Aussie David Berry is Cast in one of Outlander’s New Pivotal Lead Roles
We know you’ve been dying from the droughtlander! We have too. Today Starz threw us a bone! Since filming has begun, we here at TV After Dark have been waiting patiently for some more casting new, and finally we’ve got some! Australian actor David Berry has been cast as Lord John Grey, who book readers know will play a pivotal role in the series moving forward.
The character description from Starz:
Lord John William Grey is a steadfast and honorable British subject, torn between a finely-honed sense of familial duty and a strong moral compass of right and wrong. He is boyishly handsome with an upper class rearing — the consummate gentleman. However, a scandal from his past has relegated Lord John to an undesirable position as governor of a desolate prison in northern Scotland.
Sounds intriguing, right? So what do we know about David Berry? (Other than the fact that he’s unbearable hot, and we are so on board with this casting.)
1. He’s best known for the Australian Series “A Place to Call Home”
A series set in the 1950’s, Berry played James Bligh, a man with dangerous secrets. David was nominated for Most Outstanding Supporting Actor in the 2016 Logie Awards (think the Aussie version of the Emmys). The character description is below, along with some clips that leave little doubt as to why Berry was nominated for an award.
Newly married to Olivia, and with the news that he is to become a father, James struggles to put his secret attraction to men behind him.
2. He’s Smart
Berry’s bio states that in 2002 he was awarded a scholarship to study political sciences and cultural studies at the prestigious McGill University in Montreal, Canada where he received his BA. He then went on to start a Masters in Media Practice at the University of Sydney before deciding media wasn’t for him. Good thing for all of us the lure of acting was more powerful!
3. HE SINGS
Yes, you heard that right. He sings. And is there anything more attractive than a hot guy who sings? No, actually, there isn’t. David’s early studies were on a full music scholarship for voice and violin. He’s performed at the Sydney Opera House with Opera Australia, and the musicals he lists on his résumé (Assassins, The Light in the Piazza, Of Thee I Sing) contain some of the more difficult repertoire in musical theatre. When he’s not acting, David still tours as a singer with a successful corporate entertainment act Scream and Shout.
“Book Three” will be based on the third of the eight books in the Outlander series, entitled Voyager, The third season of “Outlander” picks up right after Claire travels through the stones to return to her life in 1948. Now pregnant, she struggles with the fallout of her sudden reappearance and its effect on her marriage to her first husband, Frank. Meanwhile, in the 18th century, Jamie suffers from the aftermath of his doomed last stand at the historic battle of Culloden, as well as the loss of Claire. As the years pass, Jamie and Claire attempt to make a life apart from one another, each haunted by the memory of their lost love. The budding possibility that Claire can return to Jamie in the past breathes new hope into Claire’s heart… as well as new doubt. Separated by continents and centuries, Claire and Jamie must find their way back to each other. As always, adversity, mystery, and adventure await them on the path to reunion. And the question remains: when they find each other, will they be the same people who parted at the standing stones, all those years ago?
Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation”) developed the series adaptation for “Outlander.”
Diana Gabaldon’s eight-book series has sold more than 26 million copies worldwide and all eight books in the series have graced the New York Times best-sellers list. The “Outlander” series spans the genres of romance, science fiction, history, and adventure in one grandiose tale.
“Outlander” is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Story Mining and Supply Company, and Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television.
So what do you think, Outlander fans? Are you as excited by this casting news as we are? What are you looking forward to seeing from David Berry most? And does anyone else want to see his screen test really, really badly???
Wow! This is an actual scoop! I haven’t seen anything about him singing anyplace else. Love his voice!
I can definitely picture him as Lord Grey. Good job, casting crew. Can’t wait to see him next spring.