If you imagine a volcano on the level of Vesuvius, intense and imposing, ready to erupt at any moment, then you have Phil Davis imagined quite well. For a fellow of a shorter physical stature, he usually dominates whatever scene he's in; with a burning glare and a working-class manner, he has played all sorts of roles with the same high level of commitment and credibility.
My favourite of his parts was as a police detective in the unique crime series WHITECHAPEL, but more and more I see him in good stuff, most recently his portrayal of the servant Jud in the fantastic reboot of the POLDARK story. Others include: SEXTON BLAKE AND THE DEMON GOD, COLLISION, ROBIN OF SHERWOOD, CASE HISTORIES, MOVING STORY, NORTH SQUARE, BEAU BRUMMELL: THIS CHARMING MAN, and the 2005 version of BLEAK HOUSE, which I did not enjoy...but in which he was great. One could spend pages listing his guest parts; he's been on such shows as: MIDSOMER MURDERS, INSPECTOR GEORGE GENTLY, AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MISS MARPLE, BLACK CAB and BEING HUMAN.
I'll admit, I'm less of a fan of the post-1998 show, but Phil Davis really shines in the post-classic era. He's a tough character, it seems to me, and always good when a show needs "a bit of rough" to add spice to the story. There really aren't enough actors like him on UK TV; the type of chap who can play gruff lower-class blokes as well as they can play police detectives and lawyers.
I've become quite a Phil Davis fan.
My favourite of his parts was as a police detective in the unique crime series WHITECHAPEL, but more and more I see him in good stuff, most recently his portrayal of the servant Jud in the fantastic reboot of the POLDARK story. Others include: SEXTON BLAKE AND THE DEMON GOD, COLLISION, ROBIN OF SHERWOOD, CASE HISTORIES, MOVING STORY, NORTH SQUARE, BEAU BRUMMELL: THIS CHARMING MAN, and the 2005 version of BLEAK HOUSE, which I did not enjoy...but in which he was great. One could spend pages listing his guest parts; he's been on such shows as: MIDSOMER MURDERS, INSPECTOR GEORGE GENTLY, AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MISS MARPLE, BLACK CAB and BEING HUMAN.
I'll admit, I'm less of a fan of the post-1998 show, but Phil Davis really shines in the post-classic era. He's a tough character, it seems to me, and always good when a show needs "a bit of rough" to add spice to the story. There really aren't enough actors like him on UK TV; the type of chap who can play gruff lower-class blokes as well as they can play police detectives and lawyers.
I've become quite a Phil Davis fan.