Laurie Davidson: Actor, Roles, Age, and Current Projects (2025)

Playing William Shakespeare as a first screen lead could have typecast Laurie Davidson permanently into period roles. Instead, the English actor has used that debut as a launchpad for a filmography that alternates between prestige television, literary adaptations, and psychological thrillers.

Born: 29 January 1992, Dulwich, London, England ·
Nationality: English ·
Known For: Will (2017), Mary & George (2024), The Other Bennet Sister ·
Notable Role: William Shakespeare in ‘Will’ ·
Age (as of 2025): 33 ·
Recent Project: A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story (2025)

Six key facts across birth, training, and major roles give a clear frame for understanding Davidson’s career arc.

What Is Laurie Davidson Doing Now?

Davidson’s most recent work puts him in the middle of two distinct projects that showcase his range. He stars in A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, a 2025 ITV drama about the last woman executed in Britain, playing a role in the legal and personal orbit of the title character (IMDb filmography). The series premiered in early 2025 to modest critical attention.

In 2024, he appeared in two high-profile productions. Mary & George — the Sky/Now TV historical drama about the mother-son power duo surrounding King James I — placed him in a supporting role alongside Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine (IMDb credits). He also played William Ryder, the brooding love interest, in The Other Bennet Sister, a BBC adaptation of Janice Hadlow’s novel expanding the Pride and Prejudice universe (Wikipedia biography).

Recent Projects and 2025 Releases

• A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story (2025) — ITV drama, role undisclosed in early coverage (IMDb filmography)
• Mary & George (2024) — Sky/Now TV historical drama, supporting cast (IMDb credits)
• The Other Bennet Sister (2024) — BBC adaptation, lead role as William Ryder

The pattern: Davidson is building a year-on-year rhythm of alternating between prestige television and literary adaptations, a path that keeps him visible without pushing him into franchise-driven work.

What Is Laurie Davidson’s Background?

Davidson grew up in Dulwich, South London, and attended Dulwich College before training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Wikipedia biography). He graduated from LAMDA in 2016, with an emphasis on classical theatre — his conservatory work included performing in Hamlet, Coriolanus, and The Winter’s Tale (Apple TV profile).

Early Life and Education

• Born 29 January 1992 in Dulwich, London, England (Wikipedia biography)
• Attended Dulwich College (reported but not independently verified) (Wikipedia biography)
• Graduated from LAMDA in 2016 with classical theatre training (Wikipedia biography)

What this means: Davidson’s route — private school to conservatoire to screen — is a well-trodden path for British actors, but the speed of his transition from LAMDA to a lead role in a US series is less common.

What Has Laurie Davidson Been In?

Davidson’s filmography spans television series, feature films, and at least one stage production. The through-line is a bias toward period or literary material, punctuated by the occasional modern thriller or musical.

Television Roles

Film Appearances

• Vampire Academy (2014) — small role, screen debut (Apple TV profile)
• The Good Liar (2019) — supporting role alongside Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren (IMDb filmography)
• Cats (2019) — Mr. Mistoffelees (Wikipedia biography)
• The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023) — credited role in the film sequel to the series (IMDb biography page)

Notable Character: William Shakespeare in Will

The TNT drama Will cast Davidson as a young, rebellious William Shakespeare arriving in 1590s London. The series framed Shakespeare as a punk-rock figure navigating the city’s theatre scene. Though the show was cancelled after one season, the casting choice drew attention — it turned a then-unknown recent graduate into the face of a $40 million production (Flaunt Magazine profile).

The pattern: Davidson’s filmography shows a steady progression from guest roles to series regulars, with a notable pivot toward literary adaptations in 2024-2025.

What Is Laurie Davidson’s Nationality?

Laurie Davidson is English. He was born in Dulwich, London, England, and has no documented dual nationality (Wikipedia biography).

Place of Birth and Nationality

• Nationality: English
• Place of birth: Dulwich, London, England (Wikipedia biography)
• No sources indicate any other citizenship or residence

The implication: Davidson’s national identity aligns entirely with his career — he works primarily in British and US productions, which is standard for actors who begin in UK television and cross over.

Who Played William Ryder in The Other Bennet Sister?

Laurie Davidson played William Ryder, the male lead and love interest in the BBC adaptation of The Other Bennet Sister (2024). The character is an original creation by author Janice Hadlow, not present in Jane Austen’s original Pride and Prejudice — he serves as the romantic counterpart to Mary Bennet, the overlooked middle sister (Wikipedia biography).

Role Details and Performance

The role required Davidson to play a sensitive, intellectually matched partner for Mary Bennet — a departure from the more flamboyant characters he had played earlier. Early reviews noted his ability to convey quiet intensity, a quality also visible in his other 2024 work in Mary & George.

“He’s not the obvious Darcy type, and that’s precisely why it works — Davidson brings a vulnerability that makes the romance feel earned.”

— Flaunt Magazine profile

The trade-off: Taking on a role in an Austen-adjacent adaptation gives Davidson exposure to a large audience, but also means he competes in a crowded field of British actors who have built careers on period romance.

For a deeper look into his early life and career milestones, Laurie Davidsons biography offers a comprehensive overview.

Frequently asked questions