---
name: "Albert Finney"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/albert-finney"
fi1m_id: "albert-finney"
imdb_id: "nm0001215"
tmdb_id: 3926
wikidata_id: "Q219546"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "9 May 1936"
died: "7 February 2019"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 14
average_fi1m_score: 75
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 13
updated: "2026-10-07T12:41:01.038586+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."
---

# Albert Finney

## Identity

Albert Finney

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/albert-finney
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** albert-finney
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001215
- **TMDB ID:** 3926
- **Wikidata ID:** Q219546
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Finney, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219546, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001215/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3926

Actor. Born 9 May 1936 in Salford, Greater Manchester, England, UK. Died 7 February 2019.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 9 May 1936, Salford, Greater Manchester, England, UK
- **Died:** 7 February 2019
- **Active:** 1960–2012
- **Also known as:** Альберт Финни, آلبرت فینی
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 14: 13 acting, 1 producing
- **Frequently works with:** [Frank Marshall](https://film.one/person/frank-marshall.md), [Helena Bonham Carter](https://film.one/person/helena-bonham-carter.md), [John August](https://film.one/person/john-august.md), [Patrick Crowley](https://film.one/person/patrick-crowley.md), [Tim Burton](https://film.one/person/tim-burton.md), [Tom Courtenay](https://film.one/person/tom-courtenay.md), [Tony Gilroy](https://film.one/person/tony-gilroy.md), [Tony Richardson](https://film.one/person/tony-richardson.md)
- **BAFTA Film Awards:** 2 BAFTAs (2 won · 6 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 13 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 79 (3), 1980s 69 (2), 1990s 78 (2), 2000s 79 (5), 2010s 68 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 72 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 7 of 12 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 9, Thriller 5, Action 3, Romance 3, Adventure 2, Comedy 2
- **Screen time:** 26 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,595m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Finney, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219546, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001215/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3926

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*The Bourne Ultimatum*](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-ultimatum.md) (85), [*The Bourne Legacy*](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-legacy.md) (54)
- **Pluto TV:** [*if....*](https://film.one/film/if-1968.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Big Fish*](https://film.one/film/big-fish.md) (78)
- **HBO Max:** [*Tom Jones*](https://film.one/film/tom-jones.md) (74)

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

## Fi1m on Albert Finney

> Albert Finney could make a gruff man funny without softening him. We value the weight he gives to irritation and reluctance, especially when a supporting part lets him argue with the lead rather than compete for our affection.

In *Erin Brockovich* (2000), Albert Finney argues across a desk with Julia Roberts and makes his weariness almost as forceful as her determination. As Ed Masry, he plays a lawyer content with a small practice and appalled by the prospect of a large fight. We did not much mind the film's predictability, given how well these arguments work. These are the film's strongest scenes, and they show why we value him: he can be funny and difficult without asking to be liked.

That stubbornness had a younger face in Arthur Seaton, the rebellious factory worker of *Saturday Night and Sunday Morning* (1960). Finney's breakthrough drew on a strong physical presence and recognisably northern working-class roots. The title role in *Tom Jones* (1963) took him to international stardom; later, *The Dresser* (1983) cast him as Sir, an ageing Shakespearean actor. The appeal across such different parts is the sense of a man who does not need to ingratiate himself.

From the 1990s, character parts in international productions became a larger part of his film work, including *Miller's Crossing* (1990) and *Erin Brockovich*. The latter makes particularly good use of his ability to seem authoritative and put upon at the same time. Steven Soderbergh gives Masry a practical reason to relent: he hires Erin largely to stop her talking. Finney's tired, rumpled manner makes that decision plausible, and gives the comedy something more substantial than a boss being outwitted.

There are limits to what he can do for the film. It is predictable, and his presence cannot make the progress of the case surprising, however much pleasure there is in watching Masry's exasperation become pride. Roberts carries the story, but Finney ensures that her persistence has a stubborn colleague to contend with, and that the colleague remains worth our attention. Start here for the later Finney, with the caveat that the arguments are more interesting than the question of who will win.

## Biography

Albert Finney (9 May 1936 – 7 February 2019) was an English actor. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began his career in theatre before moving to film in the early 1960s.

He appeared in films including *Saturday Night and Sunday Morning* (1960), *Tom Jones* (1963), *Miller's Crossing* (1990), *Erin Brockovich* (2000) as Ed Masry, *Big Fish* (2003), *The Bourne Ultimatum* (2007), and *Skyfall* (2012) as Kincade. Finney received five Academy Award nominations and won BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild awards. He also portrayed Winston Churchill in the television film *The Gathering Storm* (2002).

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

## On Fi1m (14)

### Performed in (13) — the average rests on these

- *Skyfall* (2012), Fi1m 81, as Kincade — [page](https://film.one/film/skyfall.md)
- *The Bourne Legacy* (2012), Fi1m 54, as Dr. Albert Hirsch — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-legacy.md)
- *The Bourne Ultimatum* (2007), Fi1m 85, as Dr. Albert Hirsch — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-ultimatum.md)
- *Corpse Bride* (2005), Fi1m 72, as Finis Everglot (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/corpse-bride.md)
- *Big Fish* (2003), Fi1m 78, as Ed Bloom (senior) — [page](https://film.one/film/big-fish.md)
- *Erin Brockovich* (2000), Fi1m 78, as Ed Masry — [page](https://film.one/film/erin-brockovich.md)
- *Traffic* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Chief of Staff — [page](https://film.one/film/traffic.md)
- *A Rather English Marriage* (1998), Fi1m 75, as Reggie Conyngham-Jervis — [page](https://film.one/film/a-rather-english-marriage.md)
- *Miller's Crossing* (1990), Fi1m 82, as Leo — [page](https://film.one/film/millers-crossing.md)
- *The Dresser* (1983), Fi1m 80, as Sir — [page](https://film.one/film/the-dresser.md)
- *Annie* (1982), Fi1m 58, as 'Daddy' Oliver Warbucks — [page](https://film.one/film/annie.md)
- *Tom Jones* (1963), Fi1m 74, as Tom Jones — [page](https://film.one/film/tom-jones.md)
- *Saturday Night and Sunday Morning* (1960), Fi1m 82, as Arthur Seaton — [page](https://film.one/film/saturday-night-and-sunday-morning.md)

### Produced (1)

- *if....* (1968), Fi1m 82, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/if-1968.md)

## Complete filmography (65)

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

- *Jason Bourne* (2016), as Dr. Albert Hirsch (archive footage) (uncredited) — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/jason-bourne.md)
- *Schitt's Creek* (2015), series, as Ed Masry (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/schitts-creek.md)
- *Skyfall* (2012), as Kincade — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/skyfall.md)
- *The Bourne Legacy* (2012), as Dr. Albert Hirsch — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-legacy.md)
- *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead* (2007), as Charles Hanson
- *The Bourne Ultimatum* (2007), as Dr. Albert Hirsch — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-ultimatum.md)
- *Amazing Grace* (2006), as John Newton
- *A Good Year* (2006), as Henry Skinner
- *Corpse Bride* (2005), as Finis Everglot (voice) — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/corpse-bride.md)
- *Ocean's Twelve* (2004), as Gaspar LeMarc (uncredited) — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/oceans-twelve.md)
- *Big Fish* (2003), as Ed Bloom (senior) — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/big-fish.md)
- *The Gathering Storm* (2002), as Winston Churchill
- *My Uncle Silas* (2001), series, as Uncle Silas
- *Delivering Milo* (2001), as Elmore Dahl
- *Traffic* (2000), as Chief of Staff — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/traffic.md)
- *Erin Brockovich* (2000), as Ed Masry — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/erin-brockovich.md)
- *Simpatico* (1999), as Simms
- *Breakfast of Champions* (1999), as Kilgore Trout
- *A Rather English Marriage* (1998), as Reggie Conyngham-Jervis — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/a-rather-english-marriage.md)
- *Washington Square* (1997), as Dr. Austin Sloper
- *Nostromo* (1997), series, as Dr. Monygham
- *Cold Lazarus* (1996), series, as Daniel Feeld
- *Karaoke* (1996), series, as Daniel Feeld
- *The Run of the Country* (1995), as Danny's Father
- *A Man of No Importance* (1994), as Alfred Byrne
- *The Browning Version* (1994), as Andrew Crocker-Harris
- *Rich in Love* (1992), as Warren Odom
- *The Playboys* (1992), as Constable Brendan Hegarty
- *The Green Man* (1990), series, as Maurice
- *Miller's Crossing* (1990), as Leo — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/millers-crossing.md)
- *The Image* (1990), as Jason Cromwell
- *The Endless Game* (1989), as Alec Hillsden
- *The Endless Game* (1989), series, as Alec Hillsden
- *Orphans* (1987), as Harold
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Alfred Byrne
- *The Biko Inquest* (1984), as Sidney Kentridge · Director
- *Under the Volcano* (1984), as Geoffrey Firmin
- *Pope John Paul II* (1984), as Karol Wojtyla - Pope John Paul II
- *The Dresser* (1983), as Sir — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-dresser.md)
- *Annie* (1982), as 'Daddy' Oliver Warbucks — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/annie.md)
- *Shoot the Moon* (1982), as George Dunlap
- *Looker* (1981), as Dr. Larry Roberts
- *Wolfen* (1981), as Dewey Wilson
- *Loophole* (1981), as Mike Daniels
- *The Duellists* (1977), as Joseph Fouché
- *The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother* (1975), as Man in Audience at Opera
- *Murder on the Orient Express* (1974), as Hercule Poirot
- *Law and Disorder* (1974), Producer
- *Alpha Beta* (1974), as Frank Elliot
- *O Lucky Man!* (1973), Producer
- *Bleak Moments* (1972), Associate Producer
- *Gumshoe* (1971), as Eddie Ginley · Producer
- *Scrooge* (1970), as Ebenezer Scrooge
- *Spring and Port Wine* (1970), Producer
- *Loving Memory* (1970), Producer
- *The Picasso Summer* (1969), as George Smith
- *if....* (1968), Producer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/if-1968.md)
- *Charlie Bubbles* (1968), as Charlie · Director
- *Two for the Road* (1967), as Mark Wallace
- *Night Must Fall* (1964), as Danny
- *The Victors* (1963), as Russian Soldier
- *Tom Jones* (1963), as Tom Jones — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/tom-jones.md)
- *Saturday Night and Sunday Morning* (1960), as Arthur Seaton — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/saturday-night-and-sunday-morning.md)
- *The Entertainer* (1960), as Mick Rice
- *Sunday Night Theatre* (1950), series, as Arnold

## Gallery

- ![Albert Finney as Ed Masry in Erin Brockovich (2000)](https://film.one/media/title/909/still-5db179bfc90e.jpg) Albert Finney as Ed Masry in *Erin Brockovich* (2000) — Image via TMDB
- ![Albert Finney](https://film.one/media/person/245/gallery-30a269911f75.jpg) Albert Finney — Unknown (Mondadori Publishers), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Albert_Finney_1966.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Sir Thomas Courtenay taken at his home in London (1973)](https://film.one/media/person/245/gallery-a954248d5787.jpg) Sir Thomas Courtenay taken at his home in London (1973) — Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Tom_Courtenay_2_Allan_Warren.jpg/1280px-Tom_Courtenay_2_Allan_Warren.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Albert Finney](https://film.one/media/person/245/gallery-3ebebdaa472e.jpg) Albert Finney — Image via TMDB
- ![Albert Finney](https://film.one/media/person/245/gallery-827a7b5641f3.jpg) Albert Finney — Image via TMDB
- ![Albert Finney](https://film.one/media/person/245/gallery-c71066949bd7.jpg) Albert Finney — Image via TMDB
- ![Albert Finney](https://film.one/media/person/245/gallery-30a9a1e361fc.jpg) Albert Finney — Image via TMDB
- ![Albert Finney](https://film.one/media/person/245/gallery-83dead0c068a.jpg) Albert Finney — Image via TMDB
- ![Albert Finney](https://film.one/media/person/245/gallery-fe5630fd6efd.jpg) Albert Finney — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 5 nominated

- 2001: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Erin Brockovich*
- 1985: Best Actor (nominated), for *Under the Volcano*
- 1984: Best Actor (nominated), for *The Dresser*
- 1975: Best Actor (nominated), for *Murder on the Orient Express*
- 1964: Best Actor (nominated), for *Tom Jones*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 2 won, 6 nominated

- 2004: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated), for *Big Fish*
- 2001: BAFTA Fellowship (won)
- 2001: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated), for *Erin Brockovich*
- 1985: Best Actor in a Leading Role (nominated), for *The Dresser*
- 1983: Best Actor in a Leading Role (nominated), for *Shoot the Moon*
- 1975: Best Actor in a Leading Role (nominated), for *Murder on the Orient Express*
- 1972: Best Actor in a Leading Role (nominated), for *Gumshoe*
- 1961: Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles (won), for *Saturday Night and Sunday Morning*

### BAFTA Television Awards — 1 won, 3 nominated

- 2003: Best Actor (won), for *The Gathering Storm*
- 1999: Best Actor (nominated)
- 1997: Best Actor (nominated), for *Karaoke*
- 1991: Best Actor (nominated), for *The Green Man*

### Golden Globes — 3 won, 6 nominated

- 2003: Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film (won), for *The Gathering Storm*
- 2003: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (nominated), for *Big Fish*
- 2000: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (nominated), for *Erin Brockovich*
- 1984: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (nominated), for *Under the Volcano*
- 1983: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (nominated), for *The Dresser*
- 1982: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (nominated), for *Shoot the Moon*
- 1970: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (won), for *Scrooge*
- 1963: New Star of the Year – Actor (won)
- 1963: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *Tom Jones*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- 2002: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *The Gathering Storm*
- 1990: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (nominated), for *The Image*

### SAG Awards — 2 won, 1 nominated

- 2003: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie (nominated), for *The Gathering Storm*
- 2001: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (won), for *Traffic*
- 2001: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role (won), for *Erin Brockovich*

### Berlin International Film Festival — 1 won

- 1984: Silver Bear (won)

### Other awards — 4 won, 5 nominated

- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast 2007: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast (nominated), for *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead*
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor 1986: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor (won)
- London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year 1984: London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year (won), for *Under the Volcano*
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor 1984: Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor (won), for *Under the Volcano*
- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor 1984: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor (nominated), for *Under the Volcano*
- Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a Revival 1976: Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a Revival (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1968: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1964: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated)
- National Board of Review Award for Best Actor 1961: National Board of Review Award for Best Actor (won), for *Saturday Night and Sunday Morning*

*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/albert-finney