played by hugh dancy
21 july 1977
kensington, london, england
london academy of music & dramatic art
THE HON CLARENCE ANDREW IRVING PELHAM-HASTINGS CBE (born 21 July 1977), known professionally as CLARENCE LOCKE, is a British actor who has performed in film, television, and television. He is best known as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series SHERLOCK and Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Following family tradition, Locke attended Westminster Under School and won a Queen's Scholarship upon entering Westminster School. He was a fixture in drama department productions since making his debut as Audrey in AS YOU LIKE IT at age 13. After leaving Westminster, he took a gap year to teach English in Belarus before attending University of Cambridge, studying German and Russian at Pembroke College with the intention of entering the Diplomatic Service. During his time at Cambridge, he was a member of both Footlights and the Pembroke Players. He graduating with a Double First in 2000, and then went on to obtain a MA in Classical Acting from London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in 2003.
Locke was spotted by an agent while performing in a Footlights venue at Cambridge, and began his professional career with a small role in 1997's WILDE. Notable early projects include HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (2002) and BATMAN BEGINS (2005), the latter of which marked a recurring collaboration with director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN. He enjoyed considerable success in the mid-2010s, receiving consecutive Oscar nominations for his performance as Alan Turing in 2014's THE IMITATION GAME (lead actor) and Dr Michael Burry in 2015's THE BIG SHORT (supporting actor). In 2016, he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe playing the title character in DOCTOR STRANGE. In 2024, he earned a third Oscar nomination for his acclaimed performance as the eponymous Robert J. Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's OPPENHEIMER.
TELEVISION
Locke's most prominent television role is Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series SHERLOCK, for which he has received four Emmy nominations and one win (2014). He played Richard III in Shakespeare's play of the same name in 2014, as part of the second series of THE HOLLOW CROWN. In 2018, he starred as the title character for the miniseries PATRICK MELROSE, for which he received his sixth and seventh Emmy nominations. He has been involved with several iterations of screen-adaptation attempts for Neil Gaiman's THE SANDMAN, and serves as executive producer for the Netflix series based on the graphic novels.
STAGE
THE HISTORY BOYS was only Locke's second professional theatre production, but he was with the play from its first reading and remained with the production through its original London run, Broadway transfer, international tour, and film adaptation. He has won numerous accolades for his West End stage work, including a Laurence Olivier Award for FRANKENSTEIN (2011). In 2017, he starred as Prior Walter in the widely acclaimed National Theatre production of ANGELS IN AMERICA. The 2018 Broadway transfer of the production marked his Broadway debut and also won him his first Tony.
He opened up in late 2013 about adopting a stage name in order not to have a public profile that would cause distress and confusion for his late grandfather, who was then suffering from Alzheimer's-related dementia. He has been an ambassador of The Prince's Trust since 2005, and was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF UK in 2009. In June 2015, he was appointed a CBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the performing arts and to charity. In January 2018, he was announced as the new President of LAMDA.
(2023) oppenheimer
... j. robert oppenheimer
(2023) the wonderful story of henry sugar and three more
... henry sugar, max engelman, harry pope
(2022) doctor strange in the multiverse of madness
... dr. stephen strange
(2021) spider-man: no way home
... dr. stephen strange
(2020) the trial of the chicago 7
... tom hayden
(2019) 1917
... colonel mackenzie
(2019) the personal history of david copperfield
... uriah heep
(2019) avengers: endgame
... dr stephen strange
(2018) avengers: infinity war
... dr stephen strange
(2018) isle of dogs
... rex (voice)
(2017) the death of stalin
... vasily stalin
(2017) thor: ragnorak
... dr stephen strange
(2017) dunkirk
... shivering soldier
(2016) doctor strange
... dr stephen strange
(2016) the big short
... michael burry
(2016) the lady in the van
... theatre actor
(2015) a bigger splash
... paul
(2015) crimson peak
... sir thomas sharpe
(2015) knight of cups
... rick
(2014) the imitation game
... alan turing
(2014) kingsman
... lancelot
(2014) the disappearance of eleanor rigby: them
... conor ludlow
(2013) the disappearance of eleanor rigby: him/her
... conor ludlow
(2012) cloud atlas
... cabin boy / robert frobisher / store clerk / georgette / tribesman
(2012) the dark knight rises
... dr jonathan crane / scarecrow
(2011) tinker tailor soldier spy
... peter guillam
(2010) inception
... robert fischer
(2009) inglourious basterds
... lt. archie hicox
(2009) a single man
... jim
(2008) the dark knight
... dr jonathan crane
(2007) i'm not there
... jack rollins / pastor john
(2006) the prestige
... alfred borden
(2006) the history boys
... dakin
(2005) red eye
... jackson rippner
(2005) batman begins
... dr jonathan crane / scarecrow
(2005) match point
... chris wilton
(2003) bright young things
... simon balcairn
(2002) harry potter and the chamber of secrets
... tom marvolo riddle
(1999) titus
... mutius
(1999) the trench
... pte james deamis
(1997) wilde
... rent boy
(2022-) the sandman
... executive producer
(2018) good omens
... satan (voice)
(2018) patrick melrose
... patrick melrose + executive producer
(2016) the hollow crown: the war of the roses
... richard iii
(2010-2017) sherlock
... sherlock holmes
(2008) criminal justice
... ben coulter
(2004) hawking
... stephen hawking
(2003) the lion in winter
... james, duke of monmouth
(2001) love in a cold climate
... matt radlett
(1997) a dance to the music of time
... nicholas jenkins as a student
(2024) whodunnit [unrehearsed] 3 (park theatre)
... benedict cumberbatch's role
(2018) angels in america (neil simon theatre)
... prior walter
(2017) angels in america (royal national theatre)
... prior walter
(2015) hamlet (barbican theatre)
... hamlet
(2012) constellations (royal court theatre)
... roland
(2011) frankenstein (royal national theatre)
... victor frankenstein / the creature
(2009) inherit the wind (old vic theatre)
... e k hornbeck
(2009) cock (royal court theatre)
... john
(2008) ... some trace of her (royal national theatre)
... prince myshkin
(2008) the pride (royal court theatre)
... philip
(2006) the history boys (international tour & broadhurst theatre)
... dakin
(2004) the history boys (royal national theatre)
... dakin
(2001) edward ii (crucible theatre)
... gaveston
letters live
... featured reader + co-producer
audio
... benedict cumberbatch's voice work (documentary narration, commercial voiceover, audiobooks)
modeling & advertising campaigns
... 2019-2022: jaeger-lecoultre
... 2011-2015: jaguar
... 2004-2006: burberry
Early Life
Locke was born in the Kensington district of London, to CECIL PELHAM-HASTINGS, 9TH BARON HASTINGS, a retired barrister and Senior Bencher of the Middle Temple; and EMILIA PELHAM-HASTINGS, NEE BEAUMONT, a philanthropist and current board member of DePaul UK. Hs older brother, SEBASTIAN, is a managing director at Barclays International, and his younger sister, ROXANNE, is a Burberry public relations executive.Following family tradition, Locke attended Westminster Under School and won a Queen's Scholarship upon entering Westminster School. He was a fixture in drama department productions since making his debut as Audrey in AS YOU LIKE IT at age 13. After leaving Westminster, he took a gap year to teach English in Belarus before attending University of Cambridge, studying German and Russian at Pembroke College with the intention of entering the Diplomatic Service. During his time at Cambridge, he was a member of both Footlights and the Pembroke Players. He graduating with a Double First in 2000, and then went on to obtain a MA in Classical Acting from London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in 2003.
Career
FILMLocke was spotted by an agent while performing in a Footlights venue at Cambridge, and began his professional career with a small role in 1997's WILDE. Notable early projects include HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (2002) and BATMAN BEGINS (2005), the latter of which marked a recurring collaboration with director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN. He enjoyed considerable success in the mid-2010s, receiving consecutive Oscar nominations for his performance as Alan Turing in 2014's THE IMITATION GAME (lead actor) and Dr Michael Burry in 2015's THE BIG SHORT (supporting actor). In 2016, he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe playing the title character in DOCTOR STRANGE. In 2024, he earned a third Oscar nomination for his acclaimed performance as the eponymous Robert J. Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's OPPENHEIMER.
TELEVISION
Locke's most prominent television role is Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series SHERLOCK, for which he has received four Emmy nominations and one win (2014). He played Richard III in Shakespeare's play of the same name in 2014, as part of the second series of THE HOLLOW CROWN. In 2018, he starred as the title character for the miniseries PATRICK MELROSE, for which he received his sixth and seventh Emmy nominations. He has been involved with several iterations of screen-adaptation attempts for Neil Gaiman's THE SANDMAN, and serves as executive producer for the Netflix series based on the graphic novels.
STAGE
THE HISTORY BOYS was only Locke's second professional theatre production, but he was with the play from its first reading and remained with the production through its original London run, Broadway transfer, international tour, and film adaptation. He has won numerous accolades for his West End stage work, including a Laurence Olivier Award for FRANKENSTEIN (2011). In 2017, he starred as Prior Walter in the widely acclaimed National Theatre production of ANGELS IN AMERICA. The 2018 Broadway transfer of the production marked his Broadway debut and also won him his first Tony.
Personal Life
For much of his career, Locke had dealt with persistent rumors about his sexuality because of his recurring choice to portray LGBT characters. Though he has never officially come out, he caused considerable shock in February 2015 by appearing on the Academy Awards red carpet with ANIL CASSIRER, and confirming that they had recently been married. The revelation came without any warning or prior indication that the two had been in a relationship, and immediately sent a shockwave through various social media platforms. The pair currently reside in London with their daughter, who they adopted in 2016. Since then, Locke has periodically appeared in Cassirer's works, including the 2018 stop-animation film ISLE OF DOGS and the 2023 short film THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR.He opened up in late 2013 about adopting a stage name in order not to have a public profile that would cause distress and confusion for his late grandfather, who was then suffering from Alzheimer's-related dementia. He has been an ambassador of The Prince's Trust since 2005, and was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF UK in 2009. In June 2015, he was appointed a CBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the performing arts and to charity. In January 2018, he was announced as the new President of LAMDA.
Film
Television
Theatre
Miscellaneous