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Toby Regbo

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Toby Regbo
Regbo at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Toby Finn Regbo

(1991-10-18) 18 October 1991 (age 33)
OccupationActor
Years active2006–present

Toby Finn Regbo (born 18 October 1991) is an English actor who has appeared in film, television and theatre. He is known for his role as young Nemo Nobody in the science fiction drama Mr. Nobody (2009), as Francis II of France in Reign (2013-2017), Æthelred in The Last Kingdom (2017–2020), Tommaso Peruzzi in Medici: Masters of Florence (2019) and Jack Blackfriars on A Discovery of Witches (2022) and he starred in Platform 7 (2023).

Early life

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Toby Regbo was born in Hammersmith, London, England.[1][2] His father's family is of Norwegian origin. His maternal grandfather was an Italian cruise ship captain, and his maternal grandmother was an Australian ballerina; his mother was brought up in London.[3]

He attended Latymer Upper School in West London.[4] His interest in acting started with plays at school; later on, he attended Young Blood Theatre Company.[5]

Career

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Regbo at the premiere of Mr. Nobody at the 2009 Venice Film Festival

Regbo started his acting career with a small role in 2006 ITV television film Sharpe's Challenge.[6] In 2007, he played American teen spy Chad Turner in an episode of CBBC children's spy-fi adventure series M.I. High.[7] He continued to pursue his acting career in 2009, when he played Michael Walton in Stephen Poliakoff's period drama Glorious 39.[8] One of his most notable roles was in a science fiction drama Mr. Nobody, premiered in 2009. He played eponymous character Nemo Nobody (in his teenage years).[9] He also played young Albus Dumbledore in the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1[10] and reprised the role in the 2018 film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. He made his stage début as Eliot in Tusk Tusk, a 2009 play by Polly Stenham, at the Royal Court Theatre in London.[11][12][13][14]

Regbo played James Sveck in the film version of Peter Cameron's novel Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You, shot in the summer 2010 in New York.[15] In 2013, Regbo played John in drama-thriller film uwantme2killhim? directed by Andrew Douglas and produced by Bryan Singer. He was originally cast in Disney's Maleficent as young Stefan, but was ultimately replaced by Michael Higgins as the directors decided they wanted a younger boy to play the part.[16] He starred in The CW's original show Reign as Francis II of France. In 2016, he played Æthelred on BBC Two UK's series The Last Kingdom.

Regbo was set to be part of the cast of the planned Game of Thrones prequel titled "Bloodmoon" but the pilot did not get picked up.

In 2023, he played a main role in the ITV1 psychological thriller Platform 7, alongside actors Phil Davis and Jasmine Jobson.[17]

Critical reception

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Mr. Nobody

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Film critic Eric Lavallée listed Regbo as one of his "Top 10 New Faces & Voices" of 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. He noted that "newbie Toby Regbo might easily be Mr. Nobody's most 'alive' character. Playing Nemo at age 16, the actor is mostly paired with Juno Temple - their unique love story is the film's heart pumping portions and plays a lot better than the artery clogging other brushes of romance."[18] Variety's Boyd van Hoeij praised Regbo and Temple as well, saying "Regbo, as the teenage Nemo, and Juno Temple, as the teenage Anna, are impressive, bringing the hormonal battles of adolescence vividly to life".[19]

Tusk Tusk

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His portrayal of Eliot in Tusk Tusk received praise from a broad spectrum of theatre critics.[20] Michael Billington from The Guardian called him an "astonishing actor".[11] Robert Tanitch from Morning Star praised both his and co-star Bel Powley's "impressive performances" and predicted that "Tusk Tusk should, all things being equal, play to full houses because of them".[13] Matt Wolf, writing for The New York Times, was also very complimentary about the pair, concluding: "... these newfound talents inhabit every mercurial point on a spectrum that makes them one another's protectors and their destroyers, enemies and allies. Will you be more shaken by Ms. Powley ..., or Mr. Regbo, whose face is chillingly capable of shutting down? It's difficult to say, though one thing is clear: Tusk Tusk is beyond tears in a production beyond praise."[14]

Uwantme2killhim? (Also known as U Want Me 2 Kill Him?)

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Critical reception for uwantme2killhim? produced by Bryan Singer, typically centered upon Regbo and his co-star Jamie Blackley's acting,[21] with the Screen Daily commenting that the two delivered "strong performances". Variety praised his performance commenting "The impressive Regbo is on surer footing as a meek geek with some surreptitious social skills".[22] Maitland McDonagh, from Film Journal International, also complimented the duo noting "Stars Blackley and Regbo are the film's core strength, despite long scenes in which they speak aloud what they're typing into their computers that would tax the skills of many older and more experienced actors".[23]

The film premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, where the two actors won the "Best performance in a British feature film" award.[24]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 Mr. Nobody[9] 15-year-old Nemo
Glorious 39[8] Michael Walton
2010 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1[10] Young Albus Dumbledore
2011 One Day Samuel Cope
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You[15] James Sveck
2013 uwantme2killhim? John
2013 Heart of Nowhere Luke Short film
2018 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald[25] Young Albus Dumbledore
2022 Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game James Hamilton

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Sharpe's Challenge[6] Ensign Television film
2007 M.I. High[7] Chad Turner Episode: "Super Blane"
2011 Treasure Island Jim Hawkins Miniseries
2012 The Town Harry Three-part series
2013–2015; 2017 Reign King Francis II of France Main role (seasons 1–3); guest role (season 4)
2017–2020 The Last Kingdom Æthelred, Lord of the Mercians 15 episodes
2019 Medici: Masters of Florence Tommaso Peruzzi 7 episodes
2022 A Discovery of Witches Jack Blackfriars 7 episodes
2022 Chivalry Christian 3 episodes
2023 Platform 7 Matt All 4 episodes [17]
2024 Belgravia: The Next Chapter Rev. James Trenchard All 8 episodes
TBA Outrageous Tom Mitford Main role

Theatre

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Year Title Role Venue
2009 Tusk Tusk[11] Eliot Royal Court Theatre, London

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Hythlodaeus Video game
2022 The Diofield Chronicle Andrias Rhondarson Video game

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2013 Edinburgh International Film Festival Best Performance in a British Feature Film uwantme2killhim? Won
2014 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Breakout Performance – Male Reign Nominated

Notes

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  1. ^ "Interview: Toby Regbo". Movie Ramblings. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Meet the Royal Court from "Reign"". 22 July 2013.
  3. ^ "IndieLondon: Treasure Island (Sky 1) - Toby Regbo interview - Your London Reviews".
  4. ^ "The trickle-down effect has dried up". Thisislondon.co.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  5. ^ Natalie Ibu and Lynne Gagliano (April 2009). "Interview with Toby Regbo" (PDF). Tusk, Tusk Background Pack. Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 9 June 2010. [dead link]
  6. ^ a b "Full cast and crew for Sharpe's Challenge". IMDb. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  7. ^ a b "MI High – Series 1 – Super Blane". BBC Online. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  8. ^ a b Cline, Rich. "Glorious 39 Movie Review". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  9. ^ a b Young, Deborah (25 September 2009). "Mr. Nobody -- Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 28 September 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Deathly Hallows Casting Updates: Teen Dumbledore Cast, Chris Rankin Returns and More". The Leaky Cauldron. 30 May 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  11. ^ a b c Billington, Michael (2 April 2009). "Tusk Tusk — Royal Court, London". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  12. ^ Loveridge, Lizzie. "A CurtainUp London Review – Tusk Tusk". CurtainUp.com. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  13. ^ a b Tanitch, Robert (8 April 2009). "Tusk Tusk – Royal Court Theatre, London SW1". Morning Star. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  14. ^ a b Wolf, Matt (21 April 2009). "Playing Grown-Up, but Not Always Well". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  15. ^ a b "Peter Cameron's official web site". Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  16. ^ "Jobs in Showbiz ACTOR pt. 9". YouTube. Retrieved 5 March 2015.[dead YouTube link]
  17. ^ a b Marland, Sean (26 January 2023). "Platform 7: potential release date, plot, cast and all we know about the haunting thriller". whattowatch.com.
  18. ^ Lavallée, Eric (24 September 2009). "TIFF: Top 10 New Faces & Voices: #6. Toby Regbo". IonCinema.com. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  19. ^ van Hoeij, Boyd (16 September 2009). "Mr. Nobody Movie Review". Variety. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  20. ^ "Tusk Tusk at The Royal Court Theatre". Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  21. ^ McConnachie, Garry. "EIFF 2013 review: Uwantme2killhim?". Daily Record. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  22. ^ "Edinburgh Film Review: 'Uwantme2killhim?". Variety. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  23. ^ "Edinburgh Film Review: 'Uwantme2killhim?". Filmjournal. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  24. ^ Pulver, Andrew (28 June 2013). "Edinburgh gives top award to experimental documentary Leviathan". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  25. ^ "11 intriguing moments from the third Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald trailer". Pottermore. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
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