Michael Simkins is a respected British actor, author, journalist, broadcaster and raconteur. His career covers West End musicals, National Theatre productions, television drama, films, radio and bestselling books about acting and cricket.
Known for roles in Chicago, Mamma Mia!, Foyle’s War, EastEnders and The Crown, he has built a career based on versatility, intelligence and sharp humour. He is also a popular speaker at corporate events and after-dinner occasions.
Michael Simkins: Early Life and Brighton Roots
There is some disagreement about his birth details. Some records give 4 February 1956 in Brighton, while Simkins has said that he was born in Greenford in 1957. He regards Brighton as his hometown because his family moved there when he was four.
His father, Dennis Simkins, left the Civil Service to run a sweet shop. He also worked as a newsagent, tobacconist and confectioner, while performing as a semi-professional dance-band musician. This lively family background helped create Simkins’ early interest in music, performance and theatre.
As a child, he became fascinated by actors and stage life. He remembered actor Freddie Frinton, who was performing in Brighton, taking him to school during rehearsals. The experience of watching performers enter through the theatre stage door made a lasting impression on him.
Brighton also shaped his love of cricket and storytelling. His childhood experiences later influenced Fatty Batter, his humorous memoir about growing up as an overweight child and finding confidence through sport.
Michael Simkins and RADA Training
Michael Simkins trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, one of Britain’s most respected drama schools. He has spoken about auditioning at eighteen, while academy records place his training between 1976 and 1978.
After leaving RADA, he gained early professional experience at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury. He later joined Alan Ayckbourn’s company in Scarborough, where he developed the discipline required for a long stage career.
Alan Ayckbourn became one of the most important influences on his professional development. Simkins has explained that Ayckbourn helped him move from regional repertory theatre towards London, the West End and the National Theatre.
His first major National Theatre success came with A View from the Bridge in 1986. He played Marco in the production, which starred Michael Gambon. Simkins has described this work as one of the proudest moments of his career.
Michael Simkins on the West End Stage
Theatre has remained the central part of Simkins’ professional life. His stage work includes serious drama, comedy, classical theatre and musical theatre, allowing him to move easily between very different styles. His major productions include King Lear, A View from the Bridge, A Small Family Business, Tons of Money, The Unfriend, John Gabriel Borkman, Backstairs Billy, Candida, Eden, Loyalty and Yes, Prime Minister. He has also worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and performed at major London theatres, including the National Theatre, the Bridge Theatre, the Duke of York’s Theatre and the Criterion Theatre.
The Roles That Made Michael Simkins Famous
His musical theatre credits have brought him some of his best-known roles. He played Billy Flynn in Chicago, Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia! and Paul in Sam Mendes’ production of Company. These parts demanded strong comic timing, confidence, singing ability and a powerful stage presence. Simkins’ performances helped establish him as an actor who could combine dramatic skill with warmth and entertainment. Other West End productions include Hay Fever, Donkey’s Years, Mary Stuart, The Old Masters, Democracy, Richard III, Burn This, Look Look, Henceforward and The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Backstairs Billy, Guys & Dolls and Richard II
In 2023, Michael Simkins played two roles in Backstairs Billy at the Duke of York’s Theatre. He performed as Mr Harrington-Bahr in the first act and Hugo McCoyd in the second act. He later joined the Bridge Theatre production of Guys & Dolls as Arvide Abernathy. His performances ran from September 2024 until the show closed in January 2025. He described Arvide as tender, wise and morally strong. In 2025, he played the Duke of York in Nicholas Hytner’s production of Shakespeare’s Richard II, starring Jonathan Bailey. These roles demonstrate his continued importance within British theatre.
Film and Television Career
Simkins has worked steadily in television for many years. His television credits include Foyle’s War, EastEnders, The Crown, This Is Going to Hurt, Father Brown, Finding Alice, Grantchester and Miss Scarlet and the Duke.
In Foyle’s War, he played Hugh Reid, a senior police officer. The role remains one of his most recognised television performances. In EastEnders, he played Steve Lowe, a probation officer connected with Bianca Butcher’s storyline.
His other television work includes Silent Witness, White House Farm, Endeavour, Harlots, A Touch of Cloth, Above Suspicion, Minder, Lewis, New Tricks, Green Wing, Midsomer Murders, My Family and King Lear. His film credits include V for Vendetta, Wilde, Topsy-Turvy, The Iron Lady, Greed, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again! and Heidi. Although many of his screen roles have been supporting parts, they have helped make him a familiar face to British audiences.
Michael Simkins as an Author
Writing is another important part of Simkins’ career. His books combine personal experience, humour and practical knowledge, particularly his understanding of acting and the entertainment business. His first major memoir, What’s My Motivation?, explores the reality of working as an actor. It discusses auditions, insecurity, rejection, success and the unpredictable nature of professional theatre.
He followed it with The Rules of Acting, a humorous guide to surviving the acting profession. The book explains the emotional and practical challenges faced by performers while also offering advice based on his own experiences. His writing style is direct, witty and self-aware. He often uses amusing stories to discuss difficult subjects such as unemployment, professional anxiety, ageing and the pressure to remain successful.
Fatty Batter and His Love of Cricket
Fatty Batter: How Cricket Saved My Life (Then Ruined It) is one of his best-known books. It recalls his childhood in Brighton, his experience of being overweight and the important role cricket played in his life.
The memoir was shortlisted for the 2007 Costa Book Prize. Its appeal comes from the combination of sporting memories and personal honesty. Simkins writes about cricket with affection, but he also laughs at his own failures and frustrations.
His other cricket book, The Last Flannelled Fool, examines his relationship with traditional English cricket. He has remained a keen club and county cricket supporter throughout his life.
Dear Lupin and Broadcasting
Michael Simkins adapted Roger and Charlie Mortimer’s letters into the stage production Dear Lupin. The story focuses on the relationship between a father and son, and Simkins worked closely with Charlie Mortimer while developing the script.
The production toured Britain and later reached London’s West End. Its themes of family, love, embarrassment and ageing connected strongly with audiences. He has also contributed to The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph and The Times. His broadcasting work includes appearances on Radio 4 programmes such as Today and Front Row.
Michael Simkins and Julia Deakin
Michael Simkins is married to actress Julia Deakin. She is known for television and film work including Spaced, So Haunt Me, Oh, Doctor Beeching! and Hot Fuzz. The couple have maintained a relatively private family life. Simkins has spoken warmly about Deakin’s influence, describing her as someone who has helped keep him grounded throughout his long career.
His personal interests include Buddhism, swimming, classic British crime films, Gilbert and Sullivan, flying and cricket. He has also spoken about holding a pilot’s licence and enjoying the freedom of aviation.
Speaking and Corporate Entertainment
Alongside acting and writing, Simkins works as an experienced speaker and raconteur. His ability to tell humorous stories about theatre makes him suitable for after-dinner entertainment, corporate events and media discussions. He has appeared at Lord’s Cricket Ground, the Royal Shakespeare Company and on transatlantic cruises. His style combines intelligent conversation, backstage stories and self-deprecating humour.
Colleagues have described him as enthusiastic, wry and deeply interested in show business. He has also discussed imposter syndrome, explaining that even experienced performers can fear being exposed as inadequate.
Michael Simkins’ Recent Work
In 2026, Michael Simkins played Brian in the BBC Radio 4 comedy drama B&B, alongside Nina Wadia. The programme follows two friends who open a bed and breakfast in the Shropshire countryside.
Michael Simkins also played Howard in a staged reading of Wallace Shawn’s The Designated Mourner at San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre in California. The production explored culture, politics, marriage and life under an authoritarian government.
His recent work shows that he continues to move between theatre, radio, television, writing and live entertainment. Rather than limiting himself to one medium, he has created a varied and durable career.
The Lasting Career of Michael Simkins
Michael Simkins has succeeded because he combines professional discipline with curiosity and humour. He has worked in classical drama, comedy, musicals, television, cinema, radio and publishing.
From Brighton and RADA to the National Theatre and the West End, his journey reflects the changing nature of an acting career. He is recognised not only for individual performances but also for his ability to communicate entertaining stories.
His work as an actor, author, broadcaster and speaker continues to give him a distinctive place in British entertainment. With decades of experience behind him, he remains an engaging performer whose career reaches far beyond the stage.
Also Read
