Simon Manyonda is a renowned British Television, Theatre, and Film Actor, celebrated for his captivating performances in iconic productions such as Doctor Who, King Lear, The Bay, and His Dark Materials. Throughout his illustrious career, he has had the privilege of working with esteemed directors and actors, including Sam Mendes, Glenda Jackson, Anthony Hopkins, Richard Eyre, and Nicholas Hytner, to name a few. Committed to nurturing the talents of young artists, Simon serves as a Board Member for Theatre Peckham.
Born in South East London, Simon is the eldest son of a General Practitioner of Medicine and a Gynaecologist and Obstetrician. From an early age, he struggled with speech impediments, which led him to become a quiet and observant child. After attending speech therapy for many years, gaining confidence in his speech, and developing his communication skills, Simon discovered a passion for drama in his secondary school classes.
In these early drama classes, Simon found solace in portraying various characters, utilizing the skills he had quietly observed over the years. Despite his speech impediments in everyday conversations, he was able to communicate with confidence and ease through the characters he portrayed on stage. Simon's talents earned him the Key Stage Three and Four drama awards, and at the age of 15, he joined the Young Vic Youth Theatre.
At the Young Vic, Simon performed in Doctor Faustus and King Lear, marking his first appearance as the title role. After completing secondary school, he pursued his higher education at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he continued to take leading roles in student plays, explored his creative side through writing poetry and creating art installations, and worked with "at-risk" teenagers at foster homes.
Simon's experience working with young people at a film school in New York during his second year at university reignited his passion for acting, prompting him to apply to drama school. His impressive audition for LAMDA secured him a spot at one of London's most prestigious drama schools, despite having to prepare a Shakespeare scene and a song in less than 24 hours for his full panel audition.
In his second term of his final year, Simon auditioned for Sir Richard Eyre at the Royal National Theatre to play the part of Haemon in Moira Buffini's "Welcome to Thebes," which he won. Simon graduated from LAMDA a term early to take on the role, working alongside notable British actors such as David Harewood and Nikki Amuka-Bird.
