Tom Cullen from Channel 4's Trespasses: Famous wife, finally learning Welsh at 40 and previous roles
From Downton Abbey to Black Mirror, he likes to mix up his parts
Tom Cullen debuted as Michael Agnew in Channel 4’s forbidden love drama Trespasses over the weekend.
Based on Louise Kennedy’s novel, Trespasses plays out in 1970s Northern Ireland. Michael and Cushla Laverty are on opposite sides of the religious divide – he’s a Protestant, she’s a Catholic – yet their romantic connection will not be denied.
Trespasses on Channel 4 is arguably actor Tom Cullen’s biggest role to date. So, now seems like the ideal time to explore his life, including where we’ve seen him before, and whether or not he speaks his native Welsh language.
What is Tom Cullen most famous for?
Having enjoyed little jobs on Black Mirror (see series 1 episode The Entire History of You) and The Pillars of the Earth sequel World Without End, the star really found his footing on an iconic period show.
In 2013, Tom joined the cast of Downton Abbey as Anthony Gillingham, Viscount Gillingham. Even now, 12 years later, we think this is what he’s most famous for.
Anthony became a love interest for Lady Mary Crawley (played by Michelle Dockery) in the wake of her husband’s death. He appeared in 12 episodes in all and eventually tied the knot with Mabel Lane Fox (Catherine Steadman).
Other big titles on his CV include Knightfall, Harlan Coben’s The Five, Gunpowder and Channel 4’s Becoming Elizabeth.
How old is Tom Cullen?
He is currently 40 years old and was born on July 17, 1985, in the Welsh seaside town of Aberystwyth. He has one brother, Joesph, and a sister called Ruth.
Who is Tom Cullen’s wife?
Tom is not currently married, however, he and partner Alison Sudol are reportedly engaged and share two young daughters.
Alison is from Seattle and will be recognisable to fans of the Harry Potter spin-off franchise Fantastic Beasts. In all three magical blockbusters, she portrayed Queenie Goldstein, the sister of Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston). Queenie is notable for her skill of extracting memories and emotions from other people’s minds.
She supported the arrival of Tom’s latest acting gig on Instagram Stories. “So proud of this brilliant, kind, loving human whose extraordinary soul shines through those [bleep] delicious crinkly eyes in everything he does lighting up the screen bringing the love with every fibre of his beautiful heart,” she captioned a photo of Michael in Trespasses.
“Watch #trespasses tonight on @channel4 @lolapetticrew and @gilliana absolutely stunning performances [three clapping emojis],” Alison’s message ended.
The pair have been romantically involved with other high-profile names in the past. Tom was with She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’s Tatiana Maslany for a while, and Alison previously dated Stranger Things’ David Harbour.
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Does Tom Cullen speak Welsh?
Tom has revealed that he doesn’t speak his mother tongue. In an interview this summer, he said: “I’m not a Welsh speaker although I’m learning at the moment. My daughter will be going to a Welsh school in Cardiff so I’m going to have to understand what the homework is.”
Was Tom Cullen in The Gold?
For two series of BBC One’s The Gold, Tom played real-life criminal and gold dealer John Palmer. The real-life Palmer, who died in 2015, dabbled in timeshare and mortgage fraud, and held 60 offshore bank accounts.
The series, which co-starred Hugh Bonneville and Slow Horses favourite Jack Lowden, covered the famous Brink’s-Mat robbery of 1983 and the subsequent chaotic decade. Some £26 million (equivalent to £111m nowadays) in gold bullion, diamonds, and cash was lifted from a warehouse.
Speaking to Country & Town House about his character, the Welshman shared: “When we first meet him, John is a successful, low-level criminal living in Somerset. Reticent at first to be involved, but as soon as he sees the gold, it infects him with its potential power.
“John was illiterate but often the smartest man in the room. He’s driven by a desire to escape and better himself, but that want to provide for his family turns to a lust for power and greed. He ended up becoming one the UK’s biggest crime bosses and built a wealth of £150 million, featuring above the Queen in The Times rich list.
“It was very fun to be able to play John again [in series 2] and evolve him beyond series 1. His character arc from low-level criminal family man to crime boss, to his ultimate demise, is arguably the most satisfying I’ve ever played,” Tom added.
What has Tom Cullen been in recently?
Aside from 12 episodes of The Gold, the actor brought his magic to The Way, Insomnia, and Mudtown most recently.
The former followed the Driscoll clan as they attempted to leave Britain, which had fallen into anti-Welsh civil violence in light of rioting in Port Talbot.
Insomnia co-stars Vicky McClure, and it features in our round-up of the Trigger Point star’s best dramas. She played a mum knocking on the door of her forties who must investigate her past while dealing with chronic sleeplessness. Tom appeared as Emma Averill’s husband Robert.
“A magistrate working in Newport, Wales uncovers criminal activity that may be a risk to herself and her family,” read the synopsis for Mudtown.
Trespasses cast: Who else is in the new Channel 4 series?
Channel 4’s Trespasses – owner of a banging soundtrack, might we point out – boasts a deep bench of acting talent.
Let’s start with the iconic Gillian Anderson: her character Gina is a “glorious wreck”, so prepare for some lively scenes whenever she’s present on screen.
Then there’s Blue Lights star Martin McCann. In the Troubles-set show, he steps into the part of Eamonn, while Say Nothing’s Lola Petticrew is Michael’s object of desire, Cushla.
The cast of Trespasses also includes Blue Lights’ Frank Blake, Death in Paradise star Emily Taaffe, My Left Nut’s Oisín Thompson and Protection’s Barry Ward. Lisa Dwyer Hogg, Gary Lydon, Lorcan Cranitch and Lalor Roddy feature too.
Read more: Gillian Anderson’s best roles ranked as forbidden love story Trespasses launches on Channel 4
