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Zak Ford-Williams

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Zak Ford-Williams
Born
Ramsbottom, England
Alma materManchester School of Theatre
OccupationActor
Years active2021–present

Zak Ford-Williams is an English stage and screen actor, best known for his role as Lord Remington in the Netflix series Bridgerton.

Early life and education

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Born in Ramsbottom, he was educated at Woodhey High School and Holy Cross College in Bury, and attended Manchester School of Theatre.[1] He graduated in 2020.

Prior to 2017 he was a member of the Young Company at Summerseat Players' Theatre Royal in Smithy Street,[2] Ramsbottom and then a member of The Young Company at The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.[3]

Career

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In 2021, he appeared in the Sky Max television series Wolfe.

In 2022 he played Tiny Tim on stage in Mark Gatiss's adaptation of A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story at Nottingham Playhouse and the Alexandra Palace Theatre in London.[4][5]

In 2023 he played Joseph Merrick[6] in the critically acclaimed touring production of The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man in 2023.[7][8][9][10] The same year he appeared in BBC One crime drama series Better[11][12] and also appeared in the BBC Three television comedy short Mobility[13] with Ruben Reuter and Jack Carroll, which won the 2024 BAFTA Television Award for Short Form.[14]

In 2024 he appeared as Lord Remington in series three of the period drama Bridgerton, a role that has been upheld as a best practice example of incidental disability portrayal in the US,[15][16] as well as appearing as Harry Hardacre in the Paramount+ and Channel 5 historical drama series The Hardacres,[17] which is based on the popular series of books by CL Skelton. Ford-Williams also appeared at The Lyric Theatre, Belfast as Richard III[18][19].

In 2024 he published advice for disabled actors in the Actors and Performer's Year Book[20]

"By prioritising disability inclusion, organisations tap into unique skills, perspectives and talents of disabled people, building a more diverse, innovative and inclusive environment within our industry. Look at the word ‘creative’ in creative arts. We are perfectly placed to create environments in which to do our best work. The energy that the presence of disability creates within a production is a resource of creative potential... I feel amidst the advances being made embedding D/deaf, neurodivergent and disability equality within our industry, a disabled person on a stage or screen is still a political act. The presence of marginalised groups can bring about social and political change: the normalised presence of marginalised groups cements it. The rest is celebration."

Ford-Williams is the voice of the Thimble series of children's audio books by author, Jon Blake.

Personal life

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He has cerebral palsy.[21]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 Wolfe Tyler 1 episode[22]
2021/22 A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story[23] Tiny Tim, young Marley, Mr Topper and ensemble. International Cinema Release, BBC Four and BBC iPlayer[24]
2023 Better[25] Owen Davies[26] 5 episodes
2023 Mobility[13][27] Sonny TV short
2023 Battery[28][29] Elliot TV Short
2023 Midsomer Murders Ludo Trask[30] 1 episode[31]
2024 Bridgerton Lord Remington 2 episodes[32][33]
2024 The Hardacres Harry Hardacre 5 episodes

Theatre

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Year Title Role Venue Director
2016 The Factory[34] Felix The Royal Exchange rehearsal studio, Swan Street in Manchester Matt Hassall
2017 Nothing[35] Fredrick The Royal Exchange Studio Theatre, Manchester Bryony Shanahan
2017 We Were Told There Was Dancing[3] Artyom Sub basements under The Royal Exchange in Manchester Matt Hassall
2019 DYSTOPIA987[36] Performer Site specific, Manchester International Festival Matthew Dunster
2019 Attempts on Her Life[37] Cast Home Theatre in Manchester Sebastian Harcombe
2019 Duchess of Malfi[38] Grisolan Home Theatre in Manchester David Salter
2020 Coram Boy[39] Meshak Gardiner Home Theatre in Manchester Stefan Escreet
2021/22 A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story Tiny Tim, young Marley and Mr Topper Nottingham Playhouse and Alexandra Palace Theatre in London Adam Penford
2023 The Real & Imagined History of The Elephant Man[40] Joseph Merrick[41] Nottingham Playhouse, Blackpool Grand Theatre and Coventry Belgrade Theatre. Stephen Bailey
2024 The Tragedy of Richard III[42][43] Richard III[44] (Alternate with Michael Patrick) Lyric Theatre Belfast Oisín Kearney

References

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  1. ^ "Zak Ford-Williams – Manchester School of Theatre". www.theatre.mmu.ac.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Theatre company celebrates success of a trio of actors now in major TV roles". Lancashire Telegraph. 27 February 2023. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b Circles&stalls (17 August 2017). "We Were Told There Was Dancing". Circles & Stalls. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  4. ^ Thomas, Sophie (16 September 2021). "Mark Gatiss to adapt and star in 'A Christmas Carol' at Alexandra Palace". London Theatre. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Review: A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story at Nottingham Playhouse – 'Remarkable debuts'". The Stage. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  6. ^ Ansor, John (15 October 2023). "Elephant Man story has been 'terrifying challenge' for star". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  7. ^ Douglas, Ian (21 September 2023). "Theatre Review: The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man". Left Lion.
  8. ^ philiplowe (21 September 2023). "Review: The Real and Imagined History of The Elephant Man. Nottingham Playhouse". East Midlands Theatre. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  9. ^ Fisher, Mark (21 September 2023). "The Real & Imagined History of the Elephant Man review – vigorous call for inclusivity". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  10. ^ "REVIEW | The Real & Imagined History of the Elephant Man, Nottingham Playhouse". Theatre & Tonic. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  11. ^ Smart, Becca (13 February 2023). "BBC's new show Better premiers in Leeds". Yorkshire Bylines. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  12. ^ Cormack, Morgan (14 February 2023). "Better cast – who stars in the BBC thriller?". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  13. ^ a b Meeda, Akaash (26 May 2023), Mobility (Short, Comedy, Drama), Jack Carroll, Zak Ford-Williams, Ruben Reuter, Tiger Aspect Productions, retrieved 22 August 2024
  14. ^ 2024 BAFTA Television Award for Short Form
  15. ^ "'Bridgerton' season 3 captures disability, neurodiversity in regency era". abcnews. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  16. ^ "The Podcast | The Wheelchair Activist". Wheelchair Activist. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  17. ^ Creamer, Joe (14 December 2023). "Casting announced for C5's The Hardacres". Televisual. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  18. ^ "News". Lyric Theatre Belfast. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  19. ^ "The Tragedy of Richard III review at Lyric Theatre, Belfast". The Stage. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  20. ^ "Advice for disabled actors from Zak Ford-Williams, from the Actors' & Performers' Yearbook 2024 | Actors and Performers". 10 November 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  21. ^ Jamison, Tom (16 September 2023). "Interview - Zak Ford-Williams - Taking on the Elephant Man". Ablemagazine. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  22. ^ Shergold, Adrian (10 September 2021), Episode #1.4, Wolfe, Babou Ceesay, Natalia Tena, Amanda Abbington, retrieved 22 August 2024
  23. ^ Powster. "A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story | Official Website | 27 November 2022". A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story | Official Website | 27 November 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  24. ^ "BBC Four - A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story". BBC. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Interview with Zak Ford-Williams who plays Owen in Better". Pressparty. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Interview with Zak Ford-Williams who plays Owen in Better". Pressparty. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  27. ^ Meeda, Akaash (26 May 2023), Mobility (Short, Comedy, Drama), Jack Carroll, Zak Ford-Williams, Ruben Reuter, Tiger Aspect Productions, retrieved 30 October 2024
  28. ^ Marshall, Ewan (14 October 2023), Battery (Short, Drama), Cathy Conneff, Zak Ford-Williams, Jackie Hagan, 104 Films, Film4, retrieved 22 August 2024
  29. ^ Film4 (18 May 2024). Battery (2023) written by Tom Wentworth and directed by Ewan Marshall | Film4 4Love Shorts. Retrieved 22 August 2024 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ Wilkinson, Gill (11 December 2023), Book of the Dead, Midsomer Murders, Neil Dudgeon, Nick Hendrix, Fiona Dolman, retrieved 30 October 2024
  31. ^ Wilkinson, Gill (11 December 2023), Book of the Dead, Midsomer Murders, Neil Dudgeon, Nick Hendrix, Fiona Dolman, retrieved 22 August 2024
  32. ^ Brock, Tricia (16 May 2024), How Bright the Moon, Bridgerton, Adjoa Andoh, Lorraine Ashbourne, Joanna Bobin, retrieved 22 August 2024
  33. ^ Ahn, Andrew (16 May 2024), Forces of Nature, Bridgerton, Victor Alli, Adjoa Andoh, Lorraine Ashbourne, retrieved 22 August 2024
  34. ^ Web, UK Theatre. "Tour archive for The Factory (Play). 25th August 2016-27th August 2016 [PLAY]". UK Theatre Web. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  35. ^ "Theatre Writing". Amanda Dalton. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  36. ^ "DYSTOPIA987". MIF t/a Factory International. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  37. ^ "Attempts On Her Life (2019)". Manchester School of Theatre. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  38. ^ "The Duchess of Malfi (2019)". Manchester School of Theatre. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  39. ^ "Coram Boy (2020)". Manchester School of Theatre. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  40. ^ Nottingham Playhouse (5 May 2023). Behind the scenes at the poster photoshoot. Retrieved 24 August 2024 – via YouTube.
  41. ^ "Interview - Zak Ford-Williams - Taking on the Elephant Man - Able Magazine". ablemagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  42. ^ "The Tragedy of Richard III". Lyric Theatre Belfast. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  43. ^ "Top 50 shows of 2024: Around the UK". The Stage. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  44. ^ O'Rourke, Chris (27 October 2024). "Belfast International Arts Festival 2024: The Tragedy of Richard III". theartsreview. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
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