Bio

Rupert Friend will be next be seen in Armando Iannuci’s The Death of Stalin, opposite Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Steve Buscemi, Jason Isaacs, and Jeffrey Tambor. Previously, he starred as “Agent 47” in the film Hitman: Agent 47, directed by Aleksander Bach. Friend co-starred alongside Zachary Quinto, Hannah Ware and Ciarán Hinds in this film about an assassin who teams up with a woman to help her find her father and uncover the mysteries of her ancestry.

Friend’s first professional role was opposite Johnny Depp and John Malkovich in The Libertine, followed by his role as “Mr. Wickham” in the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, with Keira Knightley and directed by Joe Wright. In 2008, Friend appeared in The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, with Vera Farmiga and David Thewlis, and in 2009 starred alongside Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. Later that year, Friend went on to play the title role opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in Stephen Frears’ Chéri.

In 2013, Friend co-starred as “Oliver Baumer” in Starred Up, directed by David Mackenzie; the film was nominated for eight British Independent Film Awards. Also in 2013, Friend played the role of “Stephen” in Meet Me In Montenegro, directed by Sundance winning director Alex Holdridge.

Mr. Friend started his stage career in the acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe production of Kassandra and followed that with the London West End Production of The Little Dog Laughed, directed by Jamie Lloyd and co-starring Gemma Arterton and Tamsin Greig. Mr. Friend also received rave reviews for his 2012 performance in Dennis Potter’s Brimstone And Treacle, at the Arcola Theatre in London. Mr. Friend trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He was named ‘Outstanding New Talent’ at the 2005 Satellite Awards and has been nominated twice at the British Independent Film awards, first for ‘Best Newcomer’ in 2005 (The Libertine) and then for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ (Starred Up) in 2013. He was nominated in 2013, 2014, 2015, and again in 2016 as part of the ‘Best Ensemble Cast’ ("HOMELAND") at the Screen Actors Guild® Awards, as well as individually for ‘Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama’ at the 2013 Emmy® Awards.

Rupert Friend is also a writer, producer, director and lyricist. He co-wrote and produced the short film The Continuing And Lamentable Saga Of The Suicide Brothers, which won ‘Best Comedy’ at The New Hampshire Film Festival in 2009. He went on to write, direct and produce Steve, starring Colin Firth, for which he was awarded the FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival’s ‘Crystal Vision Award.’ Mr. Friend also wrote the lyrics for the MOBO Award winning UK group Kairos 4tet on their album Everything We Hold, which was named one of The Observer’s ‘Hidden Gems of 2013.’