Entertainment

What Is Jack Davenport From? The 'Breathless' Star's TV Projects Don't Usually Fare Well

Everyone's had that feeling. An actor makes a guest spot in your favorite TV show or plays the quirky best friend in the latest rom-com, and then it hits you. You know that face, that voice, those mannerisms. But you can't quite place him. Breathless star Jack Davenport is probably that guy.

The British actor has had memorable roles in action films, dramas, and plenty of failed TV shows, but he's never been leading man material in the States until now. Davenport stars in Breathless as Otto Powell, the head doctor of a gynecology ward in 1960s London, which is making its way from the U.K. by way of PBS on Sunday, August 24.

But before you see just how awful it was to go to the gyno 50 years ago, take a trip down memory lane to Davenport's past roles. If by the end you still don't know where you recognize him from, you have even more reason to watch the show now, don't you?

Image: Courtesy of (C) ITV Studios for MASTERPIECE

by Laura Rosenfeld

'This Life' (1996-1997)

Davenport started out as a young British actor playing British characters on British shows. He kickstarted his career playing a young lawyer living with four of his fellow lawyer friends. Also starring a pre-zombie-fighting Andrew Lincoln, This Life was hopefully more exciting than it sounds.

Image: BBC

'Fierce Creatures' (1997)

One of Davenport’s earliest film roles was as a zookeeper in Fierce Creatures, which was something of a follow-up to the 1988 comedy A Fish Called Wanda. He may be just a wee lad in his 20s here, but Davenport still has that “resting bitch face” he’s brought to many of his characters since.

Image: Universal

'The Talented Mr. Ripley' (1999)

Davenport scored big a couple of years later with his memorable role as Peter Smith-Kingsley in the Oscar-nominated psychological thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley. He may not have gone on to become a household name like his co-stars Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jude Law, but he’s getting there.

Image: Miramax

'Coupling' (2000-2004)

Davenport returned to comedy with the British show Coupling, which chronicled his character’s on-again, off-again relationship. An American version of this show actually premiered in 2003 sans Davenport and was quickly cancelled. They should’ve imported those sideburns.

Image: BBC

The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Movies (2003-?)

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was really when us yanks came to notice Davenport. Unfortunately, we all pretty much despised him for being the party pooper Norrington. Davenport would go on to star in the next two installments of the Pirates franchise, where his character was heroically killed off in At World’s End. Or was he? Davenport is rumored to return to the fifth movie slated to hit theaters in 2017.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

'The Wedding Date' (2005)

You’re not an actor until you’ve been in a rom-com, right? Davenport took all the do’s and don’ts of love that he learned from Coupling and brought them to the 2005 movie The Wedding Date, where he played the groom to Amy Adams’ bride. This was actually a pretty bad movie, but there is a happy ending, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Image: Universal Pictures

'Swingtown' (2008)

Davenport invaded American TV for the first time in 2008 with the groovy drama Swingtown, set in the 1970s. The show probably banked on riding the nostalgia wave started by Mad Men a year earlier, but CBS cancelled Swingtown after only one season. Maybe the show failed because it forced Davenport to put on an American accent.

Image: CBS

'Pirate Radio' (2009)

Davenport joined another amazing ensemble cast in Pirate Radio that included Philip Seymour Hoffman, Emma Thompson, and Bill Nighy. Seriously, every contemporary British actor is in this movie. Davenport played a wet blanket yet again in this 1960s-era film. In case you couldn’t figure that out on your own, the name of the character was Twatt.

Image: Universal Pictures

'FlashForward' (2009-2010)

Another year, another short-lived TV show for Davenport to star in. This time, it was FlashForward, which tried — and failed — to fill the huge void left in our hearts by Lost’s departure from ABC. But Davenport really couldn’t see the future. He just played someone who could.

Image: ABC

'Smash' (2012-2013)

One of Davenport’s most high-profile roles to date has been in Smash, which saw Davenport reunite with his Wedding Date co-star Debra Messing to play outspoken Broadway director and choreographer Derek Wills. It was another ill-fated TV show, but Davenport was pretty much the best thing about it.

Image: NBC

'The Good Wife' (2014)

Davenport’s most recent TV role was a guest spot on The Good Wife, where he played a prosecutor. I would say this was who his character from This Life grew up to be, but he unfortunately put on an American accent for this role. Now that’s just criminal.

Image: CBS

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