Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
	The main entrance to RADA on Gower Street
Type	Drama school
Established	1904
Chairman	Marcus Ryder
President	David Harewood
Vice-president	Cynthia Erivo
Principal	Niamh Dowling
Location	London, England
Affiliations	King's College London; Birkbeck, University of London; Conservatoire for Dance and Drama
Website	www.rada.ac.uk

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) is a drama school in London, England. It is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1904 by Herbert Beerbohm Tree. It is thought to be one of the best drama schools in the world. Architect Bryan Avery designed the university.

Actor David Harewood has been President of RADA since 2024, replacing Kenneth Branagh. Cynthia Erivo was also made Vice President in 2024. Many famous actors have studied here.

Notable alumni

Gemma Arterton (born 1986), movie, stage and television actress
Dean Joseph Norris (born c. 1962/1963) movie and television actor
Richard Attenborough (born 1923), actor, director and producer
Sir Alan Bates (1934–2003), movie, stage and television actor
Sean Bean (born 1959), movie & television actor
Sir Kenneth Branagh (born 1960), actor and movie director
Joan Collins (born 1933), actress and producer
Sir Tom Courtenay (born 1937), movie, stage and television actor
Timothy Dalton (born 1946), movie, stage and television actor
Charles Durning (1923-2012), movie, stage and television actor
Brian Epstein (1934–1967), music entrepreneur and manager
Ralph Fiennes (born 1962), movie and stage actor
Elizabeth Sellars (born 1923), movie and stage actress
Albert Finney (born 1936), movie, stage and television actor
Sir Michael Gambon (born 1940), movie, stage and television actor
Sir John Gielgud (1904–2000), actor, director and producer
Maggie Gyllenhaal (born 1977), stage and screen actress
Sir Ronald Harwood (born 1934), playwright and screenwriter
Sally Hawkins (born 1976), stage and screen actress
Tom Hiddleston (born 1981), movie, television, radio, and stage actor
Sir Anthony Hopkins (born 1937), movie, stage and television actor
Sir Ian Holm (born 1931), movie, stage and television actor
John Hurt (born 1940), actor and vocal artist
Glenda Jackson (born 1936), actress and politician
Ted Lange (born 1948), movie, television, stage, and voice actor
Charles Laughton (1899–1962), actor, screenwriter and producer
Mike Leigh (born 1943), movie and theatre director, screenwriter
Vivien Leigh (1913–1967), stage and screen actress
Andrew Lincoln (born 1973), actor
Matthew Macfadyen (born 1974), movie, stage, television and voice actor
Steve McFadden (born 1959), movie and television actor and presenter
Sir Roger Moore (born 1927), movie and television actor
Alan Napier (1903-1988), movie, television and stage actor
Joe Orton (1933–1967), playwright
Peter O'Toole (1932-2013), stage and screen actor
Clive Owen (born 1964), movie actor
Alex Kingston (born 1963), movie, stage and television actress
Harold Pinter (1930–2008), playwright, director and screenwriter
Jonathan Pryce (born 1947), actor and singer
Alan Rickman (born 1946), actor and theatre director
Dame Diana Rigg (born 1938), stage and movie actress
Liev Schreiber (born 1967), movie actor, producer, director and screenwriter
Michael Sheen (born 1969), stage and movie actor
Timothy Spall (born 1957), actor
Ben Whishaw (born 1980), movie, stage, television and radio actor
Susannah York (1939–2011), movie, stage and television actress
Martha Howe-Douglas (born 1980), television actress

References

↑ RADA Britannica.com.
↑ Fabrique. "David Harewood and Cynthia Erivo appointed new President and Vice President of RADA — RADA". www.rada.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-18.

Other websites

Media related to Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at Wikimedia Commons

Official website

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[1] RADA Britannica.com.

[2] Fabrique. "David Harewood and Cynthia Erivo appointed new President and Vice President of RADA — RADA". www.rada.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-18.