Gabriel Thomson
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Thomson is an English actor
, best known for his role as Michael Harper in the British
situation comedy series My Family.
. At the age of five, he gave his first TV performance in an advert for Frosties which he later said he'd "rather forget." In 1995, he appeared in a television version of The Bible: Joseph. He followed this up with a small role in another television mini-series called Painted Lady
.
It was in 1999 that Thomson secured his first major acting role, playing Young Pip in a BBC's adaption of Great Expectations
. It was through his role on Painted Lady that he was cast in Great Expectations, as the casting director of Painted Lady thought he would be perfect as Pip. The same year, Thomson made his big screen debut as Pinocchio
in The New Adventures of Pinocchio.
Since 2000, Thomson has played Michael Harper in the British
BBC
sitcom
My Family, starring alongside Robert Lindsay
, Zoë Wanamaker
, Daniela Denby Ashe and Kris Marshall
. He is the only one out of the Harper children to have appeared in every series as Daniela Denby Ashe left the series in 2002, later returning in 2004 and Kris Marshall
left the series in 2005. He is also remembered for acting alongside Jude Law
, Rachel Weisz
and Ed Harris
in the 2001 film Enemy at the Gates
as Soviet spy Sasha Fillipov.
He was at one time rumoured to play Harry Potter
in the series of films based on the popular books by J. K. Rowling
; however, just days later Warner Bros. announced that the part was to be portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe
.
Thomson portrayed Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing with the British Shakespeare Company
on their 2009 tour of the UK, The Republic of Ireland, Norway and The Czech Republic.
Also starred in the British film 13Hrs
. 2010 - Gabriel has joined the cast of GB Theatre Company and will play Orlando in As You Like It and Dr Caius in The Merry Wives of Windsor. The tour includes The Republic of Ireland, Norway, Czech Republic and the UK.
in Putney, whose other alumni include Pierce Brosnan
, The XX
, members of Hot Chip
, and the elusive dubstep artist Burial
.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, best known for his role as Michael Harper in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
situation comedy series My Family.
Career
Thomson began his acting career at the age of four, performing in plays with a company called The Goliards while his family holidayed in DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. At the age of five, he gave his first TV performance in an advert for Frosties which he later said he'd "rather forget." In 1995, he appeared in a television version of The Bible: Joseph. He followed this up with a small role in another television mini-series called Painted Lady
Painted Lady (mini series)
Painted Lady was a 1997 murder mystery mini series starring Helen Mirren, involving art theft. It costarred Franco Nero and Iain Glen, and was directed by Julian Jarrold....
.
It was in 1999 that Thomson secured his first major acting role, playing Young Pip in a BBC's adaption of Great Expectations
Great Expectations (1999 film)
Great Expectations is BBC's 1999 BAFTA award-winning television film adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel of the same name and was aired on Masterpiece Theatre.- Plot :...
. It was through his role on Painted Lady that he was cast in Great Expectations, as the casting director of Painted Lady thought he would be perfect as Pip. The same year, Thomson made his big screen debut as Pinocchio
Pinocchio
The Adventures of Pinocchio is a novel for children by Italian author Carlo Collodi, written in Florence. The first half was originally a serial between 1881 and 1883, and then later completed as a book for children in February 1883. It is about the mischievous adventures of Pinocchio , an...
in The New Adventures of Pinocchio.
Since 2000, Thomson has played Michael Harper in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
My Family, starring alongside Robert Lindsay
Robert Lindsay (actor)
Robert Lindsay is an English actor who is best known for his television work, especially his roles of Wolfie Smith in Citizen Smith, Michael Murray in G.B.H., Captain Sir Edward Pellew in Hornblower and Ben Harper in My Family which has been on television screens since 2000.-Early life:Lindsay was...
, Zoë Wanamaker
Zoe Wanamaker
Zoë Wanamaker, CBE is an American-British actress. She has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company; in films, including the Harry Potter series; and in a number of television productions, including a long-time role as Susan Harper in the sitcom My Family.-Early life and family:Wanamaker was...
, Daniela Denby Ashe and Kris Marshall
Kris Marshall
Kristopher "Kris" Marshall is an English actor, best known for his role as Nick Harper in My Family, and as Adam in the adverts for BT Group since 2005.-Career:...
. He is the only one out of the Harper children to have appeared in every series as Daniela Denby Ashe left the series in 2002, later returning in 2004 and Kris Marshall
Kris Marshall
Kristopher "Kris" Marshall is an English actor, best known for his role as Nick Harper in My Family, and as Adam in the adverts for BT Group since 2005.-Career:...
left the series in 2005. He is also remembered for acting alongside Jude Law
Jude Law
David Jude Heyworth Law , known professionally as Jude Law, is an English actor, film producer and director.He began acting with the National Youth Music Theatre in 1987, and had his first television role in 1989...
, Rachel Weisz
Rachel Weisz
Rachel Hannah Weisz born 7 March 1970)is an English-American film and theatre actress and former fashion model. She started her acting career at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where she co-founded the theatrical group Cambridge Talking Tongues...
and Ed Harris
Ed Harris
Edward Allen "Ed" Harris is an American actor, writer, and director, known for his performances in Appaloosa, Radio, The Rock, The Abyss, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, A History of Violence, and The Truman Show. Harris has also narrated commercials for The Home Depot and other companies...
in the 2001 film Enemy at the Gates
Enemy at the Gates
Enemy at the Gates is a 2001 war film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, starring Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Bob Hoskins and Ed Harris set during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II....
as Soviet spy Sasha Fillipov.
He was at one time rumoured to play Harry Potter
Harry Potter (character)
Harry James Potter is the title character and main protagonist of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. The majority of the books' plot covers seven years in the life of the orphan Potter who, on his eleventh birthday, learns he is a wizard...
in the series of films based on the popular books by J. K. Rowling
J. K. Rowling
Joanne "Jo" Rowling, OBE , better known as J. K. Rowling, is the British author of the Harry Potter fantasy series...
; however, just days later Warner Bros. announced that the part was to be portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series....
.
Thomson portrayed Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing with the British Shakespeare Company
British Shakespeare Company
The British Shakespeare Company was a British open-air touring Shakespeare Company. Founded by Robert J. Williamson in 1994 , it was renamed in 2005...
on their 2009 tour of the UK, The Republic of Ireland, Norway and The Czech Republic.
Also starred in the British film 13Hrs
13Hrs
13Hrs is a 2010 British horror film directed by Jonathan Glendening. The film stars Isabella Calthorpe as the main female lead, and also features Gemma Atkinson, John Lynch and Tom Felton.-Plot:...
. 2010 - Gabriel has joined the cast of GB Theatre Company and will play Orlando in As You Like It and Dr Caius in The Merry Wives of Windsor. The tour includes The Republic of Ireland, Norway, Czech Republic and the UK.
Personal life
Thompson attended Elliott SchoolElliott School (London)
Elliott School is a co-educational foundation school and sixth form college in Pullman Gardens, Putney, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It has Language College specialist status through which it gained a European Award for Languages in 2004, the International School Award from the British...
in Putney, whose other alumni include Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brendan Brosnan, OBE is an Irish actor, film producer and environmentalist. After leaving school at 16, Brosnan began training in commercial illustration, but trained at the Drama Centre in London for three years...
, The XX
The xx
The xx are an English indie pop band, formed in London in 2005. The band's members met while studying at Elliott School, the same school that produced Hot Chip, Burial and Four Tet. They became a trio when their second guitarist and keyboardist, Baria Qureshi, departed in late 2009. In September...
, members of Hot Chip
Hot Chip
Hot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
, and the elusive dubstep artist Burial
Burial (musician)
Burial is the stage name of William Bevan, an electronic musician from London. His music contains elements of dubstep, 2-step garage, ambient and house music. His eponymous debut album was released in 2006 to critical acclaim...
.