---
name: "Ben Chaplin"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ben-chaplin"
fi1m_id: "ben-chaplin"
imdb_id: "nm0001035"
tmdb_id: 21343
wikidata_id: "Q447397"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "31 July 1970"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 75
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-07T16:51:18.632651+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."
---

# Ben Chaplin

## Identity

Ben Chaplin

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ben-chaplin
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ben-chaplin
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001035
- **TMDB ID:** 21343
- **Wikidata ID:** Q447397
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Chaplin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q447397, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001035/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21343

Actor. Born 31 July 1970 in Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 31 July 1970, Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1993–present
- **Also known as:** Benedict John Greenwood , 벤 채플린
- **Frequently works with:** [Lily James](https://film.one/person/lily-james.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 86 (2), 2000s 72 (1), 2010s 70 (3), 2020s 71 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 72 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, History 4, Comedy 3, Romance 2, War 2, Crime 1
- **Screen time:** 14 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $668m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Chaplin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q447397, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001035/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21343

## Coming up

- *Panic Carefully* (2027-02-25)

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Remains of the Day*](https://film.one/film/the-remains-of-the-day.md) (88), [*Cinderella*](https://film.one/film/cinderella.md) (72)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Wipers Times*](https://film.one/film/the-wipers-times.md) (74), [*Mad Dogs*](https://film.one/tv/mad-dogs.md) (65)
- **Paramount+:** [*September 5*](https://film.one/film/september-5.md) (74)
- **Netflix:** [*The Dig*](https://film.one/film/the-dig.md) (68)

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

## Fi1m on Ben Chaplin

> Ben Chaplin is a persuasive actor of longing and romantic vulnerability. We rate him most in *The Thin Red Line*, and find the idea of a conventional romantic leading man too narrow for what he does.

In *The Thin Red Line* (1998), Ben Chaplin's Private Jack Bell brings a vulnerable presence to Terrence Malick's war film. We were moved by the longing he conveys, even when Malick's questions began to wear on us. Chaplin's understated acting suits the film's patience, and John Toll's photography helps make its wandering worthwhile. Some soldiers barely become distinct people, and the film's patience does not excuse that. Chaplin's emotional openness is one reason to stay with it.

The early career did not point only towards supporting parts. In *The Remains of the Day* (1993), he plays Charlie, the head footman, within James Ivory's restrained romance. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson supply its most affecting performances; Chaplin's smaller credit is worth keeping in proportion. A lead in *Feast of July* (1995) was followed by his Hollywood breakthrough as Brian in *The Truth About Cats & Dogs* (1996), opposite Janeane Garofalo and Uma Thurman. The prospect of a conventional romantic leading man was there, but it is too narrow a description of his work.

Chaplin has said, "The last thing I wanted to be was the new Hugh Grant." The comedy of *Game On* (1995) and the darker material of *Apple Tree Yard* (2017) help explain why that label would have been restrictive. *Birthday Girl* (2001), a thriller-comedy pairing him with Nicole Kidman, is another awkward fit for it. We find him more interesting when there is something uneasy about the romantic prospect. The caveat is that understated acting needs enough to work with; a distinguished cast does not guarantee a substantial part.

The later supporting work includes Stuart Piggott in *The Dig* (2021). That continues a career moving between leading and ensemble roles, rather than requiring us to tell a story about a leading man who somehow missed his chance. Begin with *The Thin Red Line*, provided Malick's patient wandering appeals; Chaplin gives us reason enough to tolerate the digressions.

## Biography

Ben Chaplin, born Benedict John Greenwood, is a British actor. He trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and began his career with stage work and small roles in BBC television dramas.

He appeared as Charlie, Head Footman in the Merchant Ivory film *The Remains of the Day* (1993) and as Pvt. Jack Bell in Terrence Malick's *The Thin Red Line* (1998). Other film roles include Brian in *The Truth About Cats & Dogs* (1996), Morris Townsend in *Washington Square* (1997), and Sam Kennedy in *Murder by Numbers* (2002). He has also appeared in television series such as *Soldier Soldier* (1991) and *Game On* (1995–1998).

Chaplin received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for his supporting role in a production of *The Glass Menagerie*.

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

## On Fi1m (8)

- *September 5* (2024), Fi1m 74, as Marvin Bader — [page](https://film.one/film/september-5.md)
- *The Dig* (2021), Fi1m 68, as Stuart Piggott — [page](https://film.one/film/the-dig.md)
- *Cinderella* (2015), Fi1m 72, as Cinderella's Father — [page](https://film.one/film/cinderella.md)
- *The Wipers Times* (2013), Fi1m 74, as Roberts — [page](https://film.one/film/the-wipers-times.md)
- *Mad Dogs* (2011), Fi1m 65, as Alvo — [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-dogs.md)
- *Me and Orson Welles* (2008), Fi1m 72, as George Coulouris — [page](https://film.one/film/me-and-orson-welles.md)
- *The Thin Red Line* (1998), Fi1m 84, as Pvt. Jack Bell — [page](https://film.one/film/the-thin-red-line.md)
- *The Remains of the Day* (1993), Fi1m 88, as Charlie, Head Footman — [page](https://film.one/film/the-remains-of-the-day.md)

## Complete filmography (62)

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

- *Panic Carefully* (2027), Actor
- *September 5* (2024), as Marvin Bader — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/september-5.md)
- *Family* (2024), as Harry
- *Mrs. Davis* (2023), series, as Arthur Schrödinger
- *The Nevers* (2021), series, as Frank Mundi
- *The Dig* (2021), as Stuart Piggott — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-dig.md)
- *Mood Music* (2020), as Bernard
- *Roads* (2019), as Paul
- *Press* (2018), series, as Duncan Allen
- *The Children Act* (2018), as Kevin Henry
- *Kiss Me First* (2018), series, as Beam
- *National Theatre Live: Consent* (2017), as Edward
- *When Cary Grant Introduced Timothy Leary to LSD* (2017), as Cary Grant
- *Apple Tree Yard* (2017), series, as Mark Costley
- *Urban Myths* (2017), series, as Cary Grant
- *Snowden* (2016), as Robert Tibbo
- *The Legend of Tarzan* (2016), as Captain Moulle
- *War Book* (2015), as Gary
- *Little Boy* (2015), as Ben Eagle
- *Cinderella* (2015), as Cinderella's Father — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/cinderella.md)
- *Mad Dogs* (2015), series, as Joel
- *The Book of Negroes* (2015), series, as John Clarkson
- *The Secrets* (2014), series, as Phillip
- *Doll & Em* (2014), series, as Ben
- *Moonfleet* (2013), series, Actor
- *The Wipers Times* (2013), as Roberts — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-wipers-times.md)
- *Dates* (2013), series, as Stephen
- *World Without End* (2012), series, as Sir Thomas Langley
- *Twixt* (2011), as Edgar Allan Poe
- *Mad Dogs* (2011), series, as Alvo — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-dogs.md)
- *London Boulevard* (2010), as Billy Norton
- *Ways to Live Forever* (2010), as Daniel MacQueen
- *Dorian Gray* (2009), as Basil Hallward
- *Me and Orson Welles* (2008), as George Coulouris — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/me-and-orson-welles.md)
- *The Water Horse* (2007), as Lewis Mowbray
- *Two Weeks* (2006), as Keith Bergman
- *Chromophobia* (2006), as Trent
- *The New World* (2005), as Robinson
- *Stage Beauty* (2004), as George Villiars, Duke of Buckingham
- *The Touch* (2002), as Eric
- *Murder by Numbers* (2002), as Sam Kennedy
- *Birthday Girl* (2001), as John
- *Lost Souls* (2000), as Peter Kelson
- *The Thin Red Line* (1998), as Pvt. Jack Bell — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-thin-red-line.md)
- *Washington Square* (1997), as Morris Townsend
- *The Truth About Cats & Dogs* (1996), as Brian
- *Feast of July* (1995), as Con Wainwright
- *Resort to Murder* (1995), series, as Joshua Penny
- *Game On* (1995), series, as Matthew Norman Malone
- *A Few Short Journeys of the Heart* (1994), as Fierce Man/Tim Bone
- *Stages* (1994), series, as Tim Bone
- *The Return of the Borrowers* (1993), series, as Ditchley
- *The Remains of the Day* (1993), as Charlie, Head Footman — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-remains-of-the-day.md)
- *After the Dance* (1992), as Cyril Carter
- *The Borrowers* (1992), series, as Ditchley
- *Bye Bye Baby* (1992), as Leo Wiseman
- *Between the Lines* (1992), series, Actor
- *A Fatal Inversion* (1992), as Matthew
- *Performance* (1991), series, as Cyril Carter
- *Soldier Soldier* (1991), series, as Fusilier Jago
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Gareth Orell — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md)
- *Minder* (1979), series, as Conway — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/minder.md)

## Gallery

- ![Ben Chaplin](https://film.one/media/person/82543/gallery-c8afbe20633b.jpg) Ben Chaplin — Vera de Kok, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Ben_Chaplin_-_IFFR_2015.jpg/1280px-Ben_Chaplin_-_IFFR_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cast and crew of "War Book", opening film of the 44th International Film Festival Rotterdam](https://film.one/media/person/82543/gallery-ea70e27f97db.jpg) Cast and crew of "War Book", opening film of the 44th International Film Festival Rotterdam — Vera de Kok, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/War_Book_-_IFFR_2015.jpg/1280px-War_Book_-_IFFR_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ben Chaplin](https://film.one/media/person/82543/gallery-ccb49d27c230.jpg) Ben Chaplin — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 2004: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated)

*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/ben-chaplin