Born in 1949, Antony Sher was raised in South Africa before going to London to study at the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art between 1969 and 1971. After performing for the theatre group "Gay Sweatshop" in "Thinking Straight" (1975), "The Fork" (1976) and "Stone" (1976), Sher joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1982. Three years later, his performance in the title role of "Richard III" won him a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor and, in 1997, he won another Laurence Olivier Award for "Stanley". Although he spends more time acting in the theatre, Sir Antony has also appeared in a number of films and TV series, including The History Man (1981), Shadey (1985), The Young Poisoner's Handbook (1995) and The Wind in the Willows (1996). In 1997, he gave a charming performance as Benjamin Disraeli in Mrs Brown (1997) and played "Dr. Moth" in 1999's Shakespeare in Love (1998).

He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2000.