Age: 65
male
Sir Simon Russell Beale CBE (born January 12, 1961) is an English actor. He is known for his appearances in film, television and theatre, and work on radio, on audiobooks and as a narrator. For his services to drama, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2019. He has spent much of his theatre career working in productions for both the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. He has received ten Laurence Olivier Award nominations, winning three awards for his performances in Volpone (1996), Candide (2000), and Uncle Vanya (2003). For his work on the Broadway stage he has received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play nomination for his performance as George in the Tom Stoppard play Jumpers in 2004. For his role as Henry Lehman in The Lehman Trilogy, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play and was nominated for an Olivier Award. Beale has been described by The Independent as "the greatest stage actor of his generation". Beale made his film debut in Sally Potter's period drama Orlando (1992). He continued acting in films such as Persuasion (1995), Hamlet (1996), My Week with Marilyn (2011), The Deep Blue Sea (2011), Into the Woods (2014), and Mary Queen of Scots (2018). In 2017, he starred in Armando Iannucci's dark comedy The Death of Stalin playing Lavrentiy Beria for which he received the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He has also appeared in the television projects The Young Visiters (2003), Dunkirk (2004), and as Falstaff in the BBC made-for-television films Henry IV, Part I and Part II (2012). He was part of the main cast of Showtime's Penny Dreadful.
The film follows Hercules, the son of Zeus and Hera, who is stolen from Mount Olympus by the villainous Hades and turned mortal. Raised on Earth, Hercules possesses incredible strength and sets out to become a true hero so he can reclaim his place among the gods. Along the way, he trains with the satyr Philoctetes ("Phil"), battles monstrous creatures, and falls in love with the clever and guarded Megara, who secretly works for Hades. As Hercules proves himself through acts of courage, he discovers that true heroism is measured not by strength but by selflessness. In the climax, he sacrifices his life to save Meg, an act that restores his godhood. However, Hercules chooses to remain mortal on Earth to be with her, finding his true place not on Olympus but with the people he loves.
