A former Kingswinford student is making huge waves in the acting world – landing a role in a Netflix original series, performing alongside Cate Blanchett and being nominated for a prestigious Olivier Award.
Zachary Hart is nominated alongside A-listers Cate Blanchett, Bryan Cranston, Tom Hiddleston, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Rosamund Pike and Paapa Essiedu who are also contenders at this year's Olivier Awards.
Zachary, who attended Kingswinford School and King Edward VI College, has been nominated in the best supporting actor category for his roles in The Seagull and Stereophonic - achieving a rare feat by earning two nominations in the same category.
The 35-year-old has landed a role in Netflix's Assassin's Creed, having made a name for himself with a role in The Seagull at the Barbican
alongside Cate Blanchett and Tom Burke.
He then went on to appear in hit West End play Stereophonic - thrilling audiences as troubled musician Reg the bassist in the play about a burgeoning fictional band in the 1970s.
Zachary, who now lives in London, said he is "dumbfounded" by his success.
He said: “To be nominated for an Olivier Award is an incredible thing, to be nominated TWICE in the same category is just unimaginable! I couldn’t speak when I found out.”
"To get Assassin's Creed - a Netflix original is insane.
"Two years of theatre has completely changed my life."
Along the way many people have recognised his incredible talent - teacher Alice Westbury at the Kingswinford School took Zachary aside and said he should study drama at King Eds - then his former partner sent in his application to drama school without him knowing.
Zachary also appeared in The Constituent at the Old Vic theatre alongside James Corden and Anna Maxwell Martin. The play was a drama featuring a face-off between an MP and a constituent outraged by the failings of the system.
Now he will hit Netflix screens in Assassin's Creed - as one of the biggest global blockbuster franchises in video game history makes the leap from interactive platforms to a streaming series - with filming currently taking place.
Zachary said he wants to inspire young people to consider acting as a career path and has already returned to his old school to talk to pupils - something he would like to do more of when his busy schedule allows.
He said: “The Black Country is full of really talented youngsters who are unaware of how to transfer those talents into jobs in the arts, and importantly more stable jobs than their parents might think.
“Kids in the Black Country and similar areas learn to express themselves in a wonderful way and I want the industry to start taking notice of that. "And I want the industry to know it’ll be richer for it. I'd like to help with that.”
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