Dean-Charles Chapman
Dean-Charles Chapman (born 7 September 1997) is an English actor renowned for his roles in theater, television, and film.[1] Best known for portraying the young King Tommen Baratheon across three seasons of HBO's epic fantasy series Game of Thrones (2014–2016), he also garnered critical acclaim as Lance Corporal Tom Blake, one of the leads in Sam Mendes's World War I drama 1917 (2019).[2][3] Born in Essex, England, Chapman's career spans child performances in acclaimed stage productions to mature supporting roles in high-profile films and series.[4] Chapman began acting at a young age, making his professional debut at eight years old in the original West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical in 2005, initially as the Small Boy and later progressing to the roles of Michael and the titular Billy from 2009 to 2011, becoming one of the production's longest-serving leads.[5] His early television work included a guest appearance on the BBC medical drama Casualty in 2007, followed by lead roles such as Stanley Brown in the CBBC series The Revolting World of Stanley Brown (2012) and Richard Grey in the historical miniseries The White Queen (2013).[5] Transitioning to larger-scale projects, he joined Game of Thrones in its fourth season, replacing Callum Wharry as the evolving character of Tommen, a role that highlighted his ability to convey vulnerability and political intrigue amid the series' intense narrative.[2] In film, Chapman expanded his portfolio with supporting parts in Before I Go to Sleep (2014) and Breathe (2017), before achieving a breakthrough as Tom Blake in 1917, a role that involved intense physical training and contributed to the film's multiple Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.[3] Subsequent credits include Thomas, Duke of Clarence, in David Michôd's historical drama The King (2019); the lead in the Irish coming-of-age film Here Are the Young Men (2020) opposite Anya Taylor-Joy; and Robert, Catherine's older brother, in Lena Dunham's medieval comedy Catherine Called Birdy (2022).[6] More recently, he voiced Chance in the animated family film Ozi: Voice of the Forest (2023) and portrayed Jedi Master Torbin in the Disney+ Star Wars series The Acolyte (2024).[7][8] He also appeared as Gaz in the comedy miniseries Too Much (2025).[9]Biography
Early life
Dean-Charles Chapman was born on 7 September 1997 in Havering, Essex, England.[10][11] He grew up in Essex, including the area of Romford, with his family, which included his older sister Dolly and younger sister Celia.[9] His early years were marked by an entry into the performing arts when, at age four, his older sister's theatre agent recommended that he audition for a Nickelodeon commercial.[12][13] Around the age of eight, Chapman developed a keen interest in dance and acting, inspired by watching the original cast of Billy Elliot the Musical, which prompted him to begin dance lessons and audition for the production despite lacking prior formal ballet training.[14] He attended Colin's Performing Arts School in Essex, where he studied drama and dance to nurture these emerging talents.[15] Information on Chapman's formal education remains sparse, though he managed to continue his schooling alongside his initial professional engagements starting in 2005.[16]Personal life
Chapman has maintained strong family bonds, and as of 2020, resided with his parents and two sisters, the older Dolly and the younger Celia, in Romford, Essex. His mother is a stay-at-home parent, while his father works as a recovery truck driver, and the family describes itself as "just a normal family."[12] He shares a close, long-term friendship with his Game of Thrones co-star Isaac Hempstead Wright, whom he considers one of his best mates. The two communicate daily via FaceTime and bonded over their shared experiences filming the series, as Chapman noted in 2020 interviews.[12][17] In 2015, Chapman began dating actress Nell Tiger Free after meeting on the Game of Thrones set, where they portrayed the sibling characters Tommen and Myrcella Baratheon.[18] The relationship ended in the late 2010s, with no public details on the split, and Chapman has kept his romantic life private since, with no confirmed partners as of 2025.[19] As of 2020, Chapman led a low-key lifestyle centered on family time at home in Romford, valuing privacy and normalcy amid his acting career. He has shared in interviews that he enjoys simple, everyday routines and close-knit relationships, with no reports of marriage or children.[12]Professional career
Stage roles
Chapman made his professional stage debut at the age of eight, portraying the Small Boy in the original West End cast of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre, beginning in March 2005.[15] He remained with the production in this minor ensemble role until June 2006, gaining early exposure to the demands of musical theatre.[15] In 2008, Chapman returned to the show as Michael, Billy's flamboyant best friend, a role that showcased his developing comedic timing and dance abilities.[14] He was promoted to the lead role of Billy Elliot in November 2009 at age 12, succeeding previous performers and bringing a fresh interpretation to the working-class boy discovering ballet amid the 1984 miners' strike.[20] His tenure as Billy lasted until November 2011, making him the longest-serving actor in the title role during the production's run.[14] The physically demanding nature of the Billy role required intensive daily dance training, often in collaboration with institutions like the Royal Ballet School, alongside academic schooling to balance his young career.[14] Chapman highlighted the challenges of sequences like the "Angry Dance," a high-energy solo expressing the character's frustration, which tested endurance and emotional intensity nightly.[14] These rigors, combined with his progression through three distinct roles in the same production, honed his versatility in musical theatre, blending acting, singing, and ballet with tap and contemporary styles.[15] Critics acclaimed Chapman's Billy for its authentic portrayal of youthful defiance and boundless energy, with a 2011 Time Out review noting that his performance triumphantly upheld the musical's emotional core without any sense of repetition or fatigue.[21] This reception underscored his growth from ensemble member to lead, cementing his reputation in London's theatre scene. After concluding his run in Billy Elliot in 2011, Chapman's stage engagements became sparse, with no major West End or Broadway productions featuring him in subsequent years as his career shifted toward screen work.[22]Television roles
Chapman's television career began with minor guest appearances, including a role in the British medical drama Casualty in 2007, marking his screen debut at age 10.[22] He continued with the lead role of Stanley Brown in the CBBC comedy series The Revolting World of Stanley Brown (2012). He followed with small parts in series such as Ripper Street (2014) as Harry Ward, Glue (2014) as Chris, and Into the Badlands (2015) as Castor, a young clipper trainee, showcasing his versatility in period and action genres early on.[23][24][25] Chapman gained initial prominence with his portrayal of Richard Grey, the young son of Elizabeth Woodville and a noble caught in the turmoil of the Wars of the Roses, in the BBC historical miniseries The White Queen (2013), appearing in four episodes.[26] This role highlighted his ability to embody youthful innocence amid political intrigue, serving as a breakthrough in historical drama.[15] His most recognized television work came as Tommen Baratheon in HBO's Game of Thrones, first appearing briefly as the cousin Martyn Lannister in season 3 (2013) before taking over the role of the young prince from season 4 through 6 (2014–2016), spanning 17 episodes.[27] Tommen's arc evolved from a naive child under his mother's influence to a conflicted king, marked by his arranged marriage to Margaery Tyrell and culminating in his tragic suicide in the season 6 finale, "The Winds of Winter," amid the destruction of the Sept of Baelor.[28] This performance solidified Chapman's international profile, demonstrating his range in portraying vulnerability and quiet despair in a high-stakes ensemble.[9] In 2022, Chapman portrayed neo-Nazi Jack Renshaw in the ITV true-crime miniseries The Walk-In.) In 2024, Chapman expanded into science fiction with the role of Jedi Master Torbin in Disney+'s Star Wars: The Acolyte, a prequel series set during the High Republic era, where his character grapples with past regrets and appears in de-aged flashbacks as a padawan.[29] Filming for the series took place primarily at Shinfield Studios in the UK from late 2022 through June 2023.[30] The role marked a departure from his historical parts, emphasizing physical transformation through makeup and his exploration of a stoic, burdened mentor figure.[31] Chapman appeared in the 2025 Netflix limited series Too Much, created by Lena Dunham, playing Gaz, Jessica's affable London neighbor and a hobbyist gardener who provides comic relief and subtle emotional support in the rom-com narrative about reinvention after heartbreak.[32] The series premiered on July 10, 2025, allowing Chapman to delve into lighter, contemporary comedy following his dramatic turns.[33]Film roles
Chapman's film debut came in 2014 with the psychological thriller Before I Go to Sleep, directed by Rowan Joffé, where he portrayed the young son Adam in a story centered on a woman suffering from amnesia, opposite Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth.[34] This role marked his initial foray into feature films, transitioning from his earlier television work by contributing to the film's exploration of familial bonds and hidden traumas within a suspenseful narrative. He expanded with supporting roles in Man Up (2015) as Harry, Breathe (2017) as Jonathan Cavendish, The Commuter (2018) as Danny MacCauley, and Blinded by the Light (2019) as Matt. A significant breakthrough arrived in 2019 with Sam Mendes' World War I drama 1917, in which Chapman took the lead role of Lance Corporal Tom Blake, a young British soldier embarking on a perilous mission to deliver a message that could save his brother and 1,600 comrades amid the trenches of no man's land. The film's innovative one-shot technique heightened the immediacy of Blake's journey, with Chapman's portrayal emphasizing the character's vulnerability and terror, described in reviews as a "relatable, terrified soldier" whose panic, fear, and tears added profound emotional depth to the narrative of heroism and loss.[35][36] That same year, Chapman appeared in David Michôd's historical epic The King on Netflix, playing the supporting role of Thomas of Lancaster, the ambitious younger brother of King Henry V (Timothée Chalamet), in a tale of medieval power struggles, betrayal, and the burdens of monarchy during the Hundred Years' War. His performance underscored the familial tensions and political intrigue central to the film's reimagining of Shakespeare's Henriad plays.[37] In 2020, Chapman starred as Matthew in the Irish coming-of-age drama Here Are the Young Men, directed by Eoin Macken, depicting a Dublin teenager navigating post-school aimlessness, toxic friendships, and the temptations of the early 2000s Celtic Tiger economy alongside characters influenced by drugs and violence. The role highlighted his ability to convey moral ambiguity and youthful disillusionment in a gritty, character-driven story.[38][39] Chapman continued diversifying his film work in 2022 with Lena Dunham's medieval comedy Catherine Called Birdy, where he played Robert, the supportive yet exasperated older brother to the rebellious protagonist (Bella Ramsey), contributing to the film's humorous take on 13th-century gender norms and family dynamics through scenes of sibling camaraderie and chaos.[40][41] More recently, in 2024, he provided the voice of the mischievous monkey Chance in the animated environmental adventure Ozi: Voice of the Forest, directed by Tim Harper, which follows an orphaned orangutan using social media savvy to combat deforestation and protect her rainforest home, blending adventure with advocacy for ecological preservation.[42][43] Post-1917, Chapman's career has shifted toward more prominent lead and supporting roles in high-profile productions, elevating his visibility in Hollywood and allowing him to resonate more strongly with American audiences through diverse cinematic narratives.[44]Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Before I Go to Sleep | Adam | Supporting role as the son of the protagonist.[22] |
| 2015 | Man Up | Harry | Supporting role.[22] |
| 2017 | Breathe | Jonathan Cavendish (aged 22) | Supporting role.[22] |
| 2018 | The Commuter | Danny MacCauley | Supporting role.[22] |
| 2019 | Blinded by the Light | Matt | Supporting role as the best friend of the lead.[22] |
| 2019 | The King | Thomas of Lancaster | Supporting role in the historical drama.[22] |
| 2019 | 1917 | Lance Corporal Tom Blake | Co-lead role; directed by Sam Mendes.[22] |
| 2020 | Here Are the Young Men | Matthew | Lead role.[22] |
| 2022 | Catherine Called Birdy | Robert | Supporting role as Catherine's brother.[22] |
| 2024 | Ozi: Voice of the Forest | Chance (voice) | Voice role in the animated film.[22] |
Television
Chapman began his television career with guest appearances in British series before gaining prominence in historical and fantasy dramas.-
2007
Casualty – William Mulhern (1 episode: "A House Divided")[22] -
2012
Cuckoo – Charlie (1 episode: "Family Meeting")[45]
The Revolting World of Stanley Brown – Stanley Brown (13 episodes)[46] -
2013
The White Queen (miniseries) – Richard Grey (10 episodes)[22]
Game of Thrones – Martyn Lannister (1 episode, season 3: "The Bear and the Maiden Fair")[47] -
2014–2016
Game of Thrones – Tommen Baratheon (seasons 4–6)[47]
Ripper Street – Harry Ward (1 episode, season 3)[48]
Glue – Chris (8 episodes)[22] -
2022
The Walk-In (miniseries) – Jack Renshaw (4 episodes)[4] -
2024
The Acolyte – Torbin (3 episodes)[49] -
2025
Too Much – Gaz (10 episodes)[4]
Stage
Chapman began his stage career in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre, where he first appeared as Small Boy from 2005 to 2007.[22][15] He subsequently took on the role of Michael from 2007 to 2009, before assuming the title role of Billy Elliot from November 2009 to November 2011, making him the longest-serving actor in that part.[14][50][51] No major stage credits have been recorded for Chapman following his departure from Billy Elliot the Musical in 2011, as of 2025.[9][52]Stage Credits
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Game of Thrones | Nominated | [54] |
| 2020 | CinEuphoria Awards | Merit – Honorary Award | Game of Thrones | Won | [55] |
| 2020 | CinEuphoria Awards | Best Ensemble – International Competition | The King | Nominated | [55] |
| 2020 | London Film Critics' Circle | Young British/Irish Performer of the Year | 1917, The King, Blinded by the Light | Nominated | [56] |
| 2020 | Newport Beach Film Festival | Festival Honors Award | 1917 | Won | [57] |
| 2021 | The BAM Awards | Best Supporting Actor | 1917 | Won | [55] |