Rollo Weeks
Rollo Percival Loring Weeks (born 20 March 1987) is a British former child actor and photographer best known for his leading roles in the fantasy films The Little Vampire (2000), where he portrayed the young vampire Rudolph Sackville-Bagg, and The Thief Lord (2006), in which he played Scipio.[1][2] Born in Chichester, West Sussex, Weeks is the youngest son of writer Robin Weeks and his wife Susan (née Wade), and the brother of actresses Honeysuckle Weeks and Perdita Weeks.[3] His acting career began in the late 1990s with his debut in The Little Vampire, a family adventure directed by Uli Edel and based on the novel by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg.[1] He followed this with supporting parts in period dramas such as The Lost Prince (2003), where he appeared as Prince George (older), and Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), alongside Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson.[4] Weeks' final major acting credit came in The Thief Lord, an adaptation of Cornelia Funke's novel directed by Richard Claus, after which he largely retired from on-screen work in his early twenties.[2] Transitioning from acting, Weeks entered the hospitality industry in 2016 as one of the co-founders of Fancy Funkin Chicken, a Southern American-style fried chicken restaurant on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton, London, alongside Nathan Pattie and Lars Larson.[5] The venture, which emphasized herb-and-spice-crusted chicken and craft cocktails, operated until its permanent closure in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] More recently, Weeks has pursued a career in visual arts, working as a photographer and advertising cinematographer based between London and Madrid under the professional name Rollo Wade, with a focus on headshots, portraits, food, and automotive imagery through his studio at Gro London.[7]Early life
Family background
Rollo Percival Loring Weeks was born on 20 March 1987 in Chichester, West Sussex, England.[8] He is the son of Robin Weeks and Susan Weeks.[3] Weeks grew up with two older sisters who also pursued careers in acting: Honeysuckle Weeks, born on 1 August 1979 and best known for her role as Samantha Stewart in the ITV series Foyle's War, and Perdita Weeks, born on 25 December 1985 and recognized for her performances as Mary Boleyn in The Tudors and Anne Hale in Salem.[3][9][10] The siblings shared a close-knit family environment that fostered an interest in the performing arts from an early age.[8] The Weeks family's affinity for film and theater significantly influenced Rollo's entry into acting, providing a supportive professional milieu where creative pursuits were encouraged.[8] This shared background among the siblings contributed to their collective involvement in the entertainment industry during their formative years.[3]Childhood and education
Rollo Weeks was born on 20 March 1987 in Chichester, West Sussex, England, into a creative family that fostered an early appreciation for the performing arts. His parents, Robin and Susan Weeks, had themselves aspired to acting careers but instead channeled their enthusiasm by giving their three children—Honeysuckle, Perdita, and Rollo—unconventional names and enrolling them in the Sylvia Young Theatre School on weekends from a young age. This family environment in Chichester provided Weeks with initial exposure to theatre and film, sparking his interest in acting during his early childhood.[11] Weeks demonstrated an aptitude for performance early on, beginning to act as young as two years old through small appearances and auditions. By age six, he had his first screen role in a Devon Custard television advertisement, marking the start of his professional involvement in the industry. Throughout his upbringing, he balanced these early opportunities with formal education, attending local schools in West Sussex while pursuing training at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, which emphasized drama, dance, and singing.[3][8] As he entered his teens, Weeks transitioned to Stowe School, a boarding institution in Buckinghamshire, where he continued to manage his schooling alongside acting commitments. No formal higher education is documented, but his childhood education was supplemented by practical experience gained from auditions and roles starting in the early 1990s, allowing him to accumulate over a decade in show business by age 13 in 2000. This period laid the foundation for his development as a child performer, honed through a combination of family encouragement and structured theatre training.[3]Acting career
Early roles
Weeks began his acting career at a young age, entering the industry as an 11-year show business veteran by the time he was 13, according to a 2000 profile that highlighted his early immersion in the profession.[12] His first credited role came in the 1993 BBC miniseries Goggle Eyes, where he played Joseph, the young son navigating his parents' divorce amid his mother's relationship with the outspoken Gerald "Goggle-Eyes" Faulkner. This appearance marked the start of his child acting phase, showcasing his ability to handle emotionally complex family dynamics on screen. In the mid-1990s, Weeks continued building his television resume with supporting roles in British productions. He portrayed Damon in the 1995 TV movie It Might Be You, a lighthearted drama centered on a family's lottery fantasies, contributing to his growing familiarity among UK audiences.[13] By 1998, he took on the part of Lord Louis Wilton in the period miniseries Berkeley Square, a romantic drama about three young British nannies employed by wealthy families in Edwardian London, where his aristocratic character added depth to the ensemble. These early television credits, often involving nuanced child perspectives in adult-driven stories, reflected the challenges of child acting, including long hours on set and adapting to veteran co-stars, experiences Weeks later described as formative to his sense of industry savvy at a tender age.[12]Notable performances
Rollo Weeks achieved breakthrough recognition with his portrayal of the titular young vampire Rudolph Sackville-Bagg in the 2000 family fantasy film The Little Vampire, directed by Uli Edel. At age 13, Weeks delivered a charming and energetic performance in this effects-heavy production, which blended humor and mild scares to appeal to young audiences.[12][14] In the 2003 BBC miniseries The Lost Prince, directed by Stephen Poliakoff, Weeks played the older Prince George, Duke of Kent, in a poignant historical drama exploring the British royal family's efforts to conceal the epileptic and autistic Prince John from public view. His role contributed to the ensemble's strong reception, with critics commending the series for its sensitive depiction of historical figures and emotional depth in portraying royal vulnerabilities.[15][16] Weeks took a prominent supporting role as the enigmatic Scipio Massimo, known as the Thief Lord, in the 2006 British-German adaptation of Cornelia Funke's novel The Thief Lord, directed by Richard Claus. As the charismatic leader of a group of orphaned children in Venice, Weeks brought mystery and allure to the fantasy adventure, helping to elevate the film's international profile despite mixed reviews for its pacing.[17][18] These performances in fantasy and historical projects marked Weeks' career peak during the mid-2000s, showcasing his versatility in embodying youthful, adventurous, and period-specific characters amid a string of notable credits including Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) as Frans, the son of the family, and Attila (2001) as young Attila. Roles became scarcer thereafter, with his final major appearance in the 2012 short film Booked Out.[2]Post-acting career
Hospitality ventures
Following the slowdown in his acting roles after 2011, Rollo Weeks transitioned to the hospitality sector in the early 2010s, gaining experience as the Parlour Bar Manager at the upscale Mayfair venue Sketch.[19] By 2016, Weeks had established himself as a hospitality professional, co-founding the fast-casual fried chicken restaurant Fancy Funkin Chicken alongside Nathan Pattie, co-founder of the Covent Garden bar Pix, and Lars Larson, formerly of the Cuckoo Club.[20] The trio was described in contemporary reports as a "dynamic group of young hospitality industry insiders" innovating within London's vibrant food scene.[21] Fancy Funkin Chicken launched on September 27, 2016, at 441 Coldharbour Lane in Brixton, occupying the former site of the Phoenix Cafe.[5] The concept emphasized urban, fast-casual dining with ethically sourced free-range chicken prepared using a Southern American-inspired recipe, featuring herbed and spiced coatings for items like burgers, wings, and tenders.[22] The menu also included sides such as chili cheese fries and tater tots, paired with craft beers, cocktails, and a late-night vibe enhanced by DJ sets playing jazz and funk on Thursdays through Sundays.[22] A soft launch offered 25% discounts on food until September 29, 2016, to build early buzz.[5] Initial reception highlighted the restaurant's quality and appeal as a neighborhood spot, with reviewers praising the flavorful, tender chicken—such as the spicy Funkin Hot Burger and tangy wings—for delivering elevated comfort food without pretension.[23] Operations focused on 2016-2017 emphasized community integration in Brixton, though the original site later faced challenges, closing in 2018 before the brand relocated within the nearby Market House complex.[24]Photography and cinematography
Following his acting career and a brief foray into hospitality, Rollo Weeks transitioned into visual arts in the late 2010s, adopting the professional name Rollo Wade for his photography and cinematography endeavors. Based between London and Madrid, Wade established himself as a freelance photographer specializing in portraits, headshots, food, and automotive imagery, with a portfolio accessible via his dedicated website.[7][25] This shift marked a creative evolution, leveraging his prior on-set experience to inform his visual storytelling. As of 2025, Wade's work encompasses freelance projects in advertising, including cinematography for commercials through his role as Creative Director at GRO Studio, a London-based production company focused on photography and video content for corporate and promotional purposes.[26][27] His Instagram profile highlights ongoing film and photography output, such as a 2023 shoot for Ochre London in collaboration with Beach Studio, blending personal artistic pursuits with commercial assignments.[28] Wade maintains a personal photography portfolio that showcases diverse shoots, from environmental portraits to product-focused visuals, often shared via social media.[29] Wade's low-profile status limits detailed public documentation of his projects, though recent profiles confirm his active involvement in these creative fields since the post-2020 period.[30] No major exhibitions are noted, but his contributions emphasize practical, client-driven cinematography and photography tailored to advertising needs.Filmography
Film roles
Rollo Weeks appeared in several feature films throughout his acting career, often portraying young characters in period dramas, fantasies, and comedies.| Film | Year | Role | Director | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Little Vampire | 2000 | Rudolph Sackville-Bagg | Ulrich Edel | Portrayed the young vampire Rudolph, a mischievous immortal boy who befriends a human child in this family-oriented fantasy adventure about friendship and acceptance.[31] |
| Girl with a Pearl Earring | 2003 | Frans | Peter Webber | Played Frans, Griet's brother, in this historical drama depicting the life of painter Johannes Vermeer and his inspiration from a housemaid.[32] |
| George and the Dragon | 2004 | Wryn | Tom Reeve | Depicted Wryn, a young villager caught in a quest involving a legendary dragon and a knight's search for a princess, in this medieval fantasy action film.[33] |
| The Queen of Sheba's Pearls | 2004 | Jack Bradley | Colin Nutley | Starred as Jack, a teenager encountering a mysterious woman resembling his late mother during World War II, in this poignant drama about loss and family secrets.[34] |
| The Thief Lord | 2006 | Scipio | Richard Claus | Portrayed Scipio, the enigmatic leader of a gang of orphaned children in Venice, in this adaptation of Cornelia Funke's novel about adventure and magical wishes.[17] |
| Chéri | 2009 | Guido | Stephen Frears | Appeared as Guido, a young acquaintance in the social circle, in this period romance exploring an affair between an aging courtesan and a young man in Belle Époque France.[35] |
| Mr. Nice | 2010 | Eton Boy | Bernard Rose | Played an Eton schoolboy in this biographical comedy-drama based on the life of drug smuggler Howard Marks, highlighting his early years and eccentricities. |
| Booked Out | 2012 | Jacob | Bryan O'Neil | Portrayed Jacob, a resident in an aging apartment block, in this independent comedy-drama following the quirky lives and interactions of its inhabitants.[36] |