Frank Blake (actor)
Frank Blake | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2017– |
| Television | Normal People Sanditon Blue Lights |
Frank Blake is an Irish stage, television and film actor.
Early life
[edit]From Tuamgraney, in County Clare, he was born to Michael and Mary Blake and is the youngest of three children.[1] He was educated at Scariff Community College.[2] He attended the annual amateur drama festival circuit each year from the age of four years-old in his home town, with plays staged in the school hall. He made his stage debut aged 17, in the community musical performance of Jesus Christ Superstar. He spent a year at NUI Galway studying Drama, German and Philosophy but also appeared in eight plays in Dramsoc that year.[3] He moved to Dublin and graduated from The Lir Academy in 2016.[4]
Career
[edit]His stage performances include a role with an all-star cast in Druid Theatre Company's Richard III. He played Neoptolemus in a stage version of Hecuba by Rough Magic.[2][5] He appeared in a stage adaptation of Louise O'Neill novel Asking For It at the Abbey Theatre, which was also performed at venues including the Lincoln Center in New York.[1] He also appeared in Tennessee Williams play The Glass Menagerie at the Gate Theatre, Dublin.[3]
On television, he played Constable Pip Bircher in The Frankenstein Chronicles before playing Alan Sheridan on the Lenny Abrahamson television adaptation of Sally Rooney's Normal People.[6][7] He had roles in Bridgerton, Game of Thrones and the Tom Holland-led film Cherry. He had a recurring role in the second season of Sanditon, as well as in Netflix series Vikings: Valhalla.[8]
In 2024, he appears as Shane Bradley in BBC One police drama Blue Lights.[9]
Personal life
[edit]His great aunt was the author Edna O'Brien.[2] He told The Irish Times in 2022 that his family run an equestrian centre.[10]
Filmography
[edit]| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Frankenstein Chronicles | Constable Pip Bircher | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Resistance | Conor | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Game of Thrones | Sentry | 1 episode |
| 2020 | Normal People | Alan | 6 episodes |
| 2021 | Cherry | Seasoned Medic | |
| 2021 | Bridgerton | Harry | 1 episode |
| 2021 | Invasion | Madden | 1 episode |
| 2022 | Sanditon | Captain Declan Fraser | 6 episodes |
| 2022 | Vikings: Valhalla | Birger | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Double Blind | Marcus | |
| 2024 | Blackshore | Sean | 3 episodes |
| 2024- | Blue Lights | Shane Bradley | Series 2 |
| TBA | The Border† | Sean |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Tuamgraney man takes lead role in hit TV drama". Clare Champion. May 8, 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "East Clare inspiration for 'Normal People' actor Frank Blake". Clarechampion.ie. May 16, 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b Hynes, Liadán (18 September 2022). "'The biggest obstacle is probably yourself, really, for a long time' — Normal People's Frank Blake on an actor's life". Independent.ie. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Meet the Lir Graduates in the Cast of Normal People". The Lir. 5 May 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ Grantham in Dublin, Bill (1 December 2019). "Dublin theatre round-up, Sept-Oct 2019 Part 1". Playsinternational.org. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ Carr, Flora (21 April 2020). "Meet the cast of Normal People". Radio Times. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ Dodds, Emma (7 July 2020). "Here's where you've seen the cast of Normal People before". Planet Radio. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Tuamgraney actor Frank Blake pinpointed as a rising star for 2022". Clare Echo. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ Coleman, Maureen (20 April 2024). "Blue Lights: New character a young Ken Branagh lookalike, say fans". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ Clarke, Donald (1 January 2022). "50 people to watch in 2022: The best young talent in Ireland". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
External links
[edit]- Frank Blake at IMDb