Antony Byrne
Antony Byrne | |
|---|---|
![]() Byrne at BAFTA Masterclass: The Art of Game Performance in Resident Evil Requiem in 2026 | |
| Born | June 19, 1969 Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Alma mater | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1991–present |
Antony Byrne (born 19 June 1969) is an English actor, best known for his extensive stage work with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). On television, he is known for his roles in the Disney+ series Rivals (2024), the Netflix series The Witcher (2019), the Starz series Outlander (2014). Since 2009, Byrne has provided the voice and motion capture for numerous video game characters, including Victor Gideon in Resident Evil: Requiem (2026).
Early life and education
Antony Byrne was born on June 19, 1969, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.[1] There was no theatrical background to his family, but Byrne always wanted to perform on stage.[2] After graduating from Whitley Bay High School, he successfully auditioned and did three years’ training at the Central School of Speech and Drama.[1][2]
Career
Theatre
When Byrne left Central, he landed the role of Orlando in As You Like It at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 1991.[3][4] After a season at the Crucible, Byrne performed with the Royal National Theatre[5] and Bolton Octagon.[6] In 1995, Byrne joined Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and did two plays in that season: he worked with Peter Hall on Julius Caesar, and he worked with Katie Mitchell on The Phoenician Women.[7][8]
Byrne has played a wide range of Shakespearean roles, including Cinna and Lucilius in Julius Caesar, Aria and Oedipus in The Phoenician Women, Agrippa and Antony in Antony and Cleopatra, Sebastian in The Tempest, Duke of Montfort and King David in Edward III, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, King Henry VIII in Henry VIII, Macduff and Macbeth in Macbeth, Mowbray in Richard II, Worcester and Pistol in Henry IV, Pistol in Henry V, Earl of Kent in King Lear, Duke Senior and Duke Frederick in As You Like It, Duke of Vienna in Measure for Measure.[3][8]
In 2017, Byrne starred as Antony in Antony and Cleopatra, staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company.[9] Kate Kellaway of The Guardian praised his performance, stating: "Byrne’s Antony is an ordinary, erring, henpecked bloke, but when he leaves Cleopatra, promising to be a “man of steel”, he sounds, movingly, like a man of flesh, and I have seldom witnessed a more horribly realistic death on stage."[10]
Byrne's major theatre credits also include Bassanio in The Merchant Of Venice,[11] Edward Kelly in The Alchemical Wedding,[12] Parthenius in The Roman Actor,[13] Piniero in The Island Princess,[14] Dad in Skellig,[15] Jerry in Betrayal,[16] Martin in Rutherford and Son,[17] Dr. Treves in The Elephant Man,[18] Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights,[19] Charley Malloy in On the Waterfront,[20] Agamemnon in After Troy,[21] John Bailey and Dr Gibbons in Bracken Moor.[22]
Television
In 1992, Byrne made his debut on television as Duncan in the ITV series Heartbeat.[23] In 1994, he played Ginger Slater in the miniseries The Cinder Path, based on the novel of the same name by Catherine Cookson.[24]
Byrne has appeared in numerous British television series, including The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, Spender, Prime Suspect, Touching Evil, The Bill, Casualty, Playing the Field, 55 Degrees North, Doctors, The Royal, Timewatch, Midsomer Murders, Single-Handed, Emmerdale Farm, Silent Witness,The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, Coronation Street, Vera, Law & Order: UK, Jericho, Grace, Trigger Point.[23]
In 2021, Byrne appeared as the Nilfgaardian general Hake in the second season of The Witcher on Netflix.[25] Back in 2011, Byrne voiced King Foltest in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.[26]
In 2022, Byrne took the role of Hiram Crombie in the Starz series Outlander.[27] In the Outlander novel, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, Hiram acts as an unofficial spokesperson for the families from Thurso.[27] Also in 2022, Byrne portrayed an English football manager, Neil Warnock, in the television film Floodlights broadcast on BBC Two.[28][29]
In 2023, Byrne was cast as an unscrupulous enforcer Ginger Baines in the Disney+ series Rivals (2024), based on the 1988 novel Rivals by Jilly Cooper, alongside a cast that included David Tennant, Alex Hassell and Nafessa Williams.[30] In June 2026, Rivals was renewed for a third season.[31]
Film
In film, Byrne's roles have tended to be smaller supporting parts. In 2006, he played the chilling role of a British interrogator in The Wind That Shakes the Barley.[23] In 2012, he portrayed Colonel Demin in Anna Karenina.[23] In 2014, Byrne played an English football administrator, Frederick Wall, in the French drama film United Passions.[23]
Video Games
Byrne has provided the voice and motion capture performances for Victor Gideon in Resident Evil: Requiem[32][33] and King Oswald in Ryse: Son of Rome.[32][34] His other notable voice acting roles include King Foltest in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Vaudin in A Plague Tale: Requiem, Officer Bradley in Call of Cthulhu, Calhoun in Vampyr, Biggs in Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward and Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers.[32]
Filmography
Film
- 2006: The Wind That Shakes the Barley – The Interrogator
- 2007: Straightheads – Misha
- 2008: Bathory – Pastor Ponicky
- 2009: Thick as Thieves – Yaniushkin
- 2011: Mercenaries – Olodan Gragovic
- 2012: Anna Karenina – Colonel Demin
- 2014: United Passions – Frederick Wall
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Heartbeat | Duncan | Episode: “Face Value” |
| 1993 | Spender | Steve the Car Thief | Episode: “Best Friends” |
| The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries | PC Dixon | Episode: “The Nursing Home Murder” | |
| 1994 | The Cinder Path | Ginger Slater | Miniseries; 3 episodes |
| 1995 | Prime Suspect | DC Jason Headley | Episode: "The Scent of Darkness" |
| 1997-1998 | Touching Evil | Barry | 7 episodes |
| 1997-2003 | The Bill | Gavin Rayner / P.C. Traven Keith / Haley | 3 episodes |
| 2000 | Casualty | Donald Mortimer | Episode: "Phoenix" |
| 2002 | Playing the Field | Gordon | 6 episodes |
| 2004 | 55 Degrees North | Alan Holt | Episode "Officer Down" |
| 2004-2012 | Doctors | Steve / Stewart Hardy / Bill Kitt / Keith Marsh | 4 episodes |
| 2005 | The Royal | Mr. Howarth | Episode: "It's What's on the Inside That Counts" |
| Timewatch | Magnus | Episode: "Murder in Rome" | |
| The Government Inspector | Mark Damazer | Television film | |
| 2006 | Midsomer Murders | Gary Talbot | Episode: "Country Matters" |
| 2009 | Single-Handed | Eddie McCann | 2 episodes |
| High Plains Invaders | Gus McGreevey | Television film | |
| Emmerdale Farm | Vincent Spode | 12 episodes | |
| 2010 | Bloody Foreigners | Ronald Kellet | Episode: "The Untold Battle of Britain" |
| 2011 | Silent Witness | Stephen Fisher | 2 episodes |
| The Suspicions of Mr Whicher | Reverend Wagner | Television film | |
| 2012 | Coronation Street | D.S. Nash | 8 episodes |
| Vera | Craig | Episode: "Silent Voices" | |
| 2014 | Law & Order: UK | DS Pete Langham | Episode: "I Predict a Riot" |
| 2016 | Jericho | Red Killeen | Episode #1.1 |
| 2021 | The Witcher | General Hake | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Floodlights | Neil Warnock | Television film |
| Grace | Jim Telby | Episode: "Dead Tomorrow" | |
| 2022-2026 | Outlander | Hiram Crombie | 13 episodes |
| 2024 | Trigger Point | Shaun Hodge | Episode #2.1 |
| 2024–present | Rivals | Ginger Baines | 13 episodes |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Risen | Felipe, Inquisition Guards, Marcelo, Santiago, Sergio | |
| 2010 | Fable III | Additional Voices | |
| 2011 | The Last Story | Kentis, Zepha[32] | |
| The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings | King Foltest,[32] Additional Voices | ||
| The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn | Additional Voices | ||
| 2013 | Soul Sacrifice | Librom | |
| Remember Me | Charles Cartier-Wells | ||
| Ryse: Son of Rome | King Oswald[32] | Also motion capture[34] | |
| 2014 | Assassin's Creed: Unity | Additional Voices | Also Dead Kings DLC |
| 2015 | Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward | Biggs, Ilberd[32] | |
| 2018 | Vampyr | Calhoun, Enforcer Graham, Harvey, Joe[32] | |
| Call of Cthulhu | Officer Bradley,[32] Additional Voices | ||
| 2019 | Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers | Biggs, Cassard, Hyllfyr[32] | |
| Greedfall | Additional Voices | ||
| 2022 | Dying Light 2: Stay Human | Additional Voices[32] | |
| A Plague Tale: Requiem | Vaudin[32] | ||
| 2025 | Blades of Fire | Thalmudak, Titan, Queen's Hounds, Thaumaturgists | |
| 2026 | Resident Evil: Requiem | Victor Gideon[32] and supplementary characters (Zombie, Worker, Civilian, BSAA Radio) | Also motion capture[33] |
Theatre
Selected works
Other
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Sunday Play: Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2 | John of Lancaster | Directed by Michael Fox on BBC Radio 3 | [53] |
| 2013 | RSC Live: Richard II | Thomas Mowbray | RSC Live from Stratford-upon-Avon; relayed to cinemas, and later released on video | [54][55] |
| 2014 | RSC Live: Henry IV, Part 1 | Earl Of Worcester | RSC Live from Stratford-upon-Avon; relayed to cinemas, and later released on video | [56][55] |
| 2014 | RSC Live: Henry IV, Part 2 | Pistol | RSC Live from Stratford-upon-Avon; relayed to cinemas, and later released on video | [57][55] |
| 2016 | RSC Live: Henry V | Pistol | RSC Live from Stratford-upon-Avon; relayed to cinemas, and later released on video | [58][55] |
| 2016 | RSC Live: King Lear | Earl of Kent | RSC Live from Stratford-upon-Avon; relayed to cinemas, and later released on video | [59][55] |
| 2017 | RSC Live: Antony and Cleopatra | Antony | RSC Live from Stratford-upon-Avon; relayed to cinemas, and later released on video | [60][55] |
| 2018 | Antony and Cleopatra: Music & Speeches | Antony | CD featuring extracts from Antony and Cleopatra (2017) | [60][55] |
| 2019 | RSC Live: As You Like It | Duke Senior / Duke Frederick | RSC Live from Stratford-upon-Avon; relayed to cinemas, and later released on video | [61][55] |
| 2019 | RSC Live: Measure for Measure | The Duke | RSC Live from Stratford-upon-Avon; relayed to cinemas, and later released on video | [61][55] |
| 2020 | Sonnets in Solitude | Narrator | A selection of Shakespeare's sonnets recorded by RSC actors | [62] |
| 2026 | Walking Shadow: Love, Loss and Shakespeare | Narrator | Reading the lines of Antony Sher in the audiobook by Gregory Doran | [63][64] |
References
- 1 2 Kelly, Mike (7 March 2020). "Back Home with the Bard". The Journal (Newcastle upon Tyne): 41–42. Retrieved 6 July 2026 – via PressReader.
- 1 2 3 "Shakespeare feels the Byrne". The Northern Echo. 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 "Antony Byrne | Pathways to Shakespeare Blog | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 "As You Like It (1991): Crucible Theatre, Sheffield | BBA Shakespeare". bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 "The Madness of George III". catalogue.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 "Macbeth (1995): Octagon Theatre, Bolton | BBA Shakespeare". bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Kelly, Rona (2017-11-30). "BWW Interview: Antony Byrne Talks ANTONY & CLEOPATRA". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "RSC Performance Database: Antony Byrne". Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Iqbal Khan 2017 production | Antony & Cleopatra | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 Kellaway, Kate (2017-04-02). "Antony and Cleopatra review – Josette Simon is a Cleopatra to die for". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 "The Merchant of Venice (1996): Salisbury Playhouse | BBA Shakespeare". bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- 1 2 "The Alchemical Wedding: Not so much alchemy, more a Faustian pact with suburban values". The Independent. 1998-05-10. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 "Roman Actor (RSC)". WhatsOnStage. 2002-06-05. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 Billington, Michael (2002-07-03). "The Island Princess". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 Wolf, Matt (2004-01-11). "Skellig". Variety. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 "Betrayal (tour)". WhatsOnStage. 2004-05-25. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- 1 2 Chadderton, David. "Theatre review: Rutherford and Son at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 Cavendish, Dominic. "The Elephant Man, Frankenstein and Spies". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- 1 2 Orme, Steve. "Theatre review: Wuthering Heights at Birmingham Rep". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 Billington, Michael (2009-02-13). "On the Waterfront". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 Berge, Emma. "Theatre review: After Troy from Lifeblood Theatre Company in association with the Onassis Programme at Shaw Theatre and touring". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 "Theatre review: Bracken Moor by Alexi Kaye Campbell is an uncanny". The Independent. 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Antony Byrne". TV Guide. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ Scott, Tony (1995-02-10). "Masterpiece Theatre the Cinder Path". Variety. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ Hadadi, Roxana (2021-12-21). "The Elves Just Can't Catch a Break". Vulture. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ Gravemaster (2022-07-06). "The Witcher actors that appeared both in Netflix series and in the games". Redanian Intelligence. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 Kelly, Helen (2022-03-13). "Outlander season 6, episode 2 cast: Who stars in episode 2?". Daily Express. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ "Floodlights". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ Richardson, Hollie; Catterall, Ali (2022-05-17). "TV tonight: footballer Andy Woodward's brutal story about abuse". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (2023-05-15). "Jilly Cooper's 'Rivals': Power Packed British Cast Join David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner and Danny Dyer on Disney+ Show (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ Yossman, K. J. (2026-06-16). "'Rivals' Renewed for Season 3 at Disney+". Variety. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Antony Byrne (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 "Take a Look Behind the Mocap Scenes of Resident Evil Requiem". 80.lv. 2026-03-06. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- 1 2 "Ryse: Son of Rome Behind the Scenes". XBOX Wire. 2013-07-26. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ "Trelawny of the "Wells"". catalogue.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "Macbeth". catalogue.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "An Acting Workshop on the Globe Stage with Peter Hall". archive.shakespearesglobe.com. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "Shared Experience, Jane Eyre | Total Theatre Magazine Print Archive". totaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "The Alchemical Wedding". www.stephen-lowe.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Gardner, Lyn (2005-09-24). "Twelfth Night". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ Billington, Michael (2006-08-26). "Henry VIII". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Atkinson, J. D. "Theatre review: Macbeth at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "Macbeth (2007) | Our Heritage | Open Air Theatre". openairtheatreheritage.com. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Billington, Michael (2007-06-06). "Macbeth". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "The Elephant Man (Sheffield & tour)". WhatsOnStage. 2008-03-04. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Maxwell, Dominic. "Wuthering Heights at the Birmingham Rep". The Times. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "Henry IV Parts I and II review, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 2014". The Stage. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Billington, Michael (2016-09-02). "King Lear review – Sher shores up his place in Shakespeare royalty". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Holdren, Sara (2018-04-15). "Theater Review: Anthony Sher as a Slow-Burning, Intense King Lear". Vulture. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ "Kimberley Sykes 2019 production | As You Like It | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Billington, Michael (2019-07-07). "Measure for Measure review – the best RSC show of the summer". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "Gregory Doran 2019 production | Measure for Measure | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "Henry IV · Shakespeare". learningonscreen.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 2025-12-15. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "Royal Shakespeare Company to Broadcast Productions Live from Stratford-upon-Avon into Cinemas and Schools". Playbill. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Royal Shakespeare Company | DVD and Blu-ray | Opus Arte". www.opusarte.com. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ "Gregory Doran 2014 production | Henry IV Part I | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ "Gregory Doran 2014 production | Henry IV Part II | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ "Gregory Doran production | Henry V | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ "King Lear in Focus | Gregory Doran 2016 | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 "Latest Press Releases | Antony and Cleopatra | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- 1 2 "Latest Press Releases | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "Sonnets in Solitude | Royal Shakespeare Company". www.rsc.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Denes, Melissa. "Gregory Doran on losing Antony Sher: 'He said dying was the strangest thing'". The Times. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ "Walking Shadow: Love, Loss and Shakespeare". Bloomsbury Publishing. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
