View source for Alex Jennings

{{short description|British actor}}
{{Not to be confused|Alix Jennings}}
{{refimprove BLP|date=August 2025}} 
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Alex Jennings
| honorific_suffix   = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}}
| image              = 
| birth_name         = Alex Michael Jennings
| birth_date         = 
| birth_place        = [[Upminster]], Essex, England
| occupation         = Actor
| known for          = ''[[The Queen (2006 film)|The Queen]]'' (2006) <br/> ''[[The Lady in the Van (film)|The Lady in the Van]]'' (2015) <br/> ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]'' (2016–2017) <br/> ''[[Victoria (British TV series)|Victoria]]'' (2016–2019) <br/> ''[[A Very English Scandal (TV series)|A Very English Scandal]]'' (2018) <br/> ''[[Mr Bates vs The Post Office]]'' (2024)
| years_active       = 1978–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Lesley Moors|2012}}
| children           = 2
}}
'''Alex Michael Jennings''' {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE}} is an English actor of the stage and screen who has worked extensively with the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] and the [[Royal National Theatre]]. For his work on the London stage, Jennings has received three [[Olivier Award]]s, winning for ''[[Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man|Too Clever by Half]]'' (1988), ''[[Peer Gynt]]'' (1996), and ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' (2003). He is the only performer to have won Olivier awards in the drama, musical, and comedy categories.<ref name=Guardian-PresentLaughter-2007>{{cite news|last1=Costa|first1=Maddy|title='I wanted to be Fred Astaire'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2007/sep/19/theatre|access-date=31 October 2015|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=19 September 2007}}</ref><ref name=BBCNews-Wonka-2014>{{cite news|title=Alex Jennings takes on Willy Wonka role|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26084271|access-date=31 October 2015|work=[[BBC News]]|date=7 February 2014}}</ref><ref name=Stage-Wonka-2014>{{cite news|last1=Shenton|first1=Mark|title=Bold casting choices and versatile actors |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/2014/bold-casting-choices-versatile-actors/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306033153/https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/2014/bold-casting-choices-versatile-actors/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 March 2016|access-date=31 October 2015|work=[[The Stage (magazine)|The Stage]]|date=7 February 2014}}</ref>

Jennings is known for his film work, in particular for his performance as [[Charles III | Prince Charles]] in [[Stephen Frears]]'s film ''[[The Queen (2006 film)|The Queen]]'' (2006) opposite [[Helen Mirren]]. His other film appearances include ''[[The Wings of the Dove (1997 film)|The Wings of the Dove]]'' (1997), ''[[Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (film)|Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason]]'' (2004), ''[[Babel (film)|Babel]]'' (2006), ''[[Belle (2013 film)|Belle]]'' (2013), and ''[[The Lady in the Van]]'' (2015) starring [[Maggie Smith]].

Jennings has won acclaim for his performances in television, including for his portrayal of [[Edward VIII]], the [[Duke of Windsor]], in the [[Netflix]] series ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]'' opposite [[Claire Foy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/the-crown-season-2-review|title=The Crown Season 2 Review: A Stately Soap Opera We Just Can't Resist|first=Richard|last=Lawson|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=7 December 2017 }}</ref> He also starred as [[Leopold I of Belgium]] in the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] series ''[[Victoria (British TV series)|Victoria]]'' (2016–2019) opposite [[Jenna Coleman]]. His other roles include [[Stephen Frears]]'s ''[[A Very English Scandal (TV series)|A Very English Scandal]]'' (2018) alongside [[Hugh Grant]] and [[Ben Whishaw]], and in [[Steve McQueen (director)|Steve McQueen]]'s ''[[Small Axe (anthology)|Small Axe: Mangrove]]'' (2020) starring [[Letitia Wright]].

== Early life and education ==
Alex Michael Jennings{{cn|date=August 2025}} was born in [[Romford]], [[Essex]], the son of Peggy Patricia (née Mahoney) and Michael Thomas Jennings. He attended Abbs Cross Technical High School in [[Hornchurch]] and studied English and theatre studies at the [[University of Warwick]], graduating in 1978. He said he saw his first theatre while in high school and went to the [[Old Vic Theatre]], which inspired him to be an actor.<ref name=NationalTheatre-Histories-2013>{{cite web|last1=Rosenthal |first1=Daniel |title=National Histories: Nancy Carroll and Alex Jennings |url=http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/video/national-histories-nancy-carroll-and-alex-jennings |publisher=[[Royal National Theatre]] |access-date=1 November 2015 |date=2 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108112637/http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/video/national-histories-nancy-carroll-and-alex-jennings |archive-date=8 November 2015  |format =video - 47.46 mins }}</ref>{{better source|date=August 2025}} 

Jennings trained as an actor for two years at the [[Bristol Old Vic Theatre School]].<ref name=Spectator-Wonka-2014>{{cite news|last1=Evans |first1=Lloyd |title=Alex Jennings interview: the new Willy Wonka on Roald Dahl's 'child killer' |url=http://new.spectator.co.uk/2014/06/audiences-go-bonkers-watching-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory/ |access-date=31 October 2015 |work=[[The Spectator]] |date=21 June 2014 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Career ==
===1980s===
In the early 1980s, Jennings began his career in regional repertory theatre. In 1985, playing a range of roles including [[Maximilien Robespierre]] in ''[[The Scarlet Pimpernel]]''. Jennings met director [[Nicholas Hytner]] during this production and has worked with him many times since.<ref name=Guardian-PresentLaughter-2007 /> For his performance as Gloumov in ''[[Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man|Too Clever by Half]]'' at the [[Old Vic]], he won the [[Olivier Award]] for Best Comedy Performance in 1988. He was nominated in the same category the following year for portraying Dorante in ''[[Le Menteur|The Liar]]''. He has performed for the [[Royal National Theatre]] in a number of plays, including Leontes in ''[[The Winter's Tale]]'' and the title role in ''[[Albert Speer (play)|Albert Speer]]''.

Jennings's work in television includes appearances in ''[[The State Within]]'', ''[[Smiley's People (TV series)|Smiley's People]]'', ''[[The Franchise Affair (1988 TV series)|The Franchise Affair]]'', ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'', ''[[Lewis (TV series)|Lewis]]'', ''[[Alfonso Bonzo]]'', the title role in ''[[Ashenden (miniseries)|Ashenden]]'', ''[[Dead Poets Society]]'', ''[[Roderick Alleyn|Inspector Alleyn]]'', ''[[Hard Times (1994 mini-series)|Hard Times]]'', ''Bad Blood'', and [[Peter Ackroyd]]'s ''London''. His many radio credits include ''[[Casino Royale (novel)|Casino Royale]]'', ''[[The Way of the World]]'', ''Strange Meeting'', Vorbis in ''[[Small Gods]]'', and ''[[The Old Curiosity Shop#Adaptations|The Old Curiosity Shop]]''.

===1990s===
Jennings's [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] roles include the title role in ''[[Peer Gynt]]'' (for which he won an Olivier Award 1995-06 for Best Actor), the title role in ''[[Richard II (play)|Richard II]]'' (opposite [[Anton Lesser]] as Henry Bolingbroke), Theseus/Oberon in ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (UK, American tour and Broadway),<ref name=Playbill-Midsummer-1996>{{cite news|title=Who's Who in the Cast: Who's Who – Alex Jennings; A Midsummer Night's Dream – Opening Night: March 31, 1996 |url=http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/Whos_Who/37796/14834/Alex-Jennings/A-Midsummer-Nights-Dream |access-date=31 October 2015 |work=[[Playbill]] |date=31 March 1996 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Angelo in ''[[Measure for Measure]]'', and the title role in ''[[Hamlet]]''.<ref name=Independent-Hamlet-2011>{{cite news|last1=Jennings|first1=Alex|title=5 days in the life of ... Alex Jennings|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/5-days-in-the-life-of-alex-jennings-1153264.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307230849/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/5-days-in-the-life-of-alex-jennings-1153264.html |archive-date=2016-03-07 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|access-date=1 November 2015|work=[[The Independent]]|date=22 October 2011}}</ref>

Jennings also appeared in ''[[War Requiem#Film adaptation|War Requiem]]'', the RSC's film version of ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'', and ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (film)|Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' (1999). Jennings also appeared as Lord Mark in the romantic drama film ''[[The Wings of the Dove (1997 film)|The Wings of the Dove]]'' starring [[Helena Bonham Carter]], [[Elizabeth McGovern]], [[Charlotte Rampling]], and [[Sir Michael Gambon]]. The film received great acclaim and many awards nominations including four [[Academy Award]] nominations and five [[British Academy Film Award]] nominations.

===2000s===
In 2002, Jennings appeared in the [[Cameron Mackintosh]]/[[Trevor Nunn]] revival of ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]] and won an [[Olivier Award]] as Best Actor in a Musical. He was an Associate Artist at the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]].<ref name=Playbill-Midsummer-1996 /> That year he also appeared in ''[[The Four Feathers (2002 film)|The Four Feathers]]'' (2002) as Colonel Hamilton alongside [[Heath Ledger]], [[Kate Hudson]], and [[Michael Sheen]]. In 2004, he played George W. Bush in London in the original National Theatre production of David Hare's "Stuff Happens."

In 2006, Jennings made his breakthrough film role as [[Charles, Prince of Wales]] opposite [[Helen Mirren]] as [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in ''[[The Queen (2006 film)|The Queen]]''.<ref name=Guardian-PresentLaughter-2007 /> The film was directed by [[Stephen Frears]], and written by [[Peter Morgan]]. The film depicts the [[death of Diana, Princess of Wales]] on 31 August 1997 and the reaction from the British public and the [[British royal family]]. The film was an immense critical and box office success after it premiered at the [[Venice Film Festival]]. The film received six [[Academy Award]] nominations including a win for Mirren's performance.

In 2007, Jennings played the role of Garry Essendine in [[Noël Coward]]'s ''[[Present Laughter]]'' at the [[Royal National Theatre|NT]].<ref name=Guardian-PresentLaughter-2007 /> Also in 2007, he portrayed the Rev. Hutton in the [[BBC]] miniseries ''[[Cranford (TV series)|Cranford]]'' starring [[Judi Dench]]. He also played [[John Le Mesurier]] in the one-off BBC drama ''[[Hancock and Joan]]''. In 2009, he appeared in ''[[The Habit of Art]]'' as [[Benjamin Britten]].

In June 2008, Jennings made his debut in the Operetta at the ENO in [[Robert Carsen]]'s production of Bernstein's ''Candide'', in which he played [[Voltaire]] and Doctor Pangloss.

Jennings has recorded the audio versions of the books: ''[[The Sins of the Father (Archer novel)|Sins of the Father]]'' by [[Jeffrey Archer]], ''[[The Kraken Wakes]]'' by [[John Wyndham]], ''[[The Horse and His Boy]]'', ''[[Out of the Silent Planet]]'', and ''[[Perelandra]]'' by [[C.S. Lewis]], ''[[Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas]]'' by [[Jules Verne]], and ''Attention All Shipping'' by [[Charlie Connelly]], which was selected in June 2008 as one of the top 40 audiobooks of all time. In 2006, he recorded an abridgement of ''[[A Spot of Bother]]'' by [[Mark Haddon]]. He is also a regular narrator on BBC Radio 4's ''[[Book at Bedtime]]''. He was also a member of the [[BBC]]'s [[Radio Drama Company]].<ref name=yearbook>"Radio and audio book companies", in Lloyd Trott, ed., ''Actors and Performers Yearbook 2016'', pp. 353–354</ref>

===2010s===
In 2010, Jennings played Captain Shipshape in the CBeebies second series of ''[[Grandpa in my Pocket]]'' and starred in the film ''[[Belle (2013 film)|Belle]]''. After that, he played [[Henry Tizard]] in ''[[Castles in the Sky (TV series)|Castles in the Sky]]''.
In 2011, he played [[Mikhail Bulgakov]] in the National Theatre's production of ''Collaborators''. In 2014, he played the role of [[Willy Wonka]] in ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical]]'', which was directed by [[Sam Mendes]] and was performed on London's West End theatre district.<ref name=BBCNews-Wonka-2014 /><ref name=BestTheatre-Wonka-2014>{{cite news|last1=Mitford|first1=Oliver|url=http://www.bestoftheatre.co.uk/blog/post/alex-jennings-willy-wonka|title=Alex Jennings to take over from Douglas Hodge as Willy Wonka|work=Best of Theatre|date=17 February 2014|access-date=17 February 2014}}</ref> He took over the role from [[Douglas Hodge]] in 2014.<ref name=Spectator-Wonka-2014 />

From 2011 to 2014, Jennings played Alan Cowdrey QC in the BBC One legal drama ''[[Silk (TV series)|Silk]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC One – Silk – Alan Cowdrey |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/2W0ZmwQTwkQCsF0zQ8rT6c7/alan-cowdrey |website=[[BBC]] (British Broadcasting Corporation) |access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref> He has also appeared in the ITV television series ''[[Lewis (TV series)|Lewis]]'' (2012), and ''[[Foyle's War]]'' (2015).

Jennings portrayed playwright [[Alan Bennett]] in the 2015 film ''[[The Lady in the Van]]'' opposite [[Academy Award]] winner [[Dame Maggie Smith]] in the [[Margaret Fairchild|title role]].<ref name=Telegraph-LadyVan-2015>{{cite news|last1=Telegraph Film|title=The Lady in the Van: Maggie Smith as you've never seen her|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/the-lady-in-the-van/behind-the-scenes/|access-date=31 October 2015|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=27 May 2015}}</ref> The film is directed by [[Nicolas Hytner]], who is a long-time collaborator from the theatre.<ref name=Guardian-PresentLaughter-2007 /> The film also featured performances from [[Jim Broadbent]], [[Claire Foy]], [[Frances de la Tour]], and [[James Corden]]. The film premiered at the 2015 [[Toronto International Film Festival]] to great acclaim, specifically for Smith's performance. To promote the film Maggie Smith, and Jennings, appeared on ''[[The Graham Norton Show]]'', this is Smith's first chat show appearance in over 40 years.

In 2016, Jennings reprised his role as Professor [[My Fair Lady|Henry Higgins]] in the Australian 60th anniversary production of ''[[My Fair Lady]]'', directed by [[Julie Andrews]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/musicshow/alex-jennings-is-henry-higgins/7764356|title=Alex Jennings is Henry Higgins in 'My Fair Lady'.|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=19 August 2016}}</ref>
On television, from 2016 to 2017, he appeared in the [[Netflix]] series ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]'' alongside [[Claire Foy]] and [[Jared Harris]], as [[Edward VIII|Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor]], uncle to Queen Elizabeth and great-uncle to Prince Charles (whom Jennings played in ''The Queen''). The series has received widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Jennings also portrayed King [[Leopold I of Belgium]] in the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]/[[PBS]] series ''[[Victoria (British TV series)|Victoria]]'' (2016–2019) alongside [[Jenna Coleman]].

In 2018, Jennings played Liberal MP [[Peter Bessell]] in the [[BBC One]] series, ''[[A Very English Scandal (TV series)|A Very English Scandal]]'' alongside [[Hugh Grant]], and [[Ben Whishaw]], a miniseries about the [[Thorpe affair|Jeremy Thorpe affair]] directed by [[Stephen Frears]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mangan |first1=Lucy |title=A Very English Scandal review: funny and confident – like Jeremy Thorpe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/may/20/a-very-english-scandal-review-funny-and-confident-like-jeremy-thorpe |access-date=11 July 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=20 May 2018}}</ref> The film received widespread critical acclaim with a 97% on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] with the critics consensus reading, "Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw impress in A Very English Scandal, an equally absorbing and appalling look at British politics and society".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/a_very_english_scandal/s01|title= A Very English Scandal: Miniseries|website= Rotten Tomatoes|access-date= 21 November 2020}}</ref> The series also received four [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nominations including a win for Whishaw for his performance.

In 2019, Jennings played Andrew Aldridge, a Conservative MP, in the American TV miniseries ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral (miniseries)|Four Weddings and a Funeral]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7587362/ | title=Four Weddings and a Funeral | website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>

===2020s===
In 2020, Jennings appeared in the ''[[Small Axe (anthology)|Small Axe]]'' miniseries directed by [[Steve McQueen (director)|Steve McQueen]], specifically the television movie, ''[[Small Axe (miniseries)|Mangrove]]'' as Judge Edward Clarke alongside [[Letitia Wright]] as physician and [[British Black Panthers|British Black Panther]] [[Altheia Jones-LeCointe]]. In ''Mangrove'', the story revolves around the true story based on the ''[[Mangrove Nine]]'' who were British black activists tried for inciting a riot at a protest, in 1970, against the police targeting of the [[Mangrove restaurant]], [[Notting Hill]], in west London. The film received widespread critical acclaim, with the critics consensus on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reading, "Anchored by strong performances and an even stronger sense of conviction, ''Mangrove'' is a powerful indictment of institutional racism."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/small_axe/s01|title= Small Axe: Mangrove|website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date= 20 November 2020}}</ref>

== Work ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" |Notes
|-
| 1989 || ''[[War Requiem (film)|War Requiem]]'' || Blinded Soldier ||
|-
| 1996 || ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' || Theseus/Oberon ||
|-
| 1997 || ''[[The Wings of the Dove (1997 film)|The Wings of the Dove]]'' || Lord Mark ||
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (film)|Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' || The Butler ||
|-
| 2002 || ''[[The Four Feathers (2002 film)|The Four Feathers]]'' || Colonel Hamilton ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2004 || ''[[Five Children and It (film)|Five Children and It]]'' || Father ||
|-
| ''[[Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (film)|Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason]]'' || Horatio ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2006 || ''[[Babel (film)|Babel]]'' || Ken Clifford ||
|-
| ''[[The Queen (2006 film)|The Queen]]'' || [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]] ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[The Disappeared (2008 film)|The Disappeared]]'' || Adrian Ballan ||
|-
| 2010 || ''Words of the Blitz'' || [[George Orwell]] ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2013 || ''[[Trap for Cinderella (2013 film)|Trap for Cinderella]]'' || Chance ||
|-
| ''[[Belle (2013 film)|Belle]]'' || Lord Ashford ||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Castles in the Sky (film)|Castles in the Sky]]'' || [[Henry Tizard]] ||
|-
| 2015 || ''[[The Lady in the Van]]'' || [[Alan Bennett]] ||
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Denial (2016 film)|Denial]]'' || [[Charles Gray (judge)|Sir Charles Gray]] ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2021 || ''[[Munich – The Edge of War]]'' || [[Horace Wilson (civil servant)|Sir Horace Wilson]] ||
|-
| ''[[Operation Mincemeat (film)|Operation Mincemeat]]'' || [[John Cecil Masterman|John Masterman]] ||
|-
| ''[[The Forgiven (2021 film)|The Forgiven]]'' || Lord Swanthorne ||
|-
|2022
| ''[[Your Christmas or Mine?]]''|| Humphrey Hughes||
|-
|2023
|''[[Your Christmas or Mine 2]]''
|Humphrey Hughes
|
|-
|2024
|''[[Blitz (2024 film)|Blitz]]''
|Victor Smythe
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2025
|''[[The Phoenician Scheme]]''
|Broadcloth
|
|-
|[[The Ballad of a Small Player (film)|''The Ballad of a Small Player'']]
|
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" |Notes
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Smiley's People (TV series)|Smiley's People]]'' || P.C. Hall || "Episode No. 1.1"
|-
| 1986 || ''Kit Curran'' || PC Woods || Episode: "A Sick Society"
|-
| 1988 || ''[[The Franchise Affair (1988 TV series)|The Franchise Affair]]'' || Nevil Bennet || 6 episodes
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Shelley (TV series)|The Return of Shelley]]'' || Jeremy || Episode: "The Gospel According to Shelley"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1990 || ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' || Victor Preece || Episode: "The Sins of the Fathers"
|-
| ''[[Alfonso Bonzo]]'' || Alfonso Bonzo || 6 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1991 || ''[[Ashenden (TV series)|Ashenden]]'' || John Ashenden || 4 episodes
|-
| ''[[Bye Bye Columbus]]'' || King Ferdinand || Television movie
|-
| 1992 || ''[[ScreenPlay]]'' || Byron || Episode: "Dread Poets' Society"
|-
| 1993 || ''[[The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries]]'' || Sebastian Parish || Episode: "Death at the Bar"
|-
| 1994 || ''Hard Times'' || Bitzer || Episode: "Episode No. 1.1"
|-
| 1997 || ''Liberty! The American Revolution'' || King [[George III]] || 6 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1999 || ''[[Bad Blood (1999 TV film)|Bad Blood]]'' || Joe Harker || Television movie
|-
| ''[[The Hunley]]'' || Lt. Alexander || Television movie
|-
| 2000 || ''Too Much Sun'' || Julian Edgbaston-Bowles || 6 episodes
|-
| 2002 || ''[[100 Greatest Britons]]'' || [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] || Voice; Episode: "Sir Winston Churchill"
|-
| 2004 || ''London'' || Stephen Spender || Television movie
|- 
| rowspan="3" | 2005 || ''[[A Very Social Secretary]]'' || [[Alastair Campbell]] || Television movie
|-
| ''[[Riot at the Rite]]'' || Sergei Diaghilev || Television movie
|-
| ''[[Agatha Christie's Poirot]]'' || Dr Roberts || Episode: "Cards on the Table"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2006 || ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]'' || James Allan || Episode: "Episode No. 5.4"
|-
| ''[[The State Within]]'' || James Sinclair || 6 episodes
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Waking the Dead (TV series)|Waking the Dead]]'' || James Andrews || 2 episodes
|-
| 2007–2009 || ''[[Cranford (TV series)|Cranford]]'' || Reverend Hutton || 7 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2008 || ''[[10 Days to War]]'' || Vincent || Episode: "Failure Is Not an Option"
|-
| ''Fairy Tales'' || Roger Bateman || Episode: "Rapunzel"
|-
| ''[[Hancock & Joan]]'' || [[John Le Mesurier]] || Television movie
|-
| ''[[The 39 Steps (2008 film)|The 39 Steps]]'' || Captain Kell || Television movie, [[BBC]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2009 || ''[[The Last Days of Lehman Brothers]]'' || [[Timothy Geithner]] || Television movie
|-
| ''[[Agatha Christie's Marple]]'' || Inspector Curry || Episode: "They Do It with Mirrors"
|-
| 2009–2010 || ''[[Whitechapel (TV series)|Whitechapel]]'' || Commander Anderson || 5 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2010 || ''Masterpiece Classic'' || Captain Kell || Episode: "The 39 Steps"
|-
| ''[[Grandpa in My Pocket]]'' || Captain Shipshape || Episode: "Captain Shipshape and a Fish Called Bryan"
|-
| ''On Expenses'' || Andrew Walker || Television movie
|-
| 2011–2014 || ''[[Silk (TV series)|Silk]]'' || Alan Cowdrey, QC || 13 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2012 || ''[[Being Human (British TV series)|Being Human]]'' || [[List of Being Human (British TV series) characters|Griffin]] || Episode: "Eve of the War"
|-
| ''[[Lewis (TV series)|Lewis]]'' || Rev Conor Hawes || Episode: "The Soul of Genius"
|-
| ''[[New Tricks]]'' || Prof. Blake || Episode: "Body of Evidence"
|-
| ''We'll Take Manhattan'' || John Parsons || Television movie
|-
| 2013 || ''The Lady Vanishes'' || The Professor || Television movie
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2015 || ''[[Churchill's Secret]]'' || [[Anthony Eden]] || Television movie, [[PBS]]
|-
| ''[[Foyle's War]]'' || Clive Ord-Smith || Episode: "Trespass"
|-
| 2016–2019 || ''[[Victoria (British TV series)|Victoria]]'' || [[Leopold I of Belgium|King Leopold I]] || 9 episodes
|-
| 2016–2017, 2022 || ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]'' || [[Edward VIII|Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor]] || Main role ([[The Crown (season 1)|Seasons 1]]–[[The Crown (season 2)|2]]);<br>Guest role ([[The Crown (season 5)|Season 5]])
|-
| 2017 || ''[[The Halcyon]]'' || Lord Hamilton || Episode: #1.1
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2018 || ''[[A Very English Scandal (TV series)|A Very English Scandal]]'' || [[Peter Bessell]] || 3 episodes
|-
| ''[[Unforgotten]]'' || Tim Finch || 6 episodes 
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2019 || ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral (miniseries)|Four Weddings and a Funeral]]'' || Andrew Aldridge || Miniseries, [[Hulu]]
|-
| ''[[Gold Digger (TV series)|Gold Digger]]'' || Ted Day || 6 episodes
|-
| 2020 || ''[[Small Axe (anthology)|Small Axe]]'' || Judge Clarke || Episode: "Mangrove"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2022 || ''[[This Is Going to Hurt (TV series)|This Is Going to Hurt]]'' || Nigel Lockhart|| 7 episodes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/this-is-going-to-hurt-first-look-harriet-walter-alex-jennings-bbc-amc-1234780739/|title='This Is Going To Hurt': Harriet Walter, Alex Jennings Join BBC/AMC Series; First Look At Lead Ben Whishaw|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Jake|last=Kanter|date=June 24, 2021|access-date=June 24, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[The Undeclared War]]'' || David Neal || 5 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2024 || ''[[Mr Bates vs The Post Office]]'' || [[James Arbuthnot]] || 4 episodes
|-
| ''[[A Very Royal Scandal]]'' || [[Sir Edward Young]] || 3 episodes
|-
| ''[[Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light]]'' || [[Stephen Gardiner]] ||
|-
| ''[[The Agency (2024 TV series)|The Agency]]'' || Frank ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2025 || ''[[MobLand]]'' || Archie Hammond ||
|-
| ''[[Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes]]'' || [[Michael Mansfield]] || 1 Episode
|}

=== Theatre ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Playwright
! Venue
! class="unsortable" |Ref.
|-
| 1985 || ''[[The Scarlet Pimpernel]]'' || Performer || [[Baroness Orczy]] || [[Her Majesty's Theatre]] ||
|-
| 1987–88 || ''[[Measure for Measure]]'' || Lucio || [[William Shakespeare]] || [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1988 || ''[[Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man|Too Clever by Half]]'' || Yegor Dimitrich Gloumov || [[Alexander Ostrovsky]] || [[Old Vic Theatre]], London ||
|-
| ''[[The Country Wife]]'' || Performer || [[William Wycherley]] || [[Royal Exchange, Manchester|Royal Exchange]], Manchester ||
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Ghetto (play)|Ghetto]]'' || Kittel || [[Yehoshua Sobol]] || [[National Theatre (UK)|National Theatre]] ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1990 || ''[[The Wild Duck]]'' || Hjalmar Ekdal || [[Henrik Ibsen]] || [[Peter Hall Company]] ||
|-
| ''[[The Liars (play)|The Liars]]'' || Dorante || [[Henry Arthur Jones]] || [[Old Vic Theatre]], London ||
|-
| ''Richard II'' || Richard II || [[William Shakespeare]] || [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] ||
|-
| 1992 || ''The Recruiting Officer'' || Captain Plume || [[George Farquhar]] || [[National Theatre (UK)|National Theatre]] ||
|-
| 1993 || ''[[The Importance of Being Earnest]]'' || [[John Worthing]] || [[Oscar Wilde]] || [[Aldwych Theatre]] ||
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Peer Gynt]]'' || Peer Gynt || [[Henrik Ibsen]] || [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] ||
|-
| 1994–95 || ''Measure for Measure'' || Angelo || [[William Shakespeare]] || [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1996 || ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' || [[Oberon]]/[[Theseus]] || [[William Shakespeare]] || [[Lunt-Fontanne Theatre]], Broadway ||<ref name=IBDb-Midsummer-1996>{{cite web|title=A Midsummer Night's Dream|url=http://ibdb.com/Production/View/4272|website=[[Internet Broadway Database]]|access-date=31 October 2015}}</ref>
|-
| ''Hyde Park'' || Performer || [[James Shirley]] || rowspan=3|[[Royal Shakespeare Company]] ||
|-
| ''The Taming of the Shrew'' || Lucentio || [[William Shakespeare]] ||
|-
| 1997 || ''Hamlet'' || Hamlet || [[William Shakespeare]] ||
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Albert Speer (play)|Albert Speer]]'' || Albert Speer || [[David Edgar (playwright)|David Edgar]] || [[Royal National Theatre#Lyttelton Theatre|Lyttelton Theatre]], London ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2001 || ''[[The Winter's Tale]]'' || Performer || [[William Shakespeare]] || rowspan=3|[[Royal National Theatre]] ||
|-
| ''The Relapse'' || Foppington || [[John Vanbrugh]] || 
|-
| ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' || Prof. Henry Higgins || [[George Bernard Shaw]] ||
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Present Laughter]]'' || Garry Essendine || [[Noël Coward]] || [[Royal National Theatre]] ||
|-
| 2009 || ''[[The Habit of Art]]'' || Henry || [[Alan Bennett]] || [[National Theatre of Great Britain]] <br/> Lyttelton Theatre in London ||
|-
| 2011 || ''Collaborators'' || Mikhail Bulgakov || [[John Hodge (screenwriter)|John Hodge]] || [[National Theatre of Great Britain]] <br/> [[Cottesloe Theatre]] in London ||
|-
| 2012 || ''Hymn/Cocktail Sticks'' || Performer || [[Alan Bennett]] || [[National Theatre of Great Britain]] <br/> Lyttelton Theatre in London ||
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (musical)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'' ||[[Willy Wonka]] || [[Roald Dahl]] || [[Theatre Royal Drury Lane]], London ||
|-
| 2016 || ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' || Prof. Henry Higgins|| [[George Bernard Shaw]] || [[Sydney Opera House]] ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2019 || ''[[Hansard (play)|Hansard]]'' || Robin Hesketh || [[Simon Woods]] || [[Royal National Theatre]]||<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lukowski |first1=Andrzej |title='Hansard' review |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/hansard-review |work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |date=4 September 2019 |location=London |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[The Light in the Piazza (novel)|The Light in the Piazza]]'' || Signor Naccarelli || [[Elizabeth Spencer (writer)|Elizabeth Spencer]] || [[Royal Festival Hall]], London <br> [[Civic Opera House]] Chicago ||
|-
| 2022 || ''[[The Southbury Child]]'' || David Highland || [[Stephen Beresford]] || [[Chichester Festival Theatre]]<br/>[[Bridge Theatre|Bridge Theatre, London]] ||
|-
|}

'''Filmed Theatrical Events'''

* 1999: ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'' as Butler
* 2010: ''National Theatre Live: The Habit of Art'' as Henry / Benjamin Britten
* 2011: ''National Theatre Live: Collaborators'' as Mikhail Bulgakov
* 2013: ''National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage'' as Henry Higgins
* 2019: ''National Theatre Live: Hansard'' as Robin Hesketh

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Title
! Result
! class="unsortable" |Ref.
|-
| 1988 || rowspan="4" |[[Olivier Award]] || rowspan="2" | [[Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance|Best Comedy Performance]] || ''[[Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man|Too Clever by Half]]'' || {{won}} ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olivier Winners 1988 |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-1988/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Olivier Awards |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|-
|1990
|[[The Liar (Corneille play)|''The Liar'']]
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olivier Winners 1989/90 |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-1989-1990/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Olivier Awards |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|-
| 1996 || [[Olivier Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]|| ''[[Peer Gynt]]''|| {{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olivier Winners 1996 |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-1996/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Olivier Awards |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|-
| 2003 || [[Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Actor in a Musical]]|| ''[[My Fair Lady]]''|| {{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olivier Winners 2003 |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-2003/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Olivier Awards |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|-
| 2019 || [[British Academy Television Awards]] || Best Supporting Actor || ''[[Unforgotten]]'' || {{nom}} ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=Supporting Actor |url=https://www.bafta.org/awards/television/supporting-actor-television |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Bafta |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|}

Jennings was appointed [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[2024 Birthday Honours]] for services to drama.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6669879843c77d8616f76033/Birthday_Honours_List_2024.pdf |title=Awards for Birthday Honours List 2024}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|421105}}
* {{IBDB name}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Alex Jennings
|list =
{{Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor}}
{{Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor}}
{{OlivierAward PlayActor 1985–2000}}
{{OlivierAward MusicalActor 2001–2025}}
{{OlivierAward ComedyPerformance}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jennings, Alex}}
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Havering]]
[[Category:Alumni of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Warwick]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Critics' Circle Theatre Award winners]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male musical theatre actors]]
[[Category:English male radio actors]]
[[Category:English male Shakespearean actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:Laurence Olivier Award winners]]
[[Category:Male actors from Essex]]
[[Category:National Youth Theatre members]]
[[Category:People from Upminster]]
[[Category:Royal Shakespeare Company members]]