Andrew Scott

Birthday: 21 October 1976, Dublin, Ireland

Height: 173 cm

Andrew Scott grew up in Dublin, Ireland with an older and a younger sister, Sarah and Hannah. His father, Jim, worked in the Fas government employment agency, and his mother, Nora, taught art at a secondary school. Andrew attended Gonzaga, a Jesuit school for boys on the south side of Dublin. From the age of 8 he took drama classes for children on Saturdays at the Anne Kavanagh school, and then in his early twenties he helped tutor younger students. He made two commercials for Irish television, for Flahavan's Porridge and Disney/Fanta.At 17 Andrew starred in his first professional role in the 1994 Irish drama "Korea." Later that year, he matriculated into Trinity College in Dublin to begin a degree in drama, but left after six months. He went on to perform at the Abbey Theatre, the national theater of Ireland, in four plays.In early 2000 Scott moved to London for a supporting role in "Longitude," a multi-part television movie starring Michael Gambon. Scott played many roles on the stage and received two Olivier awards. In 2006, Scott made his Broadway debut in David Hare's "The Vertical Hour" starring with Bill Nighy and Julianne Moore. He was nominated for a Drama League award for his role.Occasional film and television work in Britain, Ireland and America interspersed his stage career. Most notable of these was "Band of Brothers," "John Adams," and the television comedy series, "My Life in Film.""Sherlock," a modern-day revamp of the classic stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for BBC Television proved to be a turning point in Scott's career in 2010 when he gained notice as Moriarty, the fictional detective's nemesis.Scott starred in the play, "Birdland" by Simon Stephens, in the spring of 2014, where he played the role of a jaded rock star contemplating the meaning of fame. His film work stepped up considerably with roles in several important movies including 20th Century Fox's James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe starrer, "Frankenstein" released in 2015. Hide

The goal is always just trying to stretch yourself as an actor. The goal is always just trying to stretch yourself as an actor.

I've played all these extreme guys, but playing an every man type has its own challenges. I've played all these extreme guys, but playing an every man type has its own challenges.

The kind of actors I admire move through different characters and genres. The kind of actors I admire move through different characters and genres.

One of my favorite parts of acting is the clothes that you get to wear, because it's very important. One of my favorite parts of acting is the clothes that you get to wear, because it's very important.

I can totally understand why people say: 'I'm going to do this T.V. series so that I can buy a flat' Show more I can totally understand why people say: 'I'm going to do this T.V. series so that I can buy a flat'. But you've got to see what's of value to you as an actor. Hide

Life's too short. Life's too short.

I'm not a big guy for research. You've got to take a risk. I'm not a big guy for research. You've got to take a risk.

I am a private person; I think that's important if you're an actor. But there's a difference between Show more I am a private person; I think that's important if you're an actor. But there's a difference between privacy and secrecy, and I'm not a secretive person. Hide

Audiences like to be challenged and to be actively involved and try to guess an outcome. Audiences like to be challenged and to be actively involved and try to guess an outcome.

It's very difficult to make comedy work; I think it's a very underrated genre. It's very difficult to make comedy work; I think it's a very underrated genre.

'Serious acting' is the kind of acting that I don't ever respond to. 'Serious acting' is the kind of acting that I don't ever respond to.

I'm an enthusiast for people, and I don't want them to become the enemy. I've seen that happen to co Show more I'm an enthusiast for people, and I don't want them to become the enemy. I've seen that happen to colleagues who are disturbed the whole time, but there's a certain degree of control you can have if you keep yourself to yourself. The kind of actors I admire move through different characters and genres. That's the kind of actor I try to be. If you want that, you have to be circumspect about your private life. Hide

I do sometimes play characters that are a bit ambiguous. You've got to be brave about that sort of s Show more I do sometimes play characters that are a bit ambiguous. You've got to be brave about that sort of stuff. I like the sense of people not feeling too secure, not immediately knowing what they have in front of them. Hide

[when asked about fans] You get the occasional odd person. [when asked about fans] You get the occasional odd person.

I don't like it when people ask actors to work for free - on the fringe - as if it's some kind of vi Show more I don't like it when people ask actors to work for free - on the fringe - as if it's some kind of virtue. That annoys me - actors should be paid well. Hide

He has lived in London for the past decade with his partner, who is "sort of" in the business. "And Show more He has lived in London for the past decade with his partner, who is "sort of" in the business. "And that's all you're getting." He clams up. "It sounds maybe a little old fashioned, but the parts I want to play and I do play, you don't want to inject too much of your own personality. What you sacrifice then is a slight mystery." Hide

I think in my job, it's quite difficult to find work on television... you don't necessarily want to Show more I think in my job, it's quite difficult to find work on television... you don't necessarily want to get a profile for something that you don't fully believe in. Hide

I want to keep everything balanced. That's why it's important not to have too much fanfare. I want to keep everything balanced. That's why it's important not to have too much fanfare.

Never, ever wear three-quarter length trousers. Even in the summer. Never, ever wear three-quarter length trousers. Even in the summer.

It's a thrilling world, and people really like stories about secrets, which is the essence of a spy Show more It's a thrilling world, and people really like stories about secrets, which is the essence of a spy drama. Hide

If one story becomes too hot, then you can't forget it. As an actor, you want to remain fluid. If one story becomes too hot, then you can't forget it. As an actor, you want to remain fluid.

It sounds maybe a little old fashioned, but the parts I want to play and I do play, you don't want t Show more It sounds maybe a little old fashioned, but the parts I want to play and I do play, you don't want to inject too much of your own personality. What you sacrifice then is a slight mystery. Hide

People get distracted by box-office figures and take jobs because they think it will advance their c Show more People get distracted by box-office figures and take jobs because they think it will advance their careers. Of course, it's nice to get a big cheque and be able to buy a massive house, but my view is that we're not here long, so why not do something of value? Hide

I find any sort of acting that doesn't have any humor in it is mind numbingly boring. I find any sort of acting that doesn't have any humor in it is mind numbingly boring.

I like clothes. I like clothes.

[From an interview with the Sunday Mirror (London, England) from Oct. 8, 2000] I had a girlfriend in Show more [From an interview with the Sunday Mirror (London, England) from Oct. 8, 2000] I had a girlfriend in Dublin but I've been on my own for three years now. Hide

[Speaking about how he learned a Russian accent for Legacy, and his homosexuality] There isn't a hug Show more [Speaking about how he learned a Russian accent for Legacy, and his homosexuality] There isn't a huge amount of footage of Russians speaking English as a second language, so I started looking at Vladimir Putin videos on YouTube. But then Putin introduced anti-gay legislation this summer - so, being a gay person, I switched to Rudolf Nureyev videos instead. It was another Nureyev defection of sorts!Scott is low-key on the subject of his sexuality. "Mercifully, these days people don't see being gay as a character flaw. But nor is it a virtue, like kindness. Or a talent, like playing the banjo. It's just a fact. Of course, it's part of my make-up, but I don't want to trade on it. I am a private person; I think that's important if you're an actor. But there's a difference between privacy and secrecy, and I'm not a secretive person. Really I just want to get on with my job, which is to pretend to be lots of different people. Simple as that." Hide