Adrian Lester

Personal context

Summary

Adrian Lester is a British actor known for the television series Hustle and for leading Shakespearean roles including Hamlet, Henry V and Othello. His stage and screen work spans contemporary drama and classical theatre; Red Velvet, which he helped champion, brought the story of black actor Ira Aldridge to wider attention. Lester has repeatedly spoken about racial discrimination and the lack of diversity in British film and television, calling for stronger measures to improve representation. He has also said that race need not define roles that are not culturally specific, and that press coverage of his drama Undercover would be more powerful without repeatedly foregrounding the actors’ colour. No public party campaigning, LGBTQ advocacy, or statements on gender politics or DEI are on record.