Andrew Scott

Explore the life, career, and insights of Irish actor Andrew Scott (born October 21, 1976). From Sherlock’s Moriarty to Fleabag’s Priest and Ripley, dive into his journey, roles, style, and quotes.

Introduction

Andrew Scott is an Irish actor celebrated for his versatility, emotional depth, and charisma across stage and screen. Though he’s taken on villainous, comedic, and romantic roles, he brings to each character a compelling mix of intensity and vulnerability. He is best known for playing Jim Moriarty in Sherlock, the “Hot Priest” in Fleabag, and, more recently, Tom Ripley in Ripley. His career blends theater, television, and film—earning him widespread critical acclaim and many awards.

Early Life and Education

Andrew Scott was born on October 21, 1976, in Dublin, Ireland, to Jim and Nora Scott. His mother was an art teacher and his father worked in a recruitment agency. He is the second of three children; he has an older sister, Sarah, and a younger sister, Hannah.

Growing up, he was raised in the Catholic tradition, though he later became non-practicing. He attended Gonzaga College in Dublin and also took weekend acting classes with Ann Kavanagh’s Young People’s Theatre in Rathfarnham. At 17, he starred in his first film, Korea, and by his early 20s, he had entered the Abbey Theatre and moved to London.

He briefly studied drama at Trinity College Dublin but left after six months to pursue acting full-time.

Career and Achievements

Breakthrough & Television Roles

Scott’s breakout role came when he portrayed Jim Moriarty, the arch-nemesis of Sherlock Holmes, in the BBC series Sherlock (2010–2017). His portrayal was widely praised and earned him a BAFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In Fleabag (2019), he played the enigmatic “Hot Priest,” a role that expanded his fan base and earned him a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

He also guest starred in Black Mirror (“Smithereens”) and received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for that role.

In 2024, Scott took on the leading role in the series Ripley, adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s novels. His performance garnered nominations for both the Golden Globe and the Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as a Peabody Award.

Film & Stage Work

On the film side, Scott has appeared in notable productions including Pride (2014), Spectre (2015), 1917 (2019), and All of Us Strangers (2023). His leading performance in All of Us Strangers earned significant recognition and award nominations.

In theater, Scott has had substantial accomplishments:

• He won a Laurence Olivier Award for Present Laughter (2020) as the lead.

• Early in his career, he won an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre for A Girl in a Car with a Man.

• In 2024, he performed in a solo adaptation of Chekhov’s Vanya, playing all eight roles. For that, he won a Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor.

In an unusual feat, in 2024 he became the first actor to win best actor awards from the Critics’ Circle in both theater and film in the same year—Vanya on stage and All of Us Strangers on screen.

He has accumulated many accolades: awards in both stage and screen realms, and frequent nominations across BAFTAs, Emmys, Golden Globes, and SAGs.

Personal Life & Identity

Scott publicly came out as gay in a 2013 interview. He has spoken about the pressures and assumptions around sexuality, especially in his youth, and how being open about his identity matters to him. He’s advocated against the implicit societal assumption that everyone is straight until proven otherwise.

He strongly values privacy: he distinguishes between being private and being secretive and tends to guard much of his personal life from public exposure.

In interviews, he has acknowledged being emotionally responsive—crying or laughing easily—and trying to maintain kindness in his process. He has also reflected on faith: though no longer practicing Catholicism, he speaks of evolving beliefs and past spiritual refuge, such as sitting in silence in a Quaker meeting house.

Personality, Style & Craft

• Emotional Resonance & Versatility: Scott often brings raw emotional texture to his roles, whether playing deeply flawed or deeply empathetic characters.

• Balance of Mystery & Control: He insists on preserving a bit of mystery, not injecting too much of his own personality into characters, to allow them space to breathe.

• Sense of Humor: He has said that acting without humor is “mind-numbingly boring,” and that he doesn’t respond well to what is labeled “serious acting.”

• Professional Integrity: Scott has voiced frustration with actors being asked to work for free, especially in fringe or early-stage projects, asserting that actors deserve fair compensation.

• Approach to Roles: He aims to remain fluid, willing to take risks, and not be constrained by one version of himself.

• Fashion & Appearance: He also notes that one of the pleasures of acting is the opportunity to wear interesting costumes—he sees wardrobe as part of storytelling.

Famous Quotes of Andrew Scott

Here are some memorable quotes from Andrew Scott reflecting his approach to acting and life:

• “I find any sort of acting that doesn’t have any humor in it is mind-numbingly boring. ‘Serious acting’ is the kind of acting that I don’t ever respond to.”

• “People get distracted by box-office figures and take jobs because they think it will advance their careers.”

• “It’s a thrilling world, and people really like stories about secrets, which is the essence of a spy drama.”

• “What you sacrifice then is a slight mystery.” (on not injecting too much of oneself into a role)

• “I am a private person; I think that’s important if you’re an actor. But there’s a difference between privacy and secrecy, and I’m not a secretive person.”

• “You’ve got to take a risk.”

• “I don’t like it when people ask actors to work for free – on the fringe – as if it’s some kind of virtue. That annoys me – actors should be paid well.”

These quotes underscore his dedication to craft over fame, and his belief that acting should be rooted in honesty and respect for both character and audience.

Lessons from Andrew Scott

1. Let vulnerability be your strength.
   His performances often show that openness to emotional risk can deepen the connection with audiences.

2. Guard mystery—but be authentic.
   He balances revealing character truth while preserving a bit of the unknown, which keeps work compelling.

3. Humor is essential, even in drama.
   He believes drama that lacks a touch of humor becomes sterile; the human experience is rarely unrelieved.

4. Value professionalism and dignity.
   His stance against expecting free labor in the arts illustrates that respect in the industry matters.

5. Be selective, not formulaic.
   Rather than leaning into a type, he pursues variety—villains, priests, romantic leads—to stretch himself.

6. Privacy is a creative tool.
   By preserving personal boundaries, he allows characters to shine without conflation with his own life.

Conclusion

Andrew Scott’s trajectory—from a Dublin youth studying theater, to becoming a distinguished actor across stage, television, and film—is marked by daring, emotional depth, and integrity. Whether as Moriarty, the Priest, or Ripley, he brings to each role intelligence, complexity, and heart.

His voice on the craft of acting—insisting on humor, mystery, fairness, and emotional truth—is resonant not just for fans but for aspiring actors. In a time of ubiquitous visibility, Scott’s balance between public work and private self also stands as a model for sustaining art over a long career.