Brian Cox CBE — Portrait Sitting

Brian Cox CBE — Portrait Sitting (Rory Lewis London Portrait Photographer 2014)

Brian Cox CBE is one of Britain’s most formidable actors, celebrated for a career that spans classical theatre, landmark cinema, and television. Rising to early prominence through his portrayal of King Lear with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Cox went on to define a commanding screen presence in major productions including X-Men 2, Troy, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. He also holds a unique place in film history as the first actor to portray Hannibal Lecter on screen, in Michael Mann’s Manhunter (1986).

Our London portrait sitting remains one of those rare moments that stays with you. Brian arrived—unassumingly—on the back of a scooter, immediately disarming and quietly charismatic. To photograph an actor of such depth, particularly one capable of conveying an entire narrative with a single glance, is both a gift and a privilege. His warmth and sharp wit sat in perfect contrast to an unmistakable gravitas—an authority earned through decades of craft.

Brian Cox CBE — Portrait Sitting (Rory Lewis London Portrait Photographer 2014)

The session was deeply enjoyable and genuinely humbling. When working with an actor of this calibre, direction becomes instinctive; the portrait is shaped not only by light and composition, but by presence. It was an absolute pleasure to collaborate with Brian Cox on a sitting that remains a highlight of my career.

Rory Lewis works between Los Angeles, New York, and London, creating cinematic portraiture for actors, artists, and cultural figures worldwide.