Charles was born in England, but spent his formative years and received his education in the United States. His professional acting career began at the tender age of ten, when he took the stage in a production of 'Oliver!' starring Davy Jones of The Monkees.
Charles' academic pursuits led him to earn a Bachelor's degree in History at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, in the year 2001. Following his graduation, he returned to England to further his studies in drama at the prestigious London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 2004.
During his time at RADA, Charles had the opportunity to perform in over a dozen theatrical productions, including Richard III, Ulysses, and Speaking in Tongues. His talent and dedication did not go unnoticed, and he soon found himself playing the lead role of Claude in a revival of 'Hair' at The Gate theatre in Notting Hill.
In 2006, Charles received critical acclaim for his performances in the touring production of 'Paradise Lost' as the Son of God, and in the stage adaptation of 'Midnight Cowboy' at the Edinburgh Festival. His breakthrough role in British television came in 2007, when he made his debut in the fantasy-comedy serial 'Bonkers', playing a sex-obsessed teenager with a penchant for bedding every woman he meets.
Charles' talent and versatility were further showcased in 2008, when he was nominated for the prestigious Ian Charleson Award for his portrayal of Iago in Frantic Assembly's production of 'Othello'. This led to his joining the Royal Shakespeare Company for almost three years, during which he played lead roles in 'As You Like It' and 'King Lear'.
The company's invitation to perform at the Lincoln Center Festival in New York in 2011 marked a significant milestone in Charles' career, as his portrayal of Edgar in 'King Lear' caught the attention of audiences and critics alike. This led to appearances in a number of American television shows, including 'Madam Secretary', 'Sleepy Hollow', 'Frontier', and most notably, 'The Knick', directed by Steven Soderbergh, in which he played yet another sex-obsessed young man.
In 2017, Charles returned to London to rejoin the Royal Shakespeare Company in their production of 'Coriolanus', and cinema audiences got to know him as the arrogant lothario Dr Gregory Butler in the hit feature film, 'Happy Death Day'.
