Mark Lewis Jones, who plays Tom Christie in the hit drama series Outlander, has become one of the most recognizable faces on television – but you might not realize who he is
Mark Lewis Jones, known for his unique features and captivating performances, has become a regular face in some of our favorite dramas, including Netflix’s The Crown, HBO’s Chernobyl, the popular series Game of Thrones, and Outlander.
At present, the Welsh actor is appearing on ITVX in the thrilling drama Out There, which explores the issue of county lines drug trafficking affecting a Welsh farming community. In this series, Mark assumes the role of Caleb, the contentious brother of Martin Clunes’ character Nathan, as they find themselves embroiled in a murder cover-up.
Despite his knack for playing formidable characters, such as Iwan Bevan in Jack Thorne’s drama The Accident and the hardened ex-criminal Steve Baldini in the Welsh series Keeping Faith, he also displayed his comedic skills in Sky One’s Stella. He delivers moving performances in dramas like BBC’s Men Up, which tackles impotency, and more intricate roles like Tom Christie in Outlander.
Among his other notable roles are his depiction of the proud Welsh lecturer and nationalist, Dr. Edward Millward, in The Crown on Netflix, and Captain Canady – the outspoken First Order officer who meets a fiery end – in 2017’s Star Wars VIII, reports the Daily Record.
While his name might not immediately resonate, it’s his versatility that keeps him in constant demand as an actor and makes him instantly visible, according to the Scottish Daily Express.
Mark Lewis Jones’ characters in TV shows such as Keeping Faith and Stella have gained him a loyal fan base in Wales. He played Steve Baldini and Rob Morgan in these shows.
In a previous interview with WalesOnline, Mark shared his thoughts on why these characters are so popular: “The thing about him was he was from Pontyberry but he moved away. There’s something strange about him.
“He came back from Canada with loads of money and is a local boy made good and he’s very generous. There were lots of boxes ticked there. Steve Baldini lives in a caravan, ex-criminal comes good, always attractive!”
Mark also mentioned that people often see him differently than he sees himself. He finds it interesting when fans, especially those from the valleys, approach him and express their love for his character Rob Morgan.
His youngest son, Jacob, 15, is used to people asking for pictures with his dad.
Mark, now 60 and living in Cardiff, was born in Rhosllannerchrugog near Wrexham. He began acting as a teenager with the Clwyd Youth Theater and later honed his skills at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
He’s trodden the boards with the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company and at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London, but it’s his television career that has truly flourished. His early gigs included parts in shows like The Bill, Casualty, Soldier Soldier, and A Mind To Kill.
In 2016, the dad of four snagged a Bafta Cymru award for Best Actor thanks to his performance in the 2015 flick The Passing/Yr Ymadawiad.
Since then, he’s been seen in mega hits such as Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Game of Thrones, and hopped aboard the Outlander train in its sixth season as Tom Christie. He also nabbed a role in Netflix’s smash hit The Crown, portraying the esteemed Welsh tutor and nationalist, Dr Edward Millward, in the show’s third season—a role Mark found gratifying especially after meeting the actual Dr Millward while making the show.
The episode called Tywysog Cymru showcases a youthful Prince Charles (portrayed by Josh O’Connor) studying Welsh at university in Aberystwyth under Dr Millward’s tutelage, who was a bigwig in the Welsh nationalist scene during the ’60s.
After wrapping up filming, Mark told WalesOnline: “It definitely needed to be true for me,” stressing the need for an authentic depiction of the Welsh cause and Dr Millward’s part in it.
He went on to say, “But the story of the episode is about two men whose lives collide. They come from different worlds and it’s how they are affected by meeting each other.”
Mark Lewis Jones reflected on his roles, stating: “Some of the characters I’ve been playing recently are either psychopathic or sociopathic. Tedi is neither of those, but what I did like about the character that was written about Tedi and I think it’s true of the man himself, is that there was a gentleness about him but there was this inward steel where his beliefs were absolutely firm and the passion for the Welsh language was as strong in him as anyone.”
Jones noted that Tedi’s inward resolution may have been intimidating to Charles, despite his gentle demeanor. The actor is currently enjoying the acclaim surrounding his latest drama, Out There, which has garnered praise from both audiences and critics, with descriptions such as “gripping,” “hypnotic,” and, highlighting the beauty of the Welsh countryside.
The show is now available to stream on ITVX, allowing fans to experience more of Jones’ versatile performances.