enemies: Lions and Buffalo as Narrator (voice)
- 2005 · Revisiting Brideshead as Self
- 2005 · Gallipoli as Narrator
- 2004 · Being Julia as Michael Gosselyn
- 2003 · Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites as Readings (Voice)
- 2002 · Callas Forever as Larry Kelly
- 2002 · And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen... as Valentin Valentin
- 2001 · The Fourth Angel as Jack Elgin
- 2001 · The Making of "Dungeons and Dragons" as Self
- 1997 · Chinese Box as John
- 1996 · E! True Hollywood Story as
- 1995 · A Night to Die For as Self
- 1994 · Inside the Actors Studio as Self
- 1993 · M. Butterfly as René Gallimard
- 1992 · Tales from Hollywood as Odon Von Horvath
- 1992 · Earth and the American Dream as Reader (voice)
- 1991 · Kafka as Kafka
- 1990 · Sesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly! as Self (archive footage)
- Future · Highlander as
- 2026 · Last Movies as Self - Narrator
- 2024 · Wild Transylvania – Dracula's Hidden Kingdom as Narrator
- 2024 · The Immortals: The Wonder of the Museo Egizio as
- 2022 · Franco Zeffirelli: Rebel Conformist as Self
- 2022 · Eternal Enemies: Revealed as Narrator (voice)
- 2022 · Eye of the Leopard: Revealed as Narrator (voice)
- 2022 · Ultimate Enemies: Revealed as Narrator (voice)
- 2022 · Relentless Enemies: Revealed as Narrator (voice)
- 2022 · Living With Big Cats: Revealed as Narrator
- 2022 · The Way of the Cheetah as Narrator (voice)
- 2021 · Napoleon: In the Name of Art as
- 2021 · Architects of Ancient Arabia as Narrator
- 2020 · Jade Eyed Leopard as Narrator (voice)
- 2016 · I Wish For You as Grandfather
- 2015 · Earthquake On Everest as Narrator (voice)
- 2014 · Endless Corridor as Narrator
- 2013 · Game of Lions as Narrator (voice)
- 2013 · The Sunflower Superjam 2012 as Self
- 2013 · The Wind Gods as Narrator (voice)
- 2012 · Trashed as Himself
- 2012 · Another Way Home as Narrator
- 2012 · Seeds of Freedom as Narator
- 2010 · The Majestic Plastic Bag as Narrator
- 2009 · The Power of the Powerless as
- 2009 · The Chronoscope as Narrator
- 2008 · Magic in the air, Bantry House Music as Festival audience member
- 2008 · Eden at the End of the World as Narrator
- 2007 · Lynch 2 as Self
- 2007 · J.M.W. Turner: A National Gallery of Art Film Presentation as Narrator
- 2006 · Eye of the Leopard as Narrator
- 2006 · Mathilde as Col. De Petris
- 2005 · The Merchant of Venice as Himself
- 2003 · Ultimate Enemies: Elephants and Lions as Narrator (voice)
- 2002 · Last Call as F. Scott Fitzgerald
- 2002 · Ohio Impromptu as Reader / Listener
- 2001 · The Short Life of Anne Frank as Narrator (English version)
- 1991 · 'Still Life' at the Penguin Cafe as Narrator
- 1989 · Australia as Edouard Pierson
- Future · Encore as Nigel
- 2005 · Fiat Croma as Lead
- 1999 · Faeries as The Shapeshifter (voice)
- 1994 · The Making of the Lion King as Self
- 1992 · Waterland as Tom Crick
- 1989 · Danny the Champion of the World as William Smith
- Future · The Crystal Planet as Governor Mordokan (voice)
- 1992 · From Time to Time as H.G. Wells
- 1991 · The Beggar's Opera as Prisoner
- 1990 · Reversal of Fortune as Claus von Bülow
- 1989 · The Dream as
- 1988 · The Making of Dead Ringers as Self - Actor
- 1986 · Rabbit Ears - The Steadfast Tin Soldier as Narrator (voice)
- 1986 · Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes All-Star 50th Anniversary as Self
- 1985 · The Statue of Liberty as Self (voice)
- 1985 · Night of 100 Stars II as Self
- 1984 · The Wild Duck as Harold
- 1983 · Betrayal as Jerry
- 1983 · The Captain's Doll as Captain Alexander Hepburn
- 1982 · Moonlighting as Nowak
- 1981 · The French Lieutenant's Woman as Charles Henry Smithson / Mike
- 1980 · Nijinsky as Mikhail Fokine
- 1978 · Langrishe, Go Down as Otto Beck
- 1977 · Love for Lydia as Alex Sanderson
- 1974 · Notorious Woman as Franz Liszt
- Future · Rizana: A Caged Bird as Professor Julian Miles