THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING (2019) About The Cast

ABOUT THE CAST

LOUIS ASHBOURNE SERKIS (Alex), TOM TAYLOR (Lance), REBECCA FERGUSON (Morgana), PATRICK STEWART (Adult Merlin), DEAN CHAUMOO (Bedders), RHIANNA DORRIS (Kaye), ANGUS IMRIE (Young Merlin), and DENISE GOUGH (Mary).

LOUIS ASHBOURNE SERKIS (Alex) – In addition to THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING, Louis’ most recent roles include the voice of Peter in Studio Ponoc’s ‘Mary and the Witch’s Flower’ and ‘Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle.’ His other film work includes ‘The Current War’ and ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass,’ in which he played the Young Hatter.

His TV credits include the regular role of Douggie Archer in BBC mini-series ‘SSGB,’ Robert in ‘Taboo,’ created by Tom Hardy, and ‘Endeavour’ for ITV in the UK.

Louis was also the voice of Noddy in the animated TV series ‘Noddy, Toyland Detective’ from 2016-2017.

TOM TAYLOR (Lance) was named a 2016 Screen Star of Tomorrow at just 15 years old.

He was last seen on the big screen as one of the leading roles in the adaptation of Stephen King’s 'The Dark Tower' alongside Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. Tom played an 11-year-old who discovers another dimension beyond our own and befriends a gunslinger played by Elba. 'The Dark Tower' sees the two of them embark on a quest to find the fabled dark tower.

Tom is perhaps best known for the role of Tom Foster in the award-winning psychological drama 'Doctor Foster'. The first season of the BBC One miniseries was nominated as Best Mini-Series at the 2016 BAFTAs, as well as winning a National Television Award in 2016 for New Drama and a TV Choice Award in 2016 for Best New Drama. Tom reprised his role for the second series which aired in 2017.

Tom has previously been seen in 'The Last Kingdom' (2015) alongside Alexander Dreymon as well as TNT’s 'Legends' (2015) developed by Howard Gordon and starring Sean Bean.

Golden Globe®-nominated actress REBECCA FERGUSON (Morgana) first caught the attention of international audiences playing the iconic Queen Elizabeth in the hit BBC/STARZ series 'The White Queen'. The months that followed established her as a one-to-watch actress.

Rebecca was most recently seen reprising her role of Lisa Faust in the latest installment of the ‘Mission Impossible’ series, ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout,’ starring Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Henry Cavill, and Vanessa Kirby.

It was recently announced that Rebecca will star opposite Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson in Sony’s ‘Men in Black’ spinoff. Directed by F. Gary Gray, the cast will also include Liam Neeson, Les Twins, Kumail Nanjiani, Rafe Spall, and Emma Thompson, and the film will begin filming soon. It was also announced she is set to appear in ‘Doctor Sleep,’ the sequel to ‘The Shining.’ She will star alongside Ewan McGregor and the thriller will be directed by Mike Flanagan.

Last year saw Rebecca in ‘The Greatest Showman’ alongside Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Michelle Williams. Directed by Michael Gracey, the story concerns American showman P.T. Barnum, founder of the circus that became the famous travelling Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Rebecca played Swedish soprano ‘Jenny Lind’, who travels to America at the invitation of the P.T. Barnum. The film was released in December 2017. She was also seen in sci-fi film ‘Life’ which premiered, and closed out, the 2017 SXSW Festival. Rebecca starred with Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal as astronauts on the International Space Station, who, after retrieving a sample from Mars, discover that it displays signs of life, and proves to be more intelligent than expected. She also starred alongside Michael Fassbender and Charlotte Gainsbourg in ‘The Snowman.’ The film, directed by Tomas Alfredson, follows the disappearance of a woman whose pink scarf is found wrapped around an ominous-looking snowman. The film was released last October.

2016 saw Rebecca starred in ‘The Girl on the Train,’ in which she played the role of Anna opposite Emily Blunt, Luke Evans and Justin Theroux. The plot follows the story of a woman named Rachel, who goes on a train to New York. She witnesses the "perfect" couple, Scott and Megan. But one day, havoc ensues this couple, and Rachel becomes involved in their drama/ murder mystery of Megan Hipwell. The same year, Rebecca took on the role of Kathleen in Stephen Frear’s Florence Foster Jenkins, starring alongside Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. Written by Nicholas Martin, the film tells the true story of Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress, who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice. Rebecca played the dual lead roles of Katya and Lauren in Shamim Sarif’s ‘Despite The Falling Snow’ with Charles Dance and Sam Reid. Set against the backdrop of Cold War Moscow, the story is of a female spy who steals secrets from an idealistic politician—and falls in love with him. Shot in 2014, the film was released in March 2016.

In 2015, Rebecca starred in the hugely successful ‘Mission Impossible’ franchise entry ‘Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation,’ for which she received a Critics Choice Award nomination. She took on the role of Ilsa Faust opposite Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg and Jeremy Renner.

In December 2014, Rebecca was seen in the role of Dinah in Lifetime’s television miniseries ‘The Red Tent,’ based on Anita Diama’s bestselling novel of the same name. The two-part drama tells the story of the 12 tribes of Israel as seen through Dinah’s eyes. Rebecca starred opposite Minnie Driver, Iain Glen and Morena Baccarin.

In 2013 Rebecca took on the role of Erigenia in Brett Ratner’s ‘Hercules’ starring alongside John Hurt, Dwayne Johnson and Ian McShane. She also completed filming Ridley Scott’s ‘The Vatican’ for Showtime, in which she starred alongside Matthew Goode, Kyle Chandler and Sebastian Koch. Earlier that year Rebecca starred in the lead role of Elizabeth Woodville in the hit BBC drama series ‘The White Queen.’ The 10-hour epic was an adaptation of Philippa Gregory‘s vivid bestselling historical novel series “The Cousin’s War”, in which her co-stars include Max Irons and Janet McTeer. For her portrayal of Elizabeth Woodville, Rebecca was nominated for a Golden Globe® for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film. 2013 also saw the release of the highly anticipated Swedish indie ‘VI’ which was directed by Mani Masserat.

Rebecca was born in Stockholm to a Swedish father and British mother. She grew up in Stockholm and attended Sweden’s famous music school – Adolf Frederick. Rebecca started her career at the age of 15 when she was offered the lead in a daytime drama series called ‘Nya Tider.’ Other credits include the lead in Richard Hoberts’ ‘One Way to Antibes’ which won the audience award at the European Union Film Festival 2012 in Toronto. That same year she was also nominated as a Rising Star in Sweden.

PATRICK STEWART (Adult Merlin) is one of the most acclaimed performers working today, with numerous and varied roles on both the stage and screens big and small. For his work, he has been awarded multiple Golden Globe®, SAG®, Emmy®, and Tony® nominations.

Stewart will also soon be seen on Claude Lalonde’s ‘Koda,’ opposite Katie Holmes and Giancarlo Esposito. The drama centers around a famous pianist (Stewart) struggling with stage fright, who must overcome his fear to honor a promise to a deceased friend.

In addition, Stewart will also be joining Elizabeth Banks’ reboot of ‘Charlie’s Angels,’ starring alongside Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska. On television, Stewart is set to reprise his iconic role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the new ‘Star Trek’ series for CBS All Access, more than two decades after the syndicated favorite wrapped its run. The new series will be an exploration of the next chapter of Picard’s life.

In 2017, Stewart returned as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men epic 'Logan,’ which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival that year. Stewart created the role in the first installment of the franchise in 2000 and has since played the role in seven of the 'X-Men' films. He received rave reviews for his performance including a Critics Choice nomination, perhaps his last in the series.

His many, diverse film credits include Jeremy Saunier’s ‘Green Room,’ for which Stewart received critical acclaim for portraying the leader of a northwestern neo-Nazi troupe; Damian Harris’ 'Wilde Wedding;’ a dance instructor in ‘Match’; Professor X in ‘X-Men,’ ‘X-Men 2,’ ‘X-Men: The Last Stand,’ ‘X-Men Origins, ‘Wolverine’ and ‘X Men: Days of Future Past;’ the narrator in Seth MacFarlane’s 'Ted' and 'Ted 2;’ 'King of Texas;’ 'Jeffrey;’ 'Dune;’ 'Excalibur;’ 'L.A. Story;’ 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights;’ 'Conspiracy Theory;’ 'The Lion in Winter' (Emmy® nomination); 'I, Claudius;’ 'Moby Dick' (Emmy® nomination); and 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'.

Perhaps best known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,’ Stewart has enjoyed a successful television career, having recently produced and starred in the Starz comedy 'Blunt Talk’ as Walter Blunt, a British import intent on conquering the world of American cable news. The half-hour comedy executive produced by Seth MacFarlane and Jonathan Ames ran on the cable network for two seasons, ending in 2016. Stewart’s performance earned him a Golden Globe® nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy, as well as a Critics’ Choice nomination. Other television credits include Seth MacFarlane’s animated 'American Dad,’ and an Emmy®-nominated turn on Ricky Gervais’ 'Extras'.

A three-time Olivier Award winner, Stewart recently reunited with Sir Ian McKellen in Harold Pinter’s 'No Man’s Land,’ which they previously performed at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California and on Broadway in Fall 2013. This was part of their 'Two Plays in Rep,’ which also included a reprisal of their production of Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot,’ which they performed to critical acclaim on London's West End in 2009. Directed by Sean Matthias, the 'Two Plays in Rep' on Broadway which earned stellar reviews and two extensions due to popular demand.

On Broadway and West End stages, Patrick has also appeared in 'A Life in the Theatre,’ 'The Master Builder,’ 'The Ride Down Mt. Morgan' and 'The Tempest'. For his acclaimed solo production of 'A Christmas Carol,’ Stewart played over 40 characters, garnering an Olivier, Drama Desk and What's on Stage Award. For his performance in the title role of 'Macbeth,’ which he played at Chichester, London, BAM and then on Broadway, he earned a Tony Award® nomination and won the Best Actor Award in the Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

Stewart is an Honorary Associate Artist with the RSC, having appeared in over 60 productions including 'Hamlet,’ opposite David Tennant, which earned him an Olivier Award, and 2005 repertory productions of 'Antony and Cleopatra' and 'The Tempest'. In 1978, he won an Olivier Award for his performance in Peter Brook's production of 'Antony and Cleopatra' and was nominated for his role in 'The Merchant of Venice'. He also appeared in the now legendary Peter Brook production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Additional recent credits include Edward Bond's 'Bingo' at the Young Vic and Chichester Festival Theatre, and as Shylock in a 2011 RSC production of 'The Merchant of Venice,’ directed by Rupert Goold.

In the 2001 New Years' Honors list, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II conferred on Patrick the order of the Officer of the British Empire (O.B.E.) and in 2010 Patrick received a knighthood for his services to Drama. In March of 2017, Stewart was honored with the Empire Legend Award for his outstanding career achievements at the Empire Awards in London.

DEAN CHAUMOO (Bedders) is 13 and was born in Auckland. He attends King’s College School in Wimbledon where he is a Double Scholar (Drama and the Cayley Scholarship for Mathematics). Other notable academic achievements include; 2018 Prize for Latin, 2017 Drama Award, a commendation for the Year 4 Drama Monologue Competition and on several occasions, Dean has received the Headmaster’s Medal. He enjoys film making, astronomy and horse riding alongside acting and has represented his school in football and rugby. Dean also enjoys languages and is currently studying Latin, Greek and Mandarin.

THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING is his first professional acting role.

RHIANNA DORRIS (Kaye) has trained at D&B School of Performing Arts from a young age. Within this period, she has been fortunate enough to gain lots of professional experience in TV and theatre.

Rhianna’s TV credits include the role of Penny in CBBC’s ‘The Secret Life of Boys’. Rhianna also has an array of experience within London’s West End; she has played Alice in ‘Matilda’ at the Cambridge Theatre, Violet Beauregarde in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the role of Tallulah in ‘Bugsy Malone’ at the Lyric Hammersmith.

Rhianna is delighted to be making her feature film debut playing the role of Kaye in THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING. She would like to thank her family for all of their support and D&B for the opportunity and guidance.

ANGUS IMRIE ’s (Young Merlin) most recent credits include the role of Jake in series two of ‘Fleabag’ written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the role of Prince Arthur in Starz’ new television drama ‘The Spanish Princess’ and the role of Malcolm Panks in the feature film ‘Pond Life’ which was directed by Bill Buckhurst.

His television credits also include BBC productions of 'The Hollow Crown' and ‘Father Brown,’ as well as a recurring role in 'Kingdom,’ opposite Stephen Fry, for ITV, when he was in his early teens.

In the theater, Angus performed at Shakespeare's Globe in 2015, in productions of 'Richard II' and the world premiere of 'Nell Gwynn'. He has also appeared in an adaptation of Herman Melville's Moby Dick, entitled 'The White Whale,’ which was performed on the canal at Leeds Dock.

A graduate of LAMDA (the UK's oldest drama school), he appeared in numerous theater productions, including the title roles in 'Macbeth' and 'Uncle Vanya'.

Angus also has numerous radio credits, most notably the recurring role of Josh Archer in BBC Radio 4's 'The Archers,’ the world's longest-running radio soap opera.

Angus won Spotlight's Most Promising Actor in 2014 for his performance in his university production of Jim Cartwright's 'Road,’ that they then took to the National Student Drama Festival. He was also a finalist for the 2017 Alan Bates Award, which is run by the Actors Centre for all graduates of drama school.

Brought up in London, Angus then went to the University of Warwick to read English literature and theater studies, before attending LAMDA, from where he graduated in 2017.

DENISE GOUGH (Mary) made UK headlines in 2016 starring in Duncan MacMillan’s award-winning play, 'People Places and Things,’ which earned her an Olivier Award and a Critics Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress.

Last year, the Irish-born actress starred in multiple projects on stage and screen. She returned to the National Theatre in a new production of Tony Kushner’s multi-award-winning two-part play 'Angels in America,’ starring opposite Andrew Garfield, Nathan Lane, James McArdle and Russell Tovey. She also starred in: the film 'Colette,’ alongside Keira Knightley and Dominic West; a new BBC Two thriller, 'Paula;’ John Ridley’s six-part mini-series 'Guerrilla' for Showtime and Sky Atlantic; BBC Two’s drama 'Apple Tree Yard;’ and the feature film, 'Steel Country'.

Her stage credits include: Dominic Dromgoole’s production of 'The Duchess of Malfi,’ at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse Theatre; 'Adler and Gibb,’ at the Royal Court; the Lyric Hammersmith’s production of 'Desire Under the Elms' (for which she won the ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ at the Critics Circle Theatre Awards); the Bush Theatre’s production of ‘Our New Girl’ (for which she earned a nomination for the Evening Standard Theatre Awards ‘Outstanding Newcomer); The Arcola’s production of 'The Painter;’ Conor McPherson’s 'The Birds;’ The Royal Court’s 'Oh Go My Man;’ the RSC’s production of 'Ahasverus;’'The Plough and the Stars;’ 'The Birds at the Gate' in Dublin; 'The Grouch' at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, 'Someone Else’s Shoes' at Soho Theatre; 'Everything is Illuminated' at Hampstead; 'The Kindness of Strangers' at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre; 'Robbers' at the Tristan Bates Theatre; 'Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train' at Trafalgar Studios; 'Six Characters in Search of an Author' at the Chichester Festival Theatre; and 'As You Like it' and 'By the Bog of Cats' at the Wyndham Theatre.

Denise’s film credits include Ridley Scott’s 'Robin Hood,’’ Ken Loach’s 'Jimmy’s Hall,’ the BAFTA nominated '’71' from director Yann Demange, 'Hollows,’ 'Complicit,’ ‘The Kid,’ ‘Desire’ and 'Lecture 21.’

Her television credits include series three of the BBC drama ‘The Fall,’ Sky’s hit comedy 'Stella,’ 'Likely,’ 'What Remains,’ 'Cuffs,’ 'New Tricks,’ 'Musketeers,’ 'Titanic: Blood and Steel,’ 'Waking the Dead,’ 'Silent Witness,’ 'Tom Hurndall,’ 'Messiah V,’ 'The Commander,’ 'Inspector Lynley Mysteries,’ 'Tell Me Lies' and 'Lucky Man.’

Outside of her theatrical career, Denise has been an enthusiastic supporter of ERA (The Equal Representation for Actresses) a collective of actresses that want to see women represented on screen, in television and theater in equal measure to men.