Shaw
Son of Mary Ure and Robert Shaw; actor since 1993.
Ian Shaw (born 18 December 1969) is an English stage and screen actor. He is the son of actress Mary Ure and actor Robert Shaw. After studying American Studies at Sussex University, he trained as an actor at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. His career spans decades of work in theatre, television, and film, establishing him as a versatile performer across the UK entertainment industry.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 18 December 1969
- Birthplace
- London, England
- Occupation
- Actor
- Years active
- 1993–present
- Father
- Robert Shaw
- Mother
- Mary Ure
- Relatives
- Tanya Landman (cousin); Penelope Shaw Sylvester (half-sister)
Lore & Background
Ian Shaw's theatrical roots are deep, beginning with training at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art after his time at Sussex University. On stage, he portrayed Friedrich in War Horse at the National Theatre. His repertory work includes performances at the Royal Exchange Manchester in Widowers' Houses, The Importance of Being Earnest, Nude With Violin, The Philadelphia Story, and The Brothers Karamazov. He also appeared in Much Ado About Nothing in the West End, Three Sisters at Nuffield/Bath, Private Lives and Closer at Birmingham Rep, and The Rivals at Derby Playhouse and Philadelphia Walnut St.
Reader's Guide
Ian Shaw's television debut occurred in 1993 with an episode of Casualty. His filmography includes Century (1993), Moondance (1995), The Boys From County Clare (2003), The Contract (2006), and Johnny English Reborn (2011). He has also appeared in numerous TV series such as EastEnders, Soldier, Soldier, The Bill, The Queen, Sharpe, Ultimate Force, Ghosts, Silent Witness, and Medics. Specific television films include Sharpe's Gold (1995), Blood and Water (1995), Wuthering Heights (1998), and Hiroshima: BBC History of World War II (2005). Jessie Thomson reviewed the London production of The Shark Is Broken in the Evening Standard, noting Shaw "gives what is undoubtedly one of the best theatrical performances of the year," flitting between machismo and vulnerability.
Did You Know?
- He co-authored The Shark Is Broken with Joseph Nixon, playing his father Robert Shaw in the production.
- The play The Shark Is Broken sold out its run at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe before being halted by the pandemic in March 2020.
Elsewhere in Wuthering Waves
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