David Oakes Bio
Rowan David Oakes (born 14 October 1983) is an English actor, ecologist and conservationist. His screen and stage career spans television dramas such as The Pillars of the Earth, The Borgias, The White Queen and Victoria, screen work in Vikings: Valhalla, and extensive theatre including West End productions and Shakespearean roles. Oakes also produces and presents the natural history podcast Trees A Crowd and holds leadership roles with major UK conservation organisations.
Early Life and Background
Rowan David Oakes was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and grew up in Fordingbridge, Hampshire. He is the son of a Church of England canon and developed an early interest in theatre working backstage at the Salisbury Playhouse as a first job.
Academically, Oakes graduated with a first class degree in English literature from the University of Manchester and later completed an MSc in Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology at the University of Exeter. He trained in acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating in 2007, and has combined scientific study with a professional acting career.
Path to Celebrity
Oakes began his professional trajectory in repertory and classical theatre, appearing early at Shakespeare’s Globe and with the Royal Shakespeare Company during festivals and staged readings. That theatrical grounding led to steady work in the London theatre scene and visibility among casting directors for period drama.
The transition to national and international television came with notable villainous parts in high-profile historical dramas. Those screen roles established Oakes as a reliable performer in demanding period pieces and opened opportunities in both television serials and West End theatre.
David Oakes Career
Early Career (2008–2013)
From the late 2000s Oakes combined regular stage work with emerging television roles. He participated in Shakespeare’s Globe Read Not Dead readings and performed in productions across the Almeida Theatre and the Old Vic, building a reputation for classical work and versatility.
On screen, Oakes gained attention for a series of antagonist roles in televised period drama between 2010 and 2013. Those parts helped establish his profile with casting directors for historical series and led to more substantial television work.
The Pillars of the Earth Breakthrough (2010)
Oakes rose to prominence playing the villain William Hamleigh in the television miniseries The Pillars of the Earth (2010). The role attracted international attention and marked his first widely recognised screen breakthrough, showcasing his capacity for playing complex antagonists in large ensemble productions.
The visibility from The Pillars of the Earth led directly to further television opportunities, including casting in Showtime’s The Borgias and other high-profile period pieces that built on his early success.
The Borgias and Television Period Dramas (2011–2016)
In 2011 Oakes joined the cast of The Borgias, portraying Juan Borgia and expanding his presence in international television. He continued to take notable villainous and aristocratic roles, including George, Duke of Clarence in The White Queen (2013) and a guest part in Endeavour (2015).
Oakes played Prince Ernest in the ITV series Victoria (2016), a role that reunited him with previous co-stars and reinforced his association with prestige period drama on British television. Across these shows, Oakes demonstrated range from ruthless antagonists to more sympathetic historical figures.
Theatre and West End Work (2014–2019)
Alongside his screen work, Oakes established a strong West End and regional theatre profile. He originated the role of Christopher Marlowe in the original West End production of Shakespeare in Love at the Noël Coward Theatre in 2014, a performance that drew attention from theatre awards bodies and critics.
Oakes continued to alternate stage and screen, starring as Thomas Novachek in the West End premiere of David Ives’s Venus in Fur in 2017 opposite Natalie Dormer, and taking on the title role of Hamlet at Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre, York, in 2019. His stage work ranges from modern plays to classical text, often emphasising textual clarity and audience engagement.
Vikings: Valhalla and Recent Screen Work (2022–Present)
Oakes joined the cast of the Netflix series Vikings: Valhalla as Earl Godwin, bringing his period-drama experience to a high-profile streaming production. The role fits the trajectory of his television career—major historical dramas with international audiences.
He also expanded his film work with roles in features such as the adaptation of Cold Skin (2017), demonstrating an ability to move between stage, television and film while maintaining a focus on story-driven performances.
Acting Style and Strengths
Oakes is noted for clear diction, a command of classical verse and an aptitude for English period drama. His stage training supports an economy of movement and verbal precision, while his screen work emphasises controlled intensity suited to antagonist and aristocratic characters. Directors and co‑stars repeatedly cite his preparedness and collaborative approach.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include the international recognition from The Pillars of the Earth, originating a major role in the West End production of Shakespeare in Love, and leading roles in Shakespeare productions such as Hamlet. Oakes has also engaged in high-profile charity and advocacy events tied to theatre and conservation causes.
David Oakes Career Wins
Across stage and screen, Oakes’ career highlights are anchored by prominent period-drama performances and leading West End parts. He has been nominated for theatre awards for his West End work and received critical notice for Shakespearean roles and contemporary premieres.
Screen Highlights
On television, Oakes is best known for The Pillars of the Earth, The Borgias, The White Queen and Victoria, roles that brought him to international attention. More recently his part in Vikings: Valhalla extended his presence on global streaming platforms.
Stage Highlights
On stage, Oakes’ credits include Christopher Marlowe in Shakespeare in Love in the West End, Thomas Novachek in Venus in Fur, and the title role in Hamlet at Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre, York. He has also been active in Shakespeare’s Globe Read Not Dead series and directed a range of staged readings and adaptations.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Oakes has performed with and supported multiple theatre initiatives, directed pieces with his company Dog Ate Cake, and participated in charitable theatrical events such as a high‑profile Trial of Macbeth fundraiser. He also narrated and presented natural history material for radio and podcast outlets.
David Oakes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Oakes is the son of a Church of England canon and grew up in Hampshire. His early theatrical exposure came from family proximity to regional theatre and work backstage at the Salisbury Playhouse.
Personal Life
Oakes has been in a relationship with actress Natalie Dormer since 2018; the two met while co‑starring in the West End production of Venus in Fur. The couple entered into a civil partnership in February 2023 in Bath, Somerset, and their family includes two daughters. Oakes plays clarinet and bass clarinet, sings as a bass and is an active supporter of folk music groups connected to his early life and regional arts charities.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025 Oakes starred as Kostya Levin in a production of Anna Karenina at Chichester Festival Theatre, appearing in a parallel storyline to his partner Natalie Dormer. Reviews cited his sympathetic portrayal of Levin and praised the emotional rapport between his character and the production’s Kitty, noting the performance’s stillness and tenderness.
The 2025 season reinforced Oakes’ dual presence as a theatre actor and public-facing conservation advocate, with the production adding a recent, widely noted stage credit to a career already balanced between screen and stage work.
Outside performance, Oakes continues his conservation advocacy through the Trees A Crowd podcast and leadership roles with The Wildlife Trusts, the Woodland Trust and other environmental organisations, integrating his public profile with sustained campaigning for biodiversity and nature protection.