Actor Edward Bluemel has landed a lead role in the latest World-War Two period drama series, The Halcyon, airing on ITV on Monday evenings.
Edward, who attended Taunton School from Pre-prep right through to the Senior School in 2011 (and is the son of Martin Bluemel, Head of Chemistry and IB, and Jane Bluemel, Teacher of Physics), has been cast as Toby Hamilton in the hit TV series.
The drama, set in 1940, shows London life through the prism of war and the impact it has on families, politics, relationships and work across every social strata.
Edward’s character, Toby, is described as “having lived his life under the shadow of Freddie, the elder twin. He’s sharp, clever and gifted with a promising academic career, but the lack of love from his father has left him bitter and at odds with the Hamilton name. We meet him during a time of great transition as he grapples with his romantic feelings and forges his own path in wartime London.”
Edward commented: “When I was at Taunton School, the drama department was under the reign of the inspirational Meryl Smart and theatre productions ranging from Shakespeare to musicals were put on with real passion and dedication. It was taken very seriously and it was because of this that I really started to believe that pursuing acting as a career could be more than just a wild fantasy as young actors are often led to believe.”
Edward had major parts in Taunton School productions playing roles such as Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew, ‘Judas’ in Jesus Christ Superstar and ‘Enjolras’ in Les Miserables.
He attended a RADA Foundation Course in Acting after leaving school, then achieved a BA Hons in Acting in the summer of 2015 from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Edward performed roles such as Leontes in The Winter’s Tale in his final year at the Royal Welsh College and was awarded the Laurence Olivier Bursary.
As well as his latest role, he has also had a one-episode part in ‘Holby City’ and one of the leading parts in a film ‘Access all Areas’, which is due to be released later this year.
