My Take
Sir Derek Jacobi is one of those rare actors where you genuinely feel like you're in the presence of something uncommon the moment he opens his mouth. Cambridge-educated, knighted by the Queen in 1994, two Olivier Awards, a Tony, two Emmys — the trophy shelf is impressive, sure, but the real thing is what he does with a line of Shakespeare or a quietly menacing glance on screen. I first really locked in on him through his landmark BBC portrayal of Claudius, and I've never quite gotten over how completely he inhabited that character. What I love most is that he never seemed interested in being a movie star — he just kept doing the work, stage and screen, decade after decade, with the kind of craft that makes younger actors look like they're just guessing. A genuine institution.
Overview
Sir Derek George Jacobi (; born 22 October 1938) is an English actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen as well as for his work at the Royal National Theatre, he has received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, a British Academy Television Award, two Laurence Olivier Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. He was given a knighthood for his services to theatre by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Derek Jacobi
- Name (Japanese)
- デレク・ジャコビ
- Reading
- でれく・じゃこび
- Born
- October 22, 1938 (age 87)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Tiger
- Origin
- Leytonstone, United Kingdom
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- television actor / film director / stage actor / film actor / actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- University of Cambridge
Awards & achievements
- 1983 Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a Revival
- 1985 Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- 1985 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
- 1994 Knight Bachelor
- 1989 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
- 2001 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
- 2009 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor
- 1976 British Academy Television Award for Best Actor
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The Martini Shot | — |
6. Links
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.