BEN ALDRIDGE is an English actor born on this date. He is best known for his portrayals of “Arsehole Guy” in the dramedy series Fleabag, Captain Charles James in the BBC drama Our Girl, and Thomas Wayne in the crime drama series Pennyworth. He also stars in feature films Spoiler Alert and Knock at the Cabin.

Having worked with the National Youth Theatre, Aldridge graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art with a scholarship from the Genesis Foundation for young actors. He left early to begin filming the 2009 ITV film Compulsion.

Aldridge is a co-founder of “In the Corner Productions”. He directed the comedy pilot Pet Shop Girls in late 2011, which he co-wrote and co-produced with actor-writers Luke Norris, Ed Hancock and Kirsty Woodward.

In 2013, Aldridge starred in Almeida Theatre’s production of American Psycho as Paul Owen, opposite Matt Smith, Susannah Fielding, Jonathan Bailey, and Lucie Jones. The musical thriller featured a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa based on Bret Easton Ellis’s cult novel, with music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik. In September 2014, he joined BBC’s original drama series Our Girl as Captain Charles James. He left the role after the third series in 2018. In December 2014, Aldridge joined The CW’s series Reign as King Antoine of Navarre.

Aldridge was raised as an evangelical Christian. Both his parents and grandparents were raised in the Plymouth Brethren church, although his parents both left the denomination at age 18. 

In 2020, Aldridge came out as gay in a post on Instagram on the occasion of National Coming Out Day. In a 2021 interview with Attitude magazine, he commented that he’s gay.