---
name: "Christopher Eccleston"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/christopher-eccleston"
fi1m_id: "christopher-eccleston"
imdb_id: "nm0001172"
tmdb_id: 2040
wikidata_id: "Q312380"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "16 February 1964"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 12
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 12
updated: "2026-10-07T16:09:21.738653+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."
---

# Christopher Eccleston

## Identity

Christopher Eccleston

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/christopher-eccleston
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** christopher-eccleston
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001172
- **TMDB ID:** 2040
- **Wikidata ID:** Q312380
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Eccleston, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312380, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2040

Actor. Born 16 February 1964 in Salford, Lancashire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 16 February 1964, Salford, Lancashire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1993–2015
- **Frequently works with:** [Andrew Macdonald](https://film.one/person/andrew-macdonald.md), [Annabelle Apsion](https://film.one/person/annabelle-apsion.md), [Danny Boyle](https://film.one/person/danny-boyle.md), [Nicola Shindler](https://film.one/person/nicola-shindler.md), [Russell T Davies](https://film.one/person/russell-t-davies.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 12 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 83 (4), 2000s 69 (4), 2010s 70 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 66 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 11 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Crime 5, Thriller 5, Action 2, Horror 2, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 2
- **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,320m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Eccleston, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312380, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001172/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2040

## Streaming the US now

- **AMC+:** [*The Others*](https://film.one/film/the-others.md) (80), [*Doctor Who*](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md) (78)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Leftovers*](https://film.one/tv/the-leftovers.md) (87)
- **Apple TV:** [*Cracker*](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md) (85)
- **Disney+:** [*Thor: The Dark World*](https://film.one/film/thor-the-dark-world.md) (58)

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

## Fi1m on Christopher Eccleston

> Christopher Eccleston makes holding still look like hard work. He is particularly good in patient television drama, with time for a character to change and other actors to keep the solemnity in check.

In *Our Friends in the North* (1996), Christopher Eccleston makes standing still seem strenuous. His Nicky Hutchinson gives the drama much of its urgency, as though keeping quiet requires a decision and then the effort to stick to it. We found that restraint moving, because he makes the pauses look difficult to endure. We rate him particularly highly in a part like this, where the writing gives that tension time to develop and does not demand an outburst at every opportunity.

The early parts established his forceful presence: Derek Bentley in *Let Him Have It* (1991), then DCI David Bilborough in *Cracker* (1993). Work with writer Jimmy McGovern, including *Hillsborough* (1996), suited an actor repeatedly drawn to angry, conflicted men. *Doctor Who* (2005) offered a different setting for his grounded presence and northern accent. His one series as the Ninth Doctor is a useful reminder that those qualities need not belong only to social realism.

The value of giving him time is plain in *Our Friends in the North*, which follows Nicky from 19 to 50. Peter Flannery sometimes rushes the wider history, but his domestic scenes let Eccleston work alongside actors who approach the material differently. Mark Strong, as Terry ‘Tosker’ Cox, brings a directness that keeps their exchanges from becoming solemn discussions. Daniel Craig’s Geordie is harder to read, and the contrast helps us notice how much effort Nicky expends. Eccleston’s intensity benefits from that variety around it; a whole cast at the same pitch would be wearing.

*The Leftovers* (2014–17), in which he plays Matt Jamison, and *The A Word* (2016–20) continued his substantial television work. There is plenty to explore, but we would start with the long stretch of a life he gets to play as Nicky. Allow *Our Friends in the North* its length; Eccleston makes the quiet stretches worth staying for.

## Biography

Christopher Eccleston is an English actor. Born on 16 February 1964 in Salford, he trained at Salford Tech and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He made his professional stage debut in 1989 and his screen debut in the 1990 serial *Blood Rights*.

Eccleston first rose to prominence as Derek Bentley in the film *Let Him Have It* (1991). He gained wider recognition in the UK for his role as DCI Bilborough in the series *Cracker* (1993–1994) and as Nicky Hutchinson in the series *Our Friends in the North* (1996), for which he received a British Academy Television Award nomination for Best Actor.

He has appeared in films including *Shallow Grave* (1994), *28 Days Later* (2002) and *Thor: The Dark World* (2013). In 2005 he played the Ninth Doctor in the series *Doctor Who*. His stage work includes title roles in productions of *Hamlet* and *Macbeth*.

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

## On Fi1m (12)

- *Legend* (2015), Fi1m 57, as Leonard 'Nipper' Read — [page](https://film.one/film/legend-2015.md)
- *The Leftovers* (2014), Fi1m 87, as Matt Jamison — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-leftovers.md)
- *Thor: The Dark World* (2013), Fi1m 58, as Malekith — [page](https://film.one/film/thor-the-dark-world.md)
- *Accused* (2010), Fi1m 76, as Willy Houlihan — [page](https://film.one/tv/accused.md)
- *Doctor Who* (2005), Fi1m 78, as Doctor Who — [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *28 Days Later* (2002), Fi1m 77, as Major Henry West — [page](https://film.one/film/28-days-later.md)
- *The Others* (2001), Fi1m 80, as Charles Stewart — [page](https://film.one/film/the-others.md)
- *Gone in Sixty Seconds* (2000), Fi1m 40, as Raymond Calitri — [page](https://film.one/film/gone-in-sixty-seconds.md)
- *Elizabeth* (1998), Fi1m 82, as Duke of Norfolk — [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth.md)
- *Our Friends in the North* (1996), Fi1m 88, as Nicky Hutchinson — [page](https://film.one/tv/our-friends-in-the-north.md)
- *Shallow Grave* (1994), Fi1m 78, as David Stephens — [page](https://film.one/film/shallow-grave.md)
- *Cracker* (1993), Fi1m 85, as David Bilborough, Bilborough — [page](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md)

## Complete filmography (113)

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

- *Chasing Millions* (2026), as Crawford
- *SIGNAL* (2026), as Ray
- *Unchosen* (2026), series, as Mr Phillips
- *Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War* (2025), as Doctor Who (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Doctor Who at the Proms* (2024), as The Doctor (9) (archive footage)
- *Whispers of Freedom* (2024), as Herbert Köfer
- *Young Woman and the Sea* (2024), as Jabez Wolffe
- *An Angel on Oxford Street* (2024), as Saul (voice)
- *The Guilty Innocent with Christopher Eccleston* (2024), series, as Presenter
- *The Kemps: All Gold* (2023), as Luke Dunmore
- *Dodger Special: Coronation* (2023), as Fagin
- *Dodger Special: Bad Egg* (2023), as Fagin
- *Dodger Special: Christmas* (2022), as Fagin
- *Dodger Special: Train* (2022), as Fagin
- *My Name Is Leon* (2022), as Mr. Devlin
- *The Read* (2022), series, as Narrator
- *Dodger* (2022), series, as Fagin
- *Close to Me* (2021), series, as Rob Harding
- *Endless* (2020), Actor
- *The Flu That Killed 50 Million* (2018), as Narrator
- *Where Hands Touch* (2018), as Heinz
- *Dead in a Week (Or Your Money Back)* (2018), as Harvey
- *King Lear* (2018), as Oswald
- *RSC Live: Macbeth* (2018), as Macbeth
- *Come Home* (2018), series, as Greg Farrell
- *Manchester: 100 Days After The Attack* (2017), as Voice
- *The Last Miners* (2016), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Last Miners* (2016), series, as Narrator (Voice)
- *The A Word* (2016), series, as Maurice Scott
- *Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song* (2015), as The Doctor (9) (picture) (uncredited)
- *Danger Mouse* (2015), series, as J. Woolington Sham (voice)
- *Legend* (2015), as Leonard 'Nipper' Read — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/legend-2015.md)
- *Safe House* (2015), series, as Robert
- *Fortitude* (2015), series, as Professor Charlie Stoddart
- *Richard III: The New Evidence* (2014), as Narrator
- *The Leftovers* (2014), series, as Matt Jamison — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-leftovers.md)
- *True Detective* (2014), series, as Captain Ted Connelly — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/true-detective.md)
- *Lucan* (2013), series, as John Aspinall
- *Lucan* (2013), as John Aspinall
- *Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor* (2013), as The Doctor (9) (archive footage)
- *When Coal Was King* (2013), as Narrator
- *National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage* (2013), Actor
- *Thor: The Dark World* (2013), as Malekith — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/thor-the-dark-world.md)
- *Emily* (2013), as James
- *National Theatre Live: Antigone* (2012), as Creon, King of Thebes
- *When Wrestling Was Golden: Grapples, Grunts and Grannies* (2012), as Narrator
- *Song for Marion* (2012), as James
- *Blackout* (2012), series, as Daniel Demoys
- *The Borrowers* (2011), as Pod Clock
- *The Shadow Line* (2011), series, as Joseph Bede
- *Lennon Naked* (2010), as John Lennon
- *Accused* (2010), series, as Willy Houlihan — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/accused.md)
- *Amelia* (2009), as Fred Noonan
- *G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra* (2009), as McCullen / Destro
- *The Happiness Salesman* (2009), as Salesman
- *Doctor Who: The Next Doctor* (2008), as The Doctor (9) (archive footage)
- *New Orleans, Mon Amour* (2008), as Henry
- *The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising* (2007), as The Rider
- *The Sarah Silverman Program* (2007), series, as Dr. Lazer Rage
- *Perfect Parents* (2006), as Stuart
- *Heroes* (2006), series, as Claude — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/heroes.md)
- *Einstein's Big Idea* (2005), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Dark Side of Porn: Porn Shutdown* (2005), Actor
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Doctor (9), Doctor Who — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *Bible Mysteries* (2004), series, as Narrator
- *The Importance of Being Morrissey* (2003), as Narrator
- *The Second Coming* (2003), series, as Stephen Baxter
- *The Second Coming* (2003), as Stephen Baxter
- *28 Days Later* (2002), as Major Henry West — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/28-days-later.md)
- *Flesh and Blood* (2002), as Joe Broughton
- *What's Your Problem?* (2002), series, Actor
- *Tony Adams - Drunk And Dry* (2002), as Narrator
- *Revengers Tragedy* (2002), as Vindici
- *The King and Us* (2002), as Anthony
- *I Am Dina* (2002), as Leo Zhukovsky
- *24 Hour Party People* (2002), as Boethius (uncredited)
- *Sunday* (2002), as Major Gen. Robert Ford
- *Othello* (2001), as Ben Jago
- *Linda Green* (2001), series, as Tom/Neil
- *Strumpet* (2001), as Strayman
- *The Others* (2001), as Charles Stewart — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-others.md)
- *The Invisible Circus* (2001), as Wolf
- *Gone in Sixty Seconds* (2000), as Raymond Calitri — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/gone-in-sixty-seconds.md)
- *With or Without You* (1999), as Vincent Boyd
- *Dockers: Writing the Wrongs* (1999), as Narrator (voice)
- *eXistenZ* (1999), as Seminar Leader
- *Heart* (1999), as Gary Ellis
- *Elizabeth* (1998), as Duke of Norfolk — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/elizabeth.md)
- *A Price Above Rubies* (1998), as Sender Horowitz
- *Hillsborough* (1996), as Trevor Hicks
- *Jude* (1996), as Jude Fawley
- *Our Friends in the North* (1996), series, as Nicky Hutchinson — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/our-friends-in-the-north.md)
- *Hearts and Minds* (1995), series, as Drew Mackenzie
- *Shallow Grave* (1994), as David Stephens — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/shallow-grave.md)
- *Cracker* (1993), series, as David Bilborough, Bilborough — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md)
- *Anchoress* (1993), as Priest
- *Cuentos de Borges* (1993), series, as Alonso Zunz
- *Roots* (1992), as Frankie Bryant
- *Continental Drift* (1992), as (Business with Friends)
- *Rachel's Dream* (1992), series, as Man in Dream
- *Death and the Compass* (1992), as Schartach / Zunz / Gryphius
- *Friday on My Mind* (1992), series, as Sean
- *Rachel's Dream* (1992), as Man in Dream
- *Performance* (1991), series, as Frankie Bryant
- *Let Him Have It* (1991), as Derek Bentley
- *Chancer* (1990), series, as Radio
- *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Frank Carter — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md)
- *Inspector Morse* (1987), series, as Terrence Mitchell — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md)
- *Casualty* (1986), series, as Stephen Hills — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md)
- *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Schartach / Zunz / Gryphius
- *Hear Me Roar*, as Michael Bellinger
- *About A Bell*, as DC Holman
- *Color Your Hurt*, as James

## Gallery

- ![Christopher Eccleston](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-1f786c8d280e.jpg) Christopher Eccleston — Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Christopher_Eccleston_GalaxyCon_Minneapolis_2019_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Christopher_Eccleston_GalaxyCon_Minneapolis_2019_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christopher Eccleston at GalaxyCon Louisville in 2019](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-4c9903570cb8.jpg) Christopher Eccleston at GalaxyCon Louisville in 2019 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Christopher_Eccleston_%2849243215143%29.jpg/500px-Christopher_Eccleston_%2849243215143%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christopher Eccleston at GalaxyCon Louisville in 2019](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-e6a7662c6a58.jpg) Christopher Eccleston at GalaxyCon Louisville in 2019 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Christopher_Eccleston_%2849243901022%29.jpg/1280px-Christopher_Eccleston_%2849243901022%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christopher Eccleston at GalaxyCon Minneapolis in 2019](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-baac89b51f0b.jpg) Christopher Eccleston at GalaxyCon Minneapolis in 2019 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Christopher_Eccleston_%2849133041448%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Christopher Eccleston](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-b94e1e3c7934.jpg) Christopher Eccleston — Image via TMDB
- ![Christopher Eccleston](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-201af11ec0df.jpg) Christopher Eccleston — Image via TMDB
- ![Christopher Eccleston](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-71ee12c9481b.jpg) Christopher Eccleston — Image via TMDB
- ![Christopher Eccleston speaking with attendees at the 2023 Phoenix Fan Fusion at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skid](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-523ee78d8d83.jpg) Christopher Eccleston speaking with attendees at the 2023 Phoenix Fan Fusion at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skid — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Christopher_Eccleston_%2852958383776%29.jpg/1280px-Christopher_Eccleston_%2852958383776%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christopher Eccleston speaking with attendees at the 2023 Phoenix Fan Fusion at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skid](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-4d80e480f0e2.jpg) Christopher Eccleston speaking with attendees at the 2023 Phoenix Fan Fusion at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skid — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Christopher_Eccleston_%2852958384571%29.jpg/1280px-Christopher_Eccleston_%2852958384571%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christopher Eccleston](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-a6278e4c0e67.jpg) Christopher Eccleston — Image via TMDB
- ![Christopher Eccleston](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-198d10692d94.jpg) Christopher Eccleston — Image via TMDB
- ![Christopher Eccleston](https://film.one/media/person/60464/gallery-01d05df5f1a6.jpg) Christopher Eccleston — Image via TMDB

---
© 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/christopher-eccleston