Toby Stephens was born on 21 April 1969 in London, England, to renowned actors Sir Robert Stephens and Dame Maggie Smith. He spent his childhood in London and received his education at Aldro and Seaford College. Later, he trained in acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), marking the beginning of his formal journey into the performing arts. Stephens also has a stepmother, actress Patricia Quinn, and a younger stepbrother, Quinn Hawkins.
On 15 September 2001, Toby Stephens married actress Anna-Louise Plowman. The couple has three children: a son, Eli Alistair Stephens, born in 2007, and two daughters, Tallulah (2009) and Kura (2010). They maintain a relatively private family life while balancing careers in the entertainment industry.
Stephens' professional start in the theatre world began at the Chichester Festival Theatre, where he initially worked as a stagehand. His significant acting breakthrough came in 1992 when he appeared in Sally Potter’s film Orlando. He soon gained critical recognition for his performance in Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, earning acclaim and an award for his powerful portrayal.
He later joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), where he appeared in notable productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Antony and Cleopatra, and All’s Well That Ends Well. These roles helped establish his reputation as a leading classical theatre actor.
Stephens has amassed a diverse range of film and television credits. He starred in the 1997 film Photographing Fairies and portrayed Orsino in Twelfth Night. Nevertheless, his most internationally recognized role remains Gustav Graves, the antagonist in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day, in which he became the youngest actor to play a Bond villain at that time.
On-stage, he performed in A Streetcar Named Desire and Hamlet in 2004, as well as in Peter Hall’s production of Tartuffe at the Aldwych Theatre. In 1999, he appeared in the Broadway production of Ring Round the Moon, earning a Theatre World Award for his performance.
His television work includes his critically acclaimed role as Edward Rochester in the BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre, and portrayals of General George Armstrong Custer in Custer’s Last Stand and Prince John in season 3 of the BBC’s Robin Hood. He also appeared in dramatic series including Strike Back, A View from the Bridge, and The Camomile Lawn. Additionally, he was cast in the lead role for the U.S. television series Inseparable, produced by Shaun Cassidy.
| Birth Date: | 21 Apr, 1969 |
| Age: | 51 yrs |
| Occupations: | Actor Film actor Stage actor Television actor |
| Citizenship: | United Kingdom |
| Birth Place: | London |
| Education: | London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art Aldro Seaford College |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | British stage, television and film actor |
| Spouse: | Anna-Louise Plowman [M. 2001] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 4 million |
