Kyle Soller
Kyle Soller (born July 1, 1983) is an American actor based in London, renowned for his versatile performances across theatre, television, and film.[1][2] Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Soller initially studied art history at the College of William & Mary before abandoning his degree to pursue acting in the United Kingdom.[3] He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).[3][2] Soller's career gained momentum in London's theatre scene following his RADA graduation, with notable early stage roles including Khlestakov in The Government Inspector at the Young Vic and the lead in Alexi Kaye Campbell's The Faith Machine at the Royal Court Theatre.[4] His breakthrough came with the role of Eric Glass in Matthew Lopez's The Inheritance (2018–2019), for which he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play, the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor, and a Drama Desk Award nomination upon its Broadway transfer.[5][6] On screen, Soller has portrayed complex characters such as the ambitious bureaucrat Syril Karn in the Disney+ series Andor (2022–2025), earning praise for his depiction of obsessive loyalty within the Star Wars universe.[7] He also played the tragic Francis Poldark in the BBC period drama Poldark (2015–2018), contributing to the series' exploration of family and class tensions in 18th-century Cornwall.[2] Other significant television credits include his portrayal of DI Alfred Hillinghead in the Netflix series Bodies (2023).[8] In film, Soller debuted prominently as Korsunsky in Joe Wright's adaptation of Anna Karenina (2012) and has since appeared in supporting roles such as Dr. Elliot Blake in the sci-fi thriller The Titan (2018).[1] More recently, he starred as Jack in Alice Birch's play Romans: A Novel at the Almeida Theatre in 2025, addressing themes of masculinity and generational trauma.[9] Soller's transatlantic career highlights his ability to embody introspective, often tormented figures, blending American roots with a distinctive British stage presence.[10]Early life and education
Early life
Kyle Soller was born on July 1, 1983, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.[11] He spent his early childhood there until around age five, after which his family relocated to Alexandria, Virginia, where he was raised.[12] As the middle child in a family of five boys, Soller grew up in an active household that emphasized outdoor activities and brotherhood.[13] His father worked as a pharmacology lecturer, and his mother was a former concert pianist.[14] The family environment, particularly the influence of his mother—a former concert pianist—fostered Soller's artistic inclinations from a young age.[15] Soller developed an early interest in acting, starting with musicals around age eight or nine, when his mother enrolled him in productions such as playing Jack in Jack and Jill.[12] Performing in community theater became a natural outlet for him, helping him stand out and gain attention in his large family.[13]Education
Soller began his undergraduate studies at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he pursued a degree in art history.[16] During his time there, he developed a growing interest in acting, participating in a summer course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London between his second and third years.[13] This experience proved transformative, leading him to drop out of William & Mary in his third year to pursue formal acting training full-time.[17][18] In 2006, Soller relocated to London to enroll at RADA, one of the world's leading drama schools, known for its rigorous classical training program.[17] He completed the three-year BA in Acting degree, graduating in 2008.[19] At RADA, Soller immersed himself in the institution's emphasis on historical and classical theater, which aligned with his aspirations for stage work.[17] During his training, he refined his British accent, a skill essential for authentic performances in British roles, through intensive voice and dialect coaching.[20] Soller's time at RADA also included key personal and professional milestones. In his third year, he met fellow student Phoebe Fox, beginning a significant relationship that would later lead to marriage.[21] He participated in student productions, such as Frank McGuinness's Dolly West's Kitchen, which provided early opportunities to apply his training on stage.[13] These experiences at RADA solidified his commitment to acting and prepared him for a professional career in theater.[17]Career
Theatre
Soller's theatre career began with notable roles after graduating from RADA, including Khlestakov in The Government Inspector and Tom in The Glass Menagerie at the Young Vic, and Roger in The Faith Machine at the Royal Court Theatre. He received the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Outstanding Newcomer in 2011 for these performances.[22] His breakthrough came with the role of Eric Glass in Matthew Lopez's The Inheritance (2018–2019) at the Young Vic and Noël Coward Theatre. In 2019, he won the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor for this role.[23] That same year, Soller earned the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play for The Inheritance.[24] In 2025, Soller starred as Jack in Alice Birch's Romans: A Novel at the National Theatre, exploring themes of masculinity and generational trauma.[9]Film and television
Soller debuted in film as Korsunsky in Anna Karenina (2012) and later led the sci-fi thriller The Titan (2018). His television roles include the tragic Francis Poldark in Poldark (2015–2018), Roger Ailes in The Offer (2022), and supporting roles in The Last Duel (2021).[1] Soller's portrayal of Syril Karn in the Disney+ series Andor (2022–2025) contributed to the show's critical acclaim, including a 2023 Peabody Award for the series featuring the ensemble cast with Soller alongside Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, and others.[25] In 2025, for the second season of Andor, Soller was submitted by Disney+ for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, though he was not nominated; the series secured 14 nominations overall, including Outstanding Drama Series.[26][27] His performance as Detective Inspector Alfred Hillinghead in the Netflix miniseries Bodies (2023) helped the production earn a nomination for the BAFTA Television Craft Award in Emerging Talent: Fiction (for director Haolu Wang) in 2024, though Soller did not receive an individual acting nomination.[28] No nominations for Screen Actors Guild Awards or Critics' Choice Awards have been reported for Soller's roles in Andor or Bodies as of November 2025.Personal life
Marriage and family
Soller married British actress Phoebe Fox in 2010.[29] The couple first met in 2007 while both were students at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).[21][13] Fox and Soller have maintained a supportive partnership throughout their acting careers, often navigating similar professional paths in theatre and film. In a 2022 interview, Fox described their relationship as having a "twin flame quality," emphasizing mutual encouragement without competition, noting, "We’ve always had this wonderful element of being able to support each other."[29] They have collaborated on stage, including performing together in an excerpt from Kate Vozella's play Burning Falling Rising Monster for the Platform Presents Playwright's Prize in 2020.[30] As of 2025, the couple continues to balance their demanding schedules, with Fox highlighting their shared traditions, such as rewatching The Lord of the Rings trilogy during holidays, as a way to sustain their close bond.[29] They do not have children.[29]Residence and citizenship
Soller holds American citizenship by birth, having been born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on July 1, 1983.[20] He relocated to London in 2005 to pursue training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), from which he graduated in 2008.[20][19][31] Since completing his studies, the American citizen Soller has maintained long-term residency in the United Kingdom.[32] He resides in North London, where he has established a family home.[33] Soller has deeply integrated into London's cultural landscape, viewing the city as his primary base while occasionally traveling to the United States for family visits and professional projects.[13][34] His marriage to British actress Phoebe Fox, whom he met at RADA, has reinforced his personal and professional connections to the UK.[20]Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Anna Karenina | Korsunsky |
| 2013 | The Fifth Estate | Young Staffer [] (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840419/fullcredits) |
| 2014 | The Keeping Room | Henry [] (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3170816/fullcredits) |
| 2014 | Fury | Medic No. 1 [] (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2713180/fullcredits) |
| 2014 | Monsters: Dark Continent | Karl Inkelaar [] (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1935302/fullcredits) |
| 2017 | Marrowbone | Porter [] (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5886440/fullcredits) |
| 2017 | The Trip to Spain | Jonathan [] (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5568384/fullcredits) |
| 2018 | The Titan | Dr. Elliot Blake [] (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6186970/fullcredits) |
Television
Soller's television career began with guest appearances in the mid-2010s, transitioning to more prominent roles in period dramas and limited series.[1]| Year(s) | Title | Role | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | American Odyssey | Rich Alexander | 1 episode |
| 2015 | An Inspector Calls | Gerald Croft | TV film |
| 2015 | You, Me and the Apocalypse | Scotty McNeil | 10 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Poldark | Francis Poldark | 14 episodes |
| 2016 | The Hollow Crown | Clifford | 1 episode (Henry VI: Part II) |
| 2016 | Silent Witness | Marcus Chadwell | 2 episodes (Life Licence) |
| 2017 | Bounty Hunters | Misha | 1 episode |
| 2019 | Brexit: The Uncivil War | Zack Massingham | TV film[35] |
| 2019–2020 | 101 Dalmatian Street | Dante (voice) | 10 episodes |
| 2022–2025 | Andor | Syril Karn | 17 episodes (across 2 seasons) |
| 2023 | Bodies | Alfred Hillinghead | 8 episodes |
| 2025 | Death by Lightning | Robert Todd Lincoln | Miniseries[36] |
| 2026 | Slow Horses | Jim | Season 6 (multiple episodes)[37] |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Glass Menagerie | Jim | Young Vic |
| 2011 | The Government Inspector | Khlestakov | Young Vic |
| 2011 | The Faith Machine | Tim | Royal Court Theatre |
| 2012 | Long Day's Journey into Night | Edmund | Apollo Theatre |
| 2012 | Cyrano de Bergerac | Christian | Roundabout Theatre Company (Broadway) |
| 2017 | Hedda Gabler | George Tesman | National Theatre |
| 2018–2019 | The Inheritance | Eric Glass | Young Vic / Noël Coward Theatre / Ethel Barrymore Theatre |
| 2025 | Romans: A Novel | Jack | National Theatre |