Phil Dunster

Philip James Dunster is an English actor who achieved widespread recognition for his performance as footballer Jamie Tartt in the Apple TV+ sports comedy series Ted Lasso. His work on the show earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. Prior to this breakthrough, he established his career across stage productions and various British television dramas.

Raised in Northampton, England, Dunster attended Leighton Park School in Reading, where he served as head boy. During his youth, he played rugby, but at age fifteen he abandoned hopes of a sports career after a failed trial with London Irish due to his size. He also evaluated joining the military like his father and brother before opting to study acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2014.

Dunster began his professional career in 2015 with stage work, playing Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, and made his screen debut in the television sitcom Catastrophe. He also featured as Dickie Baker in the feature film The Rise of the Krays, a role he reprised in the 2016 sequel The Fall of the Krays. His portrayal of Arthur in the theatrical production Pink Mist at the Bristol Old Vic and Bush Theatre earned him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination in 2016. That same year, he performed in The Entertainer at the Garrick Theatre and appeared in Stan Lee's Lucky Man.

Between 2017 and 2019, Dunster secured continuous television and film work. He joined the main cast of the action series Strike Back: Retribution as Lance Corporal Will Jensen, played BJ McGory in Save Me, and appeared as Tristan in the sci-fi drama Humans. His early film credits include roles in Megan Leavey, Murder on the Orient Express, All Is True, Judy, and The Good Liar. He also appeared in the miniseries Catherine the Great.

In 2020, Dunster joined the primary cast of Ted Lasso, starring in the series through 2023. Alongside this role, he played Jamie Cole in The Trouble with Maggie Cole and appeared in the miniseries Dracula. He subsequently portrayed Mike Stevens in the 2022 thriller series The Devil's Hour and was cast in the Apple TV+ series Surface, as well as Universal's live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon 2 as Eret.

In his personal life, Dunster is a longtime supporter of the football club AFC Wimbledon. He began a relationship with filmmaker Ellie Heydon in late 2017. The couple announced their engagement in August 2024 and married in March 2026.