Name
Joseph Millson
Programme
Performing Arts
Date of Study
1990 - 1992
Biography
Former Newbury College Performing Arts alumni Joseph Millson has spent most of his career on the stage or in front of the camera, but now, the talented actor is moving behind the lens and discovering the joys of filmmaking.
Joseph's love for the arts manifested at an early age, working at The Watermill theatre while he was at school. However, it wasn’t until he attended a Newbury College open day that he was inspired to change his career plans.
“I didn’t do well in school and attended the Newbury college open day to apply for a practical course, metalworking, I seem to remember. But I was beckoned towards a table for a performing arts course by Adam Fotheringham, who was then in charge of performing arts. He proceeded to convince me to sign up for the BTEC in Performing Arts. My Mum and Dad were a tad surprised when I got home, but it really was a decision that shaped my life.” said Joseph.
After completing his course at the College in 1992, he went on to train professionally at the Rose Bruford College, where he was recently made a fellow, and after graduating from there, his career has been nothing short of spectacular, with award-winning roles on stage and screen.
He has graced the stages of some of the most renowned theatres, including the Royal Shakespeare Company (where he was made an associate artist) and the National Theatre. His role in the Globe Theatre's production of Macbeth where he played the titular character, was subsequently filmed and is still screening worldwide. It garnered him much acclaim, showcasing his ability to tackle complex and demanding roles.
While the stage provided Joseph with a platform to hone his skills, the silver screen and television allowed him to reach a wider audience. Over the years, he has been a part of an incredible amount of projects, initially coming to public attention as Dr Sam Morgan in the long-running medical drama Peak Practice, although he has since appeared in an extensive list of films and TV series, including Casino Royale, Angel Has Fallen, Moon Knight, 24, the Sarah-Jane Adventures, The Last Kingdom, and Holby City to name but a few.
(Joseph Millson and Jada Pinkett Smith in Angel Has Fallen)
Outside of his acting roles, Joseph wrote a hugely successful memoir, WORK And Other Four-Letter Words, which was not only a bestseller on Amazon but also shortlisted for the British Theatre Book Prize.
He and his wife, Sarah-Jane Potts, put their passion for performing on hold during the pandemic and decided to explore different avenues to express their creativity. They began with writing and directing a trilogy of short films, including The Magician, and Care which have both been selected, screened and won awards at festivals all over the world. Joseph also completed a master’s degree in screenwriting at Falmouth University, where he received a distinction and is currently working on his first feature film, Signs of Life.
Signs of Life is being crowdfunded, allowing Joseph to retrain more creative freedom than traditional methods of funding allow. “It’s taken me a long time to realise you really do not have to wait for permission to be creative. Signs of Life is a beautiful and useful film for very strange times. A film about kindness and connection. Any help supporting the project is hugely appreciated,” he said.
The Magician (4K) and Care (4K) are currently available on YouTube, and you can find out more about Joseph’s career and future projects at josephmillson.com