---
name: "Craig Parkinson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/craig-parkinson"
fi1m_id: "craig-parkinson"
imdb_id: "nm0971135"
tmdb_id: 45050
wikidata_id: "Q5181301"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "11 March 1976"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-07T19:48:23.495487+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."
---

# Craig Parkinson

## Identity

Craig Parkinson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/craig-parkinson
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** craig-parkinson
- **IMDb ID:** nm0971135
- **TMDB ID:** 45050
- **Wikidata ID:** Q5181301
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Parkinson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5181301, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0971135/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/45050

Actor. Born 11 March 1976 in Blackpool, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 11 March 1976, Blackpool, England, UK
- **Active:** 2000–present
- **Frequently works with:** [Samantha Morton](https://film.one/person/samantha-morton.md), Joseph Bullman
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 79 (4), 2010s 82 (4), 2020s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 82 to 72 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Comedy 5, Crime 3, Music 1, Mystery 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $22m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Parkinson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5181301, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0971135/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/45050

## Streaming the US now

- **Tubi:** [*Wild Rose*](https://film.one/film/wild-rose.md) (82), [*Control*](https://film.one/film/control.md) (80)
- **Pluto TV:** [*Black Books*](https://film.one/tv/black-books.md) (82), [*The Unloved*](https://film.one/film/the-unloved.md) (74)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Four Lions*](https://film.one/film/four-lions.md) (94)
- **Apple TV:** [*Prey*](https://film.one/tv/prey-2014.md) (74)

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

## Fi1m on Craig Parkinson

> Craig Parkinson makes stillness unsettling without advertising the effort. We value his ability to fit into an ensemble, and would welcome more comedy before another casting director asks him to look untrustworthy.

Craig Parkinson keeps his movements small and lets his physical presence do the work. That restraint is particularly effective when he plays someone whose motives are uncertain: we have to pay attention without being given much reassurance. We rate him as a supporting actor who can hold our interest while leaving room for the other people in a scene.

*Black Books* (2000), in which he plays Martin the Tout, is a useful reminder that the threatening parts do not tell the whole story. Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey and Tamsin Greig are the reason we return, for the sight gags as much as the insults. The surreal comedy can become wearing, though the short episodes keep that manageable. Parkinson’s ability to work within an ensemble is worth valuing in its own right. His later appearance as Matt in Chris Morris’s *Four Lions* (2010) is another reason not to file him away under menace.

His film debut came as Tony Wilson in Anton Corbijn’s *Control* (2007). It is a moving music biography carried by Sam Riley, and the live performances make the fascination with Ian Curtis understandable. We were moved by them because they let us feel that attraction rather than simply hear about it. The domestic scenes sometimes need a firmer cut, but the film’s patience is mostly a strength. It is worth seeing Parkinson’s supporting work in a film that gives its lead actor so much room.

The turn towards wider recognition came with DI Matthew ‘Dot’ Cottan in *Line of Duty* (2012). In its extended interrogations and confrontations, his controlled acting gives that economy of movement a purpose: we keep watching for a change. This is a strong use of what he can do, although the subsequent tendency to cast him as menacing or duplicitous men risks making the choice too predictable. There is nothing wrong with being good at a particular kind of part. For anyone who knows him only through *Line of Duty*, the comedies are worth making time for.

## Biography

Craig Parkinson is an English actor. Born in Blackpool, he trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts after studying at Blackpool and The Fylde College.

He made his film debut as Tony Wilson in the 2007 biopic *Control*. His other film roles include Matt in *Four Lions* (2010) and appearances in *Soulboy* (2010) and *Wild Rose* (2019). On television he is known for Shaun in *Misfits* (2009–2011), DI Matthew 'Dot' Cottan in *Line of Duty* (2012–2021) and the Grand Serpent in *Doctor Who* (2022).

Parkinson has also worked in theatre, including productions at the National Theatre, and hosts a podcast. He was married to actress Susan Lynch.

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

## On Fi1m (9)

- *Alma's Not Normal* (2020), Fi1m 84, as Richard — [page](https://film.one/tv/almas-not-normal.md)
- *Wild Rose* (2019), Fi1m 82, as Alan — [page](https://film.one/film/wild-rose.md)
- *Prey* (2014), Fi1m 74, as Sean Devlin — [page](https://film.one/tv/prey-2014.md)
- *Line of Duty* (2012), Fi1m 79, as DI Matthew Cottan — [page](https://film.one/tv/line-of-duty.md)
- *Four Lions* (2010), Fi1m 94, as Matt — [page](https://film.one/film/four-lions.md)
- *Misfits* (2009), Fi1m 80, as Shaun Merton — [page](https://film.one/tv/misfits.md)
- *The Unloved* (2009), Fi1m 74, as Ben — [page](https://film.one/film/the-unloved.md)
- *Control* (2007), Fi1m 80, as Tony Wilson — [page](https://film.one/film/control.md)
- *Black Books* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Martin the Tout — [page](https://film.one/tv/black-books.md)

## Complete filmography (65)

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

- *Mayflies* (2026), Actor
- *Vengeance: Murder on the Heath* (2026), series, as DCI Damian Allain
- *Dirty Business* (2026), series, as John Bull
- *Person of Interest* (2024), as The Man
- *Renegade Nell* (2024), series, as Sam Trotter
- *The Winter King* (2023), series, as Aelle
- *Partygate* (2023), as Lee Caine
- *Mrs Sidhu Investigates* (2023), series, as DCI Burton
- *Coastal Defenders* (2023), series, as Narrator
- *The House Across the Street* (2022), series, as George
- *Everything I Know About Love* (2022), series, as James
- *Life and Death in the Warehouse* (2022), as Danny
- *Intergalactic* (2021), series, as Dr. Lee
- *Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break* (2021), as Officer Able
- *Grace* (2021), series, as DS Norman Potting
- *Alma's Not Normal* (2020), series, as Richard — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/almas-not-normal.md)
- *The English Game* (2020), series, as James Walsh
- *Sandylands* (2020), series, as Terry Chino
- *Wild Bill* (2019), series, as Piano Man (Si / Thus)
- *Year of the Rabbit* (2019), series, as Patrick Levant
- *Wild Rose* (2019), as Alan — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/wild-rose.md)
- *Resistance* (2019), series, as Captain David McLeod
- *Black Mirror: Bandersnatch* (2018), as Peter Butler
- *Watership Down* (2018), series, as Sainfoin (voice)
- *Sick of It* (2018), series, as Neil
- *On the Edge* (2018), series, as Mark
- *Killed by My Debt* (2018), as The Bailiff
- *The Flag* (2016), as The Don
- *Jet Trash* (2016), as Marlowe
- *National Theatre Live: Hangmen* (2016), as Inspector Fry
- *The Scandalous Lady W* (2015), as Mr Wallace, QC
- *X Company* (2015), series, as Drabek
- *Prey* (2014), series, as Sean Devlin — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/prey-2014.md)
- *Uncle* (2014), series, as Cyril
- *The Mill* (2013), series, as Charlie Crout
- *Endeavour* (2013), series, as Reg Tracepurcel — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/endeavour.md)
- *Great Night Out* (2013), series, as Glyn
- *Line of Duty* (2012), series, as Matthew 'Dot' Cottan, DI Matthew Cottan — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/line-of-duty.md)
- *When the Lights Went Out* (2012), as Brian
- *Ghosted* (2011), as Clay
- *In with the Flynns* (2011), series, as Tommy Flynn
- *Vera* (2011), series, as Phil Swann — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/vera.md)
- *Excluded* (2010), as Gary
- *Brighton Rock* (2010), as Cubitt
- *SoulBoy* (2010), as Alan
- *Four Lions* (2010), as Matt — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/film/four-lions.md)
- *Misfits* (2009), series, as Shaun Merton — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/misfits.md)
- *Desert Flower* (2009), as Neil
- *The Unloved* (2009), as Ben — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-unloved.md)
- *The Taxidermist* (2009), as The Taxidermist
- *The Other Man* (2008), as George
- *Mrs In-Betweeny* (2008), as Neil
- *Virgin Territory* (2007), as Tindaro
- *Control* (2007), as Tony Wilson — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/control.md)
- *The Visit* (2007), series, as Glen
- *New Street Law* (2006), series, as Ray Norman
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Grand Serpent, Prentis/Grand Serpent — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *He Knew He Was Right* (2004), series, as Tall Man
- *The Worst Week of My Life* (2004), series, as Video Man
- *Hustle* (2004), series, as Art Tutor
- *Tooth* (2004), as Store Cashier
- *Born and Bred* (2002), series, as Eric
- *Black Books* (2000), series, as Martin the Tout — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/black-books.md)
- *Attachments* (2000), series, as Darren
- *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as Paul Collingwood

## Gallery

- ![Craig Parkinson](https://film.one/media/person/99826/gallery-66899322ada7.jpg) Craig Parkinson — Matt Deegan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Craig_Parkinson_%2842218623922%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Craig Parkinson](https://film.one/media/person/99826/gallery-0057b367e629.jpg) Craig Parkinson — 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/craig-parkinson