JOSEPH MYDELL (MIO ’84), PATRON OF BADA
The British American Drama Academy is pleased to announce that Joseph Mydell (MIO ’84) is its new Patron.
Olivier award-winning, Joseph Mydell has been acting for more than four decades and won his Olivier award for his performance as Belize in ANGELS IN AMERICA at the National Theatre in 1994. Since then he has gone on to work extensively on both stage and screen.
He has recently been seen starring opposite Tilda Swinton in Joanna Hogg’s, THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER for A24; THE PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY opposite Jim Broadbent and CONCLAVE from BAFTA Winning director Edward Berger, starring alongside Ralph Fiennes.
Recent film credits include THE SON, with Hugh Jackman; WOMAN IN GOLD for Simon Curtis and TONIGHT YOU’RE MINE for Sigma Films.
Some of Joseph’s previous TV credits include: PRIME TARGET (Apple TV+); BRASSIC (Sky); ALEX RIDER (Amazon); MRS WILSON (BBC); HOMELAND (Showtime) and TRIAL AND RETRIBUTION (ITV) among many others. He was recently seen opposite Steve Cogan in BBC One’s, THE RECKONING.
His stage work is second to none and he has worked on over 40 stage productions throughout the world, UK and West End. Most recently; OEDIPUS (The Old Vic); THE VISIT (National Theatre); DEATH OF A SALESMAN with Wendell Pierce (Young Vic); THE TRAGEDY OF RICHARD II (Almeida); HAMLET (RSC) and EVENING AT THE TALKHOUSE (National Theatre).
This winter, Joe will be appearing in AMERICAN PSYCHO at the Almeida Theatre.
Joe has also written and directed a documentary Ira Aldridge: The Black Tragedian about the 19th Century Shakespearean actor.
“It is my honour and privilege to come back home to BADA once again, this time as its Patron, as BADA has been a consistent hub of community for me throughout my career going back to my earliest days in the UK.” said Joe. “I look forward to continuing BADA’s work and strengthening the connections between our artistic peers in the UK and the US while building on our long tradition of sharing insights and expertise with new actors as they enter and immerse themselves in the training and traditions of our craft.”
“We are absolutely delighted that Joe will be our new Patron,” says Dean of BADA Ben Naylor. “As a student of the first ever BADA programme, and thereafter as a regular teacher and masterclass leader, Joe has been an essential part of the BADA family for four decades. His career and work embody the Academy’s values of internationalism, cultural curiosity and professional rigour; and Joe’s warmth, wit and generosity are legendary. We’re tremendously excited for Joe to shape the role of Patron in the coming years.”
As Patron, Joe succeeds Brian Cox, who is taking up an Honorary Fellowship with BADA.
Images
- Header image: Joe reciting Prospero’s final speech to bring Midsummer in Oxford 2025 Open Day to a close (Photo by Marc Brenner)
- Joseph Mydell Headshot (Photo by Matthew Roberts)
- Joe during the first Midsummer in Oxford Programme with BADA faculty member Richard Johnson and director Lindsay Anderson
- Footer: Joe working with students on Midsummer in Oxford 2019 (Photo by Geraint Lewis)