Tom Mison Explained

Tom Mison should not be confused with Tom Misson.

Tom Mison
Birth Date:1982 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom
Birth Name:Thomas James Mison
Occupation:Actor, voice artist, writer
Years Active:2004–present
Children:1

Thomas James Mison (born 23 July 1982)[1] is an English actor, voice artist, and writer.[2] Following his film debut in Venus (2006), Mison had supporting roles in films such as One Day and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (both 2011). He is best known for his lead roles as Ichabod Crane on the Fox supernatural drama series Sleepy Hollow (2013–17)[3] and the clones of Mr. Phillips and the Game Warden on the HBO superhero miniseries Watchmen (2019).

Mison is also known for his supporting roles as Quentin on the Hulu romantic comedy miniseries Four Weddings and a Funeral (2019) and Lord Harlan on the Apple TV+ science fiction drama series See (2021–22).

Early life

Born on 23 July 1982, Mison was raised in Woking, Surrey, part of the London commuter belt.[4] He attended Hurtwood House, a sixth form college which specialises in drama and music. Here, he won the prize. [5] From 2001 to 2004, Mison trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, where he was awarded the Sir John Gielgud Trust Award for clogging.[6] [7] His speech coach at Webber Douglas advised him to aim for period pieces. [8] [9] A close friend and classmate was Rupert Friends, whom Mison collaborated with on the short film The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers in 2009.[10]

In 2001, while still a drama student, Mison participated in the Young Conservatory program at the American Conservatory Theater. Mison had a role in Time on Fire, a play about the American Revolution by Timothy Mason, which the Young Conservatory performed at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco and the Royal National Theatre in London. Mison played a British soldier hidden and protected by his love interest, played by Caitlin Talbot.[11]

Career

Theatre

From 2004 to 2012, Mison found steady work in the theatre, appearing as Fortinbras in a Trevor Nunn-directed production of Hamlet at the Old Vic Theatre in 2004; playing Frederick in the simple8 theatre company's adaptation of Les Enfants du Paradis at the Arcola Theatre in 2006 and acting in another simple8 theatre production, The Living Unknown Soldier in 2008; and starring as George Tesman in Hedda at the Gate Theatre in 2008 and as Gabriel in Andrew Bovell's When the Rain Stops Falling at the Almeida Theatre in 2009.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] The Evening Standard called his turn in Les Enfants du Paradis "memorable" and said "[t]his is an actor we'll be hearing of again."[17] The Guardian called his performance "glowing."

In 2010, he was cast in British playwright Laura Wade's Posh which ran at the Royal Court Theatre. Mison played James Leighton-Masters, the president of a fictional Oxford dining club called the Riot Club.[18] The Daily Telegraph's Charles Spencer gave it four stars and called Mison "particularly memorable."[19]

In 2012, the play was revived in the West End at the Duke of York's Theatre.[20] Mison next played Prince Hal in Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2 at the Theatre Royal, Bath in 2011.

In February 2018, the Donmar Warehouse in London announced the cast for the theatre's 2018 production of The Way of the World, a Restoration comedy by William Congreve. Mison was cast to play the character of Fainall.[21]

Mison has also written several UK stage monologues including Wood, Bounded, and The Life Man of Portland Mews.

Film

From 2005 to 2008, Mison appeared in a number of movies, mainly in small roles. These early film appearances include roles in the Hallmark Channel movie Mysterious Island;[22] the BBC TV movie A Waste of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets; and the Peter O'Toole vehicle Venus.

In 2009, Mison and fellow Webber-Douglas Academy graduate Rupert Friend, Mison's roommate at the time, wrote and acted in a film short, The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers. The Brownlee Brothers[23] directed the film, which Mison described as a "Brothers Grimm style fairy tale."[24] The short film is a dark comic fairy tale about two brothers, played by Mison and Friend, who attempt to kill themselves at the same time every day; Keira Knightley plays a fairy. Fashion designers Poltock & Walsh screened the film at an event, leading to media reports that the film was made to promote the designers' fashion line. Mison has said these reports are inaccurate.[24] The short film screened at a number of festivals, including the 2009 BFI London Film Festival;[25] the 2009 New Hampshire Film Festival, where it won Best Short Comedy;[26] the 2010 Cleveland International Film Festival;[27] the 2010 London Short Film Festival;[28] and the 2010 Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival, where it tied for first place for Best Short.[29] [30] In 2012, Mison starred in Friend's directorial debut, Steve, a short film that also starred Knightley and Colin Firth.

In 2011, Mison played Callum in the film adaptation of David Nicholls' novel One Day. One Day starred Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess; Lone Scherfig directed. His most notable film role to date came in 2012 in the romantic comedy Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Lasse Halstrom directed this film adaptation of Paul Torday's novel, and Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt starred. Mison played Capt. Robert Mayers, the military boyfriend of Emily Blunt's character Harriet. The movie was generally well-received critically and did well at the box office. In the US, it reached the box office top ten, peaking at No. 7.[31] The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 67% positive rating among critics, based on 139 reviews.[32]

Mison appeared in two independent British films released in 2013. In Jadoo, written and directed by Amit Gupta, Mison plays Mark, the fiance of the daughter of the two feuding brothers at the heart of the story. Jadoo's world premiere was at the 2013 Berlin film festival, the Berlinale, in a special section on "Culinary Cinema."[33] It was released in the UK in September 2013 and played at over 20 festivals.[34]

Mison also had a supporting role in Dead Cat, a romantic comedy written by Sam Bern and Stefan Georgiou; Georgiou also directed. Mison plays Tim, part of a group of four friends, one of whom has just reconnected with his childhood sweetheart. The four actors playing the friends are friends in real life, and the roles were written for them.[35] Although Dead Cat was filmed in 2009,[36] it was not released until 2013. It was featured in a number of festivals in 2013, including the Cambridge Film Festival in the UK; the Indie Spirit Film Festival in Colorado; the British Independent Film Festival, where it won the British Lion Award for Achievement in Film on a Low Budget;[37] and the Southampton International Film Festival, where it won Best Film of the Festival and Best Feature Film. Mison won Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Performance.[38] Dead Cat also won Best of Show at Indie Fest in July 2013.[39]

Television

Mison appeared in several British television productions from 2006 to 2012. He played Ben Sixsmith in The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard, a six-episode series on BBC One.[40] It was broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre on PBS in 2007.[41] He played Daniel in the premiere episode of Secret Diary of a Call Girl, broadcast on ITV2 in 2007. It premiered in the US on Showtime in 2008.[42]

In 2008 he played Mr. Bingley in Lost in Austen, a fanciful adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The four-part mini-series, written by Guy Andrews and broadcast on ITV, imagines a modern-day woman who is transported to the world of Pride and Prejudice, her favourite novel. The series was generally well received by critics.[43]

From 2008 to 2010, Mison had roles in three successful British TV series. In 2008, he appeared in season 11 of Agatha Christie's Poirot, the 70-episode television adaptation of Agatha Christie's stories and novels featuring the detective Hercule Poirot.[44] Mison played David Baker, a character described as a "peacock", in "Third Girl." The following year, Mison appeared in Lewis, the ITV-produced detective drama (broadcast as Inspector Lewis on PBS). Mison played Dorian Crane, a young professor and popular fantasy novel writer, in "Allegory of Love", an episode in series 3 broadcast in 2009. In 2010, Mison played Tim Mortimer in "It Smells of Books", an episode of the BBC One series New Tricks.[45]

Mison's next television role was in Parade's End, the pedigreed television adaptation of the Ford Madox Ford novel tetralogy Parade's End. Written by Tom Stoppard and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, the five-part series aired on BBC Two in 2012 and HBO in 2013.[46] Mison played Potty Perowne, erstwhile lover of Sylvia Tietjens, wife of Christopher Tietjens, played by Cumberbatch. The series received good reviews and was nominated for five Emmy awards and five BAFTA awards in 2013.[47] [48] [49] [50]

In early 2013, Mison was cast to play the co-lead in a new Fox television series, Sleepy Hollow alongside co-star, Nicole Beharie. Mison plays Ichabod Crane, a Revolutionary War soldier killed in battle who re-awakens in 21st century Sleepy Hollow.[51] The show is broadly inspired by Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". The show's co-creators and executive producers are Philip Iscove; Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, co-creators of the Fox TV show Fringe and the writers of the current Star Trek film reboot; and the pilot episode was directed by Len Wiseman, director of Live Free or Die Hard and director of the first two/co-producer of all four Underworld films. Mison co-stars with Nicole Beharie, who plays police lieutenant Abbie Mills. Orci and Kurtzman have said that they originally intended to cast an American actor but were unable to find an actor who could credibly play a Revolutionary era man in the 21st century.[52] The show was a hit for Fox in its first season, to the surprise of some in the media.[53] [54] Mison received very strong reviews from critics and the media for his portrayal of Crane.[55] In September 2013, the Television Critics Association named Mison most likely to achieve breakout status for the 2013 season.[56] Entertainment Weekly's Darren Franich called him a "constant revelation".[57] Maureen Ryan in The Huffington Post said "[Mison] plays Crane's confusion, urgency, anger and bemusement note perfectly."[58] The show was renewed for a second season after two weeks on the air.[59] In March 2015, Sleepy Hollow was picked up for a third season for 18 episodes.[60] On 13 May 2016 Fox renewed the show for a fourth season which premiered on 6 January 2017.[61] In May 2017, Fox declined to renew the show for a fifth season.[62]

In 2018, he was cast in a supporting role in Watchmen where he portrayed the clones of Mr. Phillips and the Game Warden.[63]

In 2021, Mison was cast as a series regular in the Apple TV+ series See.[64]

Personal life

Mison has a son with his wife Charlotte Coy.[65]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006L'Entente cordialeNiels
2006Venus Period Film Lover
2006Heroes and Villains Nathan
2008Out ThereJean-LucShort film
2009The CreepCreepShort Film
2009The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide BrothersBarathShort film; 1st Place Winner for Best Short Film at the 2010 RI International Horror Film Festival in Providence, RI[66]
2010SteveManShort film
2011One DayCallum
2012Salmon Fishing in the Yemen Capt. Robert Mayers
2013JadooMark[67] Film voted as the 2014 RAGS Audience Award Winner at the Silk Screen Film Festival held in Pittsburgh, PA[68]
2013Dead Cat Tim
2014The Riot Club Riot Club Founder (Uncredited)

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005A Waste of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His SonnetsYoung BloodTelevision movie
2005Mysterious IslandBlakeTelevision movie
2006The Amazing Mrs Pritchard Ben Sixsmith4 episodes
2007Secret Diary of a Call GirlDanielEpisode: "1.1"
2008Lost in AustenCharles Bingley4 episodes
2008Agatha Christie's PoirotDavid BakerEpisode: "Third Girl"
2009Inspector Lewis Dorian CraneEpisode: "Allegory of Love"
2010New TricksTim MortimerEpisode: "It Smells of Books"
2012Parade's EndPotty Perowne4 episodes
20132017Sleepy HollowIchabod Crane / WitnessMain role, 62 episodes
2015BonesEpisode: "The Resurrection in the Remains"
2019WatchmenMr. Phillips, Game WardenMain role
2019Four Weddings and a FuneralQuentinRecurring role
2021–2022SeeLord HarlanMain role (seasons 2–3)
2022The Ex-WifeJackMain role

Stage

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004HamletFortinbrasOld Vic Theatre
2006Les Enfants du ParadisFrederickArcola Theatre
2008The Living Unknown SoldierArcola Theatre
2008Hedda George TesmanGate Theatre
2009When the Rain Stops Falling GabrielAlmeida Theatre
2010Posh James Leighton-MastersRoyal Court Theatre
2010ElektraOrestesYoung Vic Theatre
2011Henry IV Parts I and IIPrince HalTheatre Royal Bath
2012PoshJames Leighton-MastersDuke of York's Theatre
2018The Way of the WorldFainallDonmar Warehouse
2022As You Like ItTouchstone@sohoplace

Radio

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009Deep Blue SeaFreddie PageBBC
2010Arms and the ManMajor Sergius SaranoffBBC
2013HamletLaertesBBC
2013The Stuarts: It Came in with a Lass DarnleyBBC
2013The Cazalets GeraldBBC
2013The Unending Battle Tom MitfordBBC

External links

Notes and References

  1. Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005. Ancestry.com; accessed 6 February 2014.
  2. Web site: The New York Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20080101103457/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/1426969/Tom-Mison. dead. 2008-01-01. Movies & TV Dept.. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2008.
  3. Web site: 'Sleepy Hollow' Created an "Us Against Her" Environment for Star Nicole Beharie, 'Burn It Down' Book Claims. 6 June 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  4. Web site: Wolf. Matt. Rising London Star Tom Mison on Juggling Movies, TV and the Timely West End Comedy Posh. www.broadway.com.
  5. Web site: Hurtwood House: Drama School Places Over the Years!. www.hurtwoodhouse.com. 26 August 2014.
  6. Web site: Tom Mison (Visiting Theatre Staff) . Hurtwood House Performing Arts . 8 June 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100221214533/http://www.hurtwoodhouseperformingarts.co.uk/#/tom-mison/4533746779 . 21 February 2010 . dmy-all .
  7. Web site: Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. www.zaitseva.com. 26 August 2014.
  8. Web site: Five Ways to Wear: Spring Cardigans. www.mrporter.com. Mr Porter. 8 June 2014. 21 February 2012.
  9. Web site: 'Sleepy Hollow': Tom Mison on becoming Ichabod Crane and season 1's hair-raising finale. Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly. 8 June 2014. 4 November 2013.
  10. Web site: Discovery: Tom Mison. www.interviewmagazine.com. 8 June 2014. 15 May 2012.
  11. Web site: Winn. Steven. Acting up: ACT's Young Conservatory students have the passion and talent to make it . SFGate . 8 June 2014. 15 August 2001.
  12. Web site: Billington. Michael. Hamlet. www.theguardian.com. 8 June 2014. 28 April 2004.
  13. Web site: Evening Standard Review of Les Enfants du Paradis. www.simple8.co.uk. 8 June 2014.
  14. Web site: The Living Unknown Soldier . simple8 theatre company . 8 June 2014.
  15. Web site: A "Curtain Up" London Review: Hedda. www.curtainup.com. 8 June 2014. August 2008.
  16. News: Billington. Michael. Theatre Review: When the Rain Stops Falling. The Guardian . 8 June 2014. 21 May 2009.
  17. Web site: Evening Standard Review of Les Enfants du Paradis.
  18. Web site: Posh: Original 2010 Production. 8 June 2014.
  19. Web site: Posh: Royal Court, review. 8 June 2014. 16 April 2010.
  20. Web site: Posh (at the Duke of York's Theatre) . Royal Court Theatre . 8 June 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120322015752/http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/posh-west-end . 22 March 2012 . dmy-all .
  21. Web site: Wood. Alex. Linda Bassett withdraws from Donmar's The Way of the World as the show's cast is announced. What's On Stage. 19 February 2018 . 21 February 2018.
  22. Web site: Lowry. Brian. Review: Jules Vernes' Mysterious Island. www.variety.com. 21 June 2014. 15 September 2005.
  23. Web site: The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers . 21 June 2014.
  24. Web site: Morosini. Daniela. Film: Tom Mison. www.1883magazine.com. 21 June 2014. 20 March 2012.
  25. Web site: BFI 53rd London Film Festival. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091003031443/http://bfi.org.uk/lff/films/short_cuts_animation/462. dead. 2009-10-03. 21 June 2014. 2009.
  26. Web site: NH Film Festival Announces 2009 Granny Winners. NH Film Festival. 21 June 2014. 19 October 2009.
  27. Web site: The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers. www.clevelandfilm.org . 21 June 2014 .
  28. Web site: The short of it: London Short Film Festival Highlights. https://web.archive.org/web/20120803012235/http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/exclusive/london_short_film_festival.php. dead. 2012-08-03. BFI Film Forever. 21 June 2014. 2010.
  29. Web site: Brown. Emma. Discovery: Tom Mison. www.interviewmagazine.com. 8 March 2012 . 21 June 2014.
  30. Web site: 2010 Rhode Island International Film Festival Announces the Winners for the 11th Annual Event. www.film-festival.org. 21 June 2014. 6 November 2010.
  31. Web site: Susman. Gary. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen: Why You Should Take the Ewan McGregor-Emily Blunt Film Seriously. MovieFone. 21 June 2014. 2 April 2012.
  32. Web site: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2012). Rotten Tomatoes. 21 June 2014.
  33. Web site: Programme 2013. The Berlinale. 22 June 2014.
  34. Web site: Gupta. Amit. Jadoo: The Road to Distribution. MovieScope. 22 June 2014. 9 October 2013.
  35. Web site: Randall. Amanda. Dead Cat. Take One. 22 June 2014. 18 September 2013.
  36. Web site: Bern. Sam. Dead Cat. Sam Bern. 22 June 2014. 25 November 2009.
  37. Web site: British Independent Film Festival 2013. Film Festival Guild. 22 June 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130729055337/http://www.thefilmfestivalguild.com/#!biff2013/cq6v. 29 July 2013. dmy-all.
  38. Web site: 3rd Annual Southampton International Film Festival. Southampton Film Fest. 22 June 2014.
  39. Web site: Indie Winners: July 2013. The Indie: Best of Show. 22 June 2014.
  40. Web site: The Amazing Mrs Pritchard. BBC One. 15 July 2014.
  41. News: Bellafante. Ginia. She's in Charge Now; No Time to Go Wobbly. The New York Times . 15 July 2014. 20 October 2007.
  42. Web site: McNutt. Myles. Series Premiere: Secret Diary of a Call Girl – "Pilot". Cultural Learnings. 15 July 2014. 18 June 2008.
  43. News: Brook. Stephen. First Night: Lost in Austen. The Guardian. 4 September 2008 . 16 July 2014. 4 September 2008.
  44. Web site: Bianculli. David. Case Closed: Agatha Christie's Detective Poirot Solves His Last TV Mystery. www.npr.org. 26 August 2014. 13 August 2014.
  45. Web site: BBC One: New Tricks. www.bbc.co.uk. 26 August 2014.
  46. Web site: BBC Two: Parade's End. bbc.co.uk. 26 August 2014.
  47. Web site: Finke. Nikki. 2013 Primetime Emmy Nominations. www.deadline.com. 26 August 2014. 18 July 2013.
  48. Web site: BAFTA Television Awards: Television Craft in 2013. www.bafta.org. 26 August 2014.
  49. Web site: Stanley. Allessandra. Not the Same Old Cup of British Tea 'Parade's End,' With Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall. www.nytimes.com. 26 August 2014. 25 February 2013.
  50. Web site: Ferguson. Euan. Rewind TV: Parade's End; The Last Weekend; Funny Fortnight; The Queen's Mother-in-Law – review. www.theguardian.com. 26 August 2014. 25 August 2012.
  51. Web site: Kasperowicz. Leslie. Parade's End's Tom Mison To Play Ichabod Crane In Fox's Sleepy Hollow Pilot. cinemablend.com. 26 August 2014. 26 February 2013.
  52. Web site: Radish. Christina. Executive Producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci Talk SLEEPY HOLLOW, a New Version of Ichabod Crane, Making the Mythology Accessible, and More. www.collider.com. 16 September 2013 . 26 August 2014.
  53. Web site: Marks. Gene. Why Is 'Sleepy Hollow' A Hit?. www.forbes.com. 27 August 2014. 11 November 2013.
  54. Web site: Adalian. Joseph. Anatomy of a Hit: Why Sleepy Hollow Became Fall TV's Breakout Success. www.vulture.com. 27 August 2014. 14 October 2013.
  55. Web site: Virtue. Graeme. Have you been watching … Sleepy Hollow?. www.theguardian.com. 27 August 2014. 20 November 2013.
  56. Web site: O'Connell. Michael. TV Critics Name 'Agents of SHIELD' Most Promising Fall Series. www.hollywoodreporter.com. 27 August 2014. 11 September 2013.
  57. Web site: Franich. Darren. Sleepy Hollow (2013). https://web.archive.org/web/20140122004750/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20778133,00.html. dead. 22 January 2014. Entertainment Weekly. 27 August 2014. 12 February 2014.
  58. Web site: Ryan. Maureen. 'Sleepy Hollow' Review: Don't Lose Your Head, But It's Kind Of Fun. www.huffingtonpost.com. 27 August 2014. 16 September 2013.
  59. Web site: O'Connell . Michael . Lesley . Goldberg . 'Sleepy Hollow' Renewed for Second Season at Fox . www.hollywoodreporter.com . 27 August 2014 . 3 October 2013.
  60. Web site: Bibel. Sara. "Sleepy Hollow" Renewed for 18-Episode Season 2 by Fox. https://web.archive.org/web/20150321001532/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/03/18/sleepy-hollow-renewed-for-18-episode-season-3-by-fox/376950/. dead. 21 March 2015. tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. 19 March 2015. 18 March 2015.
  61. Web site: Sleepy Hollow Renewed for Season 4. TVLine. Roots. Kimberly. 13 May 2016. 13 May 2016.
  62. News: 'Sleepy Hollow' Canceled at Fox After Four Seasons. Wagmeister. Elizabeth. 2017-05-10. Variety. 2017-07-18. en-US.
  63. Web site: Ausellio . Michael . Sleepy Hollow's Tom Mison Nabs a Lead Role in HBO's Watchmen Pilot . TVLine . 28 June 2018 . 2 July 2018.
  64. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . 'See' Gets Season 3 Renewal By Apple, Unveils Season 2 Premiere Date, Trailer & Cast Additions . . 19 June 2021 . 10 June 2021.
  65. Web site: Magazine . Schön! . Tom Mison Interview . . 26 February 2023 . 1 October 2021.
  66. http://www.film-festival.org/Horror_WINNERS10.php RI International Horror Film Festival
  67. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2180423/ Jadoo (2013) – IMDb
  68. http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/news/2014-rags-audience-award-winner-announced/ 2014 RAGS Audience Award Winner Announced | Silk Screen