David Westhead


David William Logan Westhead is an English actor.

Early life

Westhead was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire. He studied drama at Bristol University before going on to RADA, from where he graduated in 1987, after which he joined the Actors' Touring Company.

Career

He is notable as having been a member of the regular cast of The Bill, Criminal Justice, Blackeyes, Stanley and the Women, Bramwell, The Silence, Life Begins, The Lakes, Grafters, The Time of Your Life and W1A. He has also had guest appearances in Wycliffe, Doctor Who, Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me as Charlie, Foyle's War, Midsomer Murders, Agatha Christie's Poirot and Lewis. He has also appeared in the film Mrs Brown, and onstage he has played Tristan Tzara in a 1993 British production of Travesties, which The Observer review said "David Westhead's Tzara blissfully adept and funny".
David has for many years been a leading actor with The Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal National Theatre, and The Royal Court Theatre. His credits include the BAFTA nominated Donovan Quick, Wilde, Stage Beauty, 'Beyond the Sea', Golden Globe winning Gideon's Daughter, Wallis & Edward, 'Beneath the Skin', Emmy Award winning The Lost Prince, 'She's Gone', 'The Time of Your Life', 'The Key', 'Safe House', 'The Lakes', Turning World, Grafters, 'The Unknown Soldier', My Fragile Heart, Blackeyes. David has the title role in "Suicide Man" and has appeared in "The Real McCoy" for the BBC in the Cape Flats Townships of South Africa. In 2010 he starred as Frank Evans in the BBC's flagship drama "The Silence".
In 2002 he and two colleagues founded Wilton Pictures, a production company specialising in making documentaries.
Also a lecturer in drama it was whilst he was teaching in South Africa that he met a group of disadvantaged youngsters with potential as photographers. Along with professional photographer John Cole – who, like David, lives in Brighton – he put them on an eight-week crash course in photography, enabling them to make a professional living from it. The exhibition of their work, entitled 'Wembley to Soweto', was exhibited at London's South Bank in July 2011. He received the Media Society's 2013 bursary award for this project.
In 2014, he played Neil Reid in W1A.
In 2016, Westhead played the role of Tony Blair's minder in the BBC television film Reg. In 2016, he appeared in the Netflix comedy series Lovesick.
He played Prime Minister John Vosler in the 2018 BBC series Bodyguard.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

DateTitleRoleDirectorCompany / Theatre
' Drama Department, Bristol University
' Drama Department, Bristol University
' Drama Department, Bristol University
' Drama Department, Bristol University
' Drama Department, Bristol University
' Drama Department, Bristol University
' Drama Department, Bristol University
' Derby Playhouse
' Dr. John WatsonGreenwich Theatre
' George DeeverYoung Vic, London
'RandallRoyal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
'RandallRoyal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London
'RandallRoyal Shakespeare Company / Newcastle Playhouse
'RandallRoyal Shakespeare Company / The Pit, London
'NestorRoyal Shakespeare Company / The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon
'NestorRoyal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London
'NestorRoyal Shakespeare Company / The Pit, London
'Cosroe & OrcanesRoyal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
'Cosroe & OrcanesRoyal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London
'AntonioRoyal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
'AntonioRoyal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London
'AntonioRoyal Shakespeare Company / Newcastle Playhouse
'AntonioRoyal Shakespeare Company / The Pit, London
' PerformerBuzz Goodbody Studio, The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon
' Tristan TzaraRoyal Shakespeare Company / Barbican Theatre, London
' Tristan TzaraRoyal Shakespeare Company / Savoy Theatre, London
' Mr. DorimantOut of Joint and Royal Court Theatre /
Royal Court Theatre, London, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, and other locations
' John Wilmot, Earl of RochesterOut of Joint and Royal Court Theatre /
Royal Court Theatre, London, Warwick Arts Centre, and other locations
' HRH The Prince of WalesNational Theatre / Olivier Theatre, London
'RobbieRoyal Shakespeare Company / Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
'RobbieRoyal Shakespeare Company / Young Vic, London
' Royal Court Theatre, London
MacbethWest Yorkshire Playhouse / Quarry Theatre, Leeds

Audio work

Voice talent : Eric Ambler's Topkapi for BBC Radio 4 Extra