Tommy Jessop

Tommy is a multi award-winning actor
who loves getting into character.

testimonial 4

Jessop handles the intense close-ups and close-quarter sequences with ease whilst mounting an increasing intensity to his physical performance …resulting in a captivating atmosphere which is impossible to escape.’

UK Film Review

testimonail 3

‘Jessop’s performance broke your heart’

Jaci Stephen, Mail On Sunday

testimonail 2

‘The lifeblood of the film… his performance is considered, layered’

Comic Fade

testimonails

I found Jessop absolutely riveting, utterly charming, a remarkable performance’Saturday

Review BBC Radio 4

showreel

Home

Tommy Jessop

actor with down syndrome and so much more

Tommy is a multi award-winning actor who loves getting into character.

Tommy is currently appearing in BBC1’s LINE OF DUTY, ‘great performance… moving and unnerving‘ (Chris Bennion, Daily Telegraph).

Tommy has played the lead in award-winning short films, cameo roles in feature films, and significant roles on television and radio and on stage.

Tommy is ‘really honoured to have been selected for the prestigious BAFTA ELEVATE programme.’

Tommy was the first professional actor with Down’s syndrome to play a leading role in a primetime TV drama, BBC1’s BAFTA nominated COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN and the first to play HAMLET (touring theatre).

Television roles also include LINE OF DUTY, CASUALTY, HOLBY CITY, MONROE, and DOCTORS. In short films his roles include playing a boxer, a thief and a fisherman He is hungry to portray more roles with a range of emotions including comedy.

Tommy is ‘spectacularly charismatic…a very skilful actor…. makes a tremendous impact on screen‘ – Julie Anne Robinson Director

Please click here to see Tommy’s showreel

Click through to a video From the Emmy-nominated documentary Growing Up Downs

more about tommy Jessop

Awards

Tommy has won several BEST ACTOR AWARDS for FIGHTER and DOWN & OUT, received an HONOURABLE MENTION for his acting talent from the European Film Festival Koszalin, Poland for INNOCENCE. Fighter won BEST FILM at Film London and was SHORT OF THE WEEK at the BFI London Film Festival.

These short films, in which Tommy plays lead roles, have been shown in festivals in the UK, Europe, and the US and won significant awards.

News

Coming Soon on BBC One and iplayer

Coming Soon on BBC One and iplayer

7th August, 2023

“Tommy Jessop Goes to Hollywood” co-created and filmed by Tommy with his brother, Will Jessop WICKED!.

Out in hardback and audio book

Out in hardback and audio book

6th July, 2023

“Simply wonderful… enchanting..glorious. Tommy Jessop’s talent, warmth, kindness and courage glow from the pages of this enchanting memoir. I can’t recommend it highly enough.” Stephen Fry “Tommy Jessop makes the world a better place. Everyone needs to hear his voice” Mark Haddon

The best night in my entire acting lifetime.

The best night in my entire acting lifetime.

11th September, 2021

Line of Duty WINNER National Television Awards Best Returning Drama. Sometimes dancing speaks louder than words, especially if you are at the O2 in front of a huge audience and your dream comes true. https://youtu.be/lpT1NLP1RjM Thank you National Television Awards and all the brilliant cast and crew of Line Of Duty and everyone who voted. […]

Doctor Tommy!

25th August, 2021

It truly was an honour and a proud moment in my career so far to become Doctor of Arts (honoris causa). Thank you University of Winchester.

Line of Duty – It’s good to be back!

Line of Duty – It’s good to be back!

24th March, 2021

Thanks Jed Mercurio for a great role in Line of Duty series 6. I like making viewers feel their emotions in the infamous interview scenes. The dramatic scenes are exciting like being in a James Bond movie. It was wicked filming with Vicky McClure, Kelly Macdonald, Gregory Piper. Perry Fitzpatrick and the whole cast & crew were amazing.

We performed Hamlet to over 3,000 people in all.

We performed Hamlet to over 3,000 people in all.

4th March, 2021

Just back from hunting with the Bushmen in Namibia.

Just back from hunting with the Bushmen in Namibia.

They use poison arrows.
It was a brilliant adventure, although we didn’t catch anything!

‘We are such stuff as dreams are made of’

‘We are such stuff as dreams are made of’

Great line!
Performing at Theatre Royal Winchester
I had to grow my hair long as Prospero has lived for many years on a desert island.

Honoured to be selected as a member of BAFTA ELEVATE 2020-21

Honoured to be selected as a member of BAFTA ELEVATE 2020-21

I’ve met many brilliant directors, writers, producers and casting directors through BAFTA Elevate and learnt so much.

Now I’m a full voting member of BAFTA so I’m watching lots of films.

Now I’m a full voting member of BAFTA so I’m watching lots of films.

Thank you BAFTA.

Talking about our film Innocence with Mariella Frostrup on Times Radio

Talking about our film Innocence with Mariella Frostrup on Times Radio

I do like playing someone with powerful emotions. My character takes control, he thinks things out, plans carefully……

Speaking at the Stockholm Internationel Komedi Film Festival.

Speaking at the Stockholm Internationel Komedi Film Festival.

It was brilliant being on a panel with Sally Phillips and meeting these people, Jennifer Saunders, Beattie Edmonson and Nisti Sterk.

It was brilliant meeting this great director, Martin Scorsese, after his David Lean lecture at Covent Garden.

It was brilliant meeting this great director, Martin Scorsese, after his David Lean lecture at Covent Garden.

Thank you BAFTA ELEVATE.

Innocence has been accepted for 23 Film Festivals and won 7 awards.

Innocence has been accepted for 23 Film Festivals and won 7 awards.

25th January, 2021

Here Ben Reid (Director) and I are discussing Down syndrome representation in film. Here is some of what I said: “Acting truly is a great passion in my life.