Dominic Cooper

English actorTemplate:SHORTDESC:English actor[[Category:**Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Pagetype/config' not found.**s with short description]]

For the British novelist, see Dominic Cooper (author).
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**Dominic Edward Cooper** (born 2 June 1978) is an English actor. He has worked in television, film, theatre, and radio, including *Mamma Mia!* and its sequel *Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again*. He portrayed Jesse Custer on the AMC show *Preacher* (2016–2019). Cooper has also appeared as the young Howard Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including *Captain America: The First Avenger* and *Agent Carter*.

## Early life

Cooper was born and brought up in Greenwich, London, the son of Julie (née Heron), a nursery school teacher, and Brian Cooper, an auctioneer. He has two brothers, Simon and Nathan, a musician in the band The Modern, a half-brother, James, and a half-sister, Emma. His maternal great-grandfather was film-enthusiast E. T. Heron, who published *The Kinematograph Weekly*.

Dominic attended John Ball Primary School in Blackheath, London, followed by Thomas Tallis School in nearby Kidbrooke, then trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in acting and film editing, graduating in 2000.

## Career

 File:Dominic Cooper (27974185534).jpg
Dominic first worked in television and film before making his stage debut in *Mother Clap's Molly House* at the National Theatre in 2001. Cooper was involved in Alan Bennett's play *The History Boys*, as the character Dakin, from its first reading. He also toured with the production to Broadway, Sydney, Wellington and Hong Kong as well as appearing in the radio and film adaptations of the play. He has had notable roles in the Royal National Theatre's adaptation of the *His Dark Materials* trilogy where he played the lead character Will Parry, the TV series *Down To Earth* and *Sense & Sensibility*.

In 2008, he appeared as Sky in *Mamma Mia!*, in which he sang several songs. The same year, he appeared opposite Keira Knightley in *The Duchess* as Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey. Cooper starred in films *An Education* and *Freefall* in 2009 and also played Hippolytus in *Phèdre* at the National Theatre alongside Helen Mirren and Margaret Tyzack.

In 2010, he played rock drummer Ben in the film *Tamara Drewe*, and in 2011 played the leading roles of Latif Yahia and Uday Hussein, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's son in the biographical film *The Devil's Double*, which was critically acclaimed but criticized for whitewashing and portrayed Milton H. Greene in *My Week with Marilyn*. 2011 was also the year Cooper first appeared as Howard Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Initially appearing in the film *Captain America: The First Avenger*, he reprised his role in the Marvel One-Shot *Agent Carter* two years later, and in the television series of the same name in 2015 and 2016.

In 2012, he appeared as vampire Henry Sturges in *Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter*. Around this time, Cooper was cast in the lead role in the unproduced Albert Hughes project *Motor City* based on the Black Listed script of the same name. In February 2012, he signed on to replace Clive Owen the financial thriller *Cities*, ultimately leaving *Motor City*. *Cities* was cancelled after production delays.

In 2014, he portrayed the main antagonist in two films: Dino Brewster in *Need for Speed* and Mehmed in *Dracula Untold*. Cooper depicted James Bond author Ian Fleming in the television mini-series *Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond* in 2014. The next year, Cooper appeared in two films, *Miss You Already* and *The Lady in the Van,* a film by Nicholas Hytner, who previously directed Cooper in the stage adaption of *His Dark Materials* and both Theatrical and film versions of *The History Boys*.

Cooper plays Jesse Custer, the lead role in AMC's *Preacher*; the programme debuted in May 2016. Cooper co-starred in the *Warcraft* film adaptation, which was released in June 2016. In late 2016, Cooper starred in a well-received West End revival of Stephen Jeffreys' 1994 play, *The Libertine* at the Haymarket Theatre; he played John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, the role originated on stage by John Malkovich and played by Johnny Depp in the 2004 film.

Cooper reprised his role of Sky in 2018's sequel film *Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again*.

## Recognition and awards

Cooper was nominated for a 2006 Drama Desk Award for his work on the Broadway production of *The History Boys*. Additionally, he received nominations for the British Independent Film Award, British Film Critics' Circle Award, London Critics' Circle Film Award, and an Empire Award for his role in the film adaption of the play.

In 2010, Cooper's movie *An Education* received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture". His turn as Sadaam Hussein's son and his body double in *The Devil's Double* was praised by critics and, in turn, he was nominated for the 2012 Saturn Award for Best Actor.

Cooper's television work has also been recognised; in 2014 he was nominated for a Satellite Award for "Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television" for *Fleming* and in 2015 his guest performance as Howard Stark on *Agent Carter* was nominated for a Saturn Award.

## Personal life

Cooper shared a flat with his co-star in *The History Boys*, James Corden, until Corden started a family with his wife, Julia Carey. Cooper was responsible for introducing Corden to Julia, whom he had known for years and who was working at Save the Children when he and Corden called in one night. He is also the godfather of Corden's first child, Max.

Cooper dated his *Mamma Mia!* co-star Amanda Seyfried on and off from 2008 to 2010.

Cooper was in a relationship with actress Ruth Negga, beginning in 2010. They first met in 2009 on the set of *Phèdre*. They lived together in London's Primrose Hill. The couple dated for six years; however, Negga has noted that it took the press years to learn of the break-up, which was first reported in April 2018. They starred opposite each other in many projects including the National Theatre's production of *Phèdre* in 2009, the 2011 short film *Hello Carter*, the 2016 film *Warcraft,* and AMC's *Preacher* (2016–2019).

In December 2018, Cooper made his first public appearance with Gemma Chan as a couple at the British Fashion Awards.

In August 2014, Cooper was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to *The Guardian* expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September's referendum on that issue.

## References

1. ↑ Southern, Nathan. "Dominic Cooper", All Media Guide / Rovi via The New York Times. Retrieved on 10 May 2014.
2. ↑ "Dominic Cooper leaves Mamma Mia! far behind to play Saddam's son" (2014-03-13). Retrieved on 9 May 2014.
3. ↑ Mottram, James (2013-10-14). "Interview: Dominic Cooper – 'I nearly broke Ronnie Wood's shoulder'". Retrieved on 9 May 2014.
4. ↑ Das, Lina (8 October 2009). "Super Cooper: Dominic Cooper's Hollywood education", *London Evening Standard*. Retrieved on 23 February 2014. "There are few 31-year-old actors who can claim..."
5. ↑ Hardy, Rebecca (11 January 2008). "Secrets of the new Mr Darcy: Rising star Dominic Cooper", *Daily Mail* (UK). Retrieved on 20 July 2008. Archived from the original on 4 June 2008. "...the 29-year-old..."
6. ↑ Riegel, Katie (26 September 2007). "Dominic Cooper, Fresh Face". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070926212559/http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz\_Story.aspx?ci=527884. Retrieved 17 October 2006. "Age: 27"
7. ↑ D’Silva, Interviews by Beverley. "Relative Values: the actor Dominic Cooper, and his brother Nathan" (in en).
8. ↑ Cadwalladr, Carole (2011-08-06). "Dominic Cooper: the devil inside" (in en-GB), *The Guardian*.
9. ↑ PORTER, MR. "MR DOMINIC COOPER | THE LOOK | The Journal | MR PORTER". https://www.mrporter.com/journal/journal\_issue152/1#1.
10. ↑ Template:Cite book
11. ↑ "Internet Broadway Database: Dominic Cooper Credits on Broadway". http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=412501. Retrieved 17 October 2006.
12. ↑ "National Theatre : Productions : The History Boys 2004". http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=7785. Retrieved 17 October 2006.
13. ↑ "The History Boys", *The Sydney Morning Herald* (9 March 2006). Retrieved on 17 October 2006.
14. ↑ "Nick Hytner’s history boys". *The Daily Telegraph*. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/the-lady-in-the-van/nick-hytner-history-boys/. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Walden, Celia (13 June 2012). "Dominic Cooper: "There's too much gravitas given to people who dress up in frocks and dance around"". *The Daily Telegraph*. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/9314341/Dominic-Cooper-Theres-too-much-gravitas-given-to-people-who-dress-up-in-frocks-and-dance-around.html. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
16. ↑ Spencer, Charles (12 June 2009). "Phèdre with Helen Mirren at the National Theatre, review". *The Daily Telegraph*. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/5513575/Phedre-with-Helen-Mirren-at-the-National-Theatre-review.html. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
17. ↑ Taylor, Drew. "Gerard Butler Revenge Thriller 'Motor City' Suffers Engine Failure | IndieWire" (in en). http://www.indiewire.com/2012/09/gerard-butler-revenge-thriller-motor-city-suffers-engine-failure-251257/.
18. ↑ "Dominic Cooper Moves to the 'Cities'" (in en), *MTV News*.
19. ↑ Foundas, Scott (30 September 2014). "Film Review: 'Dracula Untold'". *Variety*. https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-dracula-untold-1201317748/. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
20. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (24 September 2014). "First Look: Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette Shoot 'Miss You Already' (EXCLUSIVE)". *Variety*. https://variety.com/2014/film/news/first-look-drew-barrymore-toni-collette-shoot-miss-you-already-exclusive-1201312797/. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
21. ↑ "Preacher: Dominic Cooper is Jesse Custer – IGN". http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/17/preacher-dominic-cooper-is-jesse-custer. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
22. ↑ Collura, Scott (4 December 2013). "Ben Foster and Dominic Cooper Head for Warcraft". http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/12/05/ben-foster-and-dominic-cooper-head-for-warcraft. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
23. ↑ Billington, Michael (27 September 2016). "*The Libertine* review – Dominic Cooper is riveting as rakish hero". *The Guardian*. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/sep/27/the-libertine-review-dominic-cooper-stephen-jeffreys.html. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
24. ↑ "2006 – Drama Desk Awards – Nominations". Archived from the original on 7 October 2006. https://archive.is/20061007194137/http://www.dramadesk.com/nom01.htm. Retrieved 17 October 2006.
25. ↑ Dawtrey, Adam (15 December 2006). "London critics favor 'Queen'", *Variety*. Retrieved on 16 December 2006.
26. ↑ "Dominic Cooper". https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1002641/.
27. ↑ Cadwalladr, Carole (7 August 2011). "Dominic Cooper: the devil inside", *The Guardian* (London).
28. ↑ Template:Citation
29. ↑ "Dominic Cooper on James Corden: "I knew the first day I met him...", John Malkovich, Dominic Cooper, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and a Strictly Come Dancing announcement, The Chris Evans Breakfast Show – BBC Radio 2". http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0455bjb.
30. ↑ "Dominic Cooper says it’ll be 'odd' to reunite with ex-girlfriend Amanda Seyfried in Mamma Mia sequel". http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/12/dominic-cooper-says-itll-be-odd-to-reunite-with-ex-girlfriend-amanda-seyfried-in-mamma-mia-sequel-6848308/.
31. ↑ Notaro, Vicki (23 May 2016). "How Oscar-tipped Ruth Negga's star has finally ascended...". *Irish Independent*. http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/how-oscartipped-ruth-neggas-star-has-finally-ascended-34730596.html. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
32. ↑ McBride, Caitlin (8 June 2016). "Irish actress Ruth Negga and Dominic Cooper make rare public appearance at Warcraft premiere". *Irish Independent*. http://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/irish-actress-ruth-negga-and-dominic-cooper-make-rare-public-appearance-at-warcraft-premiere-34783050.html. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
33. ↑ "Loving Star Ruth Negga on Biracial Politics: "I Get Very Territorial About My Identity"" (in en), *Vogue*.
34. ↑ "Ruth Negga Talks Diversity, Hamlet And Her Split From Dominic Cooper" (in en-US), *Marie Claire* (2018-08-08).
35. ↑ Marcus, Emily (5 April 2018). "Dominic Cooper and Ruth Negga Split After 8 Years Together". https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/dominic-cooper-ruth-negga-split-after-8-years-of-dating/. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
36. ↑ "Gemma Chan, Dominic Cooper Make First Public Appearance as a Couple" (in en-US). 2018-12-11. https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/gemma-chan-dominic-cooper-make-first-public-appearance-as-couple/.
37. ↑ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories", *The Guardian* (London) (7 August 2014). Retrieved on 26 August 2014.

## External links

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* Template:IMDb name
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* eFilmCritic.com interview with Dominic Cooper by Dan Lybarger
* Dominic cooper interview The Telegraph

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