Elliot Aidan Cowan (born 9 July 1976) is a British film and television actor, known for portraying Corporal Jem Poynton in Ultimate Force, Mr Darcy in Lost in Austen, and Ptolemy in the 2004 film Alexander. He also starred as Lorenzo de' Medici in Da Vinci's Demons and Daron-Vex in Krypton. Cowan recently played King Henry VII in Starz's The Spanish Princess and featured in the Hulu miniseries Black Cake.
Early life and education Born in London, Cowan was brought up in Colchester, Essex. He is the son of a consultant physician and a charity worker, and has a younger brother and sister.
Cowan boarded at Uppingham School in Rutland. He later obtained a first class degree in drama at the University of Birmingham, before attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, from which he graduated in July 2001. From 1994 to 1996, Cowan was a member of the National Youth Music Theatre. He plays guitar and cello, and has worked with the London Sinfonia.
Career Cowan's television credits include Judge John Deed, Ultimate Force, Jonathan Creek, Poirot, Foyle's War, The Ruby in the Smoke, Lost in Austen and the television movie The Project.
Cowan has appeared in the films The Golden Compass, Happy-Go-Lucky, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, Love and Other Disasters, and Howl. His theatre work includes productions of The Revenger's Tragedy, Women Beware Women, Henry V, The Seagull and Camille.
He played Stanley Kowalski in the 2009 revival of A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar Warehouse, and was a lead in Les Blancs at the National Theatre in 2016.
He played Macbeth at the Globe Theatre from 23 April- 27 June 2010 alongside Laura Rogers as Lady Macbeth.
He starred as Lord Goring in An Ideal Husband at the Vaudeville Theatre in London's West End from 4 November 2010 to 19 February 2011.London Theatre Direct. Retrieved on 2011-08-27.
As of 2010, he voiced Alec Trevelyan in Goldeneye 007 for the Wii console, also providing his likeness.
Personal life He lives in Dalston, London. On 7 August 2011, Elliot swam the long Lake Zurich Swim race, to raise funds for the Neonatal Unit at Guy's and St. Thomas's in memory of Alfie Blacksell.
Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 2004 Alexander Ptolemy 2006 Love and Other Disasters James Wildstone 2007 The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey James McDowell The Golden Compass Commanding Officer 2008 Happy-Go-Lucky Bookshop Assistant 2010 Max Schmeling Alan Walken2011 Gee Gee Gee Gee Short film The Door Edward Arlington Short film 2012 Leyman's Curse Hunter Short film 2013 Hammer of the Gods Hakan 2014 The Protagonist Alexander Croxford Short film2015 Howl Adrian Narcopolis Frank Grieves The Maltese Fighter Opponent Boxer Short film We Are Happy Paul Short film 2016 Angel of Decay Bob2017 Butterfly Kisses Billy Muse Samuel Solomon Spitball Timothy Short film2018 All the Devil's Men Terry McKnight Sydney Stefan Short film 2019 The Battle of San Pietro John Huston Short film 2025 The Conjuring: Last Rites Jack Smurl 2028 Tangled King Frederic Upcoming film
Television Year Show Role Notes2001 Judge John Deed Glen Burroughs Episode: "Duty of Care" Jonathan Creek Tom Episode: "Satan's Chimney"2002 The Project Gavin TV film Foyle's War Peter Buckingham Episode: "A Lesson in Murder" Real Crime Bakery Worker Episode: "Cracking the Killer's Code" 2002–2003 Ultimate Force Corporal Jem Poynton 8 episodes 2003 Spine Chillers Dean Episode: "Goths" 2004 Dirty Filthy Love Gareth TV film 2005 Egypt Champollion 2 episodes: "The Mystery of the Rosetta Stone"and "The Secrets of the Hieroglyphs"2006 Agatha Christie's Poirot David Hunter Episode: "Taken at the Flood" miscredited as Elliot Lowan The Ruby in the Smoke Hendrick Van Eeden TV film 2007 The Mark of Cain Captain Worriss TV film2008 Lost in Austen Mr. Darcy 4 episodes In Love with Barbara Alexander "Sacchie" McCorquodale TV film2009 The Fixer Matthew Symmonds 6 episodes Agatha Christie's Marple Wally Hudd Episode: "They Do It with Mirrors" 2011 Marchlands Mark Ashburn 5 episodes 2012 Sinbad Gunnar 12 episodes Doors Open Bruce Cameron TV film2013 Luther Tom Marwood 2 episodes Ambassadors Stephen Pembridge Episode: "The Rabbit Never Escapes" 2013–2015 Da Vinci's Demons Lorenzo de' Medici 25 episodes 2014 Cilla George Martin 2 episodes2015 The Frankenstein Chronicles Sir Bentley Warburton 6 episodes Life in Squares Roger Fry 2 episodes Serial Thriller Bob 3 episodes Critical Tom Farrow Episode #1.5 2016 Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands Abrican 13 episodes 2018 Innocent Tom Wilson 4 episodes 2018–2019 Krypton Daron-Vex 10 episodes2019 The Spanish Princess Henry VII, King of England 8 episodes Peaky Blinders Michael Levitt Episode: "Black Tuesday" 2020 Death in Paradise Aaron McCormack Episode: "La Murder Le Diablé" 2021 Foundation Director Lewis Pirenne 8 episodes 2022 The Crown Norton Knatchbull 2 episodes2023 Black Cake Steve 4 episodes Fifteen-Love Adam Jaffe 4 episodes 2024 The Jetty Russell Knightly 2 episodes 2025 King & Conqueror Sweyn2026GoneStephen Sedgwick
Videogames Year Game Role Notes2009Dragon Age: Origins Ser Perth Ser Varal Lothering Templar 2010 GoldenEye 007 Alec Trevelyan Voice role 2011 Star Wars: The Old Republic Additional voices 2017 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III Autarch Kyre / Orks (voice) 2020 Assassin's Creed Valhalla Vili Voice role2021 Necromunda: Hired Gun Various voices Bravely Default II Bernard
Theatre Year Show Role Theatre Other notes 2008 Frost/Nixon Jim Reston Donmar Warehouse 2009A Streetcar Named DesireStanley KowalskiDonmar Warehouse 2019 A Doll's House Tom Lyric Hammersmith 2021 2:22 A Ghost Story Sam Gielgud Theatre 2023 A Little Life Brother Luke / Dr. Traylor / Caleb Harold Pinter Theatre
References
External links
Official ITV 'Lost in Austen' website Swim for Alfie Zurich for Alfie 2011 Lake Zurich Swim – Guy's and St. Thomas's Neonatal – Alfie Blacksell