Tim Matthews

Although he has a distinguished and exciting career on stage, television and film, British actor Tim Matthews may be best known for his portrayal of American soldiers in two award-winning television events - the critically acclaimed, mini-series "Band of Brothers" (2001) - winner of the American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy) and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's prestigious Golden Globe; and Arts and Entertainment Channel's broadcast of the Twentieth Century Fox production of "The Lost Battalion" (2001). Born on April 4, 1976, Tim Matthews began acting at the age of 11 when he appeared in "Fuente Ovejuna", directed by Declan Donnellan for the National Theatre. Several theatrical appearances quickly followed including the role of Peter in the Time-Out award winning production of Leona Heimfeld's "Dreams of Anne Frank" at London's Polka Theatre in 1992; this was the same year of one of Matthews' earliest television appearance as a guest on the BBC comedy "So Haunt Me" (Cinema Verity). 1993 was an important year for the young actor, as Matthews was cast in the dual roles of Gus and Augustus Coverly (alongside notable actors Bill Nighy, Rufus Sewell, Felicity Kendall and others) in the National Theatre's Evening Standard and Olivier Award winning production of "Arcadia", a new play written by Sir Tom Stoppard and directed by Sir Trevor Nunn. He later reprised his "Arcadia" roles for the BBC Radio 4 broadcast of the play. For the 1993/94 season, the actor appeared in another Olivier and Evening Standard Award winning National Theatre play titled "Machinal", starring Fiona Shaw and directed by Stephen Daldry (CBE). Matthews has kept very busy with several successful theatrical and television performances. In 1994 he played Taplow in the Greenwich Theatre production of "The Browning Version" directed by Philip Franks. He also appeared as Crispin, a regular character on the Crucial Films/BBC comedy titled "The Chef". In addition to performing in the 1995 production of "Bearing Fruit", directed by Deborah Paige for the Hampstead Theatre, Matthews made guest appearances on Sky One's "Space Precinct" (Melton Productions) and on the Channel 4/Hat Trick production of "Eleven Men Against Eleven". In 1996 he played Jack, the leading role in the Jolyon Symonds film "Black Eyes", directed by Dan Zeff. That same year, Matthews also appeared as series regular, William Hamilton on the BBC Drama "No Bananas" and made guest appearances on the hilarious comedy spoof "Drop the Dead Donkey" (Channel 4/Hat Trick) and in "The Thin Blue Line" (BBC/Tiger Aspect). In 1997, he co-starred with Robert Lindsay and Imelda Staunton in the Talisman Films/Channel Four comedy special "Remember Me?". Additionally there was a guest appearance on the ITV/Meridian drama "Where the Heart Is" and in 1998, Matthews played Pauline Collins's son, Nate Smith, in the critically acclaimed BBC/Ecosse Films drama series "The Ambassador". That same year included a guest appearance on the BBC crime series "Dangerfield" and the lead character Danny, in "Danny's Story", directed by Bill Eagles and distributed throughout the UK schools as an anti-drug education program. Tim Matthews returned to the London stage in 1999 to portray Rachel Weiss's brother, George Holly, in Tennessee Williams's "Suddenly Last Summer" alongside fellow cast members Gerard Butler and Sheila Gish at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End. Later that year, he co-starred as series regular, Steve Blade on the BBC/Valentine Production of "Harbour Lights". A career achievement occurred after five auditions (including an audition with Tom Hanks) when Tim was given the coveted role of Corporal Alex Penkala in the 2001 World War II, HBO mini-series "Band of Brothers", executive produced by Oscar winners Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks through their respective companies, (Dreamworks SKG, Playtone Productions, along with HBO). "Band of Brothers" is the most expensive and one of the most successful mini-series of all-time, having won the Golden Globe, Emmy, the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award which honors only the finest in entertainment production, along with other U.S. and international industry awards. The mini-series has aired in over 50 countries, including extremely successful broadcasts in the UK on the BBC. Other countries airing the television event include Germany, Japan, China, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Australia and Eastern Europe. Tim Matthews' convincing American accent also helped secure the role of Lt. Gordon Schenck in the popular Arts and Entertainment Channel's award winning World War I drama, "The Lost Battalion," produced by Twentieth Century Fox. Tim next made a guest appearance in the BBC/One Eyed Dog production of "Judge John Deed" and then in 2002 he began playing one of his best known and most popular characters, Liam McGuire on the BBC drama "Doctors." Matthews was nominated for a British Soap Opera Award for this role for Best Villain of the Year 2003. In 2004 the actor appeared in the BBC production of "Freeview" and in 2005 he played the role of Major Thomas Ferebee in the BBC docu-drama, "Hiroshima". In 2006, Tim appeared as Shane in the independent film "From London to Brighton". Most recently, Tim guest starred in "Wire in the Blood" and "Hustle" and will reprise his role as Liam McGuire in "Doctors" in September. Matthews' first album, "Somebody Else", is also due to launch in the UK in the fall of 2007. When not on location, on the stage or in the recording studio, Tim resides in Oxfordshire, England.