{{Short description|Irish actor and musical artist}} {{Use British English|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Christopher Simpson | honorific_suffix = | image = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1975}} | birth_place = Dublin, Republic of Ireland | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | other_names = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = {{flat list | * Actor * singer * songwriter * audiobook narrator }} | years_active = 2002–present | employer = | organization = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | height = | television = | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | movement = | opponents = | boards = | spouse = | children = | parents = | relatives = | awards = | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | alias = | origin = London, England | genre = {{flat list | * Blues * jazz * folk * song cycle }} | occupation = | instrument = Vocals | years_active = 2008–2009 | label = | website = }} | website = {{URL|www.christophersimpson.net/}} | footnotes = }}
'''Christopher Crawford Gatsinzi Simpson''' (born 1975) is an Irish actor. He played Karim in the film adaptation of Monica Ali's novel ''Brick Lane''.
==Early life== Simpson was born in Dublin, Ireland. His father is Irish and his mother was of Greek-Rwandan descent.<ref name="woyingi">{{cite news |url=http://woyingi.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/passing-for-desi-the-strange-case-of-christopher-simpson/|title=Passing for Desi: The Strange Case of Christopher Simpson|publisher=The Woyingi Blog|date=29 March 2011|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref> His father met his mother in Rwanda whilst training to be a teacher. When Simpson was a child he visited Rwanda with his mother.<ref name="independent">{{cite news |last=Lynch|first=Donal|url=http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/homing-in-on-simpson-no-job-for-amateurs-26408804.html|title=Homing in on Simpson no job for amateurs|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=26 February 2006|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref> His mother's first language was Kinyarwanda.
Simpson lived in Dublin until he was six years old. After his parents divorced, he moved to London with his mother and his sister, Fiona, where he has lived ever since.<ref name="soundcloud">{{cite news |last=Simpson|first=Christopher|url=https://soundcloud.com/christopher-simpson/other|title=Other|work=BBC Radio 4|publisher=SoundCloud|year=2001|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="pbs">{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/forum/teeth_20030602.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031121151824/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/forum/teeth_20030602.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 November 2003|title=White Teeth|publisher=Masterpiece Theatre|date=6 February 2003|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref>
When Simpson was at primary school, he began attending drama classes on Thursday evenings<ref name="lineone">{{cite web |url=http://website.lineone.net/~danny.robb/dnkn6.htm|title=dnk4|publisher=lineone|date= n.d.|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref> with an amateur dramatics club.<ref name="independent"/>
==Acting career==
Simpson has often been cast in South Asian roles, although his heritage is mixed European and African.
In 2002, he played twins, Magid and Millat, in ''White Teeth''. In 2003, he starred in ''Second Generation'', and appeared in ''State of Play''.
In 2003, Simpson played a supporting role in ''Code 46''.<ref name="fandango">{{cite news |last=Southern|first=Nathan|url=http://www.fandango.com/christophersimpson/biography/p364777|title=Christopher Simpson|publisher=Fandango|date= n.d.|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref> In 2004, he played the role of Hassan Sabbah in ''The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam''.<ref name="theiapolis">{{cite web |url=http://people.theiapolis.com/actor-4BBI/christopher-simpson/|title=Christopher Simpson|publisher=Theiapolis|date= n.d.|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref> In 2005, he appeared in ''Chromophobia''.<ref name="fandango"/> In 2006, he played a supporting role in ''Mischief Night''. In 2007, he played the lead role of Karim in the film adaptation of Monica Ali's novel ''Brick Lane'',<ref name="bifa">{{cite web|url=http://bifa.chaptermedia.com/people/christopher-simpson|title=Christopher Simpson|publisher=The British Independent Film Awards|accessdate=1 May 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130628214305/http://bifa.chaptermedia.com/people/christopher-simpson|archivedate=28 June 2013}}</ref> and a supporting role in ''Exitz''.<ref name="theiapolis"/>
Simpson had one week to learn the part of Karim for ''Brick Lane''.<ref name="bifa"/><ref name="timeout">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.timeout.com/london/film/brick-lane|title=Brick Lane (15)|magazine=Time Out|date=10 October 2007|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="bbc">{{cite news |last=Smith|first=Neil|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/11/12/brick_lane_2007_review.shtml|title=Brick Lane (2007)|publisher=BBC|date=12 November 2007|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref>
In 2008, Simpson was a British Independent Film Awards jury member.<ref name="bifa"/>
In 2006, Simpson played the role of Dionysus in Conall Morrison's ''The Bacchae of Baghdad'' (an updated version of Euripides's play ''The Bacchae'') at the Abbey Theatre.<ref name="independent"/>
In 2011, he played the role of Maz in John Donnelly's ''The Knowledge'',<ref name="thestage1">{{cite news |last=Sierz|first=Aleks|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/30998/the-knowledge|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505064630/http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/30998/the-knowledge|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=The Knowledge|newspaper=The Stage|date=18 January 2011|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref> and the role of Parvez in Steve Waters' ''Little Platoons'', both at the Bush Theatre.<ref name="thestage2">{{cite news |last=Sierz|first=Aleks|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/31069/little-platoons|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505150005/http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/31069/little-platoons|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=Little Platoons|newspaper=The Stage|date=25 January 2011|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="whatsonstage">{{cite news|last=Coveney|first=Michael|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/reviews/theatre/london/E8831295926399/Little+Platoons.html|title=Little Platoons|publisher=Whatsonstage.com|date=25 January 2011|accessdate=1 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131092632/http://www.whatsonstage.com/reviews/theatre/london/E8831295926399/Little+Platoons.html|archive-date=31 January 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="britishtheatreguide">{{cite news |url=http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/littleplatoons-rev|title=Little Platoons|publisher=The British Theatre Guide|date= n.d.|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref>
In 2016, he played the role of Sebastian in Bryony Lavery's adaptation of ''Brideshead Revisited'' at the English Touring Theatre and UK National Tour.<ref name="guardian2">{{cite news |last=Hickling|first=Alfred|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/may/05/brideshead-revisited-review-waugh-theatre-royal-york|title=Brideshead Revisited review – Waugh's charming men hit the stage in style|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 May 2016|accessdate=1 June 2018}}</ref>
==Music career== {{Main|Very Present Tense}} In 2008, whilst he was artist-in-residence with creative arts group Metal<ref name="bifa"/> Simpson completed a song cycle, ''Very Present Tense''. He wrote it over a number of years in response to the death of his mother. The songs which reference musical idioms, including blues, jazz and Rwandan folk, reflecting his Rwandan and Irish family heritage,<ref name="metro">{{cite news |last=Smirke|first=Richard|url=http://metro.co.uk/2008/08/07/chris-simpson-very-present-tense-355272/|title=Chris Simpson: Very Present Tense|newspaper=Metro|date=7 August 2008|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref> The album was developed in collaboration with composer, Tom Havelock.<ref name="tete-a-tete">{{cite web |url=http://www.tete-a-tete.org.uk/very-present-tense/|title=Very Present Tense|publisher=Tête à Tête|date= n.d.|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref>
On 8 August 2008, the song cycle premiered at the arts hub in Edge Hill Station pavilion,<ref name="liverpooldailypost">{{cite news |last=Anderson|first=Vicky|url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-culture/liverpool-arts/2008/08/04/actor-unveils-his-new-train-of-musical-thought-92534-21459266/|title=Culture Diary: Actor unveils his new train of musical thought.|newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post|date=4 August 2008|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="liverpoolecho">{{cite news |last=Parker|first=Samantha|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/08/06/festival-time-for-kids-is-a-feast-for-imagination-100252-21473366/|title=Festival time for kids is a feast for imagination! |newspaper=Liverpool Echo|date=6 August 2008|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref> during the Liverpool European Capital of Culture.<ref name="bushtheatre">{{cite web|url=http://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/biography/christopher_simpson/|title=Christopher Simpson|publisher=Bush Theatre|accessdate=1 May 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417220255/http://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/biography/christopher_simpson/|archivedate=17 April 2014}}</ref> On 29 September 2009, he performed the work for the second time with Metal at the Village Green Festival, this time working with a group of musicians from Southend. Simpson then worked on recording the work.<ref name="metalculturee">{{cite web |url=http://www.metalculture.com/archive/christopher-simpson.html|title=Christopher Simpson|publisher=Metal|date= n.d.|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref>
==Other work== In 2001, Simpson made a documentary for BBC Radio 4 called ''Other'',<ref name="soundcloud"/> exploring the identities of people who have parents of different origins and have grown up in a culture belonging to neither parent.<ref name="bushtheatre"/>
Simpson has narrated audio books for ''Slumdog Millionaire'' (originally published as Vikas Swarup's ''Q & A''), E. M. Forster's ''A Passage to India'' and Hanif Kureishi's ''The Buddha of Suburbia''.<ref name="examiner">{{cite news |last=Kerns|first=Michelle|title=Interested in 'Slumdog Millionaire?' Forget the paperback and the movie – get the audiobook|publisher=Examiner.com|date=20 April 2009}}</ref>
==Personal life== In 1996, Simpson's mother died; Simpson and his sister returned to Rwanda to bury her ashes.<ref name="soundcloud"/>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | rowspan="1"| 2003 | ''Code 46'' | Paul | rowspan="6"| Supporting role |- | rowspan="2"| 2005 | ''Chromophobia'' | Derek |- | ''The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam'' | Hassan Sabbah |- | rowspan="2"| 2006 | ''Take 3 Girls'' | Rafiq |- | ''Mischief Night'' | Big Man Qassim |- | rowspan="2"| 2007 | ''Exitz'' | Dr. Murli Patel |- | ''Brick Lane'' | Karim | Lead role |- | rowspan="1"| 2008 | ''My Father's Son'' | Ameer | Short |- | rowspan="1"| 2009 | ''Little Foxes'' | Jeff | rowspan="2"| Supporting role |- | rowspan="1"| 2009 | ''It's a Wonderful Afterlife'' | J.J Jaan |- | rowspan="1"| 2010 | ''Ever Here I Be'' | Jason | Short |- | rowspan="1"| 2012 | ''Day of the Flowers'' | Ernesto | rowspan="2"| Supporting role |- | rowspan="1"| 2013 | ''Sixteen'' | Headmaster |- |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | rowspan="1"| 2002 | ''White Teeth'' | Magid Iqbal/Millat Iqbal | 2 episodes: "The Trouble with Millat", "The Return of Magid Iqbal" |- | rowspan="2"| 2003 | ''State of Play'' | Adam Greene | 4 episodes: "#1.1", "#1.3", "#1.5", "#1.6" |- | ''Second Generation'' | Sam Khan | 2 episodes: "#1.1", "#1.2" |- | rowspan="2"| 2005 | ''All About George'' | Ash | 6 episodes: "#1.1", "#1.2", "#1.3", "#1.4", "#1.5", "#1.6" |- | ''The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag'' | Sanji | TV film |- | rowspan="2"| 2007 | ''Shameless'' | Murad | 1 episode: "#4.4" |- | ''Be More Ethnic'' | Sol De Silva | TV film |- | rowspan="1"| 2008 | ''Spooks: Code 9'' | Vik | 6 episodes: "#1.1", "#1.2", "#1.3", "#1.4", "#1.5", "#1.6" |- | rowspan="1"| 2017 | ''The Good Karma Hospital'' | Anton Kartik | 1 episode: "#1.2" |- |}
===Stage=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Venue |- | rowspan="1"| 2001 | ''The Ramayana''<ref name="birmingham">{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/cast/christopher-simpson?production_id=524|title=Christopher Simpson|publisher=Birmingham Repertory Theatre|accessdate=1 May 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051848/http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/cast/christopher-simpson?production_id=524|archivedate=4 March 2016}}</ref> | Bharatha | Royal National Theatre |- | rowspan="1"| 2002 | ''Pericles''<ref name="birmingham"/> | Pericles | Royal Shakespeare Company/Cardboard Citizens |- | rowspan="1"| 2003 | ''Fragile Land''<ref name="birmingham"/> | Omar | Hampstead Theatre |- | rowspan="1"| 2006 | ''The Bacchae of Baghdad''<ref name="birmingham"/> | Dionysus | Abbey Theatre |- | rowspan="1"| 2007 | ''Fallujah''<ref name="birmingham"/><ref name="wsws">{{cite news |last=Bond|first=Paul|url=http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2007/06/fall-j01.html|title=Fallujah: Sympathy alone is not enough|publisher=World Socialist Web Site|date=1 June 2007|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref> | Iraqi gunman | Institute of Contemporary Arts/Old Truman Brewery |- | rowspan="2"| 2011 | ''The Knowledge''<ref name="birmingham"/> | Maz | rowspan="2"| Bush Theatre |- | ''Little Platoons''<ref name="birmingham"/> | Parvez |- | rowspan="2"| 2012 | ''LeanerFasterStronger''<ref name="sheffieldtheatres">{{cite news|url=http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/about/news/blogs/leanerfasterstronger-first-day-of-rehearsals/|title=LeanerFasterStronger – First Day of Rehearsals|publisher=Sheffield Theatres|date=25 April 2012|accessdate=1 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517182006/http://sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/about/news/blogs/leanerfasterstronger-first-day-of-rehearsals/|archive-date=17 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="thestage3">{{cite news |url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/listings/production.php/55401/leanerfasterstronger|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612182330/http://www1.thestage.co.uk/listings/production.php/55401/leanerfasterstronger|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 June 2015|title=LeanerFasterStronger|newspaper=The Stage|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="forgetoday">{{cite news|last=Connor|first=Laura|url=http://forgetoday.com/fuse/review-leanerfasterstronger/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629073519/http://forgetoday.com/fuse/review-leanerfasterstronger/|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2013|title=Review: LeanerFasterStronger|publisher=ForgeToday.com|date=7 June 2012|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref> | Voice | Sheffield Theatres |- | ''Forests''<ref name="guardian1">{{cite news |last=Michael|first=Billington|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/sep/05/forests-review|title=Forests – review|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 September 2012|access-date=1 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="huffingtonpost">{{cite news |last=Matthew|first=Tucker|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11/07/naked-shakespeare-forests-review_n_2087315.html|title=Forests (REVIEW): Calixto Bieito Condenses The Spirit of Shakespeare With Nudity And Violence |newspaper=The Guardian|date=7 November 2012|accessdate=1 May 2013}}</ref> | Orlando | Birmingham Repertory Theatre |- | 2016 | ''Brideshead Revisited''<ref name="guardian2"/> | Sebastian | English Touring Theatre/UK National Tour |- |}
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details ! scope="col"| Chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications |- ! |- ! scope="row" | ''Very Present Tense'' | *Released: 8 August 2008 *Label: *Formats: Digital Download | |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.christophersimpson.net/}} *{{IMDb name|1256011}} *{{SoundCloud|christopher-simpson|Christopher Simpson}} *Simpson, Christopher. [https://soundcloud.com/christopher-simpson/other Other]. ''BBC Radio 4''. 2001
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Christopher}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Irish people of Greek descent Category:Irish people of Rwandan descent Category:Irish emigrants to the United Kingdom Category:Irish male television actors Category:Irish male stage actors Category:Irish male film actors Category:21st-century Irish male actors Category:Irish male singer-songwriters Category:Male actors from London Category:Singers from London Category:Male actors from Dublin (city) Category:Audiobook narrators Category:21st-century Irish singer-songwriters