Derek Jacobi made his debut in the episode “She Stoops to Conquer” of the anthology drama series ‘BBC Sunday-Night Play’ in 1961. He made his big-screen debut in the 1965 film ‘Othello,’ directed by Stuart Burge. Following his debut, Jacobi went on to star in ‘Interlude’ (1968), ‘Three Sisters’ (1970), ‘The Day of the Jackal’ (1973), ‘Blue Blood’ (1973), and ‘The Odessa File’ (1974). In 1976, he joined the cast of the television series ‘I, Claudius’ where he portrayed the fourth Roman emperor, Claudius. The show ran for 12 episodes and received positive response from critics. Jacobi also bagged the ‘BAFTA Award’ for his performance in the series. He next appeared in several television series and films, such as ‘Philby, Burgess and MacLean’ (1977), ‘Tycoon’ (1978), ‘Jackanory’ (1978), ‘Minder’ (1979), ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ (1980-1982), and ‘Hamlet’ (1980). He received the ‘Primetime Emmy Award’ nomination for his portrayal of ‘Adolf Hitler’ in the 1982 television film ‘Inside the Third Reich,’ directed by Marvin J. Chomsky. The film was based on Albert Speer’s book of the same name. He went on to receive the ‘Primetime Emmy Award’ for his performance in the 1988 television film ‘The Tenth Man.’
Jacobi continued to star in films like ‘Henry V’ (1989), ‘The Fool’ (1990), ‘Dead Again’ (1991), ‘Hamlet’ (1996), ‘Basil’ (1998), ‘Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon’ (1998), and ‘Molokai: The Story of Father Damien’ (1999). In 2000, he starred as ‘Gracchus’ in the epic historical drama film ‘Gladiator,’ directed by Ridley Scott. The film received positive response from critics and was a major financial success. The following year, he appeared in the satirical black comedy mystery film ‘Gosford Park,’ directed by Robert Altman. The film saw critical acclaim upon release and did decent business at the box office. He next appeared in ‘Revengers Tragedy’ (2002), ‘Strings’ (2004), ‘Nanny McPhee’ (2005), ‘Underworld: Evolution’ (2006), ‘The Riddle’ (2007), ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’ (2008), ‘Endgame’ (2009), ‘Hippie Hippie Shake’ (2010), ‘Ironclad’ (2011), ‘Jail Caesar’ (2012), ‘Effie Gray’ (2013), ‘Grace of Monaco’ (2014), ‘Cinderella’ (2015), ‘The History of Love’ (2016), and ‘Stratton’ (2017).
In 2018, he appeared in the action-adventure film ‘Tomb Raider,’ directed by Roar Uthaug. The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a financial success. He was next seen in ‘Tolkien’ (2019), ‘The Host’ (2020), and ‘Say Your Prayers’ (2020). Jacobi was last seen in the 2021 docuseries ‘The Lost Pirate Kingdom.’ He is all set to appear in the upcoming British drama film ‘A Bird Flew In.’
After aging Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius names his favorite general Maximus to be his successor, his son Commodus seizes the throne by murdering him and the family of Maximus, who is imprisoned and sold into slavery in Africa. But, Maximus returns to Rome as a popular gladiator and hatches a plot to overthrow the dictator.
The Day of the Jackal is a political thriller film which tells the story of President Charles DeGaulle, who is put under ironclad security after facing several assassination attempts. Eventually, a professional assassin codenamed ‘Jackal’, takes up the task to kill him.
The movie is based on the true story of King George VI who suffered from speech impediment. When his elder brother abdicates the throne and he is crowned the King of Britain, he is little unsure. However, with the help of his speech therapist, Lionel Logue, who employs unconventional method, he eventually manages to deliver a radio address when Britain declares war on Germany in 1939.
An adaptation of the well-known play by William Shakespeare, this drama film tells the story of the Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, who returns home to find his father murdered. Meanwhile his mother is getting married to his uncle, the very man responsible for his father’s death.
The historical drama based on Shakespeare’s play about the British monarch features young Henry who sets out in 1415 to conquer France. But Henry falters with self-doubt, and the sinking morale of his troops doesn’t help either. However, a resolute Henry emboldens his army with impassioned words and leads them into the battle of Agincourt, conquering France and winning Princess Katherine as his Queen.
After an elderly Jewish man commits suicide, an investigative journalist named Peter Miller finds his diary. He learns about a former concentration camp commander, who is still alive, and therefore he decides to investigate.
Stefan Zetler is a middle-aged symphony conductor who while interviewing Sally, a beautiful young reporter, makes a remark that gets him into trouble. In order to avoid this situation, he decides to go on a vacation. However, he runs into Sally again, and the two begin an affair.
The Medusa Touch is a science fiction horror thriller film which tells the story of Inspector Brunel, a French detective in London, who tries to reconstruct the life of a man lying in hospital with severe injuries. He learns that the man was delusional, and starts going through his diary. Over time, he begins to think that the man may not be delusional, but might have possessed powerful telekinetic abilities.
In 1932, Sir William McCordle, a wealthy aristocrat but an uncouth industrialist, hosts a weekend hunting party at his old English country house, Gosford Park, where he entertains his elite friends and relatives upstairs, while their staff works downstairs. But then, several sagas of intrigue, lies, secrets, hatred, betrayal and deceit spill out when the host, Sir William McCordle, is found murdered.
Based on a play by Anton Chekhov, this drama film tells the story of three sisters who wish to escape their small Russian town and return to Moscow, the place where they grew up.
In 1956, aspiring filmmaker, Colin Clark,gets a job to assist Sir Laurence Olivier as he directs Marilyn Monroe in ‘The Prince and the Showgirl'. Owing to the difficulties on the film-set, Clark is assigned to ensure Monroe’s schedule. With an evolving rapport, he escorts the star around as she enjoys a tranquil respite away from the pressures of work and fame.
In 1949, a composer named Roman Strauss receives the death penalty for the murder of his wife. In the 1990s, a detective finds out about a mute woman, who has also lost her memory, living in an orphanage. He also feels that she is somehow linked to the Strauss murder.
Born to wealthy parents, Ella's fortune turns after her parents die and she is reduced to a servant girl by her cruel stepmother and wicked stepsisters. Her luck begins to change again when she meets a dashing stranger in the woods and is invited to the royal ball, but her jealous stepmother locks her in the attic.
Anonymous is a historical drama film, which is set during the Elizabethan era. A playwright Ben Jonson, is tortured and forced to reveal, if it was Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, who was the original author of the works credited to William Shakespeare.
After her father goes missing, Lara Croft earns her living as a bike courier, not willing to claim her inheritance, believing that her father is still alive. Finally forced to accept her legacy, she gains access to a secret chamber, where she finds pre-recorded message from her father, instructing her to destroy his research works.
After the death of vampire elder, Victor, vampire assassin Selene and her lover lycan/vampire hybrid, Michael are on the run from their clan. They try to unravel the reason for the rivalry between vampires and werewolves. Meanwhile, Marcus Corvinus, the original vampire has awakened and has an ambitious plan to conquer the world along with his savage Lycan brother, William.
Widower Cedric Brown is struggling to control his seven unruly children ever since the death of his wife. The only person they listen to is the scullery-maid Evangeline. When everything seems lost and the family’s financial security is threatened by their benefactor Lady Adelaide Stitch, a magical Nanny McPhee turns up to save the day.
After solving a theft in Jerusalem, the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot finds himself involved in the murder mystery of the corrupt businessman Edward Ratchett, on-board the lavish Orient Express. As natural disasters and heartbreaking revelations follow, Poirot is forced to rethink his definition of justice.
The adaptation of Graham Greene’s novel ‘The Human Factor’, follows mid-level MI6 bureaucrat Maurice Castle, who unwittingly becomes a mole leaking information to the Soviets, while trying to get his African wife out of apartheid South Africa. Castle will be tested with the MI6 out to find and kill the mole.
A CIA agent sends Iron Curtain defector Alex Holbeck back to East Germany to steal an Enigma code scrambler to foil a Russian plot to assassinate five Soviet dissidents on Christmas Day. However, he soon realizes that both the East German police and KGB know about his arrival and seeks help from his former lover to remain undetected.
George is a factory worker who used to work as clairvoyant, Marie has a near-death experience during the 2004 Tsunami, and Marcus, a schoolboy loses his twin brother. The movie tells three parallel stories of these three people intertwined by their similar ability to communicate with the dead after surviving tragedy.
This action drama film takes us to thirteenth-century England. It revolves around a small band of dedicated Knights Templar who try to defend Rochester Castle against the forces of King John, who is known for his tyranny.
In a parallel universe where the ruling power detests free thinkers, an unknown group is kidnapping children. An orphan joins a bunch of sailors, on their way to the far North, to look for the missing children. This fantasy adventure is based on the 1995 book Northern Lights.
A young journalist is investigating a candidate for canonization after the Spanish Civil War. He soon discovers that the candidate, who is his father’s former friend, has had a complicated relationship with his father since childhood. He soon begins to discover something much darker and deeper.
Grace of Monaco is a biographical drama film which tells the story of Grace Kelly, who considers returning to Hollywood and resuming her career after receiving an offer from Alfred Hitchcock. However, a political dispute between Monaco and France makes things quite difficult for her.
Matt Gutierrez is a Vatican-appointed Jesuit priest who joins forces with Sharon, an Israeli archaeologist to investigate something that might blow apart the peace in their region, and also threaten the very foundations of their religion.
This animated adventure film tells the story of a field mouse who is forced to seek help from a colony of rats in order to save her ill son. She is also unaware of the fact that she has a deeper link with them.
Derek Jacobi Awards
| Frasier | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | 2001 |
| The Tenth Man | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special | 1989 |
| I, Claudius | Best Actor | 1977 |
