Photo: Raph_PH / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
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.
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
- Occupation
- television actor / film director / stage actor / film actor / actor
2. Background
- 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
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The Martini Shot | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Derek Jacobi born?
Born October 22, 1938 (age 87).
Where is Derek Jacobi from?
Derek Jacobi is from Leytonstone, United Kingdom.
What does Derek Jacobi do?
Derek Jacobi works as television actor, film director, stage actor, film actor, actor.
What is Derek Jacobi known for?
Notable works include The Martini Shot.
Television actor — see all → · Film director — see all → · More people from United Kingdom →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.