Adrian Lester

Biography

Adrian Lester was born in Birmingham, England, to Jamaican immigrants Monica, a medical secretary, and Reginald, a manager for a contract cleaning company. From the age of nine, he sang as a boy treble in the choir of St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham. At 14, he began acting with the Birmingham Youth Theatre. After leaving Archbishop Masterson RC School, Lester attended Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College for one year before winning a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1986, completing his training in 1989.

Theatre Career

Lester's theatre career is marked by a series of acclaimed performances. In 1991, he played Rosalind in Cheek by Jowl's all-male production of As You Like It, earning an Ian Charleson Award commendation and a Time Out Award. He received an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Robert in the Donmar Warehouse production of Company. Notably, he portrayed the title roles in Hamlet and Henry V at the National Theatre. In 2013, his performance as Othello at the National Theatre garnered him the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor.

Film and Television Career

Lester gained international recognition for his role as campaign manager Henry Burton in the film Primary Colors (1998). He appeared in films such as Love's Labour's Lost (2000), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), and Mary Queen of Scots (2018). On television, he is best known for playing Michael "Mickey Bricks" Stone in the BBC series Hustle (2004–2012). He also had roles in Girlfriends (2002–2003), Bonekickers (2008), and The Undeclared War (2022).

Personal Life

In 1997, Lester married actress and writer Lolita Chakrabarti, whom he met while both were students at RADA. The couple has two daughters. In 2013, Lester was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to drama.