# Jeremy Swift
**Jeremy Swift** (born 1960) is an English actor from [Stockton-on-Tees](https://www.edgepedia.org/stockton-on-tees), County Durham, known internationally for playing the butler Spratt in *Downton Abbey* and Leslie Higgins in the Apple TV+ comedy *Ted Lasso*, for which he received a 2021 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) • [2](https://www.independenttalent.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=get_clients_cv_pdf&client_id=1558) His screen career spans theater, television, and feature films directed by [Robert Altman](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-altman), Roman Polanski, the Wachowskis, and [Rob Marshall](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-marshall).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1960, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) |
| Training | Guilford Drama School, 1978–1980[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) |
| Signature roles | Spratt in *Downton Abbey*; Glenvil Harris in *Foyle's War*; Leslie Higgins in *Ted Lasso*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) |
| Recognition | Emmy nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2021); Hollywood Critics Association TV Award, Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Comedy Series (2021)[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=get_clients_cv_pdf&client_id=1558) |
| Notable films | *Gosford Park*, *Oliver Twist*, *Amazing Grace*, *Fred Claus*, *Jupiter Ascending*, *Mary Poppins Returns*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) |
| Music | Plays violin, guitar, and mandolin; album *Everything's A Joke* (February 2017)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) |
| Family | Married to actress Mary Roscoe since November 5, 1992; two children; lives in London[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) |
## Training and early career
Swift trained at Guilford Drama School from 1978 to 1980.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) His professional career began touring a revue show to prisons and borstals, and through his twenties he worked mainly in theater, including *What the Butler Saw* at the National Theatre and *Abigail's Party* in the West End.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) His early screen work included the films *Fords on Water* (1983) and *Mr. Love* (1986).[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jeremy-swift/)
In his thirties he moved toward television, with roles in the miniseries *Vanity Fair* and the BBC cult comedy *The Smoking Room*, in which he played Barry.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) • [4](https://www.beyazperde.com/sanatcilar/sanatci-133990/filmografi/) In his forties he moved into major feature films, including *Gosford Park*, *Amazing Grace*, *Oliver Twist*, *[Fred Claus](https://www.edgepedia.org/fred-claus)*, and *Jupiter Ascending*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/)
## Film work with noted directors
Swift's film credits include work with several prominent directors: Robert Altman's *Gosford Park* (2001), in which he played Arthur; [Roman Polanski](https://www.edgepedia.org/roman-polanski)'s *Oliver Twist* (2005), in which he played Mr. Bumble; Mike Apted's *Amazing Grace* (2006); David Dobkin's *Fred Claus* (2007); and the Wachowskis' *Jupiter Ascending* (2015).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) • [4](https://www.beyazperde.com/sanatcilar/sanatci-133990/filmografi/) • [2](https://www.independenttalent.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=get_clients_cv_pdf&client_id=1558) He appeared as Gooding in Rob Marshall's Disney film *Mary Poppins Returns* (2018), alongside [Emily Blunt](https://www.edgepedia.org/emily-blunt), Meryl Streep, and [Colin Firth](https://www.edgepedia.org/colin-firth).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) • [5](https://www.actingbiz.com/celebrities/jeremy-swift/) Other film work includes *The Dark Blue World* (2001), *To Kill a King* (2003), *Boy A* (2008), and *Downhill* (2014).[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jeremy-swift/)
## Television
**Breakthrough roles.** Swift became known to international audiences as Spratt, the butler serving [Maggie Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/maggie-smith)'s character in ITV's *Downton Abbey*, and as Glenvil Harris in *Foyle's War*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) ITV News described the Downton role as the one in which he first rose to fame.[6](https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2021-08-25/stockton-actor-jeremy-swift-talks-teesside-ted-and-tv-awards) His extensive television credits also include *The Durrells*, *Plebs*, *C.B. Strike* (as Owen Quine), *National Treasure*, *Wanderlust*, *The Crimson Field*, *Count Arthur Strong*, *Being Human*, and *Holby City*.[5](https://www.actingbiz.com/celebrities/jeremy-swift/) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/person/jeremy-swift/)
**Ted Lasso.** In *Ted Lasso*, the Apple TV+ series about an American coach of the fictional club AFC Richmond, Swift plays Leslie Higgins.[6](https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2021-08-25/stockton-actor-jeremy-swift-talks-teesside-ted-and-tv-awards) He appeared in the first three seasons and was nominated for the 2021 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and won the Hollywood Critics Association TV Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Comedy Series the same year.[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=get_clients_cv_pdf&client_id=1558) His agency CV lists him in the fourth season as well.[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=get_clients_cv_pdf&client_id=1558)
## Theatre
Swift's stage work includes *What the Butler Saw* at the National Theatre in 1995, alongside [David Tennant](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-tennant) and Richard Wilson; *The 39 Steps* at the [Criterion](https://www.edgepedia.org/criterion) in 2010; and [Oscar Wilde](https://www.edgepedia.org/oscar-wilde)'s *The Importance of Being Earnest* at the Vaudeville Theatre.[5](https://www.actingbiz.com/celebrities/jeremy-swift/) In 2018 he led the cast of the Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of E. Nesbit's *The Railway Children* at King's Cross Theatre, London.[5](https://www.actingbiz.com/celebrities/jeremy-swift/) His agency CV also lists *The Way of the World* at Chichester, *Humble Boy* at Northampton, and Royal Court productions including *Honeymoon Suite* and *The Family Plays*.[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=get_clients_cv_pdf&client_id=1558)
## Music
Swift's parents were music teachers, and he plays the violin, guitar, and mandolin.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) He released the album *Everything's A Joke* in February 2017.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) In a 2023 ITV News interview he discussed branching out into pop music alongside his acting career.[8](https://www.itv.com/news/2023-03-24/jeremy-swift-on-ted-lasso-downton-abbey-and-pop-music)
## Personal life
Swift married the actress Mary Roscoe on November 5, 1992; they have two children and live in London.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/) His agency CV lists skills including a wide range of accents (with Geordie and [Yorkshire](https://www.edgepedia.org/yorkshire) marked as native), baritone singing, and several instruments.[2](https://www.independenttalent.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=get_clients_cv_pdf&client_id=1558)
## References
1. [Jeremy Swift – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842596/bio/)
2. [Jeremy Swift – CV, Independent Talent Group](https://www.independenttalent.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=get_clients_cv_pdf&client_id=1558)
3. [Jeremy Swift – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jeremy-swift/)
4. [Jeremy Swift – filmografi, Beyazperde.com](https://www.beyazperde.com/sanatcilar/sanatci-133990/filmografi/)
5. [Jeremy Swift, ActingBiz](https://www.actingbiz.com/celebrities/jeremy-swift/)
6. [Stockton actor Jeremy Swift on being Emmy nominated, growing up on Teesside and the joy of Ted Lasso, ITV News Tyne Tees (25 August 2021)](https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2021-08-25/stockton-actor-jeremy-swift-talks-teesside-ted-and-tv-awards)
7. [Jeremy Swift – Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/jeremy-swift/)
8. [Jeremy Swift on Ted Lasso, Downton Abbey and how he's branching out into pop music, ITV News (24 March 2023)](https://www.itv.com/news/2023-03-24/jeremy-swift-on-ted-lasso-downton-abbey-and-pop-music)
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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 Sh to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; 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