A Closer Look At Supa-Star Toby Stephens

Supa-Star Toby Stephens has played an active role in most mediums, including stage, television, film and video games. No stranger to period pieces, he has tackled Shakespeare, the pirate’s life, the roaring ‘20s, as well as humanity’s mysterious future in space.

To get excited for his trip to Australia this April, here’s a closer look at his diverse career to-date.

THEATRE

With his foundations set in stage performance, Stephens has been cast in productions on both The West End and Broadway. Stephens has turned down Hollywood films several times, primarily to focus on his theatre work.

His credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Britannicus, Hamlet, and most recently, Oslo. One could assume his success in theatre could be attributed partly to his parents (both of whom are established actors), or his education at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

SHAKEN NOT STIRRED

At age 33, Stephens was the youngest bond villain ever to go head to head with 007. Portraying Gustav Graves in Die Another Day, Stephens is known for the iconic fencing scene against Pierce Brosnan, a role he defined as physically challenging.

Stephens returned in the role providing the voice for Gustav Graves in the 2012 video game 007 Legends, but more interestingly, portrayed Bond himself in the BBC Radio production of Goldfinger.

A NEAR MISS

In 1995, a new addition to the Batman franchise meant the casting of the Boy Wonder, but while the production had its eyes set on Toby Stephens to star alongside the Caped Crusader, the role was eventually given to Chris O’Donnell.

While it’s reported that other actors including Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon were also considered for the role, the film and its sequel are still considered box office flops to some. A near miss indeed for Toby Stephens.

SETTING SAIL

Sporting a shaved head and brooding facial expressions, Stephens captained The Revenge during the golden age of piracy in Black Sails. As Captain Flint, Stephens was the focal point to the series. The series reignited a spark for the pirate genre, and thank goodness, because pirates are great.

COWBOYS AND ASTRONAUTS

Most recently, Stephens appeared in the role of John Robinson in the Netflix reboot of Lost In Space. The series of the same name was made famous in the 1960s, but now features a more updated and ‘scientifically-inclined’ storyline.

Stephens portrays the father figure, inquisitive yet defensive of his children, eager to mend the relationship with his family. The series was an overall success, but it was not the first time Stephens had been featured in such a role. In 2000, Stephens played a young Frank Corvin in the Clint Eastwood film Space Pirates – yeah, that’s a real title.

Toby Stephens will appear at Supanova Comic Con & Gaming Melbourne (6-7 April) and Gold Coast (13-14 April).