Kieran Bew

Fencer-turned-actor Kieran Bew became a historical drama regular thanks to roles in "Crusoe" (NBC, 2008-09), "Da Vinci's Demons" (Starz, 2013-15) and "Beowulf" (ITV1, 2016-). Born in Hartlepool, England in 1980, Bew spent his childhood competing as a fencer, winning the under-16 and under-17 British Epee titles and finishing 21st at the 1996 Cadet World Championships, and continued to represent Haverstock fencing club throughout his acting career.

After graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, where he also served as a fight choreographer, Bew made his on-screen debut in the short film "Shotgun Wedding" (2001). Bew then starred as the eponymous Danish author in TV movie "Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairy Tale" (2003), before making the leap to the big screen with the roles of military team member Klaus in monster mash-up "AVP: Alien vs. Predator" (2004) and football hooligan Ike in gritty drama "Green Street" (2005). Following a six-episode stint as Jack Meadows' drug-addicted son Benjamin in long-running police soap "The Bill" (ITV1, 1984-2010) Bew added Jimmy McGovern's BAFTA-winning series "The Street" (BBC1, 2006-09), gangster flick "Rise of the Footsoldier" (2007) and low-budget rock n' roll tale "1234" (2008) to his filmography.

Bew then landed recurring roles as Nathan West in swashbuckling adventure "Crusoe" (NBC, 2008-09) and Avi Gellman in comedy drama "Personal Affairs" (BBC3, 2009), and became a detective show fixture with guest parts on "Silent Witness" (BBC1, 1996-), "Waking the Dead" (BBC1, 2000-2011) and "Whitechapel" (ITV, 2009-2013), and a regular role as DI Jack Burns on "WPC 56" (BBC1, 2013-15). Bew then ventured into the realm of historical fantasy, firstly with the role of Alfonso, Duke of Calabria on "Da Vinci's Demons" (Starz, 2013-15), and secondly as the eponymous mighty warrior in "Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands" (ITV1, 2016-).