Photo: David M. Benett/Getty
We could all use a bit moreRegé-Jean Pagein our lives.
The actor, 31, caused quite the stir with his portrayal of Simon Basset, the brooding Duke of Hastings, in Netflix’s delightful eight-part period pieceBridgerton, a Shondaland production based on the first book in author Julia Quinn’s series of the same name.
To the dismay of fans, the actor announced on April 2 thathe will not be returning to the show, leaving admirers of the “hot duke” heartbroken.
With eager fans already pushing for the British-Zimbabwean star to be cast as the next James Bond (and British betting firm Ladbrokes noting his odds aren’t half-bad, according toVariety), he’s poised for a meteoric rise to superstardom — no matter his next role.
Below, we’ve rounded up Page’s résumé thus far, so you can indulge your desire to stare at him unabashedly for as long as you’d like (we won’t judge!).
Waterloo Road & Fresh Meat
Steve Diet/A&E/Courtesy Everett Collection
Roots
WhileBridgertonmarks Page’s big break, bringing him to a far wider audience and prompting a slew of mainstream media coverage, his first breakout role was in The History Channel’s 2016 remake of Alex Haley’s 1976 slave narrativeRoots,as Chicken George.
“My big entrance into this industry was playing an enslaved person, which is an absolute cliché of people of color,” he toldInStyleover Zoom of how that role helped inform his career goals — namely, focusing on projects that highlight Black joy onscreen.
His turn in the miniseries also caught the eye of Shondaland executive Betsy Beers, according toEsquire, who promptly sought him out for the production company’s ABC legal dramaFor the People.
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For the People
The 2018 legal drama ran for two seasons, starring Page as Assistant US Attorney Leonard Knox. While it was sadly short-lived, Page’s presence in each of the show’s 20 episodes was enough to get us (and the Shondaland producers) hooked, later leading to his casting inBridgerton.
Mortal Engines
Are post-apocalyptic films another form of period piece, or perhaps their antithesis? Either way, Page made his silver screen debut in this 2018 movie, which saw him as fighter pilot Captain Khora.
“Me? Oh, yeah, it was ok. Just fighting giant robots in the sky, taking on the imperialist forces of an all-consuming London, again. Tsk. How was your day?” he playfully captioned a shot of him in characteron Instagram.
Courtesy of Amazon Studios
Sylvie’s Love
The Amazon Prime film premiered just a few days ahead ofBridgerton, although Page’s excellent turn as drummer Chico Sweetney flew comparatively under-the-radar in the case of this period piece set in 1950s Harlem.
Don’t Wait
The song, which Page composed himself, pairs with the expressive choreography in an emotional commentary on “how we learn to cope with, and grow beyond, the imperfect legacy and enormous grief the world inevitably throws at us all,” according toPage’s website.
Saturday Night Live
In early 2021, the actor had his big moment on the Studio 8H stage, hostingSaturday Night Live. He spoofedBridgerton, performed a TikTok-worthy sea shanty and got soulful to the song of the week, Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License.”
Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part I
Last but not least, eagle-eyed fansbelievethey’ve spotted Page in the first installment of the two-part finalHarry Potterfilm, according toBuzzFeed. In an uncredited role, he appears to pop up beside Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) in 2011.
source: people.com
