Toby Stephens is a well-known actor and has appeared in a number of hit films, but away from acting the star has had a tough time of it following the sad death of his famous mum
This festive season, viewers are eagerly anticipating the return of beloved actor Toby Stephens to their screens as he gears up for his role in the two-part BBC series, The Split.
His character, Archie, is set to take Hannah (portrayed by Nicola Walker) on a date, and it’s already been revealed that things don’t go quite as planned when he’s left alone in a bar without any explanation.
Toby has enjoyed numerous acting triumphs over the years, even earning a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Bond villain Gustav Graves in Die Another Day back in 2002.
Other notable roles include: The Machine (2013), 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016), The Journey (2016), and Hunter Killer (2018), along with many TV appearances.
Off-screen, Toby has had a challenging year following the heartbreaking loss of his renowned mother Dame Maggie Smith. Here we delve into the highs, lows and his upbringing, reports the Mirror.
From childhood to acting career
Toby was born on April 21, 1969 at Middlesex Hospital in Fitzrovia, London to the incredibly famous parents Sir Robert Stephens and Dame Maggie Smith.
Together with his brother Chris Larkin (who chose to drop his famous surname), the brothers were educated at Aldro School and Seaford College in West Sussex. Toby then honed his craft at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
Toby’s film career took off with his debut in Orlando, an adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s novel. He more recently snagged the role of Lionel in the Netflix favourite, One Day, and lent his voice to gentleman ghost in Batman: Caped Crusader.
He married the New Zealand-born actress Anna-Louise Plowman in 2001 and together they’re raising their three kids: Elijah, Tallulah, and Kura.
Known for having famous parents
Toby is the son of the legendary Dame Maggie Smith, known globally for her roles in Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and Sister Act just a small sampling from her extensive repertoire. Sadly, Dame Maggie passed away in September at the age of 89, leaving sons Christopher and Toby, along with five grandchildren, heartbroken.
Discussing the grief, Toby shared candidly with the Mirror: “It’s been tough. She had been ill for a while and it was very hard to see that. But she was in her 90th year, she’d had a really good innings. Purely on a selfish level, I miss having her in my life, being able to talk to her.”
Lately, the star of Die Another Day opened up about how his mother never realized just how beloved she was. In a heartfelt admission to The Telegraph, Toby said: “It’s been incredibly moving for my family to see how universally loved and admired she was. That was something she never really allowed herself to believe. She was just like all of us, she didn’t have that self-confidence.”
Toby’s household was filled with renowned individuals, including his father, Robert Stephens, who left an indelible mark on the world of theatre and was even knighted for his remarkable acting contributions.
Robert’s impressive filmography includes iconic roles in Romeo and Juliet (1968), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970), Empire of the Sun (1987), Henry V (1989), Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993), The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), Charlie Chaplin (1992), and The Pope Must Die (1991).
Maggie and Robert’s marriage led to some notable collaborations, including their work together on The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969, which earned Maggie her first Oscar. They also co-starred in the hit film Travels with My Aunt.
However, behind the scenes, their marriage was troubled, and they eventually divorced.
In a 2004 interview with the Mirror, Maggie revealed that their marriage was strained due to Robert’s infidelity and struggles with mental health, including a suicide attempt in 1970. She described their relationship as “hopeless” in the same conversation.
Sadly, Robert passed away on November 12, 1995, at the age of 64, just a year after being knighted. He died due to complications during a surgical procedure.