Richard E. Grant
Description
Richard E. Grant has built a prolific career as a character actor in film and television, with his distinctive voice leading to numerous roles in animated projects, including the English-language dub of the Studio Ghibli film Earwig and the Witch.
Born in Mbabane, Eswatini, in 1957, Grant studied English and drama at the University of Cape Town before moving to London in 1982 to pursue acting. He gained prominence for his lead role in the 1987 cult classic Withnail & I and has since appeared in a wide range of live-action films, including Bram Stoker's Dracula, Gosford Park, the Star Wars sequel The Rise of Skywalker, and the critically acclaimed Can You Ever Forgive Me?, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Grant's voice acting work spans animation, television, and film. One of his most notable anime roles is providing the voice of the Mandrake in the English-language version of the 2020 Studio Ghibli film Earwig and the Witch. Directed by Goro Miyazaki and based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones, the film features Grant as a mysterious and powerful entity encountered by the young protagonist. This role placed him within the prestigious canon of Studio Ghibli's English dubs.
Beyond this specific anime credit, Grant's voice work is extensive. He voiced the villainous Barkis Bittern in Tim Burton's stop-motion animated film Corpse Bride. For television, he voiced the Magpie in the Aardman Animations holiday special Robin Robin. He has also lent his voice to other animated features such as The Spine of Night, Khumba, and the television series The Legends of Treasure Island, where he voiced Long John Silver. His connection to the world of Doctor Who includes voicing the Doctor in the 2003 animated web series Scream of the Shalka.
Throughout his career, Grant has frequently collaborated with a wide array of directors and actors across both live-action and animated projects. His voice roles are characterized by a distinct, expressive quality that brings depth to characters ranging from the charming to the villainous. His contribution to Earwig and the Witch stands as a key example of his work within the specific genre of anime, introducing his talents to audiences of Japanese animation.
Born in Mbabane, Eswatini, in 1957, Grant studied English and drama at the University of Cape Town before moving to London in 1982 to pursue acting. He gained prominence for his lead role in the 1987 cult classic Withnail & I and has since appeared in a wide range of live-action films, including Bram Stoker's Dracula, Gosford Park, the Star Wars sequel The Rise of Skywalker, and the critically acclaimed Can You Ever Forgive Me?, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Grant's voice acting work spans animation, television, and film. One of his most notable anime roles is providing the voice of the Mandrake in the English-language version of the 2020 Studio Ghibli film Earwig and the Witch. Directed by Goro Miyazaki and based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones, the film features Grant as a mysterious and powerful entity encountered by the young protagonist. This role placed him within the prestigious canon of Studio Ghibli's English dubs.
Beyond this specific anime credit, Grant's voice work is extensive. He voiced the villainous Barkis Bittern in Tim Burton's stop-motion animated film Corpse Bride. For television, he voiced the Magpie in the Aardman Animations holiday special Robin Robin. He has also lent his voice to other animated features such as The Spine of Night, Khumba, and the television series The Legends of Treasure Island, where he voiced Long John Silver. His connection to the world of Doctor Who includes voicing the Doctor in the 2003 animated web series Scream of the Shalka.
Throughout his career, Grant has frequently collaborated with a wide array of directors and actors across both live-action and animated projects. His voice roles are characterized by a distinct, expressive quality that brings depth to characters ranging from the charming to the villainous. His contribution to Earwig and the Witch stands as a key example of his work within the specific genre of anime, introducing his talents to audiences of Japanese animation.
All Characters
- EnglishAnime overview: Earwig and the Witch