Jeremy John Irons is a distinguished British actor and voice artist renowned for his versatile performances across film, television, and stage.
With a career spanning over five decades, Irons has captivated audiences with his ability to portray complex, often morally ambiguous characters, earning him a reputation as one of the most accomplished actors of his generation.
Beyond acting, Irons is an environmentalist, a patron of various charitable causes, and a vocal advocate for sustainable living.
He is married to actress Sinéad Cusack, with whom he has two sons, Samuel and Maximilian, both of whom have pursued careers in the arts.
Siblings
Jeremy has two siblings, an older brother, Christopher Irons, and a younger sister, Felicity Irons.
However, little is known about their personal lives, as Jeremy has largely kept his family out of the spotlight, focusing attention on his professional endeavors.
Career
Irons’ journey to stardom began on the stage, training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and performing in repertory theatre before making his West End debut in 1971.
His breakout role came in 1980 when he starred as Charles Ryder in the acclaimed television adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, a performance that showcased his ability to convey emotional depth and aristocratic poise.
In 1981, Irons made his feature film debut in The French Lieutenant’s Woman, opposite Meryl Streep, earning critical praise for his nuanced portrayal of a Victorian gentleman.
His career gained further momentum with roles in films such as Moonlighting (1982) and Betrayal (1983).
However, it was his chilling performance as Claus von Bülow in Reversal of Fortune (1990) that cemented his status as a leading man, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor.
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Irons’ ability to humanize complex characters was evident again in Dead Ringers (1988), where he played twin gynecologists with unsettling precision, and in Damage (1992), a provocative exploration of obsession.
Irons’ versatility shines through in his diverse filmography, which includes mainstream blockbusters like Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), where he played the villainous Simon Gruber, and The Lion King (1994), where he lent his iconic voice to the scheming Scar.
He has also taken on historical and literary roles, portraying figures like Alfred Stieglitz in Georgia O’Keeffe (2009) and appearing in adaptations such as The House of the Spirits (1993) and Lolita (1997).
His television work includes acclaimed performances in Elizabeth I (2005), opposite Helen Mirren, and The Borgias (2011–2013), where he played the cunning Pope Alexander VI.
In recent years, Irons has remained active in both film and television, with roles in Justice League (2017) and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) as Alfred Pennyworth, as well as appearances in Watchmen (2019) and The Morning Show (2023).
Accolades
Irons’ illustrious career has been recognized with a plethora of awards and honors.
His most prestigious accolade is the Academy Award for Best Actor for Reversal of Fortune (1990), complemented by a Golden Globe Award for the same role.
He has also earned two additional Golden Globe nominations for The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981) and Dead Ringers (1988).
For his television work, Irons won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for Elizabeth I (2005) and received nominations for Brideshead Revisited (1981) and Georgia O’Keeffe (2009).
On the stage, Irons won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing (1984).
His contributions to the arts have been further acknowledged with honors such as the César d’Honneur (2002) for his impact on global cinema and his appointment as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization in 2011.
