Biography

Daniel Asher Francis (born 9 February 1983, Battersea, London, England) is an English actor, active since 2007. He trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company after graduating. He also produced and directed eight short documentaries depicting the human impact of technology. His first major on-screen role was Sgt Carl Haleford in the 2012 ITV war drama Homefront, and his feature film debut was Sean Warren in the sports drama Fast Girls (2012). He is best known for Esmond Smith in the Education installment of Steve McQueen's Small Axe (2020), Dave Shaw in the Netflix miniseries Stay Close (2021), Dr. Facilier / Baron Samdi in Once Upon a Time (2017–2018, 8 episodes), and Lord Marcus Anderson in Bridgerton (2024–present, 11 episodes). His filmography includes the short films The Shot (2011), In and Out (2016, as Josh), and Cla'am (2017, as Low Beak), and the feature Don't Move (2024, as Officer Dontrell Carter). On television he has also appeared in EastEnders (2003), Law & Order: UK (2010, as Louis Francis), Eternal Law (2012, as Captain Caple), Holby City (2013, as Joey Ryan), Liaison (2023, as Albert Onwori, 6 episodes, with Eva Green and Vincent Cassel), and The Wheel of Time (2023, as High Lord Turak, 2 episodes).