British actor Will Sharpe is commanding the spotlight in one of Sky's most anticipated new dramas of the year, Amadeus. This lavish five-part series, a fresh interpretation of Peter Shaffer's classic play, sees Sharpe take on the role of the prodigious composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, opposite Paul Bettany's Antonio Salieri.
A Rising Star's Formative Years
Will Sharpe's background is distinctly international. Born in London, he is half-Japanese on his mother's side and was raised in Tokyo until the age of eight, before his family settled in Surrey. He received his education at the prestigious Winchester College before studying classics at the University of Cambridge, where he notably became president of the famed Cambridge Footlights comedy troupe.
His initial foray into the entertainment industry, however, was unconventional. After moving to London, Sharpe performed at open-mic comedy nights in Whitechapel, employing a deliberately ambiguous style that left one comedy agent unable to discern if he was actually performing comedy. This led him to pivot towards classical theatre, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company for its 2008-2009 season.
Acclaim and Acknowledgment in Film and TV
Sharpe's unique talent soon found its footing. His 2011 film Black Pond, co-directed with Tom Kingsley, earned a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding Debut. He later created, wrote, and starred in the Channel 4 comedy-drama Flowers, featuring Olivia Colman and Julian Barratt, which won him a BAFTA for best scripted comedy.
Further critical acclaim followed with his performance in the crime drama Giri/Haji, which secured him a BAFTA for acting. His reach extended to Hollywood with an Emmy-nominated role in the second season of The White Lotus. Sharpe also directed the biopic The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
Advocacy and Personal Experience with Mental Health
A recurring theme in Sharpe's work is a nuanced exploration of mental health, drawn from his own lived experience. Following the second season of Flowers in 2018, he publicly shared his diagnosis of type two bipolar disorder.
In a blog for the charity Mind, he expressed his hope that the series conveyed the helplessness and confusion of mental illness. He articulated the challenge of combating the "fictional narrative" sold by mental illness, aiming to show that there is always a potential path through the struggle.
Family Life with a Marvel Star
Away from the camera, Sharpe's personal life is anchored by his family. He has been in a relationship with actress Sophia Di Martino since 2009, after they met on the set of Casualty. The couple, who have two children born in 2019 and 2021, co-starred in Flowers.
Di Martino is best known for playing Sylvie, a variant of Loki, in the Disney+ Marvel series. She has also appeared in Sharpe's The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and will feature in his upcoming Apple TV series Prodigies.
Will Sharpe's journey from open-mic obscurity to leading one of Sky's flagship dramas is a testament to his multifaceted creativity and resilience. With Amadeus now available on Sky and NOW, audiences can witness the latest chapter in his compelling career.
