Welsh actor, director, producer, and author Tom Cullen. As a member of an acting family, his innate creativity and imagination acquired all the necessary food to reach their full potential. As a teenager, he was mostly interested in music, but with time he developed a passion for acting. He starred in the BAFTA Cymru-winning feature film ‘Daddy’s Girl’ while still in college. He was also active in the Wales theater scene, having appeared in a number of modest shows. In 2011, he played one of the most significant roles of his career in the British romance drama “Weekend.” The film was a critical and commercial triumph, and Cullen’s performance garnered significant attention. He subsequently appeared in the historical drama series ‘World Without End’ and ‘Downton Abbey, co-starred alongside Liev Schreiber and Elias Koteas in the science-fiction horror film ‘The Last Days on Mars,’ and as a lawyer in the crime-drama series ‘The Five’. As a rising star, he is now portraying a Crusades veteran in History’s “Knightfall” and Guy Fawkes in BBC’s “Gunpowder.”
Youth and Early Life
Tom Cullen was born in Aberystwyth, a medieval market town in Wales, on July 17, 1985. His parents are both writers. There are two siblings in his family: Joseph and Ruth. Despite having an Irish father and an English mother, he was thoroughly integrated into Welsh society as a child.
In his early years, he was primarily captivated by music. He was raised in Llandrindod Wells until the age of 12 when he moved to Cardiff. He attended Llanishen High School before spending a year at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Then, he enrolled at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Acting with First Class Honors in 2009.
Tom Cullen’s Career
Tom Cullen’s natural flair for the trade was apparent from the very beginning of his career. In 2006, while still a college student, he made his screen debut as Jason in the Welsh horror film ‘Daddy’s Girl’ (also known as ‘Cravings’). The film won the 2008 British Academy Cymru Award for Best Film.
During this time, he also frequently appeared on stage. He appeared in “Gorgio” at the Bristol Old Vic, “Assembly” and “A Good Night Out in the Valleys” at the National Theatre of Wales, and “The Sanger” at Sherman Cymru.
Then, he appeared in several short films, including “Watch Me” (2008), “20 Questions” (2009), and “Balance” (2010). “Watch Me” was nominated for the Best Short Film BAFTA Cymru. In ’20 Questions,’ he played a husband who was unfaithful. In the film Balance, he portrayed a supporting spouse.
In the years that followed, he directed three further films, including “Henry” (2012), “Room 8” (2013), and “Trial” (2016), with “Room 8” receiving the BAFTA Award for Best British Short Film.
In 2010, he made his television debut in the episode titled “Tokyo” of the British docudrama “Banged Up Abroad.” He subsequently worked on the S4C drama series ‘Pen Talar’.
In Andrew Haigh’s directorial effort ‘Weekend,’ he was cast as Russell, a timid, introverted lifeguard. The film received widespread acclaim from critics and multiple accolades, including the Audience Award for Emerging Visions at the SXSW Film Festival, the Grand Jury Award for Best Film at the Nashville Film Festival, and the Audience Award for Best Film at the Toronto Inside Out LGBT Film Festival.
After appearing in an episode of the science fiction anthology series “Black Mirror” in 2011, he was cast as Wulfric in the television adaptation of Ken Follett’s historical novel “World Without End.” In 2012, the eight-part miniseries first aired.
Cullen chose ‘The Last Days on Mars’ (2013), in which he portrayed Richard Harrington, a scientist stationed on Mars, as his next project. He was also associated with the 2014 film “Desert Dancer,” which is based on the life of Iranian choreographer and dancer Afshin Ghaffarian. In the 2015 crime drama “The Trials of Jimmy Rose,” he co-starred alongside Ray Winstone.
2016 was the busiest year of his career yet. He featured in Joan Carr-“Happily Wiggin’s Ever After,” dated his real-life partner Tatiana Maslany in “The Other Half,” and as Jake in “100 Streets” with Idris Elba. He worked alongside Armie Hammer and directors Fabio Guaglione and Fabio Resinaro on “Mine.” In Sky1’s ‘The Five,’ he also portrayed the main protagonist, Mark Wells.
Following the popularity of ‘Vikings,’ the upcoming History series ‘Knightfall’ has generated considerable curiosity. Sam Hazeldine, Simon Merrells, and Ed Stoppard also appear in the future production.
The historic Gunpowder Plot of 1605 is the inspiration for the 2017 television drama Gunpowder. Guy Fawkes is a recurrent character in the series portrayed by Cullen.
In addition to being an actor, he is a talented dramatist and screenwriter. With fellow Welsh actor Alexander Vlahos, he wrote and produced the 2008 short film ‘Naughties’ After a year, they established the Undeb Theatre. In 2010, he performed Kingfisher, his first full-length drama.
Tom’s Major Opera
Tom Cullen joined the ensemble cast of “Downton Abbey” in 2013, as the character Anthony “Tony” Foyle, Viscount Gillingham. Lady Mary Crawley’s (Michelle Dockery) childhood friend later becomes her lover. To prepare for the part, he learned horseback riding and how to act like an early-20th-century English aristocrat.
They established himself as a rising star in the British entertainment industry when the critics praised his performance on the program.
Awards & Achievements
Tom Cullen won Best Actor in a Narrative Feature at the 2011 Nashville Film Festival and Most Promising Newcomer at the 2011 British Independent Film Awards for his performance in “Weekend.”
In 2016, he and the ensemble of “Downton Abbey” won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Drama Series.
His Personal Life
In 2011, Tom Cullen met his partner, the Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany, on the set of ‘World Without End’ in Budapest, Hungary. In September 2012, they made their first public appearance together at the Toronto International Film Festival. Together, they reside in Los Angeles, California.
Cullen was classmates with ‘Fresh Meat’ actress Kimberley Nixon and Olivier Award-winning actor Aneurin Barnard at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) in Cardiff.
He was recognized on the 2011 list of Stars of Tomorrow by Screen International.
Estimated Net Worth
Tom Cullen is one of the wealthiest and most popular actors in Hollywood. According to our research, Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider, Tom Cullen has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.