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Jeremy Irons appointed Chancellor of Bath Spa University

Thursday, 3 November, 2016

We are delighted to welcome Oscar winning actor Jeremy Irons to Bath Spa University.

Jeremy is the University’s first ever Chancellor and he takes his position with the aim of inspiring the next generation of young creative minds.

Jeremy’s career spans film, television and theatre. He trained at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol and first performed on stage in 1969. He has appeared in numerous productions in both the West End of London and on Broadway winning a Tony Award for Best Actor for his role in The Real Thing in 1984.

His performance in TV series Brideshead Revisited resulted in his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and he won a further Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and an Emmy Award for his performance in Elizabeth I.

His numerous film credits include Kafka, Dead Ringers, Lolita, The Man in the Iron Mask, The Lion King, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Reversal of Fortune for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Jeremy now turns his attention to higher education and the arts at Bath Spa University. He will take an active role in promoting the creative industries internationally, challenging the perceptions that arts education and career paths are secondary to STEM subject areas.

Speaking of his appointment, Jeremy said: “I am delighted and honoured to become the first Chancellor of Bath Spa University.

“The arts stir our emotions like nothing else. They inspire action and change human behaviour, so we must not underestimate their potential impact when investigating and addressing societal and global issues.

“Bath Spa University is a very special place. Its heritage spans diverse institutions and it has several beautiful locations around Bath and beyond. But creativity unites it at its core. In their many different ways, students, staff and alumni are able to combine to form a constellation of brilliance! And we need to celebrate that.”

Professor Christina Slade, Bath Spa University’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “Creativity is at the heart of Bath Spa University. Through his vast experience in the arts Jeremy Irons will bring unique insight and influence our vision to be the leading university for creativity, culture and enterprise.”


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