Tommy Jessop

About

Award-winning actor, cinematographer, and ambassador to Mencap and the National Down Syndrome Policy Group who became the first actor with Down syndrome to star in a primetime BBC drama when he portrayed Ben Philips in the 2007 TV movie Coming Down the Mountain. He is also the first actor with Down syndrome to hold full voting membership with BAFTA and to have toured in the titular role of the stage play Hamlet. His role in the short film Innocence earned substantial acclaim. He has also appeared on television series like Casualty, Doctors, and Line of Duty. 

Before Fame

He knew he wanted to become a professional actor from a very early age. In 2005, his acceptance into the BBC/Channel 4 Talent Fund for Learning Disabled Actors marked the start of what would quickly become a fruitful and groundbreaking career. He made his on-screen debut as Anthony Nugent in a 2007 episode of Holby City.

Trivia

He and his brother earned a Groundbreaking Program prize from the Creative Diversity Network Awards for their 2014 documentary Growing Up Down's. His substantial contribution to the entertainment industry was awarded with an honorary doctorate of arts degree from the University of Winchester in 2021. He is also the founder of the esteemed Blue Apple Theatre and author of the 2023 memoir A Life Worth Living: Acting, Activism, and Everything Else.

Family Life

He is the son of Jane and Edmund Jessop. He and his brother, filmmaker Will Jessop, have collaborated together on several projects including the documentary films Tommy's Story and Tommy Jessop Goes to Hollywood.

Associated With

He starred alongside Nicholas Hoult in the 2007 television film Coming Down the Mountain, which was written by novelist Mark Haddon. He has provided the voice of roles in several BBC radio productions including Stone with Hugo Speer and The Climb with Warwick Davis.