If you spent any time watching TV in the early 2010s, you definitely knew Josh Bowman’s face. He was the quintessential "golden boy" of the Hamptons, playing Daniel Grayson on ABC’s hit soap Revenge.
But honestly? If you only know him as the guy Emily Thorne was trying to take down, you’re missing out on a pretty wild filmography. From professional rugby fields in England to playing one of history's most notorious serial killers, Josh Bowman movies and tv shows cover way more ground than most people realize.
He isn't just another British actor who moved to LA to play a wealthy American. He’s a former athlete who pivoted to method acting after a career-ending injury, and that intensity shows up in his roles—even the ones that didn't get the Emmy buzz they maybe deserved.
The Daniel Grayson Era: When Revenge Took Over
Let’s get the big one out of the way. Revenge was a massive deal. For four seasons, Bowman played Daniel Grayson, the son of the show’s primary antagonists.
What made his performance interesting wasn't just the chemistry he had with his co-star (and now-wife) Emily VanCamp. It was the way he played a character who was basically a human ping-pong ball. One minute he was the hero, the next he was a villain, and then he was just a tragic figure caught in a crossfire he didn't understand.
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Most actors would have played Daniel as a one-note spoiled brat. Bowman gave him a weird, desperate vulnerability. When Daniel finally bit the dust in Season 4, the show lost a huge part of its emotional stakes. It’s still the role people stop him for on the street, and for good reason—it’s peak "guilty pleasure" television.
From Heartthrob to Jack the Ripper
After Revenge ended in 2015, Bowman made a choice that surprised a lot of fans. He could have easily coasted on another romantic lead role. Instead, he signed on to play John Stevenson—better known as Jack the Ripper—in the short-lived but fascinating series Time After Time.
It was a total 180.
Seeing him go from the polished Daniel Grayson to a Victorian-era serial killer traveling through time to modern-day New York was jarring in the best way. He leaned into the darkness. He talked in interviews about researching the psychology of killers, trying to find a "motivation" for someone so inherently evil. Even though the show only lasted one season, it proved he had the range to play a legitimate antagonist.
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The Early Days: Horror and Holby City
Before the Hollywood fame, Bowman was grinding in the UK. Like many British actors, he did his time in the medical drama circuit, appearing as Scott James in Holby City.
But his early movie career was actually heavy on the horror genre. Have you seen 13Hrs (also known as Night Wolf)? It’s a low-budget werewolf flick from 2010 where he stars alongside Gemma Atkinson. It’s not exactly The Shining, but it’s a fun look at his early work. He also did Prowl around the same time, another "kids get lost and hunted" movie.
These roles feel worlds away from the high-fashion suits of the Hamptons. They’re gritty, often messy, and show a young actor just trying to figure out how to work a camera.
Essential Josh Bowman Credits You Might Have Missed
- Make It or Break It (2011): He played Max Spencer, a bisexual gymnast. It was a pretty progressive role for a teen drama at the time.
- So Undercover (2012): He played the love interest to Miley Cyrus. It’s a silly college spy movie, but their chemistry was actually pretty decent.
- Doctor Who (2018): This was a big one for his UK fans. He played Krasko in the episode "Rosa," a time-traveling racist trying to stop the Civil Rights movement. It was a bold, uncomfortable role that he handled with a lot of nuance.
- Our Girl (2020): He joined the fourth season of this BBC military drama as Dr. Antonio, showing he could still jump back into British TV without missing a beat.
The "Method" Behind the Acting
Something people often get wrong about Josh is thinking he’s just a "face." He actually studied method acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York.
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That training explains why he often picks roles that require a certain level of physical or psychological intensity. He doesn't just show up and say the lines; he’s usually trying to find the "itch" in the character. You see it in Level Up (2016), a thriller where he’s trapped in a high-stakes game, and more recently in Miranda's Victim (2023), where he plays Charles.
Why He Still Matters in 2026
In a world where actors are often famous for being "influencers" first, Bowman feels like a bit of a throwback. He’s private. He doesn't chase every trend. He and Emily VanCamp have built a quiet life away from the tabloids, which is probably why his performances feel so grounded.
Whether he's playing a doctor in Our Girl or a mysterious figure in an indie thriller, there's always a sense that he’s doing it for the craft rather than the paycheck.
If you're looking to catch up on his work, don't just stop at Revenge. Check out his Doctor Who episode for a masterclass in playing a "quiet" villain, or find Time After Time if you want to see him fully unleash his dark side.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to see the full evolution of his acting, start with his Holby City episodes to see the "raw" talent, then jump straight into Revenge Season 1. To see his most recent work, look for Miranda's Victim on streaming platforms—it's a heavy watch, but it features some of his most mature acting to date. Keep an eye on his upcoming indie projects, as he seems to be moving more toward character-driven dramas rather than big network soaps.