Actor Portraits
There is a quiet intensity to Cassian Bilton that reveals itself not through overt performance, but through stillness. When we met at my London studio, the aim was not to create a character, but to allow something truer to surface—an unguarded moment where thought, restraint, and presence coexist.
Read MoreIt was an absolute pleasure to photograph Ben Miles, whose remarkable career spans stage, film, and television. From his breakout role in the BBC comedy Coupling to his nuanced portrayal of Peter Townsend in The Crown and most recently as Tay Kolma in Andor, Ben has long stood as one of Britain’s most versatile actors.
Read MoreFor years, I’ve held an ambition close to my creative heart: to photograph the extraordinary quartet behind The League of Gentlemen. Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, and Jeremy Dyson forged a world of pitch-black humour, grotesque beauty, and unforgettable characters. As a teenager, their work opened a doorway to the kind of atmospheric, stylised storytelling that still influences my portraiture today.
Read MoreIt was a pleasure to welcome actor Michael James Shaw (The Walking Dead, Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame) back to my studio for our second sitting together. Michael is one of those rare performers who can shift seamlessly between roles, and this session was the perfect opportunity to explore that range.
Read MoreWilliam Shatner is a name that needs little introduction. To most of the world, he will forever be Captain James T. Kirk—bold, charismatic, impossible to ignore. Yet behind the legend is a man of immense curiosity, wit, and surprising passions, among them a deep devotion to horses. It is this quiet, personal side of Shatner that inspired our latest portrait together.
Read MoreOne of the most rewarding aspects of my ChronoVisions project is the ability to explore the emotions and complexities of my subjects within a historical and artistic framework. Recently, I had the privilege of photographing Barbara Ramos, a striking and thoughtful subject whose presence brought a unique depth to this ongoing series.
Read MoreAs a photographer, I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of history and storytelling. My latest portrait, titled "The Civil Code," is a continuation of my ChronoVisions series, a project inspired by the enigmatic Chronovisor and the allure of exploring different eras through art. This particular portrait takes its cues from the Napoleonic era, a time of revolutionary change and enduring influence.
Read MoreMy portrait session with Andy Serkis is one of the latest additions to my ongoing project Selah. The series draws on the mood and dramatic lighting of the Old Masters, especially the tenebrism of Caravaggio and Ribera. For Andy’s sitting, I wanted to create a moment of quiet reflection—something raw, intimate, and rooted in a sense of personal pilgrimage.
Read MoreInfluenced by the atmosphere of the 1930s and shaped by visual references to Caravaggio, Frank Herbert, David Lynch, and classical portraiture, each image embodies a surreal tension between classical light and modern expression. The result is a hybrid documentation of imagined histories—portraits that feel both ancient and entirely new.
Read MoreCelebrated actor, model, and voice artist VJ Kesh recently posed for a series of striking portraits at Rory Lewis’s Los Angeles studio. Known for his roles in Wilfred (2007), Blue Heelers (1994), and Narcosys (2000), VJ Kesh brings over 35 years of experience in film, television, and theater. Born in Malaysia and of Indian ancestry, Kesh has spent decades honing his craft across Australia, India, Europe, the U.S., and Mexico. This rich tapestry of life experiences makes him a sought-after talent for character-driven roles and voice narration.
Read MoreIn April 2020, I had the pleasure of photographing acclaimed American actor Bob Gunton at my Los Angeles studio. Known for his commanding presence on both stage and screen, Bob is celebrated for portraying formidable, authoritative characters—most memorably Warden Samuel Norton in The Shawshank Redemption. His screen credits also include Demolition Man, Patch Adams, Argo, Daredevil, 24, and Desperate Housewives.
Read MoreAcclaimed British portrait photographer Rory Lewis welcomed award-winning actor Tobias Menzies to his London studio for a cinematic portrait session that explored depth, vulnerability, and quiet strength.
Read MoreActor James Purefoy is a magnetic presence on both stage and screen. From crossing swords with Heath Ledger in A Knight’s Tale to leading the dark, psychological tension of Fox’s The Following, Purefoy’s career spans an extraordinary range of film, television, and theatre—placing him firmly among the most versatile British actors of his generation.
Read MoreBetween 2014 and 2020, I had the privilege of photographing some of the most gifted actors in Los Angeles—artists whose performances shaped my imagination growing up in the 1980s and 90s. Among them was the remarkable Gregory Itzin (1948–2022), an actor of immense range, discipline, and emotional precision. Best known to millions as the calculating President Charles Logan in 24, Itzin was far more than a single role—he was one of the great American character actors of his generation.
Read MoreFew performers carry the depth, authenticity, and emotional intelligence of Saul Rubinek. Born in Germany and raised in Canada, Rubinek has built an extraordinary career as an actor, director, producer, and playwright—bringing unforgettable characters to life across film, television, and stage. From the lovable Donny Douglas on Frasier to the enigmatic Artie Nielsen on Warehouse 13, his performances consistently reveal the complexities of the human experience.
Read MoreIn 2016, I had the privilege of photographing the incomparable Richard Herd, an actor whose presence left an unmistakable mark on film, television, and the generations of audiences who admired him. Best known for roles in T.J. Hooker, V, Seinfeld, Star Trek, and F.I.S.T., Richard was one of Hollywood’s most recognisable and accomplished character actors—an artist with a face carved by experience, wisdom, and unfiltered humanity.
Read MoreMy second portrait sitting with William Shatner remains one of the most memorable. Our very first session years earlier had been a whirlwind—just five minutes before he had to rush off to a film set. In that brief moment, I had worked quickly, shaping light and expression at extraordinary speed. But this session was entirely different.
Read MoreFor decades, Warner had famously declined professional portrait sittings, the last of which was with the legendary Cecil Beaton in 1965 when he was just twenty-four. By the time I approached him for my Northerners portrait series, he was seventy-two — a master actor whose presence had only deepened with time.
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