# Al Weaver
**Al Weaver** (born 1981) is an English actor, writer, and director, known for playing Leonard Finch in the ITV drama series *Grantchester* since 2014 and for film roles including Stefano in *The Merchant of Venice* (2004) and the Comte d'Artois in [Sofia Coppola](https://www.edgepedia.org/sofia-coppola)'s *Marie Antoinette* (2006).[1](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=13882) • [2](https://www.fernsehserien.de/al-weaver/filmografie) His full name is given as Alex Weaver by some listings and Alexander Paul Weaver by others.[1](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=13882) • [3](https://live-action.fandom.com/wiki/Al_Weaver)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1981, Bolton, Greater Manchester, England[1](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=13882) • [3](https://live-action.fandom.com/wiki/Al_Weaver) |
| Signature role | Leonard Finch in *Grantchester* (ITV, 2014 onward), also a director of the series[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/) • [5](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/al-weaver-3/) |
| Stage debut | Trevor Nunn's *Hamlet* at the Old Vic, 2004, sharing the title role with Ben Whishaw[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/) |
| Notable stage role | Meshak Gardiner in the National Theatre's *Coram Boy*, 2005–2007[6](https://theatricalia.com/person/21yj/al-weaver) |
| Writing and producing | Wrote and produced the BAFTA long-listed short film *Things He Never Said*, starring Ruth Negga[5](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/al-weaver-3/) |
| Voice work | Rex in *Xenoblade Chronicles 2* (2017), reprised in *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/) |
## Stage career
Weaver made his professional stage debut in 2004 in [Trevor Nunn](https://www.edgepedia.org/trevor-nunn)'s production of *Hamlet* at London's Old Vic, sharing the title role with [Ben Whishaw](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-whishaw).[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/) He then appeared as Meshak Gardiner in the [Royal National Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-national-theatre)'s production of *Coram Boy*, which ran from November 2005 to February 2007.[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/) • [6](https://theatricalia.com/person/21yj/al-weaver)
His later stage work includes Lino in *All the Ordinary Angels* at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester (2005), Gaston in *The Waltz of the Toreadors* at Chichester Festival Theatre (2007), and West End appearances in *Inadmissible Evidence* (Donmar [Warehouse](https://www.edgepedia.org/warehouse) production, 2011) and *The Pride* (2013).[6](https://theatricalia.com/person/21yj/al-weaver) • [4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/) In 2018 he appeared in the Jamie Lloyd Company's Pinter at the Pinter season, including *Night School* at the Harold Pinter Theatre.[6](https://theatricalia.com/person/21yj/al-weaver)
## Television and film
Weaver's television roles include Billy Slavin in *[The Inspector Lynley Mysteries](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-inspector-lynley-mysteries)* (2003–2004), Josh Fairley in *[Five Days](https://www.edgepedia.org/five-days-tv-series)*, Andy Galbraith in *Sherlock*, Kevin in *Survivors*, Tom Alderton in *Five Daughters*, Thomas in *The Nativity*, Joss Leyton in *Secret State* (2012), Rivers in *The Hollow Crown* (2016), and James Edwards in *Press* (2018).[1](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=13882) • [2](https://www.fernsehserien.de/al-weaver/filmografie) Since 2014 he has portrayed Leonard Finch, a curate, in the ITV drama *Grantchester*.[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/)
His film credits include *The Merchant of Venice* (2004), *Doom* (2005), *Marie Antoinette* (2006), *Me and Orson Welles* (2008), *Unmade Beds* (2009), *Kill Your Friends* (2015), *Peterloo* (2018), *Colette* (2018), and *I'm Not in Love* (2021).[2](https://www.fernsehserien.de/al-weaver/filmografie) • [4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/) In video games and interactive media, he voiced Rex in *Xenoblade Chronicles 2* (2017) and reprised the role in *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*, and played Dr. Rees [Wakefield](https://www.edgepedia.org/wakefield) in the interactive thriller *The Complex* (2020).[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/) He also portrayed Christian Henrici in the BBC radio drama *Bach: The Great Passion* (2017).[4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/)
## Writing and directing
Weaver wrote and produced the short film *Things He Never Said*, starring [Ruth Negga](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-negga), which was long-listed for a BAFTA; he was also an executive producer and actor in the feature film *I'm Not in Love*, directed by Col Spector.[5](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/al-weaver-3/) For the past three years he has been one of the lead directors of *Grantchester*, and he directed an episode during the show's eighth season.[5](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/al-weaver-3/) • [4](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/) His agency notes that he is developing a number of projects in film and television.[5](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/al-weaver-3/)
As an actor he has worked with directors including Sofia Coppola, Richard Linklater, Mike Leigh, Sean Durkin, and [Thomas Schlamme](https://www.edgepedia.org/thomas-schlamme).[5](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/al-weaver-3/)
## Recognition
Weaver was nominated for the 2024 TV Times Award for Favourite Supporting Actor (Drama).[7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/al-weaver/bio/3030413251/)
## References
1. [Al Weaver, TVSA actor biography](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=13882)
2. [Filmografie Al Weaver, fernsehserien.de](https://www.fernsehserien.de/al-weaver/filmografie)
3. [Al Weaver, Live Action Wiki](https://live-action.fandom.com/wiki/Al_Weaver)
4. [Al Weaver, BroadwayWorld biography and credits](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Al-Weaver/)
5. [Al Weaver, The Artists Partnership](https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/al-weaver-3/)
6. [Al Weaver, Theatricalia](https://theatricalia.com/person/21yj/al-weaver)
7. [Al Weaver Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/al-weaver/bio/3030413251/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames T to We*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license