Paul Shelley (born Paul Matthews; 15 May 1942) is an English actor. Shelley was born in

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popul ...

West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county County of York, West Riding (the area under the control of West Riding County Council), abbreviated County ...

, and trained at RADA (

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Senat ...

). Since then he has mainly worked in the theatre as a classical actor. He has worked extensively with the

Royal National Theatre The Royal National Theatre in London, commonly known as the National Theatre (NT), is one of the United Kingdom's three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House. I ...

and the

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...

and has appeared in several West End productions.

Television and film roles

His work for television includes ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in ...

'' (1980), the BBC Sunday classic serial in which he played the dual lead roles of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, '' Secret Army'' (1978–79) as Major Nicholas Bradley, ''The Fourth Arm'' (1979), ''Special Branch'' (1974), ''

Blake's 7 ''Blake's 7'' (sometimes styled ''Blakes7'') is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. Four 13-episode series were broadcast on BBC1 between 1978 and 1981. It was created by Terry Nation, who also wrote the first ...

'' (1979), ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the ...

'' (1982), ''

Inspector Morse Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse, GM, is the eponymous fictional character in the series of detective novels by British author Colin Dexter. On television, he appears in the 33-episode drama series '' Inspector Morse'' (1987–2000), ...

'' (1990), '' Paradise Postponed'' (1986) based on book by

John Mortimer Sir John Clifford Mortimer (21 April 1923 – 16 January 2009) was a British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author. He is best known for novels about a barrister named Horace Rumpole. Early life Mortimer was born in Hampstead, London ...

(audiobook-recorded by Paul Shelley as well) and its sequel ''Titmuss Regained'' (1991, also audiobook),, ''Revelations'' (1994–95), '' Heartbeat'' (2002) and ''

Crossroads Crossroads, crossroad, cross road or similar may refer to: * Crossroads (junction), where four roads meet Film and television Films * ''Crossroads'' (1928 film), a 1928 Japanese film by Teinosuke Kinugasa * ''Cross Roads'' (film), a 1930 Brit ...

'' (2003). In the popular ITV detective drama ''

Midsomer Murders ''Midsomer Murders'' is a British crime drama television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the '' Chief Inspector Barnaby'' book series (created by Caroline Graham), and broadcast on two channels of ...

'' episode "The Creeper" (2009) Shelley performed as Inspector Barnaby's boss, Chief Constable Richard Lovell and appeared as Jed Grey in several episodes in BBC TV series ''Doctors'' (2010). Films include ''

Oh! What a Lovely War ''Oh! What a Lovely War'' is a 1969 British comedy musical war film directed by Richard Attenborough (in his directorial debut), with an ensemble cast, including Maggie Smith, Dirk Bogarde, John Gielgud, John Mills, Kenneth More, Laurence Olivie ...

'' (1969), Polanski's ''

Macbeth ''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...

'' (1971), '' It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet'' (1976) and '' God's Outlaw'' (1986).

Theatre roles

Shelley played Duncan in Rupert Goold's production of ''Macbeth'' ("the Macbeth of a lifetime" according to critics) which after its sellout runs at

Chichester Festival Theatre Chichester Festival Theatre is a theatre and Grade II* listed building situated in Oaklands Park in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, it was opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Mart ...

in summer 2007 was transferred to the West End in the autumn and then to New York from February to May 2008. During the Chichester season 2007 he also played Sir Toby Belch in ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vi ...

''. Other notable roles are: at Shakespeare's Globe: ''Julius Caesar'' (title role), Antony in ''Antony and Cleopatra'', three

Tom Stoppard Sir Tom Stoppard (born , 3 July 1937) is a Czech born British playwright and screenwriter. He has written for film, radio, stage, and television, finding prominence with plays. His work covers the themes of human rights, censorship, and polit ...

plays in the West End ''The Invention of Love'' (Oscar Wilde), ''Arcadia'' (Bernard), ''The Real Thing'' (Henry), at Royal National Theatre: '' The Secret Rapture'' (Tom French), ''Hedda Gabler'' (Tesman), ''The Crucible'' (Hale), ''Lady in the Dark'' (Kendal), at Royal Shakespeare Company: ''Romeo and Juliet'' (Tybalt), ''King Lear'' (Edmund), ''The Winter’s Tale'' (Leontes), ''Troilus and Cressida'' (Achilles), ''Les liaisons dangereuses'' (Valmont). Shelley has also often worked at the

Orange Tree Theatre The Orange Tree Theatre is a 180-seat theatre at 1 Clarence Street, Richmond in south-west London, which was built specifically as a theatre in the round. It is housed within a disused 1867 primary school, built in Victorian Gothic style. Th ...

in Richmond, as an actor and director, on such plays as ''Uncle Vanya'' and ''King Lear''. For nine months he played Arthur Kipps in the thriller ''

The Woman in Black ''The Woman in Black'' is a 1983 gothic horror novel by English writer Susan Hill. The plot concerns a mysterious spectre that haunts a small English town. A television film based on the story, also called '' The Woman in Black'', was produce ...

'' at the Fortune Theatre (2006–07). Shelley played Elyot Chase in

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

's ''

Private Lives ''Private Lives'' is a 1930 comedy of manners in three acts by Noël Coward. It concerns a divorced couple who, while honeymooning with their new spouses, discover that they are staying in adjacent rooms at the same hotel. Despite a perpetu ...

'' at the Theatre Royal,

York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

and returned there to direct Robert Bolt's '' A Man For All Seasons'', in June 2008. He played the Duke of Norfolk in ''A Man For All Seasons'', on tour and at the Haymarket in 2005-06. In a

Donmar Warehouse The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit theatre in Covent Garden, London, England. It first opened on 18 July 1977. Sam Mendes, Michael Grandage and Josie Rourke have all served as artistic director, a post held since 2019 by Mi ...

production of T.S. Eliot's ''The Family Reunion'' he played Colonel Gerald Piper in a run from November 2008 to January 2009. At York's Theatre Royal from 30 May-20 June 2009 Paul played Max in

Harold Pinter Harold Pinter (; 10 October 1930 – 24 December 2008) was a British playwright, screenwriter, director and actor. A Nobel Prize winner, Pinter was one of the most influential modern British dramatists with a writing career that span ...

's ''

The Homecoming ''The Homecoming'' is a two-act play written in 1964 by Harold Pinter and first published in 1965. Its premières in London (1965) and New York (1967) were both directed by Sir Peter Hall. The original Broadway production won the 1967 Tony A ...

''. ''A Voyage Around My Father'', by John Mortimer, with Paul Shelley playing the Father, was a

Salisbury Playhouse Salisbury Playhouse is a theatre in the English city of Salisbury, Wiltshire. It was built in 1976 and comprises the 517-seat Main House and the 149-seat Salberg, a rehearsal room and a community & education space. It is part of Arts Council En ...

production in autumn 2010. Rose Theatre, Kingston in March 2011 showed Shakespeare's ''As You Like It'' with Paul Shelley in the dual roles of Duke Frederick and Duke Senior. After that he played Ralph in Harold Pinter's 'Moonlight' at the Donmar Warehouse. "Earthquakes in London" by Mike Bartlett and directed by Rupert Goold was on UK tour until 12 November 2011 with Paul Shelley as the father, Robert. In June 2012 the

showed ''The Conquering Hero'' with Paul Shelley as Colonel Rokeby. He played Andrew in Mike Bartlett's adaptation of "Medea" on tour until December 2012. Produced by Headlong. Theatre Royal Bath showed "King Lear" in July–August 2013 with Paul as the Earl of Gloucester. From 21 January to 8 February 2014 Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh showed Eugene O'Neill's "Long day's journey into night" with Paul playing the father, James Tyrone. "Brideshead Revisited" on UK tour April–June 2016 with Paul as Lord Marchmain.

Audiobooks

He is also an audiobook narrator and has recorded some thirty audiobooks, among them

John Fowles John Robert Fowles (; 31 March 1926 – 5 November 2005) was an English novelist of international renown, critically positioned between modernism and postmodernism. His work was influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, among others. Aft ...

’ ''The French Lieutenant’s Woman'',

Kingsley Amis Sir Kingsley William Amis (16 April 1922 – 22 October 1995) was an English novelist, poet, critic, and teacher. He wrote more than 20 novels, six volumes of poetry, a memoir, short stories, radio and television scripts, and works of social ...

’ ''Lucky Jim'', several of Robert Goddard's novels,

James Cameron James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is a Canadian filmmaker. A major figure in the post- New Hollywood era, he is considered one of the industry's most innovative filmmakers, regularly pushing the boundaries of cinematic capability ...

's ''An Indian Summer'', Nicholas Crane's ''Two Degrees West'' and ''Staying On'' by Paul Scott. He has been called "the best reader there is" and has three times won the Audiofile Earphones Award.

Personal life

Paul Shelley has toured and taught at universities in the USA. He is married to actress Paula Stockbridge and has a son and daughter from his previous marriage to actress Eileen Nicholas. His elder brother Francis Matthews was also an actor, and sister Maura Matthews.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Shelley, Paul 1942 births Living people English Roman Catholics English male film actors English male stage actors English male television actors Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art male actors from Leeds