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Al Weaver

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Al Weaver
Born
Alexander Paul Weaver

(1981-01-03) 3 January 1981 (age 43)
Years active2004–present

Alexander Paul Weaver (born 3 January 1981) is an English actor, writer and part-time director, best known for his role as curate Leonard Finch in the ITV series Grantchester (2014-present).

Background

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Weaver was born in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. He went to Rivington and Blackrod High School and studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Career

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Weaver's first paid theatre role was in Trevor Nunn's 2004 production of Hamlet, at the Old Vic theatre in London. Weaver played the Prince of Denmark on Monday evenings and at all matinees, whilst Ben Whishaw took on the role for evening performances, from Tuesday to Saturday.

British politician Michael Portillo lauded Weaver's interpretation of Hamlet in The New Statesman: "He [Weaver] gave meaning to the poetry, refusing to be rushed in the soliloquies or intimidated by them, varying volume and pace well. Frame by frame, he made credible Hamlet's progression from self-indulgence to nobility, so we could nearly believe Fortinbras' remark that 'he was likely, had he been put on,/To have proved most royally'."

Weaver has appeared in minor roles in films such as Colour Me Kubrick (2005) (uncredited), The Merchant of Venice (2004), Marie Antoinette (2006), and Unmade Beds (2009); Me and Orson Welles (2009 film). he also played "The Kid" in Doom, "Schwob" in Colette, and an uncredited Gulf War soldier in Armistice (2014).

His television credits include D.C. Billy Slaven in The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (episodes "In Pursuit of a Proper Sinner" and "A Cry for Justice") and National Antiquities Museum employee Andy Galbraith in Sherlock episode "The Blind Banker". Weaver has been in Five Days (TV miniseries) as Josh Fairley. He has also been in Five Daughters (TV miniseries) played Tom Alderton. Weaver also has been in Secret State as Josh Leyton. Weaver also appeared in Southcliffe (TV miniseries), where he played Anthony. Weaver was in Life in Squares (TV miniseries) and played Young Leonard Woolf. He was also in The Smoke where he played Tom. Weaver was in The Nativity, in which he played Thomas. Weaver was in Personal Affairs playing Crawford Crawford.

His theatre credits include Meshak in the Royal National Theatre's 2006-07 production of Helen Edmundson's Coram Boy.

Weaver plays fledgling Anglican curate Leonard Finch in the TV series Grantchester (since 2014), who assists the Vicar of Grantchester, Sidney Chambers, and later, Will Davenport.

Radio credits include Bach: The Great Passion, a 2017 biographical radio play by the English writer James Runcie. Weaver also presents radio shows at a pub called the Boogaloo based in north London. One is called Film And Telly Stuff, which he presents with actor Luke Neal and the other is called The Theme's Of Our Youth, which he presents with actor Jack Whitam.

In September 2017, the BBC announced he had joined the cast of the mini-series PRESS.[1]

Weaver is also known for his role as protagonist Rex in the game Xenoblade Chronicles 2, released in December 2017. He reprised the role for the character's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as well as the trailer revealing Pyra and Mythra as playable characters.

In 2019 a fourth series of Grantchester aired, with Weaver reprising his role as Leonard Finch.[2]

In 2020, Weaver starred in a choose-your-own-adventure style sci-fi thriller video game The Complex as Dr. Rees Wakefield.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 The Merchant of Venice Stephano
2005 Planespotting Steve Television film
Colour Me Kubrick Darren Uncredited
Doom Mark "Kid" Dantalian
2006 Marie Antoinette Charles, Count of Artois
Viva Blackpool Vibe Television film
2008 Me and Orson Welles Sam Leve
2009 Unmade Beds Kevin
2010 Spoiler Tom Short film
Honeymooner Jon
2011 Powder Helmet
2012 Chemistry Johan Short film
The Frontier Ben Television film
2013 The Theory of Everything Hugo John Ellis Short film
Armistice Gulf war soldier Uncredited
Things He Never Said Paul Short film
2015 Kill Your Friends Bill
2016 Love Is Thicker Than Water Adam Berliner
2017 We Are Tourists Edward
The Last Photograph Colin
2018 Colette Schwob
Macbeth Banquo
Blue Iguana Tommy Tresham
Peterloo Magistrate Hulton
2020 The Complex: Lockdown Rees Wakefield
2021 I'm Not in Love Rob Lloyd

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Brum Yellow Team Episode: "Brum the Soccer Hero"
2004 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Billy Slaven 2 episodes
2007 Five Days Josh Fairley Recurring role; 5 episodes
2008 The Devil's Whore Christian Mini-series; 2 episodes
2009 Personal Affairs Crawford Mini-series; 4 episodes
2010 Survivors Kevin 2 episodes
Five Daughters Tom Alderton Mini-series; 2 episodes
Sherlock Andy Galbraith Episode: "The Blind Banker"
The Nativity Thomas the Apostle Mini-series; 4 episodes
2012 Secret State Joss Leyton Mini-series; 4 episodes
2013 Southcliffe Anthony Mini-series; 4 episodes
2014 The Smoke Tom Mini-series; 1 episode
2014 - present Grantchester Leonard Finch Series regular; 44 episodes
2015 Life in Squares Young Leonard Woolf Mini-series; 2 episodes
2016 The Hollow Crown Rivers 2 episodes
2018 Press James Edwards Series regular; 6 episodes
2019 The Mallorca Files Richard Webb Episode: "Number One Fan"
2022 The Chelsea Detective Simon Turnball Episode: "The Wages of Sin"
2024 Miss Scarlet and the Duke Delaware Episode: "Elysium"

Video games

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Year Game Role Notes
2017 Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Rex English version
2020 The Complex Rees Wakefield
2021 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Rex English version
2022 Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? Toby

Theatre credits

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Year Title Role Venue Notes
2004 Hamlet Prince Hamlet The Old Vic, London
2005 All the Ordinary Angels Lino Raffa Royal Exchange, Manchester
2006 Malvolio and His Masters Sir Andrew Aguecheek Southwark Playhouse, London
Coram Boy Meshak Olivier Theatre, London
2007 The Waltz of the Toreadors Gaston Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester
How to Curse Nick Bush Theatre, London
2009 Toyer Peter Arts Theatre, London
2010 House of Games Billy Hahn Almeida Theatre, London
Bea Not Gay Ray Soho Theatre, London
2011 The Seagull Konstantin Gavrilovich Treplev Arcola Theatre, London
Inadmissible Evidence Jones Donmar Warehouse, London
2013 Rough Cuts Royal Court Theatre, London
The Pride Oliver Trafalgar Theatre, London
2018 Moonlight Jake Harold Pinter Theatre, London

References

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  1. ^ "Charlotte Riley, Ben Chaplin and David Suchet lead cast of BBC's Press". IMDb. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Grantchester series 4 confirmed – but it's set to be James Norton's last". Radio Times.
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