--- name: "Ben Whishaw" canonical: "https://film.one/person/ben-whishaw" fi1m_id: "ben-whishaw" imdb_id: "nm0924210" tmdb_id: 17064 wikidata_id: "Q342617" roles: ["Actor"] born: "14 October 1980" reviewed_on_fi1m: 24 average_fi1m_score: 75 average_as: "actor" average_over: 24 updated: "2026-10-07T16:25:16.166625+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 Whishaw ## Identity Ben Whishaw - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ben-whishaw - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** ben-whishaw - **IMDb ID:** nm0924210 - **TMDB ID:** 17064 - **Wikidata ID:** Q342617 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Whishaw, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q342617, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0924210/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17064 Actor. Born 14 October 1980 in Clifton, Bedfordshire, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 14 October 1980, Clifton, Bedfordshire, England, UK - **Active:** 2005–present - **Also known as:** Benjamin John Whishaw, Benjamin Whishaw - **Frequently works with:** [Barbara Broccoli](https://film.one/person/barbara-broccoli.md), [Daniel Craig](https://film.one/person/daniel-craig.md), [Hugh Bonneville](https://film.one/person/hugh-bonneville.md), [Léa Seydoux](https://film.one/person/lea-seydoux.md), [Madeleine Harris](https://film.one/person/madeleine-harris.md), [Michael G. Wilson](https://film.one/person/michael-g-wilson.md), [Neal Purvis](https://film.one/person/neal-purvis.md), [Ralph Fiennes](https://film.one/person/ralph-fiennes.md) - **BAFTA Television Awards:** 1 BAFTA (1 won · 2 nominated) - **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 24 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 79 (4), 2010s 76 (14), 2020s 71 (6) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 72 across 22 titles - **Score spread:** 10 at 80+, 11 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 12 of 22 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 15, Comedy 8, Adventure 6, Family 4, Action 3, Crime 3 - **Screen time:** 32 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $4,444m across 16 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Whishaw, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q342617, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0924210/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/17064 ## Coming up - *Elden Ring* (2028-03-03) ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Paddington*](https://film.one/film/paddington.md) (84), [*Women Talking*](https://film.one/film/women-talking.md) (76), [*I'm Not There*](https://film.one/film/im-not-there.md) (74), [*Lilting*](https://film.one/film/lilting.md) (73), [*The Hour*](https://film.one/tv/the-hour.md) (70) - **HBO Max:** [*Paddington 2*](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md) (91), [*The Lobster*](https://film.one/film/the-lobster.md) (78) - **Tubi:** [*Criminal Justice*](https://film.one/tv/criminal-justice.md) (85) - **AMC+:** [*This Is Going to Hurt*](https://film.one/tv/this-is-going-to-hurt.md) (84) - **MUBI:** [*Passages*](https://film.one/film/passages.md) (77) - **Disney+:** [*Mary Poppins Returns*](https://film.one/film/mary-poppins-returns.md) (67) - **Netflix:** [*Paddington in Peru*](https://film.one/film/paddington-in-peru.md) (64) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Ben Whishaw > Ben Whishaw can make a quiet reaction more telling than the speech that provoked it. We value his gentleness most when there is anger or impatience underneath; being asked to look wounded is too often the job. In *Passages* (2023), Ben Whishaw's Martin listens while his husband tells him about a night spent with someone else. Martin's tired face suggests he has heard this sort of thing before. We laughed at the husband's nerve, then stopped as Ira Sachs held on Whishaw's face. He plays the exhaustion first, which gives the anger force when it comes. Sachs gives him enough time for that small reaction to change how we feel about the scene. Early roles included Jean-Baptiste Grenouille in *Perfume: The Story of a Murderer* (2006) and John Keats in Jane Campion's *Bright Star* (2009). His slight frame and gentle voice made vulnerable young men a natural casting choice. *Skyfall* (2012) gave those expecting more anguish a useful correction: his Q makes intelligence brisk and practical. Sam Mendes gets welcome impatience from him in a film whose other principal characters already have plenty to brood over. In Sarah Polley's *Women Talking* (2022), the same restraint serves a different purpose. His schoolteacher August takes the minutes at the edge of the women's discussion, trying to occupy as little space as possible. Whishaw makes that physical reticence clear without making the scene about his own sensitivity. We recommend the film for the women, but his willingness to stay out of their way matters. Voicing the bear in *Paddington* (2014) gave his softness a use beyond distress. He can convey kindness without making the character weak, and make a familiar thought sound newly discovered. *Paddington in Peru* (2024) relies too heavily on that second gift, returning to its stated lesson about home until the feeling wears off. We were touched the first time; repetition did what Whishaw could not undo. He has played troubled men often enough for the hurt to feel expected before a scene has begun. We prefer the parts that give him something to resist. Start with *Passages*, allowing for Sachs's frustrating preference for the man causing the trouble over the people living with it. ## Biography Ben Whishaw is an English actor. He was born on 14 October 1980 in Clifton, Bedfordshire, England. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 2004. Whishaw played the title role in a 2004 stage production of Hamlet. His television work includes Nathan Barley (2005), The Hour (2011–12), London Spy (2015) and A Very English Scandal (2018). Film roles include Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006), Cloud Atlas (2012), The Lobster (2015) and The Danish Girl (2015). He portrayed Q in the James Bond film Skyfall (2012), reprising the role in Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021). He has voiced Paddington Brown in Paddington (2014), Paddington 2 (2017) and Paddington in Peru (2024). Other credits include Women Talking (2022) and Passages (2023). Whishaw has received three British Academy Television Awards, two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (24) - *Limonov: The Ballad* (2024), Fi1m 58, as Eduard 'Eddie' Limonov — [page](https://film.one/film/limonov-the-ballad.md) - *Paddington in Peru* (2024), Fi1m 64, as Paddington Brown (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-in-peru.md) - *Passages* (2023), Fi1m 77, as Martin — [page](https://film.one/film/passages.md) - *This Is Going to Hurt* (2022), Fi1m 84, as Adam Kay — [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-going-to-hurt.md) - *Women Talking* (2022), Fi1m 76, as August — [page](https://film.one/film/women-talking.md) - *No Time to Die* (2021), Fi1m 67, as Q — [page](https://film.one/film/no-time-to-die.md) - *The Personal History of David Copperfield* (2019), Fi1m 81, as Uriah Heep — [page](https://film.one/film/the-personal-history-of-david-copperfield.md) - *A Very English Scandal* (2018), Fi1m 84, as Norman Scott — [page](https://film.one/tv/a-very-english-scandal.md) - *Mary Poppins Returns* (2018), Fi1m 67, as Michael Banks — [page](https://film.one/film/mary-poppins-returns.md) - *Paddington 2* (2017), Fi1m 91, as Paddington Brown (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md) - *London Spy* (2015), Fi1m 70, as Danny — [page](https://film.one/tv/london-spy.md) - *Spectre* (2015), Fi1m 58, as Q — [page](https://film.one/film/spectre.md) - *The Danish Girl* (2015), Fi1m 57, as Henrik — [page](https://film.one/film/the-danish-girl.md) - *The Lobster* (2015), Fi1m 78, as Limping Man — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lobster.md) - *Fargo* (2014), Fi1m 82, as Patrick 'Rabbi' Milligan — [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md) - *Lilting* (2014), Fi1m 73, as Richard — [page](https://film.one/film/lilting.md) - *Paddington* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Paddington (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/paddington.md) - *Skyfall* (2012), Fi1m 81, as Q — [page](https://film.one/film/skyfall.md) - *The Hollow Crown* (2012), Fi1m 82, as King Richard — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hollow-crown.md) - *The Hour* (2011), Fi1m 70, as Freddie Lyon — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hour.md) - *Bright Star* (2009), Fi1m 82, as John Keats — [page](https://film.one/film/bright-star.md) - *Criminal Justice* (2008), Fi1m 85, as Ben Coulter — [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-justice.md) - *I'm Not There* (2007), Fi1m 74, as Arthur — [page](https://film.one/film/im-not-there.md) - *Nathan Barley* (2005), Fi1m 74, as Pingu — [page](https://film.one/tv/nathan-barley.md) ## Complete filmography (76) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Elden Ring* (2028), Actor - *Bruvvas* (2026), as He - *Peter Hujar's Day* (2025), as Peter Hujar · Executive Producer - *The Gay Collection | Volume I | Presented by Shortz!* (2025), Actor - *Black Doves* (2024), series, as Sam Young - *Paddington in Peru* (2024), as Paddington Brown (voice) — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-in-peru.md) - *Forgetting the Many: The Royal Pardon of Alan Turing* (2024), as Narrator - *In Heat* (2024), as Jon - *Limonov: The Ballad* (2024), as Eduard 'Eddie' Limonov — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/limonov-the-ballad.md) - *Bad Behaviour* (2023), as Elon Bello · Executive Producer - *Passages* (2023), as Martin — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/passages.md) - *Good Boy* (2023), as Danny - *Women Talking* (2022), as August — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/women-talking.md) - *Ungentle* (2022), as Narrator (voice) - *Paddington Meets The Queen* (2022), as Paddington (voice) - *This Is Going to Hurt* (2022), series, as Adam Kay · Executive Producer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-going-to-hurt.md) - *No Time to Die* (2021), as Q — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/no-time-to-die.md) - *Miss Fortunate* (2021), as Humourless Man - *Surge* (2020), as Joseph - *The Adventures of Paddington* (2019), series, as Paddington (voice) - *The Personal History of David Copperfield* (2019), as Uriah Heep — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-personal-history-of-david-copperfield.md) - *Little Joe* (2019), as Chris - *O Holy Ghost* (2019), as Charmaine - *Mary Poppins Returns* (2018), as Michael Banks — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/mary-poppins-returns.md) - *Palo Santo* (2018), as Palo Santo Hologram - *A Very English Scandal* (2018), series, as Norman Scott — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-very-english-scandal.md) - *National Theatre Live: Julius Caesar* (2018), as Marcus Brutus - *His Picture In Little* (2018), Actor - *Paddington 2* (2017), as Paddington Brown (voice) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md) - *Family Happiness* (2017), as Romily Wells - *Queers.* (2017), series, as Perce - *A Hologram for the King* (2016), as Dave - *In the Heart of the Sea* (2015), as Herman Melville - *The Danish Girl* (2015), as Henrik — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-danish-girl.md) - *London Spy* (2015), series, as Danny — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/london-spy.md) - *Spectre* (2015), as Q — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/spectre.md) - *Suffragette* (2015), as Sonny Watts - *The Lobster* (2015), as Limping Man — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lobster.md) - *Unity* (2015), as Narrator (voice) - *Paddington* (2014), as Paddington (voice) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/paddington.md) - *Days and Nights* (2014), as Eric - *Lilting* (2014), as Richard — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/lilting.md) - *The Muse* (2014), as Edward - *Fargo* (2014), series, as Patrick 'Rabbi' Milligan — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md) - *Beat* (2013), as Man - *The Zero Theorem* (2013), as Doctor 3 - *Teenage* (2013), as British Boy (voice) - *Cloud Atlas* (2012), as Cabin Boy / Robert Frobisher / Store Clerk / Georgette / Tribesman - *Skyfall* (2012), as Q — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/skyfall.md) - *The Hollow Crown* (2012), series, as King Richard — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hollow-crown.md) - *Playhouse Presents* (2012), series, as Ezra - *The Hour* (2011), series, as Freddie Lyon — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hour.md) - *The Tempest* (2010), as Ariel - *Bright Star* (2009), as John Keats — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/bright-star.md) - *Love Hate* (2009), as Tom - *The International* (2009), as Renee - *Brideshead Revisited* (2008), as Sebastian Flyte - *Criminal Justice* (2008), series, as Ben Coulter — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-justice.md) - *I'm Not There* (2007), as Arthur — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/im-not-there.md) - *Perfume: The Story of a Murderer* (2006), as Jean-Baptiste Grenouille - *Stoned* (2005), as Keith Richards - *Nathan Barley* (2005), series, as Pingu — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/nathan-barley.md) - *Enduring Love* (2004), as Spud - *Layer Cake* (2004), as Sidney - *Ready When You Are, Mr McGill* (2004), as Bruno - *77 Beds* (2003), as Ishmael - *The Booze Cruise* (2003), as Daniel - *Spiritual Rampage* (2003), as Eric - *My Brother Tom* (2001), as Tom - *Other People's Children* (2000), series, as Sully - *Baby* (2000), as Little Joe - *Black Cab* (2000), series, as Ryan - *The Escort* (1999), as Jay - *The Trench* (1999), as Pte. James Deamis - *High End*, as Nigel - *All Signs of Death*, as Web ## Gallery - ![Ben Wishaw at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for the premiere of "Peter Hujar's Day"](https://film.one/media/person/246/gallery-ccda15b8b433.jpg) Ben Wishaw at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival for the premiere of "Peter Hujar's Day" — Everwest, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Ben_Wishaw_at_the_2025_Sundance_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Ben_Wishaw_at_the_2025_Sundance_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![played Q in the last few James Bond films! 3/8/2016](https://film.one/media/person/246/gallery-d33d7c67bbf6.jpg) played Q in the last few James Bond films! 3/8/2016 — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Ben_Whishaw_in_2016_%2825217400214%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Ben Whishaw](https://film.one/media/person/246/gallery-a993f84891fd.jpg) Ben Whishaw — Everwest, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Ben_Wishaw_at_the_2025_Sundance_Film_Festival_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Ben_Wishaw_at_the_2025_Sundance_Film_Festival_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Ben Whishaw](https://film.one/media/person/246/gallery-11c9593f59fc.jpg) Ben Whishaw — Image via TMDB - ![Ben Whishaw](https://film.one/media/person/246/gallery-194cc7beff98.jpg) Ben Whishaw — Image via TMDB - ![Ben Whishaw](https://film.one/media/person/246/gallery-f49b55819aeb.jpg) Ben Whishaw — Image via TMDB - ![Ben Whishaw](https://film.one/media/person/246/gallery-9ea8c436cff3.jpg) Ben Whishaw — Image via TMDB - ![Ben Whishaw](https://film.one/media/person/246/gallery-8335e3cd8129.jpg) Ben Whishaw — Image via TMDB - ![Ben Whishaw](https://film.one/media/person/246/gallery-1ae11937a196.jpg) Ben Whishaw — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### BAFTA Film Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 2007: BAFTA Rising Star Award (nominated), for *Perfume: The Story of a Murderer* ### BAFTA Television Awards — 1 won, 2 nominated - 2016: Best Actor (nominated), for *London Spy* - 2013: Best Actor (won), for *The Hollow Crown* - 2009: Best Actor (nominated), for *Criminal Justice* ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won - 2019: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *A Very English Scandal* ### Other awards — 9 won, 8 nominated - Theatre World Award 2016: Theatre World Award (won), for *The Crucible* - British Independent Film Awards 2015: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *The Lobster* - Online Film & Television Association Award 2014: Online Film & Television Association Award (nominated), for *The Hollow Crown* - Broadcasting Press Guild Award 2013: Broadcasting Press Guild Award (nominated), for *The Hollow Crown* - WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Play 2013: WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated), for *Peter and Alice* - Broadcasting Press Guild Award 2012: Broadcasting Press Guild Award (won), for *The Hour* - International Emmy Award for Best Actor 2009: International Emmy Award for Best Actor (won), for *Criminal Justice* - Royal Television Society Awards 2009: Royal Television Society Awards (won), for *Criminal Justice* - Crime Thriller Awards 2008: Crime Thriller Awards (nominated), for *Criminal Justice* - Film Independent Spirit Awards 2008: Film Independent Spirit Awards (won), for *I'm Not There* - European Film Award for Best Actor 2007: European Film Award for Best Actor (nominated), for *Perfume: The Story of a Murderer* - Online Film & Television Association Award 2007: Online Film & Television Association Award (nominated), for *Perfume: The Story of a Murderer* - Bambi Award 2006: Bambi Award (won), for *Perfume: The Story of a Murderer* - Ian Charleson Awards 2005: Ian Charleson Awards (won) - Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor 2005: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor (nominated), for *Prince Hamlet* - British Independent Film Awards 2002: British Independent Film Awards 2002 (won), for *My Brother Tom* - Kinotavr 2001: Kinotavr (won), for *My Brother Tom* *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-whishaw