Tommy Jessop, an actor with Down’s syndrome, made headlines with his TV debut in Holby City. He became the first actor with Down’s syndrome to play a leading role in a primetime TV drama when he was cast in the BAFTA-nominated Coming Down The Mountain opposite Nicholas Hoult. Jessop has also made appearances in Casualty and Doctors, and has landed roles in critically-acclaimed short films. He even made history by becoming the first professional actor with Down’s syndrome to play Hamlet, a performance that Sir Mark Rylance described as ‘phenomenal’.
Tommy’s acting career has been supported by his parents Jane and Edmund, as well as his brother William, a documentary filmmaker. William once commented, “Tommy can’t really tie his own shoelaces, but he can stand on stage and break your heart.”
In Line of Duty, Tommy portrayed the character Terry Boyle, a man with Down’s syndrome who is exploited by an organized crime group. But it was Tommy’s performance that received praise from Twitter users.
Jane, a former marketing executive, recalls her initial reaction to finding out that Tommy had Down’s syndrome on the day he was born in William’s 2013 short film, “Tommy’s Story”. She expressed her concerns for his older brother and how their lives would be affected. However, none of her worries turned out to be true.
William, who has made two films about his brother, emphasizes that growing up with Tommy was just like having any other brother. They played sports together and were very close. Tommy’s passion for acting was evident from a young age, and he participated in school plays and drama groups.
In order to provide her son with acting opportunities, Jane founded Blue Apple Theatre in 2005. The theatre company casts adults with learning disabilities, giving them a chance to perform in shows and pursue their acting dreams. Tommy’s breakthrough came in 2007 when he was cast in the BBC1 TV adaptation of Coming Down The Mountain.
Since then, Tommy has continued to build his acting career, appearing in short films and guest lead roles on BBC Radio 4’s Afternoon Plays. He has also received praise for his role in Blue Apple Theatre’s production of Hamlet.
Line of Duty has been Tommy’s most high-profile role to date. While he first appeared as Terry Boyle in series 5, he had a more prominent presence in the most recent series. It is worth noting that the character of Terry Boyle was first introduced in 2012, played by a different actor.
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