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Tom Austen

Tom Austen (born 15 September 1988) is an English actor best known for his television roles as the bodyguard Jasper Frost in the E! drama series The Royals (2015–2018) and as the vicar Guy Hopkins in the ITV mystery series Grantchester (2014). Born Thomas Michael Carter in Taunton, Somerset, Austen was raised in the area by his parents and attended Queen's College, Taunton, for his early education. He later trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating directly into professional theatre work, including roles as Alexandros in Onassis in the West End and Billy in The Real Thing at the Old Vic. His early screen career featured small parts in the Channel 4 series Shameless (2010) and Misfits (2009), before gaining wider recognition with a supporting role in the Anglo-French miniseries Jo (2013). Austen's breakthrough came with , where he appeared as the idealistic curate Guy Hopkins across multiple episodes, marking his first major recurring television role. This was followed by his prominent portrayal of the ambitious and duplicitous Jasper Frost in The Royals, a role he played for four seasons and which established him as a leading figure in contemporary television drama. Subsequent credits include guest appearances in (2015) as Josh Cross and (2019) as Cody, as well as the lead role of Helstrom, a demon-hunting , in the Comics-based series Helstrom (2020). More recently, he has starred as Elijah in the Western series (2023) and appeared in the films Rematch (2024) and (2024), as well as playing Jasper in the theatre production of (2025). Austen's work spans genres from period mystery and soap opera-style drama to action and international co-productions, showcasing his versatility in both and American television.

Early life and education

Early years

Tom Austen, born Thomas Michael Carter on 15 September 1988 in , , was raised in , , within a family that frequently relocated due to his father's service in the army. The family lived in various locations, including and the . Austen has a younger brother, , who is also an , best known for portraying Kaz Brekker in the series . From a young age, Austen harbored an interest in , which was nurtured and encouraged during his school years through participation in dramatic activities. Prior to turning 18, he had no professional acting experience, focusing instead on personal development and academic pursuits. This foundational period laid the groundwork for his later transition to formal acting training at the School of Music and Drama in 2006.

Formal training

Austen attended Queen's College in , where his interest in acting was encouraged through involvement in school activities and productions. This environment helped nurture his early passion for performance, building a foundation before pursuing formal studies. In 2006, Austen enrolled in the two-year acting course at the in , a prestigious institution known for its rigorous training in dramatic arts. The program provided intensive instruction in acting methodologies, voice, movement, and textual analysis, equipping him with essential skills for professional performance. Austen graduated from in 2008, marking the completion of his formal training. Following graduation, he aspired to establish a career in both theater and television, seeking opportunities that would allow him to apply his honed techniques in diverse mediums.

Professional career

Early roles

Austen's professional acting career began shortly after his graduation from the School of Music and Drama, with his debut in a small role as the rent boy Anto in the 2010 episode "Gang Wars" of the series .(https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3781701/)(https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tom_austen) This guest appearance marked his first credited television part, portraying a minor character in the long-running British comedy-drama.(https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1171128-tom-austen) Following this, Austen secured another brief role as Pete, a troubled student, in the 2012 episode "Episode #4.4" of E4's superhero series .(https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2167844/) In this single-episode appearance, his character was involved in a dramatic confrontation that ended fatally, highlighting the show's blend of and elements.(https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3781701/) He also appeared as Raffaello Pallavicini, Lucrezia Borgia's lover, in four episodes of the Showtime (2012).(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Austen) These early television gigs were limited in scope, reflecting the initial stages of establishing himself in the competitive landscape of British broadcasting.(https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2012/07/23/beaver-falls-tom-austen/) Austen's next notable supporting role came in 2012 as Mac, an all-American jock, in the second season of E4's comedy-drama Beaver Falls.(https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2012/07/23/beaver-falls-tom-austen/) Introduced as a new character in the , Mac navigated the chaotic setting alongside the series' established protagonists, contributing to the show's exploration of relationships and rivalries.(https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/9826088.ex-taunton-student-tom-austen-has-the-world-at-his-feet/) This multi-episode part represented a step up from one-off guest spots, though it remained within the realm of ensemble television.(https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tom_austen) By 2013, Austen continued to build his resume with additional guest appearances, including the role of Martin in the sitcom , where he featured in a single episode depicting the lives of young Irish expatriates in .(https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/tom-austen/credits/3030104880/) That same year, he portrayed , a young associate, in the series episode "," contributing to the detective's investigation of a complex murder case.(https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/tom-austen/credits/3030104880/) These roles in the early underscored his presence in British television, primarily through supporting and guest capacities amid the challenges of securing steady employment in a saturated industry.(https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2012/07/23/beaver-falls-tom-austen/)

Breakthrough and major works

Austen's came in with a main role as the young Marc Bayard in the Anglo-French series Jo, marking his first prominent international television appearance and earning him recognition for his portrayal of a determined young investigator navigating complex cases across .(https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3781701/bio/) This opportunity built on his earlier minor television roles in British series such as Shameless and Misfits, propelling him toward more substantial parts in ensemble dramas. In 2014, Austen joined the / series as Guy Hopkins, the husband of Sidney Chambers' love interest Amanda Kendall, initially appearing as a guest before evolving into a series regular across 11 episodes through 2017; his character's arc explored themes of marital strain and social expectations in post-war , contributing to the show's positive critical reception for its blend of mystery and character-driven storytelling.(https://tv.apple.com/us/person/tom-austen/umc.cpc.18gl2wktov1e0mycd4hlmvadn) The series, praised for its atmospheric depiction of 1950s , received nominations including a Broadcasting Press Guild Award, with Austen's performance adding depth to the ensemble's interpersonal dynamics.(https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3747572/awards/) Austen's international profile rose further with his starring role as Jasper Frost, the cunning and romantic interest to Princess Eleanor, in the E! drama from 2015 to 2018 across four seasons; as a central figure in the soapy intrigue of a fictional British , his character navigated loyalty, ambition, and forbidden romance, helping the series attract a dedicated audience despite mixed reviews that critiqued its melodramatic tone while noting its addictive escapism.(https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-royals/) That same year, he took a supporting role as Josh Cross, a suspect's conflicted son, in the acclaimed cold-case drama , appearing in all six episodes of its first season and showcasing his ability to convey quiet emotional turmoil amid investigative tension. Austen expanded into American productions with the lead role of Daimon Helstrom, a professor grappling with demonic possession and fractured family ties, in Hulu's supernatural thriller Helstrom in 2020; the series delved into -tinged , highlighting his versatility in work following his dramatic roots.(https://screenrant.com/helstrom-show-tom-austen-sydney-lemmon-interview/) This transition underscored his shift toward U.S.-based projects and diverse genres, from royal intrigue to . In 2023, Austen starred as the Turner in the Western series , a 10-episode international co-production loosely inspired by the 1966 film of the same name.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Django_(TV_series)) In 2024, Austen made his directing and writing debut with the , a tense starring as a mother celebrating her son's 18th birthday in a remote cabin, where unspoken family secrets unravel; produced by Film, it premiered to attention for its intimate exploration of maternal bonds and hidden trauma.(https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31107091/)

Filmography

Film

Austen's entry into feature films began with the action-adventure Legendary: Tomb of the Dragon (2013), where he portrayed Scott, a member of a team hunting a mythical creature in rural ; this British-Chinese co-production marked his cinematic debut. In 2014, he appeared as Guy the Squire in Ironclad: Battle for Blood, a sequel to the 2011 film Ironclad, depicting a band's defense against marauders in 13th-century ; the production was a UK-Serbian collaboration filmed partly in . Austen took on the role of Taras in Bitter Harvest (2017), a Canadian-Ukrainian co-production chronicling the famine in Soviet during the 1930s; the film premiered at the 2017 and was the first English-language feature to address this historical event in depth. His next film credit is the short thriller No. 89 (2019), in which he played John, a man navigating a series of breakups in a comedic yet tense narrative; directed and written by , it was an independent production exploring themes of heartbreak and closure. Austen portrayed Abu Talha in (2024), a Danish about a father's into war-torn to find his son.

Television

Austen's television career began with a prominent role in the Anglo-French miniseries (2013), where he portrayed the enthusiastic young Police Lieutenant Marc Bayard, assisting lead detective Jo Saint-Clair in solving complex murder cases tied to iconic landmarks across 8 episodes on TF1. In (2014–2017), an period drama, Austen appeared as Guy Hopkins, the charming but conflicted husband of Amanda Kendall, whose arc involves navigating marital tensions and social expectations in 1920s rural over 11 episodes in seasons 1–3; his character's storyline intersects with the central Sidney Chambers, highlighting themes of love and duty. Austen gained wider international recognition as Jasper Frost in the E! The Royals (2015–2018), playing the loyal bodyguard to Princess Eleanor who evolves from outsider to integral family member amid royal intrigue and romance, featuring in all 40 episodes as a main cast member. He starred in the ITV miniseries Unforgotten (2015) as Josh Cross, one of the suspects in a cold case investigation, appearing in all 6 episodes of season 1 and contributing to the unfolding mystery of a decades-old murder. Austen appeared as Cody in The Bold Type (2019), guest-starring in 3 episodes of the Freeform drama series. In the Marvel series Helstrom (2020) on Hulu, Austen led as Daimon Helstrom, a psychology professor and exorcist grappling with his demonic heritage and estranged sibling, whose arc explores supernatural possession and family reconciliation across the 10-episode first season. Austen took a supporting role as Elijah Turner, a cunning entangled in conflicts, in the Italian-Western series (2023) on and Canal+, appearing in 4 of the 10 episodes. More recently, he portrayed Paul Nelson, a key figure in the chess world thriller, in the 6-episode Rematch (2024), which dramatizes the historic Kasparov-Deep Blue matches and streams on platforms including Disney+ and Prime Video.

Video games

Tom Austen provided the voice for Robin, also known as , in the 2016 virtual reality video game Batman: Arkham VR, developed by as a in the acclaimed Batman: Arkham series. Set in the weeks leading up to the events of Batman: Arkham Knight, the game places players in the role of Batman investigating a , with Robin serving as a key ally offering remote support through communications and providing essential gadgets and intel during the immersive sequences. Austen's performance contributed to the narrative's tension, particularly in scenes involving the duo's collaboration against threats like the and , enhancing the series' continuity by featuring returning voice talents such as as Batman and as the . This role marked Austen's entry into video game voice acting, diversifying his portfolio beyond television appearances like The Royals. No other credited roles for Austen have been documented.

References

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