--- name: "Anton Lesser" canonical: "https://film.one/person/anton-lesser" fi1m_id: "anton-lesser" imdb_id: "nm0504320" tmdb_id: 27397 wikidata_id: "Q591515" roles: ["Actor"] born: "14 February 1952" reviewed_on_fi1m: 17 average_fi1m_score: 73 average_as: "actor" average_over: 17 updated: "2026-10-22T01:44:19.297546+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." --- # Anton Lesser ## Identity Anton Lesser - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/anton-lesser - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** anton-lesser - **IMDb ID:** nm0504320 - **TMDB ID:** 27397 - **Wikidata ID:** Q591515 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Lesser, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q591515, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0504320/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/27397 Actor. Born 14 February 1952 in Birmingham, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 14 February 1952, Birmingham, England, UK - **Active:** 1982–present - **Also known as:** 安东·莱瑟, آنتون لسر, أنتون ليسير - **BAFTA Television Awards:** 1 BAFTA nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 17 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 57 (1), 1990s 74 (2), 2000s 77 (3), 2010s 72 (9), 2020s 76 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 69 across 10 titles - **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 8 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 15, Crime 3, Romance 3, Action 2, Action & Adventure 2, Comedy 2 - **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,203m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Lesser, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q591515, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0504320/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/27397 ## Coming up - *ViQueens* (2026-12-26), as Lars (voice) ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Endeavour*](https://film.one/tv/endeavour.md) (82), [*The Hour*](https://film.one/tv/the-hour.md) (70), [*The Courier*](https://film.one/film/the-courier.md) (67) - **Disney+:** [*Andor*](https://film.one/tv/andor.md) (86) - **Pluto TV:** [*Dirty Filthy Love*](https://film.one/film/dirty-filthy-love.md) (74) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Anton Lesser > Anton Lesser is the man behind the desk in a good deal of the television we rate: head of news, chief superintendent, Imperial officer. He plays authority as something thought about rather than worn, and he is seldom given enough to do with it. In *The Hour* (2011) he plays Clarence Fendley, the head of news, and we wrote at the time that he did more with a raised eyebrow than the script managed with a page. That is the whole of his method in one line. He is rarely given the story. He is given a desk, a title and a few minutes an episode, and he spends them letting us watch a man decide something he will not say aloud. Directors keep handing him this job because nobody does it better. He came to acting sideways: an architecture degree at Liverpool, then RADA, then straight into the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he played principal roles on stage and in the BBC Television Shakespeare. That is classical training in the plainest sense, and it shows in the voice, which has since done a great deal of work in BBC radio and in audiobooks, Dickens in particular. Television found him steadily from the 1980s and then, in his sixties, all at once: Qyburn in *Game of Thrones* (2013), Chief Superintendent Bright in *Endeavour* (2013), Thomas More in *Wolf Hall* (2015), Harold Macmillan in *The Crown* (2016), Major Partagaz in *Andor* (2022). The parts have a family resemblance. They are clever men inside institutions, usually in period dress or a uniform, and they are seldom simply good or bad. He has said he likes "characters that are very equivocal and difficult to pin down", and that is what he supplies: More is principled and rigid in the same breath, Bright unbuttons by degrees over ten years, Qyburn ran for six seasons on the audience never quite settling what he was. In *Andor* he is the Imperial intelligence officer whose job is, more often than not, to explain the situation to his officers, and we found we were looking forward to it. Exposition is where most actors go to die. Lesser delivers it as if the information were his and the people in front of him were lucky to get it, and the series' politics come clearer each time he speaks. We should be honest that our own review did not name him, and that is a fair measure of the part: it is built to serve the machine, and he serves it without asking for credit. The reservation, if it is one, is that the desk has become a habit. He is cast for authority so reliably that we can guess the costume before the credits, and the roles are nearly all supporting, so a reader looking for a Lesser performance to build an evening around will not find one here. That is the industry's choice more than his. Start with *The Hour*, and watch the eyebrow. ## Biography Anton Lesser is a British actor. He was born in Birmingham on 14 February 1952 and studied architecture at the University of Liverpool before training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1977. An associate artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he has performed numerous Shakespearean roles on stage and television. His screen credits include Qyburn in *Game of Thrones* (2011–2019), Harold Macmillan in *The Crown* (2016), Major Partagaz in *Andor* (2022), and Thomas More in *Wolf Hall* (2015), for which he received a BAFTA nomination. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, starwars.fandom.com.* ## On Fi1m (17) - *Andor* (2022), Fi1m 86, as Major Partagaz — [page](https://film.one/tv/andor.md) - *The Courier* (2020), Fi1m 67, as Bertrand — [page](https://film.one/film/the-courier.md) - *On Chesil Beach* (2018), Fi1m 65, as Reverend Woollett — [page](https://film.one/film/on-chesil-beach.md) - *Allied* (2016), Fi1m 57, as Emmanuel Lombard — [page](https://film.one/film/allied.md) - *The Crown* (2016), Fi1m 78, as Harold Macmillan — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-crown.md) - *Wolf Hall* (2015), Fi1m 86, as Thomas More — [page](https://film.one/tv/wolf-hall.md) - *Endeavour* (2013), Fi1m 82, as CS Reginald Bright — [page](https://film.one/tv/endeavour.md) - *The Hollow Crown* (2012), Fi1m 82, as Exeter — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hollow-crown.md) - *Game of Thrones* (2011), Fi1m 82, as Qyburn — [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md) - *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides* (2011), Fi1m 45, as Lord John Carteret — [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-on-stranger-tides.md) - *The Hour* (2011), Fi1m 70, as Clarence Fendley — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hour.md) - *Little Dorrit* (2008), Fi1m 76, as Mr. Merdle — [page](https://film.one/tv/little-dorrit.md) - *Dirty Filthy Love* (2005), Fi1m 74, as Charles — [page](https://film.one/film/dirty-filthy-love.md) - *Foyle's War* (2002), Fi1m 81, as Austin Carmichael — [page](https://film.one/tv/foyles-war.md) - *Vanity Fair* (1998), Fi1m 72, as Mr Pitt Crawley — [page](https://film.one/tv/vanity-fair.md) - *The Politician's Wife* (1995), Fi1m 76, as Mark Hollister — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-politicians-wife.md) - *The Missionary* (1982), Fi1m 57, as Young Man at Shoot — [page](https://film.one/film/the-missionary.md) ## Complete filmography (128) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *ViQueens* (2026), as Lars (voice) - *The Yellow Tie* (2025), as Martin Steinke — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/the-yellow-tie.md) - *Beshert* (2025), as Mr Pinsky - *The World Will Tremble* (2025), as Robbi Schulman - *Better* (2023), series, as Vernon Marley - *1899* (2022), series, as Mr. Franklin - *Andor* (2022), series, as Major Partagaz — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/andor.md) - *Benediction* (2021), as Stephen Tennant (Older) - *Dalgliesh* (2021), series, as Father John - *From A Strange Land* (2021), as Professor Dr Wolfgang Engel - *Doughnut* (2021), Thanks - *Kindred* (2020), as Dr. Richards - *Gatecrash* (2020), as Sid - *The Courier* (2020), as Bertrand — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-courier.md) - *The Trial of Christine Keeler* (2019), series, as Michael Eddowes - *A Discovery of Witches* (2018), series, as Rabbi Loew - *Disobedience* (2018), as Rav Krushka - *Killing Eve* (2018), series, as Robert — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/killing-eve.md) - *On Chesil Beach* (2018), as Reverend Woollett — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/on-chesil-beach.md) - *The Exception* (2017), as General Falkenberg - *A United Kingdom* (2016), as Prime Minister Attlee - *Allied* (2016), as Emmanuel Lombard — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/allied.md) - *The Crown* (2016), series, as Harold Macmillan — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-crown.md) - *Hooten & The Lady* (2016), series, Actor - *Dickensian* (2015), series, as Fagin - *Life in Squares* (2015), series, as Dr. Hyslop - *Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience* (2015), as Qyburn - *Wolf Hall* (2015), series, as Thomas More — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/wolf-hall.md) - *The Game* (2014), series, as C - *Closer to the Moon* (2014), as Holban - *The Musketeers* (2014), series, Actor - *The Escape Artist* (2013), series, as Richard Mayfield QC - *Atlantis* (2013), series, as Kyros - *Endeavour* (2013), series, as CS Reginald Bright — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/endeavour.md) - *Father Brown* (2013), series, as Father Ignatius - *Spies of Warsaw* (2013), series, as Doctor Lapp - *Ripper Street* (2012), series, as Dr. Karl Crabbe — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/ripper-street.md) - *Secret State* (2012), series, as Sir Michael Rix - *The Scapegoat* (2012), as Father McReady - *The Hollow Crown* (2012), series, as Exeter — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hollow-crown.md) - *The Lady* (2011), as Professor Finnis - *Flutter* (2011), as Bruno - *The Man who Crossed Hitler* (2011), as Rudolf Olden - *The Hour* (2011), series, as Clarence Fendley — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hour.md) - *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides* (2011), as Lord John Carteret — Fi1m 45, [page](https://film.one/film/pirates-of-the-caribbean-on-stranger-tides.md) - *Game of Thrones* (2011), series, as Qyburn — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/game-of-thrones.md) - *Five Daughters* (2010), series, as Dr Nat Cary - *Garrow's Law* (2009), series, as John Farmer - *Einstein and Eddington* (2008), as Fritz Haber - *Little Dorrit* (2008), series, as Mr. Merdle — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/little-dorrit.md) - *The History of the World Backwards* (2007), series, Actor - *Miss Potter* (2006), as Harold Warne - *Vital Signs* (2006), series, as Dr Lindsay - *Einstein's Big Idea* (2005), as Voltaire - *Class of '76* (2005), as Martin Gibson - *Class of '76* (2005), series, as Martin Gibson - *River Queen* (2005), as Baine - *Ahead of the Class* (2005), as Graham Ranger - *The Girl in the Café* (2005), as George - *Dirty Filthy Love* (2005), as Charles — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/dirty-filthy-love.md) - *London* (2004), series, as Charles Dickens - *New Tricks* (2004), series, Actor - *Eroica* (2003), as Sukowaty - *Imagining Argentina* (2003), as General Guzmán - *Otherworld* (2003), as Teyrnon (voice) - *Danielle Cable: Eyewitness* (2003), as Batten - *The Project* (2002), as Stanley Hall - *Foyle's War* (2002), series, as Austin Carmichael — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/foyles-war.md) - *Sir Gawain and the Green Knight* (2002), as Bertilak / Green Knight (voice) - *Spooks* (2002), series, as Nicholas Ashworth — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/spooks.md) - *Dickens* (2002), series, as Charles Dickens - *Charlotte Gray* (2001), as Renech - *Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story* (2001), series, as Vidas Merlinis - *Uprising* (2001), as Nathan Lensky - *Uprising* (2001), series, as Nathan Lensky - *Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes* (2001), series, as Milburn - *Waking the Dead* (2001), series, as Professor Ray Levin - *Messiah* (2001), series, as Samuel Waite - *Perfect Strangers* (2001), series, as Stephen - *Lorna Doone* (2001), as Counsellor Doone - *Lorna Doone* (2000), series, as Counsellor Doone - *Esther Kahn* (2000), as Sean - *The Miracle Maker* (2000), as Herod (voice) - *The Scarlet Pimpernel* (1999), series, as Antoine Picard - *The Echo* (1998), series, as Billy Blake - *Vanity Fair* (1998), series, as Mr Pitt Crawley — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/vanity-fair.md) - *Invasion: Earth* (1998), series, as Lt. Charles Terrell - *FairyTale: A True Story* (1997), as Wounded Corporal - *Into the Blue* (1997), as Dr. John Ockleton - *Bodyguards* (1997), series, as Dusan Mesic - *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Eddie Darwin, Rev. Wallace Stone — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md) - *The Moonstone* (1996), as Ezra Jennings - *Testament: The Bible in Animation* (1996), series, as Joseph (voice) - *Moses* (1996), series, as Eliav - *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as Paul Goodman - *Silent Witness* (1996), series, as Marcus Gwilym - *The Politician's Wife* (1995), series, as Mark Hollister — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-politicians-wife.md) - *Sharman* (1995), series, as Galilee - *Bugs* (1995), series, as Patrick Marcel - *Guinevere* (1994), as Envoy - *A Touch of Frost* (1992), series, as Dennis Prior — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-touch-of-frost.md) - *Shakespeare: The Animated Tales* (1992), series, as Leontes (voice) - *Downtown Lagos* (1992), series, as Mungo Dawson - *The Strauss Dynasty* (1991), series, as Levi - *Traitors* (1990), as Robert Cecil - *Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story* (1989), as Karl/Stein - *Twelfth Night, or What You Will* (1988), as Feste - *Airbase* (1988), as Vincenzo - *Stanley* (1988), as Stanley Spencer - *The Play on One* (1988), series, as Vincenzo - *The Assam Garden* (1985), as Mr. Sutton - *Anna of the Five Towns* (1985), series, as Willie Price - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Stanley Spencer - *Monsignor Quixote* (1985), as Robber - *Freud* (1984), series, as Wilhelm Fliess - *Sakharov* (1984), as Valery Chalidze - *Good and Bad at Games* (1983), Actor - *The Missionary* (1982), as Young Man at Shoot — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-missionary.md) - *King Lear* (1982), as Edgar - *Troilus & Cressida* (1981), as Troilus - *The Cherry Orchard* (1981), as Trofimov - *The Serpent Son* (1979), series, as Orestes - *The Mill on the Floss* (1978), series, as Philip Wakem - *The Mill on the Floss* (1978), as Philip Wakem - *NOVA* (1974), series, as Voltaire - *A Blue Butterfly*, Actor - *Santo Subito!*, as Father Mattew - *Tick Tick Tick*, as Narrator ## Gallery - ![Anton Lesser](https://film.one/media/person/46553/gallery-1d6c20a72991.jpg) Anton Lesser — Philip Vial, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Anton_Lesser_%282011%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Anton Lesser](https://film.one/media/person/46553/gallery-70c2c128c006.jpg) Anton Lesser — Image via TMDB - ![Anton Lesser](https://film.one/media/person/46553/gallery-c489463947b7.jpg) Anton Lesser — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### BAFTA Television Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 2016: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light* *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/anton-lesser