ACTOR
Brian Blessed
- Known for
- Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996), Henry V (1989), I, Claudius (1976)
32 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Brian Blessed is an actor best known for Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet and Henry V.
All facts (32)
- #001
Brian Blessed was a close friend of Patrick Stewart since childhood; both were theatre enthusiasts and would travel to London in coal wagons to watch plays.
- #002
Brian Blessed is the oldest person to have reached both the geographic North Pole and the magnetic North Pole.
- #003
At the age of 14, in November 1950, Brian Blessed attended the Second World Peace Congress in Sheffield, where he met Pablo Picasso and challenged him to draw something. The artist sketched a peace dove, which the young Blessed dismissed before drawing a similar bird himself and presenting it to an amused Picasso. Blessed declined Picasso's offer of a drawing and thus unknowingly earned his father's wrath.
- #004
As a child, Brian Blessed and his friends would act out "Flash Gordon," inspired by the Buster Crabbe serials. In these childhood games, Brian always played "Vultan," the leader of the Hawkmen. In the cult science fiction film Flash Gordon (1980), he played the same role he had played as a child.
- #005
Brian Blessed nearly died while filming his death scene in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).
- #006
Brian Blessed attempted to climb Mount Everest three times.
- #007
Brian Blessed became famous for his unlimited swearing during live television appearances.
- #008
Brian Blessed appeared in four films directed by Kenneth Branagh: Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996) and As You Like It (2006).
- #009
Patrick Stewart recommended Brian Blessed for the role of Admiral Doughtery in Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), a role that went to Anthony Zerbe.
- #010
While filming Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Brian Blessed became friends with Keanu Reeves and taught him meditation.
- #011
Brian Blessed was Kenneth Branagh's first choice to play Odin in Thor (2011). The role went to Anthony Hopkins.
- #012
Brian Blessed completed cosmonaut training and became the first reserve to travel to the International Space Station. He planned to go there in 2014.
- #013
Brian Blessed had a love-hate relationship with Peter O'Toole that lasted thirty years.
- #014
Brian Blessed was appointed OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to the arts and charities in Surrey, England.
- #015
While filming The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1997), Brian Blessed accidentally knocked out Peter Capaldi.
- #016
Brian Blessed is a trained opera singer who, although he loves singing, chose acting.
- #017
Brian Blessed appeared alongside his real-life wife Hildegard Neil in King Lear (1999), which he also directed, and in the short film Mr. Bojagi (2009).
- #018
Brian Blessed was nominated for the 1981 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his stage performance in 'Cats'.
- #019
Brian Blessed had to leave the touring production of "King Lear" in January 2015 due to heart problems.
- #020
While filming The Trojan Women (1971), Brian Blessed became friends with Katharine Hepburn.
- #021
Brian Blessed has stated that he prefers climbing and exploring to acting.
- #022
Because of his ever-present beard and booming deep voice, Brian Blessed is often confused with the actor John Rhys-Davies.
- #023
Brian Blessed is a patron of PHASE Worldwide, which works to improve education, health and livelihood conditions in remote regions of Nepal.
- #024
Brian Blessed and Nick Brimble appeared together in the Space: 1999 (1975) episode The Metamorph (1976), years before they appeared together in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).
- #025
Brian Blessed is embarrassed by his guest role in Cygnus Alpha (1978) because he felt his performance was too over the top.
- #026
Brian Blessed is the father of Catherine Blessed and Rosalind Blessed.
- #027
Brian Blessed's role as Augustus Caesar in I, Claudius (1976) won him the New York Critics' Award.
- #028
Brian Blessed's younger brother Alan, seven years his junior, died in 1996 at the age of 52.
- #029
Brian Blessed trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, one of the world's most prestigious drama schools (and schools of any kind). The theatre school accepts about 28 of roughly 2,500 applicants for its three-year BA acting course, an acceptance rate of around 1 percent.
- #030
Brian Blessed performed "I Still Suits Me" with Paul Robeson at the Second World Peace Congress in Sheffield in 1950.
- #031
Brian Blessed was considered for the role of Governor Ratcliffe in Pocahontas (1995).
- #032
Brian Blessed's father was a coal cutter at a mine in South Yorkshire.
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