Stephen Dillane

Birth Name: Stephen John Dillane

Place of Birth: Kensington, London, England, U.K.

Date of Birth: 27 March, 1957

Ethnicity: English, Irish, Scottish, Cornish, remote Manx [Isle of Man]

Stephen Dillane is an English actor. His roles include the films The Hours, the series John Adams (2008) and Game of Thrones; and Tony-winning stage work.

Stephen is the son of Bridget and John B. Dillane. His father was born in Australia, and has Irish ancestry. His mother was born in Cockermouth, Cumberland, England, and descended from many upper-class ancestors, including Earls, Baronets, Marquesses, and Dukes, and the Ponsonby, Cavendish, Spencer, Fane, Bertie, Leveson-Gower, Pierrepoint, Stewart, Cornwallis, Gordon, and Maxwell families. His five times maternal great-grandfather was Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess and 2nd Earl Cornwallis, known as a general in the British Army during the American War for Independence. His brother is actor Richard Dillane.

He is married to actress and director Naomi Wirthner, with whom he has two children, including actor Frank Dillane.

Stephen’s maternal grandfather was The Rev. Stanley Patricius Lamplugh Curwen (the son of Alfred Francis Curwen and Beatricia Cervinia Hills). The Rev. Stanley was a Protestant minister. Alfred was the son of Edward Stanley Curwen and Frances Jesse. Beatricia was the daughter of John Hills.

Stephen’s maternal grandmother was Lilian Frances Skinner (the daughter of Major Charles Lancelot Andrewes/Andrews Skinner and Lady Sara Kathleen Ponsonby). Charles was the son of Charles Binny Skinner, who was from St. John’s, Forfar, Angus, Scotland, and whose father was a minister; and of Frances Mary Andrews. Lady Sara was the daughter of The Rev. Walter William Brabazon Ponsonby, 7th Earl of Bessborough, and of Lady Louisa Susan Cornwallis Eliot; whose own father was Edward Granville Eliot, 3rd Earl of Saint Germans.

Sources: Genealogy of Stephen Dillane (focusing on his mother’s side) – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogy of Stephen’s mother (focusing on her own mother’s side) – https://www.thepeerage.com

Genealogy of Stephen’s maternal great-grandparents, Charles Lancelot Andrewes/Andrews Skinner and Lady Sara Kathleen Ponsonby – https://www.geni.com