Otto Farrant is an English actor who gained popularity after playing the titular role in Amazon Prime’s spy thriller series Alex Rider (2020).
Wiki/Biography
Otto Farrant was born on Wednesday, 13 November 1996 (age 24 years; as of 2020), and he hails from Hammersmith in London, England. He attended Graveney School in London. He was intrigued to become an actor during his childhood when he saw Gavroche, a fictional character in the play ‘Les Misérables,’ singing the song “Little People.” Trained at The West London School of Dance and The Royal Ballet’s Lower and Upper schools, Finn is a professional contemporary dancer. [1]Indiegogo. Later, he enrolled himself in a course in theatre at Stagecoach Theatre School in Battersea, London [2]Bush Theatre.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 8″
Hair Colour: Dark Brown
Eye Colour: Dark Blue
Family
Not much is known about his family.
Career
Theatre
In 2008, Otto Farrant began his acting career as a theatre artist after he was selected from his school to play the role of Robin in ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor.’ The comedy theatrical production was staged at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. While talking about the beginning of his acting career in an interview, he said,
At school I was not academically that great at English, I was much better in maths and sciences, and I almost did a degree in physics and maths…However, I was always in the school plays. One day I was picked to do a play at the Globe and off the back of that I got an agent and from there it snowballed.”
Skilfully juggling between academics and career, he appeared in various theatrical productions like Oedipus (2008) as Eteocles, The Habit of Art (2009) as Charlie, and Little Platoons (2011) as Sam. He starred in the revival of the play ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ (2014) in which he played the role of the young collector alongside the established American actress Gillian Anderson.
Otto Farrant alongside Gillian Anderson starring in the play A Streetcar Named Desire (2014), staged at Young Vic Theatre, London
In 2016, he came into the spotlight with the satirical comedy play ‘Once in a Lifetime,’ staged at Young Vic Theatre, London. In the play, Otto Farrant starred as a young and quirky German film director named Rudolph Kammerling.
Otto Farrant starring in Once in a Lifetime (2016), staged at Young Vic Theatre
Otto Farrant, along with his fellow actor Finn Cooke, wrote and directed ‘Spool’ (2017), which showcased the co-dependency of mind and body using a charming combination of text & dance and sound & imagery. Attached with a piece of rope at the beginning of the play, body and mind agree to separate, leading to a series of interpretive scenes that show just how important it is for mind and body to work together.
Film
In 2010, Otto Farrant made his film debut when he played the role of Young Perseus in the action-fantasy film ‘Clash of the Titans.’ Thereafter, he appeared in the feature films The Great Ghost Rescue (2011) and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011).
Otto Farrant in War & Peace (2016)
Television
Otto Farrant made his television debut in 2010 when he played the role of Archie Powell in the episode titled “Who Dares Wins” of the British crime-drama ‘The Bill.’ Other television series under his belt include The White Queen (2013), War & Peace (2016), and Mrs. Wilson (2018).
Otto Farrant in Mrs. Wilson (2018)
OTT/Web Series
Otto Farrant rose to prominence with his digital debut in 2020 when he played the titular role in Amazon Prime’s critically acclaimed series Alex Rider. In the series, Alex Rider is a highly skilled teenager who is recruited by the Department of Special Operations. As the story unfolds, Alex is kidnapped and tortured by a band of mysterious operatives.
Otto Farrant in Alex Rider (2020)
Favourite Things
- Play: ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore by John Ford
- Midnight Snack: Mint tea
- Place: London (South of the river)
- Playwright: Anton Chekhov & William Shakespeare
Facts/Trivia
- Unlike other celebrities, who constantly display their lifestyle on social media, Otto Farrant isn’t active on any social media platform.
- Destined to play the titular in the series ‘Alex Rider’ (2020), Otto was a huge fan of the novel series of the same name by Anthony Horowitz. In an interview, he said,
I wasn’t a big reader when I was a kid, but Alex Rider was one of the only series’ that I did read. That and Noughts And Crosses. I can remember being about 12. Point Blanc was the book that I always loved most, so when I found out that they were making that book into the series, it was one of those ‘pinch me’ moments.”
- In an interview, he claimed to have a unique name and revealed that he has met only one other person named “Otto.” He said,
I’ve only met one other Otto. It’s not a common name. It’s my whole identity in a way. I hear a lot of dogs called Otto. So if I’m at the beach or in the park I’ll turn my head when I hear the call for Otto.”
- To prepare for the role of Alex Rider, he underwent an intense physical training session.
References
| ↑1 | Indiegogo |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Bush Theatre |