--- name: "Alan Bennett" canonical: "https://film.one/person/alan-bennett" fi1m_id: "alan-bennett" imdb_id: "nm0003141" tmdb_id: 55477 wikidata_id: "Q654730" roles: ["Writer","Director"] born: "9 May 1934" reviewed_on_fi1m: 8 average_fi1m_score: 68 average_as: "writer" average_over: 6 updated: "2026-10-07T11:36:46.924876+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." --- # Alan Bennett ## Identity Alan Bennett - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/alan-bennett - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** alan-bennett - **IMDb ID:** nm0003141 - **TMDB ID:** 55477 - **Wikidata ID:** Q654730 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Bennett, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q654730, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003141/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55477 Writer and director. Born 9 May 1934 in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Writer, Director - **Born:** 9 May 1934, Leeds, Yorkshire, England, UK - **Active:** 1970–present - **Titles on Fi1m:** 8: 2 acting, 6 writing - **Frequently works with:** [Nicholas Hytner](https://film.one/person/nicholas-hytner.md), [Innes Lloyd](https://film.one/person/innes-lloyd.md), [Damian Jones](https://film.one/person/damian-jones.md), [Kevin Loader](https://film.one/person/kevin-loader.md), [Dominic Cooper](https://film.one/person/dominic-cooper.md), [Richard Eyre](https://film.one/person/richard-eyre.md), [Alan Bates](https://film.one/person/alan-bates.md), [Gavin Millar](https://film.one/person/gavin-millar.md) - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 68, as writer, over 6 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (1), 1990s 78 (2), 2000s 67 (1), 2010s 64 (1), 2020s 61 (3) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 58 to 57 across 3 titles - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 2 under 60 - **Genres:** Drama 6, Comedy 2, Music 1 - **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $13m across 1 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Bennett, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q654730, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003141/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55477 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*An Englishman Abroad*](https://film.one/film/an-englishman-abroad.md) (84) - **Pluto TV:** [*The Madness of King George*](https://film.one/film/the-madness-of-king-george.md) (83) - **The Roku Channel:** [*The Lady in the Van*](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md) (64) - **Netflix:** [*The Choral*](https://film.one/film/the-choral.md) (57) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Alan Bennett is an English playwright, screenwriter and author. Born on 9 May 1934 in Leeds, he studied history at Exeter College, Oxford, and performed with the Oxford Revue. He taught medieval history at the university before achieving fame as a writer and performer in the satirical revue Beyond the Fringe at the 1960 Edinburgh Festival alongside Peter Cook, Jonathan Miller and Dudley Moore. Bennett turned to writing full time. His first stage play, Forty Years On, was produced in 1968. He is known for plays including The Madness of George III (1991) and The History Boys (2004), both adapted into films, and Allelujah! (2018). His screenplays include The Madness of King George (1994) and The Lady in the Van (2015). He has also written the Talking Heads television monologues and the screenplay for The Choral (2025). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, britannica.com.* ## On Fi1m (8) ### Performed in (2) - *The Lady in the Van* (2015), Fi1m 64, as Alan Bennett (2014) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md) - *The Madness of King George* (1994), Fi1m 83, as 2nd MP — [page](https://film.one/film/the-madness-of-king-george.md) ### Wrote (6) — the average rests on these - *The Choral* (2025), Fi1m 57, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-choral.md) - *Allelujah* (2023), Fi1m 50, Writer, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/allelujah.md) - *Alan Bennett's Talking Heads* (2020), Fi1m 75, Writer, Creator — [page](https://film.one/tv/alan-bennetts-talking-heads.md) - *The History Boys* (2006), Fi1m 67, Screenplay, Author — [page](https://film.one/film/the-history-boys.md) - *A Question of Attribution* (1991), Fi1m 74, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/a-question-of-attribution.md) - *An Englishman Abroad* (1983), Fi1m 84, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/an-englishman-abroad.md) ## Complete filmography (79) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Choral* (2025), Writer — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-choral.md) - *Alan Bennett: 90 Years On* (2024), Actor - *Allelujah* (2023), Executive Producer, Writer — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/allelujah.md) - *Eric Ravilious: Drawn to War* (2022), Actor - *Alan Bennett's Talking Heads* (2020), series, Writer, Creator — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/alan-bennetts-talking-heads.md) - *National Theatre Live: The Madness of George III* (2018), Writer - *National Theatre Live: Allelujah!* (2018), Writer - *The Lady in the Van* (2015), as Alan Bennett (2014) · Writer — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md) - *The Native Hue of Resolution* (2013), Actor - *Mouse and Mole at Christmas Time* (2013), as Mole (voice) - *National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage* (2013), as Hector - *National Theatre Live: People* (2013), Writer - *My Friend Sam: Living for the Moment* (2012), Actor - *National Theatre Live: The Habit of Art* (2010), Writer - *The History Boys* (2006), Screenplay, Author — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-history-boys.md) - *The Young Visiters* (2003), as Narrator (voice) - *Meg and Mog* (2003), series, as Owl - *Telling Tales* (2000), series, Writer, Creator - *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Alan Bennett (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md) - *Talking Heads 2* (1998), Writer - *Did I Say Hairdressing? I Meant Astrophysics* (1998), as (voice) - *A Dance to the Music of Time* (1997), series, as Sillery - *The Willows in Winter* (1996), as Mole - *The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Two Bad Mice and Johnny Town-Mouse* (1996), as Timmy Willie (voice) - *In Love and War* (1996), as Porter - *The Wind in the Willows* (1995), as Mole (voice) - *The Madness of King George* (1994), as 2nd MP · Screenplay, Theatre Play — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/the-madness-of-king-george.md) - *Portrait or Bust* (1994), Writer - *Selling Hitler* (1993), as Hugh Trevor-Roper - *Julie Walters and Friends* (1991), series, as Creator - *Julie Walters and Friends* (1991), Writer - *Ashenden* (1991), series, as Grantly Caypor - *A Question of Attribution* (1991), Writer — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/a-question-of-attribution.md) - *A Life in Death* (1991), Writers' Assistant - *102 Boulevard Haussmann* (1990), Writer - *Screen One* (1989), series, Writer - *Dinner at Noon* (1988), Writer - *Talking Heads* (1988), series, as Graham Whittaker · Writer, Director, Creator - *Talking Heads* (1988), Writer, Director - *Little Dorrit* (1987), as The Bishop - *Fortunes of War* (1987), series, as Lord Pinkrose - *Prick Up Your Ears* (1987), Screenplay - *Breaking Up* (1986), series, as Mr. Posner - *The Insurance Man* (1986), Writer - *Man and Music* (1986), series, Presenter - *Dreamchild* (1985), as Mock Turtle (voice) - *Screen Two* (1985), series, Writer - *A Private Function* (1984), Story, Screenplay - *An Englishman Abroad* (1983), Writer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/an-englishman-abroad.md) - *The Merry Wives of Windsor* (1982), as Justice Shallow - *Say Something Happened* (1982), Writer - *Marks* (1982), Writer - *Rolling Home* (1982), Writer - *A Woman of No Importance.* (1982), Writer - *Objects of Affection* (1982), series, Writer, Creator - *Our Winnie* (1982), Writer - *Intensive Care* (1982), as Denis Midgley · Writer - *All Day on the Sands* (1979), Writer - *One Fine Day* (1979), Writer - *Afternoon Off* (1979), as Mr Petty · Writer - *The Old Crowd* (1979), Writer - *Doris and Doreen* (1978), Writer - *Me! I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf* (1978), as Narrator (voice) · Writer - *Long Shot* (1978), as Neville's Doctor - *A Visit from Miss Prothero* (1978), as Narrator (voice) (uncredited) · Writer - *A Little Outing* (1977), Writer - *Premiere* (1977), series, Writer - *BBC2 Play of the Week* (1977), series, as Narrator (voice) (uncredited) · Writer - *Sunset Across the Bay* (1975), Writer - *A Day Out* (1972), Writer - *Hamlet* (1970), as Osric - *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Denis Midgley · Writer - *Every Home Should Have One* (1970), as Defence Solicitor - *ITV Saturday Night Theatre* (1969), series, as Osric - *Alice in Wonderland* (1966), as Mouse - *On the Margin* (1966), series, Actor - *The Drinking Party* (1965), as Eryximachus - *Beyond the Fringe* (1964), Various Characters, Writer - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Osric ## Gallery - ![Alan Bennett in photographer's garden (1973)](https://film.one/media/person/21548/gallery-63ac9b4e90a2.jpg) Alan Bennett in photographer's garden (1973) — Allan Warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Alan_Bennett_22_Allan_Warren.jpg/1280px-Alan_Bennett_22_Allan_Warren.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Alan Bennett](https://film.one/media/person/21548/gallery-eda28a887ab1.jpg) Alan Bennett — Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Alan_Bennett_2_Allan_Warren.jpg/1280px-Alan_Bennett_2_Allan_Warren.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Portrait photograph of Alan Bennett wearing a wide necktie in 1973; taken in photographers garden London](https://film.one/media/person/21548/gallery-22d51aa2598e.jpg) Portrait photograph of Alan Bennett wearing a wide necktie in 1973; taken in photographers garden London — Allan Warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Alan_Bennett_Allan_Warren.jpg/1280px-Alan_Bennett_Allan_Warren.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Original cast of Beyond the Fringe. From left: Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett, Peter Cook and Jonathan Miller. The revue played on Broadway from 1962 to 1964.](https://film.one/media/person/21548/gallery-8c9882987413.jpg) Original cast of Beyond the Fringe. From left: Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett, Peter Cook and Jonathan Miller. The revue played on Broadway from 1962 to 1964. — Photographer-Friedman-Abeles, New York, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Beyond_the_Fringe_original_cast.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![A student production (featuring Vivaan Shah) of Alan Bennett's The History Boys at The Doon School, Dehradun, India. (2020)](https://film.one/media/person/21548/gallery-33593aceddaf.jpg) A student production (featuring Vivaan Shah) of Alan Bennett's The History Boys at The Doon School, Dehradun, India. (2020) — DramaQueenzy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/The_History_Boys_at_The_Doon_School.jpg/1280px-The_History_Boys_at_The_Doon_School.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1995: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *The Madness of King George* ### Other awards — 3 won - Bodley Medal 2008: Bodley Medal (won) - Tony Award for Best Play 2006: Tony Award for Best Play (won), for *The History Boys* - Hawthornden Prize 1989: Hawthornden Prize (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © 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/alan-bennett