Abigail Thorn

Abigail Thorn is a British YouTuber, actress, and playwright born on April 24, 1993. She is best known as the creator, writer, and host of the educational YouTube channel Philosophy Tube. Launched in 2013, the channel presents complex philosophical, social, and political concepts through theatrical video essays, elaborate costume design, and dramatic performance. In addition to her online content, Thorn has expanded into professional stage and screen acting, appearing in television productions such as HBO's House of the Dragon and Disney+'s Star Wars: The Acolyte.

Career and Content

Thorn started Philosophy Tube in May 2013 with the goal of making higher-level philosophy education freely accessible following tuition fee increases in the United Kingdom. Over time, her production style evolved from direct-to-camera lectures into highly stylized, theatrical productions featuring custom lighting, dynamic studio sets, and character work. The channel has accumulated more than 1.6 million subscribers and over 130 million views. Beyond YouTube, Thorn wrote and starred in the Off West End stage production The Prince in 2022, played commander Sharako Lohar in House of the Dragon, and voiced the character Nocturne in the video game Baldur's Gate 3.

Activism and Philanthropy

Thorn has frequently used her public platform to advocate for social issues and raise money for charity. In 2019, she hosted a continuous five-day livestream on Twitch reading the complete works of Shakespeare, raising more than £100,000 for the mental health charity Samaritans. She is also a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, public healthcare reform, and improved medical access for transgender individuals in the United Kingdom, receiving widespread recognition from human rights and cultural organizations for her work.

Personal Life

Raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Thorn earned a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of St Andrews and subsequently completed postgraduate training at East 15 Acting School. In January 2021, she publicly came out as a transgender woman through a video essay titled Identity: A Trans Coming Out Story alongside a public statement. She currently resides in London, where she balances her online media work with ongoing acting, writing, and voiceover projects.