George Rainsford (born 31 July 1982) is a British actor, best known as Jimmy Wilson in Call the Midwife (2012–2013) and Ethan Hardy in Casualty (2014–2023), receiving a nomination for Best Actor at the 2017 TV Choice Awards.
Early life Rainsford was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. He attended Repton School in Repton, Derbyshire, where he became interested in drama. Whilst reading for a Bachelor of Arts in drama at the University of Manchester, he was involved with the student theatre. He joined the National Youth Theatre in June 2003 and won a Goldman Sachs scholarship to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After graduating in 2006, he appeared in The Three Musketeers as D'Artagnan at Bristol Old Vic.
Career He appeared in the first two series of the medical drama Call The Midwife, as Jimmy Wilson.
In September 2013, it was announced that Rainsford would join the main cast of Casualty as Dr Ethan Hardy. He took part in an audition in London and a screen test in Cardiff with Richard Winsor.
In November 2022, it was confirmed in a Metro Soaps interview with Casualty executive producer, Jon Sen, that Rainsford had exited his role as Ethan Hardy after nine years on the series, however, the door would be left open for Rainsford to return in the future, with Sen confirming that it would not be a permanent exit for Rainsford.
Personal life In November 2009, Rainsford was treated at Salisbury District Hospital for a gashed fist and damaged tendon after accidentally punching Luke Norris during a stage fight in the Royal Shakespeare Company production Days of Significance.
In the summer of 2014, Rainsford took three episodes of Casualty off due to paternity leave. His last episode of 2014 was aired on 29 November, and he returned at the start of 2015. The couple live in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2007 Panorama Private Lee 2008 Doctors JJ Bell 10 episodes 2008–2009, 2011 Waking the Dead Luke Boyd 13 episodes2009 National Theatre Live Bertram Wild Target Waiter Film2011 Secret Diary of a Call Girl Tim 2 episodes Law & Order: UK Jimmy Burton 2012 Casualty Alexander Forbes-Blackwell 2012–2013 Call the Midwife Jimmy Wilson 7 episodes 2014 Waiting for Dawn Private James Williams 2014–2023, 2026 Casualty Ethan Hardy Series regular, Guest appearance 40th Anniversary specials 2016, 2018, 2021 Holby City Ethan Hardy 4 episodes2025Bank of Dave 2: The Loan RangerMilesFilm
Video games Year Title Voice role 2015 Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below Luceus
Stage Production Role Director Company The 24 Hour Plays Duncan Lucy Kerbel The Old Vic The Three Musketeers D'Artagnan Timothy Sheader Bristol Old Vic Men without Shadows Francois Mitchell Moreno Finborough Theatre Chatroom / Citizenship William / Gary Anna Mackmin Royal National Theatre & Tour Polar Bear Stuart Matt Wilde Birmingham Repertory Theatre Miles to Go Rob Polly Findlay Latitude Festival All's Well That Ends Well Bertram Marianne Elliott Royal National Theatre Days of Significance Jamie Maria Aberg Royal Shakespeare Company Tour The Man Ben Kate Wasserberg Finborough Theatre Roald Dahl’s Twisted Tales Various Polly Findlay Lyric Hammersmith Love Love Love Jamie James Grieve Royal Court Theatre Peter James' Wish You Were Dead Roy Grace Jonathan O'Boyle UK Tour 2:22 A Ghost Story Sam Matthew Dunster & Isabel Marr UK Tour Peter James' Picture You Were Dead Roy Grace Jonathan O'Boyle UK Tour Dear England Mike Webster Rupert Goold & Connie Teves Royal National Theatre on Tour
References
External links
George Rainsford on Bertram