This festive season, viewers are eagerly anticipating the return of beloved actor Toby Stephens to their screens in the two-part series, The Split.
His character, Archie, embarks on a date with Hannah (portrayed by Nicola Walker), which we know doesn’t end well as he is left stranded in a bar without any explanation.
Toby’s acting career boasts numerous accolades, including a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Bond villain Gustav Graves in Die Another Day in 2002.
His other notable roles include The Machine (2013), 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016), The Journey (2016), and Hunter Killer (2018), along with various television appearances.
However, this year has been challenging for Toby off-screen following the heartbreaking loss of his renowned mother, Dame Maggie Smith. Here, we delve into his life journey, from childhood to stardom.
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Toby will return to screens this Christmas (Image: BBC / SISTER)
Born on April 21, 1969, at Middlesex Hospital in Fitzrovia, London, Toby hails from a family of celebrated actors – Sir Robert Stephens and Dame Maggie Smith. He and his brother Chris Larkin (who chose not to use his famous surname) were educated at Aldro School and Seaford College in West Sussex.
Toby later honed his acting skills at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
Toby Stephens made his cinematic mark in Orlando, an adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s novel. He has since captivated audiences as Lionel in the sensation, One Day, and lent his voice to the character of gentleman ghost in Batman: Caped Crusader.
In 2001, Toby tied the knot with New Zealand-born actress Anna-Louise Plowman. The couple are blessed with three children: Elijah, Tallulah, and Kura.
Toby’s mum is the late dame Maggie Smith (Image: Getty Images)
royalty runs in his veins; Toby’s mother was the legendary Dame Maggie Smith. Her illustrious career spanned iconic roles in Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, and Sister Act, among countless others.
The world mourned when Dame Maggie passed away in September at 89, leaving behind her sons Christopher and Toby, and five grandchildren, plunging their family into grief.
Reflecting on his mother’s passing, Toby shared with the Mirror: “It’s been tough. She had been ill for a while and it was very hard to see that. But she was in her 90th year, she’d had a really good innings. Purely on a selfish level, I miss having her in my life, being able to talk to her.”
Maggie Smith and Robert Stevens were Toby’s parents (Image: GETTY images)
The Die Another Day actor recently disclosed to The Telegraph how his mother never grasped the extent of her adoration by fans: “It’s been incredibly moving for my family to see how universally loved and admired she was. That was something she never really allowed herself to believe. She was just like all of us, she didn’t have that self-confidence.”
Toby’s mother wasn’t the only luminary in the family; his father, Robert Stephens, left an indelible mark on the world of theatre and was even knighted for his remarkable contributions to acting.
Robert’s illustrious career boasted iconic roles in films such as Romeo and Juliet (1968), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970), Empire of the Sun (1987), Henry V (1989), Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993), The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), Charlie Chaplin (1992), and The Pope Must Die (1991).
Toby will return to screens this Christmas in The Split (Image: BBC/Sister Pictures)
The marriage between Maggie and Robert also saw them collaborate professionally, most notably in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969, which earned Maggie her first Oscar. Their on-screen partnership extended to Travels with My Aunt, another huge success at the time.
However, behind the scenes, their marriage was troubled, and they eventually divorced.
In a candid 2004 interview with the Mirror, Maggie revealed that Robert’s infidelity and struggles with mental health, including a suicide attempt in 1970, had put a significant strain on their relationship, which she described as “hopeless”.
Tragically, Robert passed away on 12 November 1995, at the age of 64, just a year after being knighted. His death was attributed to complications arising from a surgical procedure.
The Split will air on 29 and 30 December, on BBC1, from 9pm.