---
name: "Adrian Dunbar"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/adrian-dunbar"
fi1m_id: "adrian-dunbar"
imdb_id: "nm0001160"
tmdb_id: 42566
wikidata_id: "Q2825024"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 August 1958"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-21T04:04:05.574472+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Adrian Dunbar

## Identity

Adrian Dunbar

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/adrian-dunbar
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** adrian-dunbar
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001160
- **TMDB ID:** 42566
- **Wikidata ID:** Q2825024
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Dunbar, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2825024, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001160/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/42566

Actor. Born 1 August 1958 in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 August 1958, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, UK
- **Active:** 1985–present
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 9: 8 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 85 (1), 1990s 81 (4), 2000s 64 (1), 2010s 79 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 72 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Crime 4, Action & Adventure 1, Comedy 1, History 1, Music 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $77m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Dunbar, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2825024, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001160/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/42566

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Cracker*](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md) (85), [*Line of Duty*](https://film.one/tv/line-of-duty.md) (79)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Good Vibrations*](https://film.one/film/good-vibrations.md) (77)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Adrian Dunbar

> Adrian Dunbar is particularly good at making unreasonable demands sound worth considering. We value the comic nerve he brings to *Hear My Song*, and would not let the familiar police authority overshadow that earlier impudence.

In *Hear My Song* (1991), Adrian Dunbar’s Micky O’Neill expects other people to help make his plans happen. The nightclub owner is searching for the singer Josef Locke, and Dunbar makes the effort of persuading everyone to take an interest funny in itself. He leaves the cheek visible, so Micky never becomes merely an agreeable guide through a fanciful story. We cared whether the singer would be found because Dunbar’s eager persistence made the errand feel worth following.

Peter Chelsom, who directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Dunbar, gives that eagerness plenty to do, though he sometimes presses too hard for affection. The romance suffers most from this insistence that we find everyone endearing. Ned Beatty’s quieter assurance as Locke helps: he makes the singer seem worth all the trouble Micky takes to find him. We enjoy Dunbar’s performance most when Micky is allowed to be impudent and the film stops requesting our approval.

The film came after an appearance in *My Left Foot* (1989), with supporting work in *The Crying Game* (1992) and the role of Kelly in *Cracker* (1993) following. Film and television work continued through the 1990s and 2000s before *Line of Duty* (2012–2021) brought wider recognition. As Superintendent Ted Hastings, head of anti-corruption unit AC-12, he became a familiar figure of principled authority. In creator and writer Jed Mercurio’s long interrogation scenes, Dunbar’s understated delivery and colloquial speech keep the authority recognisably personal.

The detective roles have continued with *Ridley* (2022–), which also gives him room to sing as retired detective Alex Ridley. Music had mattered to *Hear My Song* long before that, and his stage work includes *Kiss Me, Kate* (2024). Hastings need not become the only part by which we judge him, especially when the earlier comedy shows such a gift for being enjoyably presumptuous. For anyone who knows him chiefly through the police work, we would start with *Hear My Song*. Be prepared to forgive Chelsom some sentimentality.

## Biography

Adrian Dunbar is a Northern Irish actor, director and singer. Born on 1 August 1958 in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, he trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

He co-wrote and starred in the 1991 film *Hear My Song*, which received a BAFTA nomination for Best Original Screenplay. His other film roles include Peter in *My Left Foot* (1989) and Maguire in *The Crying Game* (1992). On television he has appeared as Kelly in *Cracker* (1993), John Marriat in *Inspector Morse*, a guest in *Inside No. 9* and Superintendent Ted Hastings in *Line of Duty* (2012–2021).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (9)

### Performed in (8) — the average rests on these

- *Good Vibrations* (2012), Fi1m 77, as Andy — [page](https://film.one/film/good-vibrations.md)
- *Line of Duty* (2012), Fi1m 79, as SI Ted Hastings — [page](https://film.one/tv/line-of-duty.md)
- *The Hollow Crown* (2012), Fi1m 82, as Plantagenet — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hollow-crown.md)
- *Ashes to Ashes* (2008), Fi1m 64, as Martin Summers — [page](https://film.one/tv/ashes-to-ashes.md)
- *Cracker* (1993), Fi1m 85, as Kelly — [page](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md)
- *The Crying Game* (1992), Fi1m 82, as Maguire — [page](https://film.one/film/the-crying-game.md)
- *Hear My Song* (1991), Fi1m 78, as Micky O'Neill — [page](https://film.one/film/hear-my-song.md)
- *My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown* (1989), Fi1m 85, as Peter — [page](https://film.one/film/my-left-foot-the-story-of-christy-brown.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Have I Got News for You* (1990), Fi1m 80, as Self - Host — [page](https://film.one/tv/have-i-got-news-for-you.md)

## Complete filmography (87)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Kiss Me, Kate* (2024), as Fred Graham  / Petruchio
- *A Sudden Case of Christmas* (2024), as Otto
- *Adrian Dunbar: My Ireland* (2022), series, as Presenter
- *Emily* (2022), as Patrick Brontë
- *Ridley* (2022), series, as DI Alex Ridley · Associate Producer
- *Adrian Dunbar's Coastal Ireland* (2021), series, Actor
- *DNA Journey* (2019), series, Actor
- *Blood* (2018), series, as Jim Hogan
- *The Snowman* (2017), as Frederik Aasen
- *Broken* (2017), series, as Father Peter Flaherty
- *Two Angry Men* (2016), as Sam Thompson
- *Walter* (2014), as DI Walter Gambon
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Adrian — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *Jo* (2013), series, Actor
- *The Attendant* (2012), as Frankie
- *The Life and Adventures of Nick Nickleby* (2012), series, as Ralph Nickleby
- *A Touch of Cloth* (2012), series, as Damien Vull
- *The Hollow Crown* (2012), series, as Plantagenet — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hollow-crown.md)
- *Line of Duty* (2012), series, as SI Ted Hastings — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/line-of-duty.md)
- *Good Vibrations* (2012), as Andy — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/good-vibrations.md)
- *Hideaways* (2011), as Dr. Russell
- *Mother's Milk* (2011), as Seamus
- *Death in Paradise* (2011), series, as Aidan Miles
- *Silk* (2011), series, as Joe Gillespie QC — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/silk.md)
- *Mo* (2010), as David Trimble
- *The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce* (2009), as Philip Conolly
- *Act of God* (2009), as Frank O'Connor
- *Tailwind* (2009), as Narrator
- *Whistleblower* (2008), series, as Florence Wycherley
- *Ashes to Ashes* (2008), series, as Martin Summers — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/tv/ashes-to-ashes.md)
- *Eye of the Dolphin* (2007), as Dr. James Hawk
- *Against Nature* (2006), as The Tramp
- *Child of Mine* (2005), as Alfie Palmer
- *The Quatermass Experiment* (2005), as Detective Lomax
- *Mickybo and Me* (2005), as Mickybo's Da
- *Kidnapped* (2005), series, Actor
- *Car Crash: The Delorean Story* (2004), as Narrator
- *Suspicion* (2003), series, as Mark Finnegan
- *Triggermen* (2002), as Andy Jarrett
- *How Harry Became a Tree* (2002), as George
- *Shooters* (2002), as Max Bell
- *Murphy's Law* (2001), series, as Mickey Munday — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphys-law.md)
- *Murder in Mind* (2001), series, as Tom Robbins
- *Wild About Harry* (2000), as J. J. MacMahon
- *Tough Love* (2000), as DCI Mike Love
- *The Wedding Tackle* (2000), as Mr. Mac
- *The Jump* (1998), series, as Alan Cox
- *The General* (1998), as Noel Curley
- *Melissa* (1997), series, as Graeme Hepburn
- *The Near Room* (1997), as Charlie Colquhoun · Script Consultant
- *Richard III* (1995), as James Tyrrell
- *Cruel Train* (1995), as Jack Dando
- *Innocent Lies* (1995), as Alan Cross
- *Pleasure* (1994), as Gustave Coudray
- *The Blue Boy* (1994), as Joe
- *Widows' Peak* (1994), as Godfrey Doyle-Counihan
- *A Woman's Guide to Adultery* (1993), series, as Michael
- *Cracker* (1993), series, as Kelly — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md)
- *A Statement of Affairs* (1993), as Adrian
- *A Touch of Frost* (1992), series, as Gerry Berland — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-touch-of-frost.md)
- *The Crying Game* (1992), as Maguire — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-crying-game.md)
- *The Playboys* (1992), as Mick
- *Hear My Song* (1991), as Micky O'Neill · Screenplay — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/hear-my-song.md)
- *Children of the North* (1991), as Martin Deeley
- *Force of Duty* (1991), as DS Billy McCourbrey
- *A Box of Swan* (1990), as John
- *Centrepoint* (1990), series, as Brown
- *The Wake* (1990), as Lucien
- *Debut on Two* (1990), series, as Lucien, John
- *Drowning in the Shallow End* (1990), as John
- *The Englishman's Wife* (1990), as Andy
- *Dealers* (1989), as Lennon Mayhew
- *My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown* (1989), as Peter — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/my-left-foot-the-story-of-christy-brown.md)
- *The Four Minute Mile* (1988), as Norris McWhirter
- *The Dawning* (1988), as Capt. Rankin
- *Reasonable Force* (1988), as Robbie MacIntyre
- *The Fear* (1988), series, as Con
- *Unusual Ground Floor Conversion* (1988), Actor
- *Inspector Morse* (1987), series, as John Marriat — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md)
- *Sky Bandits* (1986), as Mechanic
- *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Andy, Det Sgt Billy McCourbrey
- *The Price* (1985), series, as Willy
- *The Price* (1985), as Willy
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Joe, John
- *The Cry* (1984), as Peter Douglas
- *The Long March* (1980), as Colm
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Fred Graham/Petruchio

## Gallery

- ![Actor (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/60620/gallery-1e31811d4c46.jpg) Actor (2014) — Brian O'Neill, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Adrian_Dunbar.jpg/1280px-Adrian_Dunbar.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![UWC Strike Event - QUB Belfast (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/60620/gallery-300e88b99599.jpg) UWC Strike Event - QUB Belfast (2014) — Brian O'Neill, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Adrian_Dunbar_-_14042669020.jpg/1280px-Adrian_Dunbar_-_14042669020.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![UWC Strike Event - QUB Belfast (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/60620/gallery-6e5863db0131.jpg) UWC Strike Event - QUB Belfast (2014) — Brian O'Neill, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Adrian_Dunbar_-_14249464763.jpg/1280px-Adrian_Dunbar_-_14249464763.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actor (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/60620/gallery-47b604a70193.jpg) Actor (2014) — Brian O'Neill, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Adrian_Dunbar_-_Actor.jpg/1280px-Adrian_Dunbar_-_Actor.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Adrian Dunbar](https://film.one/media/person/60620/gallery-52f96993b520.jpg) Adrian Dunbar — Brian O'Neill, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Adrian_Dunbar_-_Actor_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Adrian_Dunbar_-_Actor_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/adrian-dunbar