BA Acting

James McAvoy Since graduating in 2000, James has shown extraordinary adaptability in his career, from roles in the gritty Channel Four series Shameless and Tom Hanks' Band of Brothers, to playing Mr Tumnus in  The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and the complex role of Idi Amin's doctor in the Oscar-winning Last King of Scotland. Recent projects include a major role in Ian McEwan's Atonement alongside Keira Knightley, as the object of the affections of Anne Hathaway's Jane Austen in Becoming Jane and alongside Christina Ricci and Reese Witherspoon in Penelope.   

Since taking over from Christopher Eccleston as Doctor Who in 2005, David Tennant has become a household name playing The Timelord opposite such famous names as Catherine Tate and Kylie Minogue. Tennant has also built up a wide theatre and film repertoire appearing in  Bright Young Things and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In 2007 Tennant was ranked the 24th most influential person in Britain by the Media Guardian. In 2009 David received the Critics' Circle Award for Best Shakespearean Performance for his role as Hamlet with the RSC. He will return to Glasgow this month to commence filming for BBC One drama Single Father.

Tony Curran - Tony has worked extensively in film and television since leaving the Royal Conservatoire in 1993. His career to date includes hit British television series This Life opposite fellow alumna Daniela Nardini in 1997, Rab C Nesbitt and The Tales of Para Handy opposite fellow Conservatoire graduate Gregor Fisher (1975). He has also appeared in Dr Who with David Tennant and has recently finished filming television mini-series The Pillars of the Earth alongside fellow alumna Kate Dickie, with whom he starred in Andrea Arnold’s Red Road in 2006.  Tony has appeared in episodes of 24, Hollywood smash-hit films Pearl Harbour, Gladiator, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen opposite Sir Sean Connery and will next appear on the big screen in The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, due for release in 2011.     

Billy Boyd’s name will always be associated with The Lord of the Rings but he is also a remarkable stage actor as could be seen in his appearance at the last Edinburgh International Festival.

Robert Carlyle became widely known with his Hamish Macbeth TV series and has appeared in the cult movie Trainspotting, BAFTA Award-winning, The Full Monty and as the villain in the James Bond film, The World is Not Enough. Angela's Ashes was screened later in 1999, followed by The Beach in 2000. In 1999 Robert was awarded an OBE.

Alan Cumming In 2007 Alan took the lead role in the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of The Bacchae for which he won the Herald Archangel award. In 2009 Alan was awarded an OBE for services to film, theatre and the arts and for activism for equal rights for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Also in 2009 Alan embarked on a world tour of his cabaret show I Bought a Blue Car Today. His forthcoming projects include a film version of The Tempest starring opposite Dame Helen Mirren.

Tom Conti may always be associated with Shirley Valentine but his achievements in theatre as an actor and director, as well as in the cinema, have made him respected world-wide. He has recently toured in his own production of Neil Simon's The Last of the Red Hot Mommas with his wife, actress Kara Wilson, and his daughter, Nina Conti in the cast. Forthcoming projects include The Tempest along with Alan Cumming and he has recently appeared in the hit BBC series Lark Rise to Candleford.

Colin Morgan (2007) Colin left the Royal Conservatoire in 2007 to appear as Vernon in the stage adaptation of DBC Pierre’s Booker Prize Winning novel Vernon God Little at the Young Vic. He has made several television appearances including The Catherine Tait Show in 2007. However, Colin became a household name in 2008 when he took on the eponymous role in the BBC’s Merlin for which he received the Caron Keating Outstanding Newcomer Award in 2008. The highly successful show is in its second series and was picked up by US television giant NBC in 2009. Colin is currently working on feature film Island due for release in 2010.

After graduation John Hannah had many minor roles in theatre productions, film and television before his appearance as ‘Matthew’ in  Four Weddings and a Funeral. Since this breakthrough role he has starred in a range of films such as The Mummy, Truth or Dare and Sliding Doors. John is currently the voice of The Co-operative Group adverts on UK television and is appearing in the US as Lentulus Batiatus in television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

British film star Denis Lawson has recently featured in BBC1 hospital drama Holby City as Tom Campbell-Gore. Prior to this he has held numerous starring and guest starring roles, such as X-wing pilot Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy and in the role of Gordon Urquhart in Bill Forsyth’s acclaimed Scottish film Local Hero. In 2007 he appeared in BBC One series Jekyll, a modern adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In 2009 he played DCI Bill Faber in gritty BBC One drama Criminal Justice and we will shortly see him appear alongside Helena Bonham Carter in a BBC Four film based on the life of Enid Blyton.

Richard Madden (2007) Richard recently appeared in the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Be Near Me including an eight-week run at London’s Donmar Warehouse. He has appeared in various television programmes including Taggart in 2001 and Hope Springs in 2008. Richard received the Ian Charleson Award Commendation in 2008 for his role as Romeo at The Globe and was tipped in Esquire Magazine’s Brilliant Brits list 2009 as one of the hottest up-and-coming British talents. He is currently filming HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, due for release in 2011.

Daniela Nardini shot to fame as Anna in BBC 2's This Life, for which she was awarded a BAFTA. Since then her credits include Channel 4's Big Women, BBC 1's Undercover Heart and the recently screened Rough Treatment for ITV. Her recent films include Sick (Tube Tales) for Sky TV in 1999 and Sam Miller's film, Elephant Juice. Daniela’s recent projects include her role in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar Warehouse and Annie Griffin’s BBC Four drama New Town, for which she won her second BAFTA Scotland award.

Dawn Steele, playing Lexie, has completed both series of BBC's Monarch of the Glen. Alumni also appearing in the second series included Claire Neilson, David McKail, Phil McCall, Ralph Riach, Elizabeth Sinclair and Ian Bustard. Dawn has gone on to appear in several primetime television series including BBC’s Sea of Souls, thriller movie Surveillance starring opposite Simon Callow and True Dare Kiss with Paul McGann and fellow alumnus Cieran McMenamin. Dawn can currently be seen in ITV hit series Wild at Heart.

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Ruby Wax had a new six-part series, Hot Wax, where she looked at various facets of 21st century fame, beginning with Hugh Hefner. This was followed by interviews with French football star Emmanuel Petit, Fast Cars and Damon Hill, Bollywood, Fashion and Lil' Kim.

Tunji Kasim (2007) Tunji is appeared as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2009-2011 Ensemble alongside fellow Academy alumni Forbes Masson (1985), Joe Arkley (2007), Samantha Young (2004) and Sandy Neilson (1966). In 2008 Tunji played Benvolio in The Globe production of Romeo and Juliet and toured with the Young Vic’s The Brother’s Size.  

Emun Elliott (2005) From 2006-2008 Emun played Private Fraser in the National Theatre of Scotland’s critically acclaimed Blackwatch. He recently starred in the hit BBC series Paradox alongside Tamsin Outhwaite and is currently filming BBC Three drama Lip Service. Emun appeared in Measure for Measure at The Almeida in February 2010 alongside fellow alumna Jessica Tomchack (2003)

Laura Donnelly (2004) Laura is currently appearing in series two of the BBC’s Merlin alongside Colin Morgan. She has appeared in various productions at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and the Almeida Theatre and her television roles to date include Casualty, Hex and the role of George Best’s sister Barbara in the BBC Drama Best: His Mother’s Son in 2009 . Laura also appeared in Clive Barker’s Dread, released in the US in 2009.

Shauna MacDonald (2002) In 2009 Shauna reprised her role as Sarah in the gory sequel to 2005’s cult British horror film The Descent. Her television career to date has included appearances in series two and three of Spooks, while she has had roles in several feature films including Niceland (2003) , The Rocket Post (2001) and Late Night Shopping (2000) .