Luke Newton

Luke Paul Anthony Newton (né Atkinson) (born 5 February 1993)[1][2] is an English actor. He is known for playing Colin, the third Bridgerton child, in Netflix's Bridgerton. He also had roles in the BBC Two drama The Cut (2009) and the Disney Channel series The Lodge (2016–2017).

Luke Newton
Born
Luke Paul Anthony Atkinson

(1993-02-05) 5 February 1993 (age 31)
Alma materLondon School of Musical Theatre
OccupationActor
Years active2010–present
Known forBridgerton, The Lodge

Early life

Newton grew up in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, England. He has a younger sister named Lauren. His parents divorced, and his mother Michelle remarried in 2006.[2] Newton's father was a singer on Stars in Their Eyes, and his two maternal aunts were on the West End.[3]

Newton attended St Nicolas and St Mary's Primary School, and then Northbrook College Sussex (now part of Greater Brighton Metropolitan College).[4][5] He formed the boy band South 4 with Oli Reynolds (then Evans), Joel Baylis, and Henry Tredinnick.[6][7] Newton was scouted by an agent in Brighton while he was in a local production of Billy Elliot.[3] He went on to train at the London School of Musical Theatre.[8]

Career

In 2010, Newton made his television debut in the BBC Two teen series The Cut as Luke Attwood, appearing in 11 episodes.[9] Newton made his professional stage debut as an Elder Price understudy in the West End run of The Book of Mormon in 2013. The following year, he appeared in two episodes of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Sam Hern.[10][11]

From 2016 to 2017, Newton starred in the Disney Channel series The Lodge as Ben Evans.[12][13] While appearing on the series, he was also featured on the two accompanying soundtrack albums.[14][15] In 2018, he starred in the Syfy television film Lake Placid: Legacy as Billy.[16]

In 2020, Newton began playing Colin, the third eldest Bridgerton son, in the Shondaland-produced Netflix period drama Bridgerton.[17][18][19] A supporting character in the first two seasons, it was announced in May 2022 that he and co-star Nicola Coughlan would lead the third season, a change from Julia Quinn's Regency romance book series in which their characters lead the fourth novel Romancing Mister Bridgerton. Bridgerton Season 3 was released by Netflix in two parts in 2024.

Newton returned to the stage opposite Amber Anderson in the 2023 revival of The Shape of Things at the Park Theatre.[20]

Over the summer of 2023, Newton did voice work for the Portuguese animated film Viana: The Legend of the Golden Hearts, as Thomas, a Portuguese guitar craftsman who falls in love with Princess Ana.[21][22]

Personal life

Newton has dyslexia and ADHD.[23][24]

Newton dated actress Sophie Simnett, from 2016 to 2018. The two were co-stars on the Disney Channel series The Lodge. He later dated Welsh theatre actress Jade Davies from 2019 to 2023.[25]

Newton's grandfather Ken passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic; the family raised over £3,000 for the Love Your Hospital charity in his name.[26]

Filmography

Key
Denotes productions that have not yet been released

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRefs.
2014Twist and Pulse's Halloween ThrillerMichaelShort film[27]
2019Youth in BedEthanShort film[28][27]
2025Viana: The Legend of the Golden Hearts ThomasIn production[29]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRefs.
2010The CutLuke AttwoodMain role; 11 episodes[27]
2011Sadie JBrad1 episode[27]
2013Mr SelfridgeRichard Brackenbury1 episode[27]
2014DoctorsSam Hern2 episodes[27]
2016–2017The LodgeBen EvansMain role[27]
2018Lake Placid: LegacyBillyTelevision film[27]
2020–presentBridgertonColin BridgertonMain role[30]

Theatre

YearTitleRoleDirectorVenueNotesRefs.
2013The Book of MormonSwingCasey Nicholaw & Trey ParkerPrince of Wales Theatre, LondonUnderstudy for Elder Price[31]
2023The Shape of ThingsAdamNicky AllpressPark Theatre, London[3][27]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2021Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesBridgertonNominated[32]

References