Jay Simon

Born in Hampstead London UK Jay Simon has had an extensive career on stage and screen. His first professional job was with the English National Opera as a soloist in Jonathan Miller's production of 'The Magic Flute' at the age of thirteen. Jay went on to study Drama (B.A Hons) at U.C.W Aberystwyth Wales.

After graduating he was invited to co-direct 'Nothing Sacred', at Theatre Clwydd Wales. Then worked in Theatre in Education with shows: 'The Mole-catcher's Daughter' and 'Introducing Shakespeare' with Traffic of the Stage whilst evenings were spent as part of the upstage crew at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 'Miss Saigon'.

Jay then had the opportunity to travel to Canada to appear as Lysander and Quince in the Edmonton Festival production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. He later spent time working with Metis Native Indians in the Spirit Song Theatre Company, where he enjoyed teaching Chief Dan George's grandchildren improvisation.

He toured Vancouver BC with a one man show 'Merely Players' and trained in screen acting at the Gastown Actors' Institute.

Jay then travelled to Dharmsala, India to work with Tibetan actors in Llamo Theatre.

Returning to the UK Jay landed a role in the musical 'A slice of Saturday Night', Queen's Theatre Hornchurch. He is really proud to have worked with the Pimlico Opera Company in their production of 'Guys and Dolls' at at Wormwood Scrubbs Prison as (Sky Masterson) along with twenty three inmates serving life sentences...Other musicals include ' Boogie Nights' and 'The little shop of horrors' (as The Dentist Orin Scrivello).

Jay's first television role was in the Channel 4's season of Operas appearing as the rogue Celadon in 'Good Friday 1663'. He went on to appear in the acclaimed TV series 'Perfect Strangers', directed by Steven Poliakoff, portraying Michael Gambon's father Lionel Symon..

Since then Jay has appeared in several movies:

Most recently 'A Mother for an hour (with Frances Barber), East end villain Billy (with Rob Lowe) in the Jack Higgins' thriller 'Midnight Man', a Flight Attendant in 'The Wedding Date', (with Debbie Messing and Dermot Mulroony), a Russian gangster in 'Heavy Duty' and an American chancer in 'Daybreak'.

Other UK TV work includes series: 'My Family', 'Holby City', 'Casualty', 'The Bill', 'Bernard's Watch', 'Barbara', 'Goodnight Sweetheart', 'The Knock', 'Murder in Suburbia' and 'Fur TV'.

In 2012 Jay moved to Wanaka, Central Otago on the South Island New Zealand. He has appeared in NZ TV shows 'Shortland Street', 'The Guy and Harley Show', 'Roman Empire 3', 'Straight Forward'  and 'Filthy Rich'.

Other movies filmed in New Zealand include: 'ARA' (as a whistle-blowing news-reader), 'Older' (as a neurotic talent agent), 'Bombshell: The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior' (As grieving Dutchman Aarne) and the animated musical feature Film 'Molly Monster'. Jay also voiced two characters in the cult kiwi sci fi feature film 'This paper mache rock is too heavy...'.

Most recently he appeared as a Starfleet Commander in the  independent Sci fi feature 'The Last Star'.

Jay is also a prolific voiceover artist providing TV characters voices for three seasons of 'Power Rangers', 'Finley the Fire Engine'' 'Molly Monster' and 'Big, Big World'. He has extensive experience in A.D.R for many movies including: 'The King', 'The Hobbit', 'Robin Hood''  'Defiance' and the 'Bourne Identity' series. He now has his own home recording studio Southern Sound.

Video games include: 'Path of Exile','Stronghold Crusader','Shing', 'Haze', 'Jericho' 'The Witcher', 'Spartan: Total Warrior' and many more.

Jay still enjoys directing, singing and writing/performing comedy. He is mad about theatre and movies and spends his spare time with his wife Nikki, three children and dog Becky.