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Dominic West

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Dominic West
West in 2011
Born
Dominic Gerard Francis Eagleton West

(1969-10-15) 15 October 1969 (age 55)
Sheffield, England
EducationTrinity College Dublin (BA)
Guildhall School of Music and Drama (MA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • musician
Years active1991–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2010)​
Children5
Dominic West's voice
From Front Row Interviews, July 2011[1]

Dominic Gerard Francis Eagleton West (born 15 October 1969) is an English actor, director and musician. He is best known for playing Jimmy McNulty in HBO's The Wire (2002–2008), Noah Solloway in Showtime's The Affair (2014–2019), the latter of which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama nomination,[2] Ebenezer Scrooge’s nephew Fred in A Christmas Carol (1999, with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge), and Charles, Prince of Wales, in the Netflix drama The Crown (2022–2023), the latter of which earned him nominations for another Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.

West made his television debut in 1998 BBC medical drama Out of Hours before appearing in the television films A Christmas Carol (1999),'28 days' with Sandra Bullock in 2000 and Nicholas Nickleby (2001). His breakthrough came with the role of Detective Jimmy McNulty in the HBO series The Wire (2002–2008). He then starred in BBC series The Hour (2011–2012) earning a Golden Globe Award nomination. He received a BAFTA Award for his performance as the serial killer Fred West in the ITV drama Appropriate Adult (2011) and a nomination for his portrayal as Richard Burton in BBC Four's Burton & Taylor (2013).[3] He played Jean Valjean in the 2018 BBC miniseries Les Misérables. He has since starred in the Netflix series Stateless (2020), and the Amazon Studios The Pursuit of Love (2021). West is currently playing the role of Dr Chris Cox in the Sky One series Brassic (2019–present).

His film debut came with his portrayal of Henry, Earl of Richmond in Ian McKellen's adaptation of Richard III (1995). He has since appeared in Chicago (2002), Mona Lisa Smile (2003), 300 (2007), Punisher: War Zone (2008), Johnny English Reborn (2011), John Carter (2012), Pride (2014), Testament of Youth (2014), Money Monster (2016), Genius (2016), The Square (2017), Tomb Raider (2018), Colette (2018) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022).

Early life

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Dominic Gerard Francis Eagleton West[4] was born on 15 October 1969[5] in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire (now South Yorkshire). He is the sixth of seven siblings (five girls and two boys) born into a family of Irish descent; his maternal grandparents were born in Ireland, while his paternal grandmother was Irish-American.[6][7] His mother, Pauline Mary (née Cleary), was an actress, and his father, Thomas George Eagleton West, owned a plastics factory.[8] He is the first cousin once removed of American politician Thomas Eagleton.[a][9][10] West attended Eton College. He has been unenthusiastic about the career benefits of being an Old Etonian, saying it "is a stigma that is slightly above 'paedophile' in the media in a gallery of infamy",[11] but asked whether he would consider sending his own children there, said "Yes, I would. It's an extraordinary place. [...] It has the facilities and the excellence of teaching and it will find what you're good at and nurture it".[12] Following a gap year during which he spent four months working as a cattle herder in Argentina, he studied English literature at Trinity College Dublin, graduating in 1993, and promoted per tradition to an MA.[8][13] He graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1995.[14]

Career

[edit]

Film and television

[edit]
West in 2004

West's screen appearances include True Blue, Chicago, Richard III, and Mona Lisa Smile. His most notable television role has been starring in The Wire as Baltimore police detective Jimmy McNulty. West was praised for the accuracy of his character's American accent.[15][16] His debut as a director was while being on The Wire; he directed the episode "Took" (2008).[17] West starred as Lysander in the 1999 film version of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. That same year, he appeared as Fred in A Christmas Carol. In feature films, he portrayed the heavy metal guitarist Kirk Cuddy in the 2001 film Rock Star.[18] West played Fred Casely in the 2002 film Chicago.

In 2006 West played the Spartan politician Theron in 300 and made a guest appearance as an actor in a sketch in The Catherine Tate Show, alongside "Frankie Howerd impressionist". In 2007 he played Detective Poppil in Hannibal Rising. West played the disfigured supervillain Jigsaw in the 2008 film Marvel's Punisher: War Zone. In 2010 he had a role as General Virilus in Neil Marshall's adventure thriller Centurion.[19] West starred in the UK ghost film, The Awakening.[20] West has done other work on TV and radio. He appeared in the role of Oliver Cromwell in the Channel 4 series The Devil's Whore. He also performed as "Dr. West", the opening track on Eminem's 2009 album Relapse, as a doctor discharging Eminem from a rehab facility. West played the part over the phone in January 2009 while Eminem was recording it in a Miami studio.[21]

In December 2009, West starred as Hank in a radio adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's play The Hairy Ape for BBC Radio 3,[22] was a guest presenter on the BBC show Have I Got News for You, and ended the year alongside Joan Rivers and Sarah Jessica Parker with an appearance on Graham Norton's New Year's Eve Show.[23] In 2011, West appeared as a news presenter on the BBC period drama series The Hour. He also played serial killer Fred West (no relation) in the ITV two-part series Appropriate Adult, giving a performance that the serial killer's daughter described as capturing the "evil essence of [Fred West] – his character, his mannerisms, even his gait."[24]

In 2012, West was offered the role of Mance Rayder in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, but turned it down due to the amount of time he would have to spend away from his family.[25] He played gay activist Jonathan Blake in the 2014 film Pride about the 1984–1985 UK miners' strike. West starred as Noah Solloway on Showtime's series The Affair, which premiered October 2014. The series was renewed for a fifth season in 2018.[18]

In 2018 it was reported that West was represented by Tavistock Wood Management.[26] That year he appeared in Colette as the eponymous writer's husband, Willy.[27] In 2019, West played the role of Jean Valjean in the BBC's adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables.[28] Also in 2019, West appeared in Sky One's series Brassic, in the recurring role of Dr. Chris Cox.[29] In October 2020, West entered negotiations to play Charles, Prince of Wales in the final two seasons of The Crown.[30] His casting was confirmed in April 2021.[31][32] That same month, West joined the cast of the 2022 film Downton Abbey: A New Era.[33]

Theatre

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As a theatre actor, West has played Edward in Harley Granville Barker's The Voysey Inheritance directed by Peter Gill at the Royal National Theatre in 2006.[34] Around 2009, he starred at London's Donmar Warehouse as the protagonist in Helen Edmundson's adaptation of Pedro Calderón de la Barca's existential drama Life Is a Dream, for which he received glowing reviews.[35]

He took the title role in Simon Gray's classic comedy, Butley, playing at the Duchess Theatre in London from 1 June 2011.[36] In the September he returned to his native Sheffield to play Iago to his former Wire co-star Clarke Peters's Othello at the Crucible Theatre.[37]

In September to October 2012, he starred in Jez Butterworth's The River at the Royal Court Theatre in London with Miranda Raison and Laura Donnelly.[38]

From mid December 2012 to January 2013, West starred as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.[39]

In 2015–16, he starred alongside Janet McTeer in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the Donmar Warehouse in London.[40]

Advertising

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In 2009, West starred in a series of online films known as "The Carte Noire Readers". Made to promote French coffee brand Carte Noire, they consist of actors reading love scenes from a selection of sources and acting through the commitment of justice. West reads extracts from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence; High Fidelity by Nick Hornby; The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton; Life Class by Pat Barker; The Moment You Were Gone by Nicci Gerrard; and Something Childish But Very Natural by Katherine Mansfield.[41]

From October 2023, West started appearing as a burlesque characterization of a banker in a series of television advertisements for Nationwide.[42][43]

Charity

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West is a supporter of care charity Helen's Trust in response to their assistance to his mother prior to her death.[44]

He led Team Canada/Australia for Walking With The Wounded, a fundraising event for wounded soldiers. He trekked to the South Pole against Team UK (led by Prince Harry) and Team America (led by Alexander Skarsgård). A few days into the trek, it was decided that the competition part of the race would be cancelled due to hazardous terrain and weather conditions, so the teams combined forces and continued. Alongside Harry, Skarsgård and several wounded soldiers, West successfully made it to the South Pole on 13 December 2013.[45]

Personal life

[edit]

In 1998, West and his girlfriend, Polly Astor, had a daughter, named Martha. Martha later became an actress.[46] Years later, West rekindled his romance with Catherine FitzGerald,[47] whom he had dated at university. The two married in Glin, County Limerick on 26 June 2010, and have four children: Dora, Senan (who made his screen debut alongside his father in The Crown[48]), Francis, and Christabel.[49][50] The couple have hosted fox hunting at their Glin Castle home.[51] In 2024, West was appointed as the new ambassador of Julian House, a Bath based charity that supports vulnerable and at-risk individuals. [52]

Political views

[edit]

In August 2014, West was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September's referendum on that issue.[53]

Following Donald Trump's criticism of Baltimore, Maryland, in July 2019, West asked "What would a lonely, hysterical neurotic who uses hand cleanser all day understand about a vibrant community like Baltimore?"[54]

West is a supporter of fox hunting, and opposes attempts to ban it in the United Kingdom, stating he doesn't "really get the opposition to fox hunting".[51][55]

Honours

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Filmography

[edit]
West plays McNulty in The Wire

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1991 3 Joes Joe Smoker Short film
1995 Richard III Henry, Earl of Richmond
1996 True Blue Donald Macdonald
1996 Surviving Picasso Paulo Picasso
1996 E=mc2 Spike
1997 The Gambler Alexei
1997 Diana & Me Rob Naylor
1997 Spice World Photographer
1999 A Midsummer Night's Dream Lysander
1999 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Jerus Jannick
2000 28 Days Jasper
2001 Rock Star Kirk Cuddy
2002 Ten Minutes Older Young Man
2002 Chicago Fred Casely
2003 Mona Lisa Smile Bill Dunbar
2004 The Forgotten Ash Correll
2006 Stingray Luther Short film
2006 300 Theron
2007 Hannibal Rising Inspector Popil
2008 Hold On Delivery Man Short film
2008 Punisher: War Zone Billy Russotti / Jigsaw
2010 Centurion General Titus Flavius Virilus
2010 Jackboots on Whitehall Billy Fiske Voice
2010 Words of the Blitz Sir John Colville
2010 From Time to Time Caxton
2011 Johnny English Reborn Simon Ambrose
2011 Arthur Christmas Lead Elf Voice
2011 The Awakening Robert Mallory
2012 John Carter Sab Than
2013 The Girl with the Mechanical Maiden Inventor Short film
2013 Boy Cried Wolf Hughie Short film
2014 Pride Jonathan Blake
2014 Testament of Youth Mr Brittain
2016 Genius Ernest Hemingway
2016 Money Monster Walt Camby
2016 Finding Dory Rudder Voice
2017 The Square Julian Gijoni
2018 Colette Henry Gauthier-Villars
2018 Tomb Raider Lord Richard Croft
2022 Downton Abbey: A New Era Guy Dexter
2025 Untitled Downton Abbey: A New Era sequel Post production

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1998 Out of Hours Dr. Paul Featherstone 6 episodes
1999 A Christmas Carol Fred Television film
2001 Nicholas Nickleby Sir Mulberry Hawk Television film
2002–2008 The Wire Detective Jimmy McNulty 56 episodes
2006 The Catherine Tate Show Actor Episode: "#3.5"
2008 The Devil's Whore Oliver Cromwell 4 episodes
2009 Breaking the Mould Howard Florey Television film
2011 Appropriate Adult Fred West 2 episodes
2011–2012 The Hour Hector Madden 12 episodes
2013 Burton & Taylor Richard Burton Television film
2014–2019 The Affair Noah Solloway 49 episodes
2016 Revolting Rhymes Wolf / Magic Fairy / Giant Voices; 2 episodes
2017 Panorama Narrator Voice; Episode: "Germany's New Nazis"
2018–2019 Les Misérables Jean Valjean 6 episodes; also executive producer
2019–present Brassic Dr. Chris Cox 22 episodes
2020 Stateless Gordon Masters 6 episodes
2021 The Pursuit of Love Uncle Matthew 3 episodes
2022 Ten Percent Himself Episode #1.3
2022–2023 The Crown Charles, Prince of Wales Main role (Seasons 5–6)
2022–present SAS: Rogue Heroes Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Clarke Main role

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Project Result Ref.
2002 Critics' Choice Movie Award Best Acting Ensemble Chicago Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Ensemble in a Motion Picture Won
Crime Thriller Awards Best Actor The Wire Won
2011 BAFTA Television Award Best Actor Appropriate Adult Won
Crime Thriller Awards Best Actor Nominated
Royal Television Society Award Best Actor Nominated
2012 Broadcasting Press Guild Award Best Actor The Hour Won
Golden Globe Award Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
2013 BAFTA Television Award Best Actor Burton & Taylor Nominated
Satellite Award Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Film Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Miniseries Actor The Hour Nominated
2014 Nominated
2015 Golden Globe Award Best Actor – Television Series Drama The Affair Nominated
Satellite Award Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama Won
2016 Won
2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Crown Nominated
2024 Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Television Series Drama Nominated [58]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated [59]
BAFTA Television Award Best Actor Nominated [60]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Nominated [61]

Notes

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  1. ^ West's paternal grandfather, Sir Harold Ernest Georges West (1894–1968), was an industrialist; by virtue of his marriage to Winifred Mary, daughter of Thomas Eagleton, of St Louis, Missouri, West's first cousin once removed was the American senator and 1972 Democratic vice-presidential nominee Thomas Eagleton. Sir Harold and Winifred West's daughter Gloria married Hugh Clifford Holmes, son of senior Army officer Sir Noel Holmes.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Dominic West". Front Row Interviews. 3 July 2011. BBC Radio 4 Extra. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Golden Globe actor profile". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Television Awards Winners in 2012 – TV Awards". Bafta.org. 24 April 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  4. ^ "MR DOMINIC GERARD FRANCIS EAGLETON WEST director information. Free director information. Director id 917507291". Company Check. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Dominic West profile". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  6. ^ "WEST Moya: Death notice". irishtimes.com.
  7. ^ Gliatto, Tom (5 August 2002). "Deceptive Detective". People Magazine. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  8. ^ a b Anthony, Andrew (26 October 2008). "Andrew Anthony talks to actor Dominic West". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  9. ^ Call Me Tom: The Life of Thomas F. Eagleton, James N. Giglio, University of Missouri Press, 2011, p. 206.
  10. ^ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 2003, vol. 1, p. 822.
  11. ^ Gray, Louise (9 March 2012). "Going to Eton is a stigma 'slightly above paedophile' says Dominic West". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  12. ^ Farndale, Nigel (6 November 2011)."Dominic West: 'Old Etonian? That was a lifetime ago". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  13. ^ Philby, Charlotte (21 March 2009). "My Secret Life: Dominic West, actor, 39". The Independent. London, UK. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  14. ^ "Dominic West, Class of 1995". Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  15. ^ Levinson, Paul (17 February 2008). "McNulty on his fine Baltimore accent". PaulLevinson.blogspot.com. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  16. ^ Rohrer, Finlo; Fraser, Katie (30 January 2009). "The good, the bad and the mangled". BBC News. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  17. ^ "'The Wire': The Dominic West perspective". Los Angeles Times. 17 February 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  18. ^ a b Dominic West at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  19. ^ "Official Domestic One-Sheet: Neil Marshall's Centurion". Dreadcentral.com. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  20. ^ "Early Sales Art: The Awakening". Dreadcentral.com. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  21. ^ "'The Wire' star Dominic West on Eminem's 'obsessive' love of the show". Entertainment Weekly. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2012. over the phone from London in January while Em was in a Miami studio.
  22. ^ "Drama on 3". BBC Radio 3. 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  23. ^ "Jump for Latest Centurion Clip". Dreadcentral.com. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  24. ^ "TV portrayal of killer leaves daughter scared". Yahoo!. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  25. ^ Ryan, Maureen (3 August 2012). "'Game Of Thrones': Dominic West Of The 'Wire' Rejected A Role On The HBO Drama". Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  26. ^ "The saints and sinners of St Trinian's". 10 April 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  27. ^ "Colette". IMDB. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  28. ^ "BBC One – Les Miserables – Jean Valjean". bbc.co.uk. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  29. ^ "When is Brassic on TV? Who is in the cast and what is it about?". Radio Times. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  30. ^ Kanter, Jake (20 October 2020). "'The Crown': Dominic West In Talks To Play Prince Charles". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  31. ^ Hill, Erin (7 April 2021). "The Crown Season 5 to Begin Filming in July with All-New Cast". People Magazine. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  32. ^ Ravindran, Manori (7 April 2021). "'The Crown' Season 5 to Start Filming in July (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  33. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (19 April 2021). "'Downton Abbey 2' Sets Release Date As Production Gets Underway With Original Cast Back & Dominic West Among New Additions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  34. ^ "Dominic West on playing Edward Voysey – What's On Extras". National Theatre. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  35. ^ Spencer, Charles (14 October 2009). ""Telegraph Review of "Life is a Dream"". The Telegraph. London, UK. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  36. ^ Thorpe, Vanessa (20 February 2011). "Dominic West to revive classic stage role". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  37. ^ Benedictus, Leo (22 September 2011). "What to say about ... Othello with Dominic West and Clarke Peters". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  38. ^ Tucker, Matthew (29 October 2012). "Dominic West Stars In The River (REVIEW)". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  39. ^ BWW News Desk. "Crucible's MY FAIR LADY, Starring Dominic West and Carly Bawden, Aiming for West End, May 2013?". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  40. ^ Trueman, Matt (21 December 2015). "London Theater Review: 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' with Dominic West". Variety. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  41. ^ "Dominic West – The Carte Noire Readers". Cartenoire.seigan.se. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  42. ^ "Hollywood star features in Nationwide's new amusing advert". Swindon Advertiser. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  43. ^ "Who's the Nationwide advert actor? – 2023 Cast – TV Advert Songs". Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  44. ^ Clark, Sarah (1 April 2012). "Superstar actor back in Sheffield for role that's close to his heart". ITV. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  45. ^ "Prince Harry completes South Pole charity trek". Daily News. New York. 15 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  46. ^ "Andrew Anthony talks to actor Dominic West". The Guardian. London: GMG. 26 October 2008. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  47. ^ Burke's Irish Family Records, 1976, p. 417.
  48. ^ "Dominic West's son makes his acting debut beside his real-life father in The Crown". Tatler. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  49. ^ Tobin, Emily (17 March 2021). "Catherine FitzGerald and Dominic West's home in Ireland". House & Garden.
  50. ^ "Wire actor West marries long-term Irish partner". Irish Examiner. 28 June 2010. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  51. ^ a b Power, Dickie (5 January 2024). "Hunting: Hunting alive and well in the Kingdom". The Irish Field. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  52. ^ julianhouse (10 October 2024). "Dominic West appointed as ambassador for Julian House". Julian House. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  53. ^ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories". The Guardian. London. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  54. ^ "Dominic West joins David Simon in condemning 'racist moron' Trump". The Guardian. 28 July 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  55. ^ "Dominic West: 'A lot of people don't understand country life... I don't really get that'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  56. ^ "The Wire star Dominic West to receive honorary degree". BBC News. London, UK. 4 October 2010.
  57. ^ "Award-winning actor to be honoured by the University of Sheffield". The University of Sheffield. 13 July 2018. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  58. ^ Lang, Brent; Shanfeld, Ethan (11 December 2023). "Golden Globes 2024: Full Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  59. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  60. ^ Richardson, Holly (20 March 2024). "Bafta TV awards 2024 nominations: full list". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  61. ^ Lewis, Hillary; Nordyke, Kimberly (17 July 2024). "Emmys 2024: List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
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