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Dan Stevens

Dan Stevens

Birthday: 10 October 1982, Croydon, Surrey, England, UK
Birth Name: Daniel Jonathan Stevens
Height: 183 cm

Dan Stevens was born at Croydon in Surrey on 10th October 1982. His parents are teachers. He was educated at Tonbridge School and trained in acting at the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. He s ...Show More

Dan Stevens
I don't think many people get to play big emotions in life. I don't think many people get to play big emotions in life.
I would like to do something modern and possibly funny. I would like to do something modern and possibly funny.
[2012] At Cambridge I wore hoodies and trainers and looked like a skateboarder. This whole dandy bus Show more [2012] At Cambridge I wore hoodies and trainers and looked like a skateboarder. This whole dandy business is quite new to me. Hide
I'm a huge fan of Eighties music. I'm a huge fan of Eighties music.
They are strange things, boarding schools. A peculiarly English thing. Putting 60 boys in one house Show more They are strange things, boarding schools. A peculiarly English thing. Putting 60 boys in one house for 12 weeks is definitely an odd thing to do. I think I probably did benefit from the discipline. I always enjoyed having something to kick against. And the institutionalised thing... I have never been very good at it. But I think in life it's good to have a sense of what that means. I don't know [whether I was hard to handle as a child]. But, yeah, probably. I was never very happy in institutionalised environments, and you have to get better at it if you're in boarding school. I was one of those boys who smoked at school because it was illegal. In university, as soon as it was allowed, I gave up smoking. Hide
None of us had any idea of how successful 'Downton' was going to be. I thought I was signing up for Show more None of us had any idea of how successful 'Downton' was going to be. I thought I was signing up for another period drama that had a slightly modern feel. It had a freedom about it because it was coming out of the head of Julian Fellowes. Anything could happen and generally did. Hide
Soap opera seems to be a dirty word, but actually they are the most popular shows we have. People wa Show more Soap opera seems to be a dirty word, but actually they are the most popular shows we have. People want to know what happens next, people hate the villains and love the lovers. It's good, fun TV. But I wouldn't call 'Downton' a soap opera as such. Hide
I'm sure I wouldn't have been asked to judge the Man Booker if it weren't for 'Downton.' I'm sure I wouldn't have been asked to judge the Man Booker if it weren't for 'Downton.'
I want to spend as much time as I can with my family, yet I'm aware of having to bring home the baco Show more I want to spend as much time as I can with my family, yet I'm aware of having to bring home the bacon. Hide
A British porch is a musty, forbidding non-room in which to fling a sodden umbrella or a muddy pair Show more A British porch is a musty, forbidding non-room in which to fling a sodden umbrella or a muddy pair of boots; a guard against the elements and strangers. By contrast the good ol' American front porch seems to stand for positivity and openness; a platform from which to welcome or wave farewell; a place where things of significance could happen. Hide
People look at me, they know I've appeared in costume dramas and they automatically assume I must be Show more People look at me, they know I've appeared in costume dramas and they automatically assume I must be a Tory, I must be a certain type of person. Hide
My dad tells me that he took us to a pantomime when I was very, very small - panto being a sort of E Show more My dad tells me that he took us to a pantomime when I was very, very small - panto being a sort of English phenomenon. There's traditionally a part of the show where they'll invite kids up on the stage to interact with the show. I was too young to remember this, but my dad says that I was running up onstage before they even asked us. Hide
Books are my weakness. Books are my weakness.
I was a pretty difficult teenager. I was a pretty difficult teenager.
Planet Earth (2006) was such an extraordinary series and the 'Making Of'... is fascinating: the crea Show more Planet Earth (2006) was such an extraordinary series and the 'Making Of'... is fascinating: the creatures and stories behind the camera are just as fascinating as those in front. It's a bit of a dream come true to be a part of the team in some small way. Hide
When it is good, theatre takes a lot of beating both to watch and perform. When it is good, theatre takes a lot of beating both to watch and perform.
I don't know much about my biological background. I don't know much about my biological background.
I have only recently got interested in film, and it is a strange way of working in many ways. But ac Show more I have only recently got interested in film, and it is a strange way of working in many ways. But actually, when it is at its best, it's quite an extraordinary way of working between a director and an actor, to really explore an inner life. Hide
I don't think there's ever a right time to have kids. I'm actually pretty glad it's happened quite y Show more I don't think there's ever a right time to have kids. I'm actually pretty glad it's happened quite young. Hide
It's head and heart. I like to feed both. I always wanted to be an actor. But the cultural-intellect Show more It's head and heart. I like to feed both. I always wanted to be an actor. But the cultural-intellectual side of things has always excited me. I wouldn't want to let it go. Hide
I'm lucky to be married to someone who entirely gets what I do. She is totally sympathetic to the ac Show more I'm lucky to be married to someone who entirely gets what I do. She is totally sympathetic to the actor's life. Her own mother was an actress, so she sort of grew up with it. Hide
[2014; on no longer eating dairy products] I'm not vegan. I'm trying to eat healthier. And I've neve Show more [2014; on no longer eating dairy products] I'm not vegan. I'm trying to eat healthier. And I've never really liked dairy. Hide
I'm shocked at being recognized. I'm shocked at being recognized.
At the age of 11 I was about 6 ft. tall and my voice had completely broken. That caused problems. I Show more At the age of 11 I was about 6 ft. tall and my voice had completely broken. That caused problems. I was this gangly, spotty, very unattractive kid. I wasn't cool and I wasn't a nerd. I didn't even want to fit in with anyone. Hide
[on the controversy surrounding his leaving the 'Downton Abbey' cast to make 'The Guest'] I couldn't Show more [on the controversy surrounding his leaving the 'Downton Abbey' cast to make 'The Guest'] I couldn't have sat down two years ago and said, 'Okay, Julian Fellowes, what I really want to do is a twisted action thriller black comedy with horror elements. Preferably with an American accent'. That would have been insane and highly implausible. But as soon as the opportunity came along it seemed like a reality. Hide
There are quite a lot of teachers who say, 'Shut up or get out', and any kind of sensibility doesn't Show more There are quite a lot of teachers who say, 'Shut up or get out', and any kind of sensibility doesn't get nurtured. It's a really good thing for a child who is very distracted in a classroom to take them and say, 'Do that. But don't do that.' Looking back, I can see the people who spotted that in me and I am incredibly grateful to them. I didn't really realise that was happening at the time. Hide
I haven't done as many films as I would have liked. I haven't done as many films as I would have liked.
Coming back to theatre is something I'm keen to do for the rest of my life. It recharges my batterie Show more Coming back to theatre is something I'm keen to do for the rest of my life. It recharges my batteries, so to speak. Hide
The Broadway audiences are very vocal and seem very engaged. For certain shows, especially with a sh Show more The Broadway audiences are very vocal and seem very engaged. For certain shows, especially with a show like 'The Heiress,' the audience's reactions sound like The Jerry Springer Show (1991) sometimes. That seems to be a very New York thing. Oh, there's also the entrance round of applause here, which we don't get too much in London. Hide
My dad's family were pretty working class, actually. My dad's family were pretty working class, actually.
I'm amazed by just constantly - there's not a week that goes past where there's not someone in Ulan Show more I'm amazed by just constantly - there's not a week that goes past where there's not someone in Ulan Bator or Rio De Janeiro suddenly says, 'Ooh, 'Downton' started this week.' You completely forget it's staggered across the world. Hide
[2014; about whether he ever sought out his birth parents] Not really actively. I've done as much re Show more [2014; about whether he ever sought out his birth parents] Not really actively. I've done as much research as I need to do to satisfy my own curiosity. Hide
But even writing the column for the 'Telegraph,' that idea of working to deadlines, which as an acto Show more But even writing the column for the 'Telegraph,' that idea of working to deadlines, which as an actor that's not something you have to do in the same way. It's excited me into wanting to do a bit more. Hide
Everything's so accelerated now. Everything's so accelerated now.
We take so many of our freedoms for granted nowadays - I can travel where I like, I can have a baby Show more We take so many of our freedoms for granted nowadays - I can travel where I like, I can have a baby when I like, I can do any job I want - but I do think chivalry has been lost a little bit. Hide
I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed my time at Tonbridge School in Kent had it not been for m Show more I'm not sure how much I would have enjoyed my time at Tonbridge School in Kent had it not been for my English master, Jonathan Smith. He was one of those magical teachers who could spot a kid in trouble and know the right thing to say to him. I owe him a tremendous amount. Not that I was miserable at Tonbridge, but in some ways I did feel out of my element there. For starters, unlike most of the other boys, I was a scholarship pupil - the son of two teachers rather than wealthy parents. And on top of that, while I was pretty good on the academic front, the sporty culture of the school wasn't my bag. As it happens, I love all sport now. But being told that I must play sport brought out the worst in me. You would either find me behind the proverbial bike shed smoking a cigarette or going off to do a school play. But then, from the word go I had always been the idiot who wanted to get up on stage and perform. Hide
At 13, in my first year of Tonbridge, I went up for the part of Macbeth. I was up against the 17- an Show more At 13, in my first year of Tonbridge, I went up for the part of Macbeth. I was up against the 17- and 18-year-olds, but for some reason I got the part. It made me incredibly unpopular with my peers, but it was the English and drama teachers who stepped in to save me when others wanted me kicked out of the school. Hide
I was never very happy at school. I was never very happy at school.
Not a lot of people would think that I spent most of my early years totally rebelling against anythi Show more Not a lot of people would think that I spent most of my early years totally rebelling against anything I could, getting suspended from school, going on demonstrations. Hide
I've been a lucky boy. I've been a lucky boy.
What was interesting was talking to older gay men about what it was like being gay in the Eighties. What was interesting was talking to older gay men about what it was like being gay in the Eighties.
I always wanted to be an actor. I always wanted to be an actor.
I've had to learn when not to tweet. Like, you learn how to keep your mouth shut? Learn to keep your Show more I've had to learn when not to tweet. Like, you learn how to keep your mouth shut? Learn to keep your tweet shut. Hide
Oh, it is quite possible that none of us in 'Downton' will ever again get the ratings this has had. Show more Oh, it is quite possible that none of us in 'Downton' will ever again get the ratings this has had. But from a career point of view, it has opened so many doors. Hide
I never quite toed the line. I never quite toed the line.
Every night, half an hour before curtain up, the bells of St. Malachy's, the Actors' Chapel on New Y Show more Every night, half an hour before curtain up, the bells of St. Malachy's, the Actors' Chapel on New York's 49th Street, peal the tune of 'There's No Business Like Show Business.' If you walk the streets of the theatre district before a show and see the vast, enthusiastic lines it sounds like a calling: there is certainly no place like Broadway. Hide
It's nice to get your glad rags on for awards like the Baftas, but it doesn't happen all the time. It's nice to get your glad rags on for awards like the Baftas, but it doesn't happen all the time.
I've been a very lucky product of the process of adoption and ended up with really wonderful parents Show more I've been a very lucky product of the process of adoption and ended up with really wonderful parents. It's an extraordinary thing, adoption. [he was adopted at seven days old] Hide
All my early school reports from the age of 5 were 'Daniel must learn not to distract others.' All my early school reports from the age of 5 were 'Daniel must learn not to distract others.'
I saw Mercury Prize-winners Alt-J for the first time recently, touring their debut album 'An Awesome Show more I saw Mercury Prize-winners Alt-J for the first time recently, touring their debut album 'An Awesome Wave,' and I'm still riding the high: they're the most musically dynamic and exciting band to have poured tune into my lug holes live since Bellowhead. Hide
I've never tried to find my real parents. I'm very grateful to my mum and dad for adopting me - they Show more I've never tried to find my real parents. I'm very grateful to my mum and dad for adopting me - they're completely incredible people. It was my dad who encouraged me to question everything, to forge my own path, to think, to read. I always felt it was my right to question everything. Hide
I've never been a fan of directors who clutter a piece with all sorts of crazy preconceptions or wei Show more I've never been a fan of directors who clutter a piece with all sorts of crazy preconceptions or weird ideas. Hide
In the 21st century, I think it's fair to say, homosexuality is more accepted in Britain and it's wo Show more In the 21st century, I think it's fair to say, homosexuality is more accepted in Britain and it's wonderful that my generation has been able to grow up with that. Hide
I don't see money or a particular status as an actor as a goal, but I want to do the best work I can Show more I don't see money or a particular status as an actor as a goal, but I want to do the best work I can in as interesting a range of roles as I can. Hide
The comfort zone is the great enemy to creativity; moving beyond it necessitates intuition, which in Show more The comfort zone is the great enemy to creativity; moving beyond it necessitates intuition, which in turn configures new perspectives and conquers fears. Hide
The female attention I have to struggle hardest with is from my two-year-old daughter. The female attention I have to struggle hardest with is from my two-year-old daughter.
As long as I am given the opportunity to keep performing and keep exploring in whatever medium, I'll Show more As long as I am given the opportunity to keep performing and keep exploring in whatever medium, I'll be happy. As long as I get to spend time with my family, I'll be happy. As long as I can write in some form, I'll be happy. It is the essential things like that I equate with happiness. Hide
You can be romantically interested in someone and love them and still, I think, be really interested Show more You can be romantically interested in someone and love them and still, I think, be really interested in things and a certain lifestyle that person might provide. Hide
Dan Stevens's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (110)
Gomovies