Thomas Payne, born on December 21st, 1982, is a renowned English actor with a diverse range of roles to his credit. His most notable appearance was as Paul "Jesus" Rovia on AMC's The Walking Dead, a character he portrayed from 2016 to 2018.
Payne's early life was marked by a strong passion for the performing arts. Growing up in Bath, Somerset, he attended King Edward's School, where he was an active member of the drama department. After graduating from the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama in June 2005, he landed his first notable role in the 2008 film Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
In 2007, Payne made his television debut on the BBC series Waterloo Road, playing the character of Brett Aspinall, a 17-year-old sixth former. Despite being 24 years old at the time, Payne's portrayal of the character earned him recognition and praise. He remained in the series until the end of the following season in March 2008.
Payne's subsequent roles included playing George Best in the BBC 2 film Best: His Mother's Son, a biographical drama about the legendary footballer. He also appeared in Marple: They Do It With Mirrors and Wuthering Heights for ITV in the same year.
In 2007, Payne was named one of Screen International's Stars of Tomorrow, a prestigious recognition of his talent and potential in the industry.
In 2010, Payne joined the cast of Luck, a new pilot for HBO directed by Michael Mann and written by David Milch. He played the role of a Cajun jockey alongside Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte.
Payne's subsequent roles included the title role in The Physician, a biographical drama based on the book of the same name, alongside Stellan Skarsgard and Ben Kingsley. He also had a recurring role in Season 6 of The Walking Dead as Paul "Jesus" Rovia, and was promoted to series regular for Season 7.
In his personal life, Payne has been dating singer Jennifer Åkerman since late 2013 and is engaged to her. His younger brother Will Payne is also an actor.
Throughout his career, Payne has demonstrated his versatility and range as an actor, taking on a variety of roles in film and television. His dedication to his craft and his passion for storytelling have earned him a reputation as a talented and respected member of the acting community.
