John Hopkins

John Hopkins hails from Luton and pursued an English degree at the University of Leeds from 1993 to 1996. During his undergraduate years, he became an active member of the university's drama group, where he showcased his talent in various productions, earning the prestigious "Sunday Times" student-actor award for his standout role in "A Short Play About Sex and Death." This recognition paved the way for his acceptance into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), where he graduated in 2000. Shortly thereafter, he joined the esteemed Royal Shakespeare Company, making his debut in a repertory season from 2001 to 2002.

John's striking appearance led to television opportunities, and he secured minor roles in productions like "Love in a Cold Climate" and "Trial and Retribution 7." However, he became widely recognized for his portrayal of Sergeant Scott in the popular British mystery series, Midsomer Murders (1997), a role he held until the end of the 2004-2005 season. Following this, he returned to the Royal Shakespeare Company for the 2006-2007 season, where he performed alongside Patrick Stewart as Caesar in 'Antony and Cleopatra.'

His recent stage highlights include playing Richard Hannay in Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of 'The 39 Steps,' Richard I in 'Holy Warriors' at Shakespeare’s Globe, and Benedick in 'Much Ado About Nothing,' a performance praised by The Guardian. On television, he took on a villainous role in 'Stan Lee's Lucky Man' and portrayed Sir Francis Basset in the BBC drama 'Poldark.' In 2020, The Times (London) recognized him as one of the "10 of the best British actors on stage now."