Luke Antony Newman Treadaway (born 10 September 1984) is an English actor. He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor from the National Theatre's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in 2013.

His screen credits include Brothers of the Head (2005), The Innocence Project (2006-2007), Clapham Junction (2007), Heartless (2009), Clash of the Titans (2010), Late Bloomers (2011), The Rise (2012), Attack the Block (2011), St George's Day (2012), 13 Steps Down (2012), Get Lucky (2013), Unbroken (2014), The Rack Pack (2016), The Hollow Crown Episode: "Richard III" (2016), Ordeal by Innocence (2018), Urban Myths (2018), Traitors (2019), The Singapore Grip (2020), Lockwood & Co. (2023), and The Serial Killer's Wife (2024).

Early life

Born at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Exeter, Treadaway was brought up in Sandford, Devon. His father is an architect and his mother a primary school teacher.

His first acting role was playing a daffodil in the village Christmas pantomime Little Red Riding Hood; his father was the Big Bad Wolf in the same production. Luke and his twin brother Harry attended Queen Elizabeth's Community College in Crediton, where he played scrum half in the twice Devon-Cup-winning rugby union team.

Inspired by a love of Eddie Vedder and with support from their secondary school drama teacher, Phil Gasson, Luke and Harry formed a band called Lizardsun with Matt Conyngham and Seth Campbell. They also both joined the National Youth Theatre, for whom Luke played Prince Ivan in The Firebird. He was also in the ensemble for a production of Murder in the Cathedral.

He graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2006.

Career

While still at drama school, Treadaway and his twin brother recorded roles in their first feature film, Brothers of the Head (2005), in which they played conjoined twins in a band. During rehearsals and throughout the shoot, Luke and Harry were connected to each other for fifteen hours a day, wearing sewn-together wet suits or a harness. They also slept in one bed to simulate the conjoined nature of their characters. The Treadaways performed all tracks featured in the film themselves live on stage as well as recording nine tracks for the soundtrack album.

He played a series lead in The Innocence Project for BBC television. He also appeared as a 14-year-old Theo in the hard-hitting Channel 4 drama Clapham Junction. He made his stage debut in Saint Joan at the Royal National Theatre, followed by playing Albert in the original production of War Horse at the same venue. In 2008 he appeared in Piranha Heights, a new play by Philip Ridley, at the Soho Theatre, and in Cradle Me, a new play by Simon Vinnicombe, at the Finborough Theatre. He played Allan in Amanda Dalton's adaptation of Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari (as Caligari) on Radio 3 and Albert in John Tams' adaptation of War Horse for BBC Radio 2 on 8 November 2008. In 2009 he appeared in the play Over There at the Royal Court Theatre alongside his twin brother from 25 February to 21 March. He spent November 2009 in Romania with Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave and Monica Bellucci, filming The Whistleblower (2009).

He played Prokopion in the 2010 film Clash of the Titans. He played Lee in Philip Ridley's Heartless, also starring Jim Sturgess and Noel Clarke, released in May 2010. He appeared in Killing Bono, starring Ben Barnes and Pete Postlethwaite. He also had a leading role in the independent Scottish film You Instead, which was filmed at T in the Park 2010. In 2011 he played the eponymous hero of The History of Titus Groan, a cycle of six BBC Radio 4 dramas based on the books of Mervyn Peake dramatised by Brian Sibley. He also filmed Late Bloomers with William Hurt and Isabella Rossellini. He also starred in Attack the Block, a Film Four production, alongside John Boyega, Nick Frost and Jodie Whittaker. He also directed a music video for girl band Boxettes, whose lead singer Bellatrix comes from Sandford. In 2012 Treadway starred in Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, the ITV adaptation of the Ruth Rendell thriller Thirteen Steps Down, and the National Theatre's adaptation of Mark Haddon's novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – of which the 6 September 2012 performance was broadcast live to open the fourth season of National Theatre Live. On 28 April 2013 Treadaway won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which by winning seven Oliviers equalled Matilda the Musical's record win in 2012.

He Starred in Horror Thriller Fortitude between 2015 and 2018. In April 2018, he played the part of Dr Arthur Calgary in a BBC One three-part adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel Ordeal by Innocence.

Personal life

Treadaway is the twin brother of the actor Harry Treadaway.

Acting credits

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2005Brothers of the HeadBarry Howe
2007God's WoundsMarkShort film
2008ScratchSolShort film
2009Dogging: A Love StoryDan
VikoVikoShort film
HeartlessLee Morgan
2010Clash of the TitansProkopion
AliceWhite RabbitShort film
The WhistleblowerJim Higgins
Over ThereKarl
2011Late BloomersBenjamin
You InsteadAdam
Attack the BlockBrewis
Killing BonoRick
Man in FearAnthony FoxShort film
2012Cheerful Weather for the WeddingJoseph
The RiseHarvey Miller
St George's DayWilliam Bishop
2013Get LuckyLucky
2014UnbrokenMiller
2015The MagiShort film
2016The Rack PackAlex Higgins
Ethel & ErnestRaymond BriggsVoice role
A Street Cat Named BobJames Bowen
2017National Theatre Live: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Nick
The Dying HoursJackShort film
2020A Gift from BobJames Bowen

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2006–2007The Innocence ProjectAdam SolomonsMain cast
2007Clapham JunctionTheoTV movie
2008–2009Mist: Sheepdog TalesEddieRecurring role (seasons 2–3), voice role
2012National Theatre Live: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeChristopher John Francis BooneTV movie
201213 Steps DownMix CelliniMain cast, miniseries
2015ViciousYoung FreddieEpisode: "Flatmates"
2015–2018FortitudeVincent RattreyMain cast
2016The Nightmare Worlds of H. G. WellsEdward EdenEpisode: "The Late Mr. Elvesham"
The Hollow CrownHenry Tudor, Earl of RichmondEpisode: "Richard III"
2017UnspeakableDannyTV movie
2018Ordeal by InnocenceDr. Arthur CalgaryMain cast, miniseries
Urban MythsDavid JonesEpisode: "When Bowie Met Bolan"
2019TraitorsHugh FentonMain cast, miniseries
2020The Singapore GripMatthew WebbMain cast, miniseries
2023Lockwood & Co.The Golden Blade3 episodes
2024The Serial Killer's WifeAdam PlummerMain cast, miniseries

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenueRef.
2007Saint JoanPageRoyal National Theatre, London
War HorseAlbert NarracottRoyal National Theatre, London
2008Piranha HeightsGarthSoho Theatre, London
Cradle MeDanielFinborough Theatre, London
2009Over ThereKarlRoyal Court Theatre, London
2012The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeChristopher John Francis BooneRoyal National Theatre, London
2017Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?NickHarold Pinter Theatre, London
2024CabaretEmceePlayhouse Theatre, London

Music videos

YearTitleArtistRef.
2010"For the First Time"The Script
2010"Champion Sound"Crystal Fighters
2013"Puppet on a String"The Boxettes

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2006British Independent Film AwardsMost Promising Newcomer (with Harry Treadaway)Brothers of the HeadNominated
2012Black Reel AwardsOutstanding Ensemble (with John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Nick Frost, Nina Gold, Simon Howard, Leeon Jones, Maggie McCarthy, Danielle Vitalis & Jodie Whittaker)Attack the BlockNominated
2013Laurence Olivier AwardsBest ActorThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeWon
WhatsOnStage AwardsBest Actor in a PlayNominated

External links