In 2024, Theo Devaney had a guest appearance in American Sports Story as an Aide, and he played Peter Sellers in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. Across all three films in the A Christmas Prince trilogy for Netflix, Theo played Simon alongside Ben Lamb and Rose McIver, and he reprised his role for a cameo in The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star with Vanessa Hudgens as the lead. Further screen roles for Theo include playing Stanley in the 2019 film Once Upon a Time in London, Gavin MacLeod in episodes of Supernatural in Series 9 and 12, filming as Lord Nelson in Night at the Museum: Secrets of the Tomb, and he had his first TV job after moving to Canada playing Winston in an episode of Psych alongside Cary Elwes. Theo will be seen in the upcoming release of Black Rabbit, having worked with Jason Bateman, who stars in the show with Jude Law, and Theo has voiceover experience having dubbed the voice of Sherlock Holmes in Moriarty the Patriot. Alongside his acting career, Theo is the founder of Theo Devaney Acting Studio in Orange, New Jersey, where he offers weekly classes and one-off workshops for professional actors and those new to the industry. Speaking with Theo, he told us about filming for the upcoming release of Black Rabbit, playing Simon in the A Christmas Prince film trilogy for Netflix and being the founder of Theo Devaney Acting Studio.
Last year, you had guest roles in American Sports Story as an Aide and Feud: Capote vs. The Swans as Peter Sellers; what were both shows like to work on?
Both of those shows were fun in different ways.
The American Sports Story gig was a one-day shoot, and I played an American sports coach. I literally had one scene in that, but it was fun. It was something worthwhile to work on. We were at a large outdoor football training facility with about 200 young footballer background actors, which was quite amusing. I don’t usually do unnamed parts, but I like to work, and I’m happy to work on interesting things, even if it’s just for a day.
Capote vs. The Swans was actually a lot of fun. I got to work with Tom Hollander, who is a wonderful British actor playing Truman, and I got to play a famous real-life superstar in Peter Sellers. That was really fun. The design of that show is just unbelievable, so beautiful. I think my costume cost them more to make than they paid me for my fee as an actor. I was only in it for a scene or two, but it was great fun. I had multiple costume fittings because I was playing Peter Sellers playing another character on a movie set. It’s a really cool scene. A lot of people reached out when they saw it because they recognised my voice. I consider it a cameo – and a fun cameo. I like working on Ryan Murphy shows because they’re very popular, widely watched. The characterisation is really heightened, and the visual design elements are fantastic. I actually met the art director on set of Capote, who is an incredible woman and works on a lot of Ryan Murphy productions. Obviously, I like longer projects where you’re coming and going every day, but I’m happy to do cameos if they’re interesting shows.
We understand you’ve filmed for the upcoming release of Black Rabbit starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman; is there anything you can say about this, and what are you looking forward to with the release?
Yeah, this, again, was a one-episode role, and I got to be in a scene with Jason, directed by him. I can’t really say much until it’s out, but it was a lot of fun. I have huge respect for Jason. He’s an amazing guy, amazing actor, very easy to hang out with, and the show looks and feels awesome. Again, the role is not a big one, but it’s a fun thing to be associated with. A lot of what being an actor is is sometimes doing things that aren’t big, but that you can make special by being effective. The thing I liked about it was that I got to work in an American accent, as with other Ryan Murphy stuff. It’s just fun for my technique.
What are some of your stand-out memories from playing Simon in all three films of the A Christmas Prince trilogy for Netflix?
The number one element is the family feeling within the company of actors. Such an amazing group – we all remain friends, have a WhatsApp group, keep in touch, and just love each other. Ben Lamb is currently in The Gilded Age in New York and came to stay with me and my wife and son in New Jersey for a weekend, which was lovely. Rose McIver is doing beautifully in Ghosts. She’s a tremendous actor and a real example of what number one on the call sheet should be – lovely, empathetic, strong, hardworking. Then you have all the other wonderful actors like Alice Krige, Honor Kneafsey, Sarah Douglas, Richard Ashton, Raj Bajaj, Joel McVeagh, Tahirah Sharif – who’s gone on to do massive Netflix shows.
It was also wonderful being on location in Romania and doing stuff socially. On another level, I kind of surprised myself with that performance because coming from a method training background and doing contemporary drama, trying to be all serious and visceral all the time, doing something like this – which is more of a comedic universe but with a heart – taught me a lot. It was so popular. I think it was the third most-viewed movie in Netflix’s history after that first Christmas, and nobody saw that coming. That’s a testament to the actors making the audience love them. Every Christmas I can be anywhere and someone will come up to me and say, “Simon!”. That’s always a nice feeling. I’m proud of that work and I really enjoyed it.
How would you describe Simon, and what was it like developing the character over the years?
He’s a bad guy with a soul. If he were just a complete sociopath, there’d be no real value to him in that universe. Maybe it’s my specialty as an actor to play people who are a bit cranky and Marmite-y – you either love them or hate them – then realise they’re actually thoroughly decent. I think I had more fun with it as we went along. One thing I’m pretty good at is finding the emotional through-line of a character. Even people who aren’t nice have their own emotional logic. What I got better at was finding a way to bring humour and play into my process so the character was enjoyable to watch – not just an unpleasant smell that wafts in and out – but grounded in truth and fun to be around.
I think that joy of performing is what makes audiences want to watch you. I don’t know that we’re conscious of it, but the joy has to be in your work. That’s what I got better at. The A Christmas Prince movies helped me stop being so hard on myself and just focus on making choices and performing in a way that I enjoyed.
What was it like reprising your role of Simon for The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star?
That was a cameo and I got to do a scene with Vanessa Hudgens. That was really a gift from the production company, to bring Simon in and link the universes of Genovia and Aldovia. Unfortunately, when it came to the shoot, Vanessa was flying somewhere else, so I was acting with a tennis ball on a tripod, pretending to talk to her. That was amusing. It was also the first thing I shot after moving to the States, so it was nice to go down to Netflix in Hollywood, shoot that, and see some of the production team from the other movies.
How was your time on set of the 2019 feature film Once Upon a Time in London as Stanley?
It was an indie movie by Gateway Films, and I enjoyed the set design and the people making it – they’re very prolific in the UK. I was part of a bar scene, played the barkeep in this quite boisterous bar set in London in the 50s and early 60s. It was cool. I was in it for a couple of scenes. It’s on Netflix now, been quite popular, and people reach out and say, “Hey, you did that dude in that thing,” which I enjoy.
You played Gavin MacLeod in episodes of Supernatural in Series 9 and 12; what was that like to film, and can you tell us about your character?
The Supernatural family is amazing – an incredibly supportive online and in-person community. I’ve met people through it who’ve remained friends. The show itself was an education. The first episode was one of the first things I did when I moved to Canada. I’d done so much theatre, hadn’t really been on a big set doing TV, and was throwing the kitchen sink at the performance. Gradually I learned to chill. Mark Sheppard, who plays Crowley, was lovely to work with and gave me good advice. Jensen and Jared are absolute sweethearts – supportive, loving, real people.
I learned you can be in a larger-than-life comedic universe and still play serious stuff. It was so popular, people watch and re-watch it, and it keeps developing new fans. It’s one of the big things that gets me recognised all over the place. As an actor, it means a lot when people care about your work – that’s why I do it, to connect people to me and to each other.
How did you find working on Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb as Lord Nelson?
This was another interesting one – just a one-day gig, on green screen, played Lord Nelson with a little comic cameo. Met Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan. I had one of the best days of my life working on that – I woke up, had brunch, cycled eight miles to the studio, did the gig, had lunch, cycled to the beach in Stanley Park in Vancouver where all our friends converged and watched the sun go down. It was beautiful. If days as an actor can be perfect, that one was. They ended up cutting the scene because American audiences didn’t know who Lord Nelson was, which was a shame, but happens a lot so it doesn’t hurt too much. They invited me to the premiere and I politely declined – didn’t seem right to attend if I wasn’t actually in it. Still a pleasure to work on. As an actor, you do so much work that may not make the cut, but it doesn’t take away the pleasure of doing it in the first place.
What do you remember most from filming your episode of Psych and playing Winston?
That was the first TV job I did when I moved to Canada. The big thing for me was working with Cary Elwes. I grew up obsessed with The Princess Bride! I didn’t know he was in it until I saw the call sheet, then absolutely freaked out. Called my mum. First time I stepped out of the trailer, I heard “Hello,” turned around, and there he was. I waited until like the third day before telling him how much that movie meant to me. He was incredibly gracious. It was lovely. Now my son and I watch The Princess Bride and act out the sword fights together! So that’s full-circle.
As a voiceover actor, you dubbed Sherlock Holmes in Moriarty the Patriot, how was it taking on the character?
Probably one of my top most rewarding experiences as an actor. Every second in the booth working with Rawly Pickens, the director, was a pleasure. I’m a massive Sherlock Holmes fan. I hadn’t worked in about six months during COVID, started doing VO auditions, booked Moriarty as my first gig with my new agent – felt very cosmic. I based a lot on Jeremy Brett’s Sherlock from the old Granada series, mixed with my dad’s one-line wit and misanthropic warmth. Ryan Colt-Levy, who played Watson, became a great friend. I’m really proud of it. I love the artwork, the atmosphere, and I actually enjoy watching it – something I don’t often say about my own work.
Where does your love of acting come from, and how did you get started?
I think it comes from being an only child, spending a lot of time on my own, moving schools, feeling a bit isolated and misunderstood. Acting was a way to connect on a deep level with humanity. I was very shy, so acting let me use my extrovert side safely. Now it’s helped me become more social, but I still feel fundamentally misunderstood, which motivates me to do meaningful work.
I love make-believe, I love collaboration, I love being with groups of actors. It’s exhausting but vivifying. Running my own studio now lets me help people grow, realise things about themselves, do things for others they didn’t know they could. That’s deeply satisfying. I still do VO and film and TV when they come. The industry is tough – COVID, AI, strikes – but I’ve learned to stay positive. And I believe actors should create their own work whenever possible. Ultimately, what matters is: are you doing the work in a way that satisfies you?
Do you have any favourite films and TV shows?
Yes, though I don’t watch that much TV for pleasure these days. My all-time favourite films are Apocalypse Now, The Godfather Part II, and The Big Lebowski, which is probably the greatest comedy of all time. I also love Withnail and I – that captures something essential about actors. In TV, I’m a big fan of True Detective, especially Mahershala Ali in Season 3. He’s phenomenal.
You’re the founder of Theo Devaney Acting Studio in Orange, New Jersey, can you tell us about it?
The studio is for both professional actors and people new to acting. It’s all about confidence, understanding your voice, honing your identity, playing and experimenting. It’s very practical. I focus on freedom and simplicity over getting stuck in technique. It’s a collaborative, supportive environment with zero toxic competitiveness. We do weekly classes and one-off workshops, and we’re expanding – bringing on our wonderful new actor/coach, Margaret Reed – a brilliant actor and educator. We help artists with their craft, career, and building community. People come for years, sometimes step back and then return. New Jersey is perfect for it – close to Manhattan with a booming creative scene. I also do online content videos to help people with craft, career, and mindset via my Instagram and TikTok platforms.
What do you enjoy most about running the studio, and how did it come about?
I started by running classes, found a cool Brooklyn-style space a few blocks from my house, and consolidated there. What I love most is the almost church-like energy when people do great work – seeing them surprise themselves, derive deep satisfaction, and build bonds. I love offering a suggestion and seeing it open them up. But I also have to be careful not to become over-invested; artists need to direct their own growth. I see myself as a kind of cool uncle – helping people grow without making myself the story.
What can actors expect from your classes?
They can expect to work on multiple genres, styles, characters, scenarios every week. It’s immersive, practical, and fun. We do voice, body conditioning, film, TV, theatre, comedy, improv, and commercial technique. I take a holistic approach – every actor has gifts that don’t need to be taught. My job is to help them find confidence in those, then move into areas for growth. It’s about putting them at the centre, finding solutions that work for them.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I don’t have much of it, so I love hanging out with my wife and son. I love nature – hiking, running, cycling, golf in remote rural spots. I’ll go to the cinema for art house films. I like good food, good wine (though less often now in my 40s), and travel, especially with family. I wish I had more time for it, but new experiences and cultures are always enriching.
Do you have any further projects coming up, and what are you hoping this year brings?
My focus this year is growing the studio – making it even more satisfying for our members and bringing more people into the community. I hope the industry continues to revive. I want that for myself and for my creative community. I’ve been an actor for over 20 years – I’ve seen busy seasons and quiet seasons. So I just want to stay ready, happy, sane, enjoy auditioning, enjoy exploring with my studio members, all while maintaining work-life balance so I can be there for my family. That’s really the number one thing.
Follow Theo on:
Instagram – Theo Devaney / Theo Devaney Acting Studio