---
name: "Guy Pearce"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/guy-pearce"
fi1m_id: "guy-pearce"
imdb_id: "nm0001602"
tmdb_id: 529
wikidata_id: "Q223745"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "5 October 1967"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 19
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 18
updated: "2026-10-07T19:43:16.922204+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."
---

# Guy Pearce

## Identity

Guy Pearce

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/guy-pearce
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** guy-pearce
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001602
- **TMDB ID:** 529
- **Wikidata ID:** Q223745
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Pearce, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223745, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001602/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/529

Actor. Born 5 October 1967 in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 5 October 1967, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1994–present
- **Also known as:** Guy Edward Pearce
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 19: 18 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Charlize Theron](https://film.one/person/charlize-theron.md), [John Hillcoat](https://film.one/person/john-hillcoat.md), [Kate Winslet](https://film.one/person/kate-winslet.md), [Ridley Scott](https://film.one/person/ridley-scott.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 18 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 84 (2), 2000s 76 (5), 2010s 69 (7), 2020s 69 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 72 across 18 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 9 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 7 of 18 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 12, Mystery 4, Science Fiction 4, Thriller 4, Adventure 3, Crime 3
- **Screen time:** 31 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,570m across 14 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Pearce, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223745, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001602/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/529

## Coming up

- *Ink* (2026-12-11), as Rupert Murdoch — [page](https://film.one/film/ink.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*L.A. Confidential*](https://film.one/film/l-a-confidential.md) (88), [*The Hurt Locker*](https://film.one/film/the-hurt-locker.md) (86), [*Animal Kingdom*](https://film.one/film/animal-kingdom.md) (84), [*The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert*](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-priscilla-queen-of-the-desert.md) (81), [*The Proposition*](https://film.one/film/the-proposition.md) (79), [*The Road*](https://film.one/film/the-road-2009.md) (78)
- **HBO Max:** [*Mare of Easttown*](https://film.one/tv/mare-of-easttown.md) (78), [*The Brutalist*](https://film.one/film/the-brutalist.md) (76), [*Mildred Pierce*](https://film.one/tv/mildred-pierce.md) (70)
- **Disney+:** [*Memento*](https://film.one/film/memento.md) (88), [*Iron Man 3*](https://film.one/film/iron-man-3.md) (72)
- **Apple TV:** [*The King's Speech*](https://film.one/film/the-kings-speech.md) (82)

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

## Fi1m on Guy Pearce

> Guy Pearce is particularly good at playing men who make other people uncomfortable. We rate the care he takes over their behaviour, from the casual insults in *The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert* to the alarming generosity of *The Brutalist*.

In *The Brutalist* (2024), Guy Pearce's Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr calls an architect a genius at dinner parties, and it ought to be reassuring. Pearce makes the patron loud, generous and quick to cry, so there is plenty for Adrien Brody's László to mistake for kindness. We were frightened for everyone at his table because each fresh display of generosity made him seem more dangerous. Brody lets hope show on a face accustomed to humiliation, and Pearce gives him good reason to hope. The discomfort comes from watching the two performances together.

That ability to work through other actors was already there in *The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert* (1994), his international breakthrough. As Adam, Pearce brings an eager, needling energy to the bickering, with Hugo Weaving keeping the feeling credible and Terence Stamp giving the quieter moments weight. The insults are funniest when they sound habitual, delivered without waiting to be admired. Director Stephan Elliott sometimes gives them lines too pleased with themselves, and Pearce cannot make every one pass for casual conversation. We recommend the film warmly, but its comedy would be better with less insistence.

*L.A. Confidential* (1997) followed, then the memory-loss lead in Christopher Nolan's *Memento* (2000). He went on to alternate Hollywood supporting parts with Australian films such as *The Proposition* (2005) and *The Rover* (2014). We see little reason to treat a supporting part as a lesser use of him. The scenes with Brody give Pearce plenty to do without requiring him to carry the whole film.

Corbet gets particularly good work from Pearce, but *The Brutalist* loses its way in the second half, and the performance does not excuse that. We would also be reluctant to let the menace of Van Buren obscure the comic skill of Adam. The throwaway delivery in Elliott's film takes care, even when the lines are too laboured. Start with *Priscilla* for the pleasure of its three performers together; save *The Brutalist* for an evening when the company can be less agreeable.

## Biography

Guy Edward Pearce (born 5 October 1967) is an Australian actor. Born in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, he was raised in Geelong, Australia. He began his career with a four-year role as Mike Young in the Australian soap opera Neighbours (1986–1989).

Pearce gained international recognition for his performance in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994). He subsequently appeared in L.A. Confidential (1997), Memento (2000), The Hurt Locker (2008), The King's Speech (2010), Lawless (2012), Iron Man 3 (2013) and Alien: Covenant (2017). He played Peter Weyland in Prometheus (2012) and Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr in The Brutalist (2024). For the latter he received nominations for the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.

On television, Pearce has played the title role in the Jack Irish adaptations (2012–2021) and appeared in the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce (2011), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, and Mare of Easttown (2021).

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

## On Fi1m (19)

### Performed in (18) — the average rests on these

- *Ink* (2026), Fi1m 64, as Rupert Murdoch — [page](https://film.one/film/ink.md)
- *The Dog Stars* (2026), Fi1m 58, as Pops — [page](https://film.one/film/the-dog-stars.md)
- *The Brutalist* (2024), Fi1m 76, as Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr — [page](https://film.one/film/the-brutalist.md)
- *A Spy Among Friends* (2022), Fi1m 68, as Kim Philby — [page](https://film.one/tv/a-spy-among-friends.md)
- *Mare of Easttown* (2021), Fi1m 78, as Richard Ryan — [page](https://film.one/tv/mare-of-easttown.md)
- *Mary Queen of Scots* (2018), Fi1m 56, as William Cecil — [page](https://film.one/film/mary-queen-of-scots.md)
- *Iron Man 3* (2013), Fi1m 72, as Aldrich Killian — [page](https://film.one/film/iron-man-3.md)
- *Prometheus* (2012), Fi1m 60, as Peter Weyland — [page](https://film.one/film/prometheus.md)
- *Mildred Pierce* (2011), Fi1m 70, as Monte Beragon — [page](https://film.one/tv/mildred-pierce.md)
- *Animal Kingdom* (2010), Fi1m 84, as Nathan Leckie — [page](https://film.one/film/animal-kingdom.md)
- *The King's Speech* (2010), Fi1m 82, as King Edward VIII — [page](https://film.one/film/the-kings-speech.md)
- *The Road* (2009), Fi1m 78, as Veteran — [page](https://film.one/film/the-road-2009.md)
- *The Hurt Locker* (2008), Fi1m 86, as Sergeant Matt Thompson — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hurt-locker.md)
- *The Proposition* (2005), Fi1m 79, as Charlie Burns — [page](https://film.one/film/the-proposition.md)
- *The Time Machine* (2002), Fi1m 47, as Alexander Hartdegen — [page](https://film.one/film/the-time-machine.md)
- *Memento* (2000), Fi1m 88, as Leonard — [page](https://film.one/film/memento.md)
- *L.A. Confidential* (1997), Fi1m 88, as Edmund 'Ed' Exley — [page](https://film.one/film/l-a-confidential.md)
- *The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert* (1994), Fi1m 81, as Adam Whitely / Felicia Jollygoodfellow — [page](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-priscilla-queen-of-the-desert.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Alien: Covenant* (2017), Fi1m 57, as Peter Weyland (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/alien-covenant.md)

## Complete filmography (104)

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

- *Ink* (2026), as Rupert Murdoch — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/ink.md)
- *The Dog Stars* (2026), as Pops — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/the-dog-stars.md)
- *The Woman in Cabin 10* (2025), as Richard Bullmer
- *Killing Faith* (2025), as Bender
- *Scarcity* (2025), as Voice
- *The Shrouds* (2025), as Maury Entrekin
- *Inside* (2025), as Warren Murfett · Executive Producer
- *The Brutalist* (2024), as Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/the-brutalist.md)
- *The Convert* (2024), as Thomas Munro
- *Sunrise* (2024), as Reynolds
- *The Clearing* (2023), series, as Dr. Bryce Latham
- *A Spy Among Friends* (2022), series, as Kim Philby — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-spy-among-friends.md)
- *The Infernal Machine* (2022), as Bruce Cogburn
- *Memory* (2022), as Vincent Serra
- *Back to the Outback* (2021), as Frank (voice)
- *Zone 414* (2021), as David Carmichael
- *Tom Clancy's Without Remorse* (2021), as Thomas Clay
- *Mare of Easttown* (2021), series, as Richard Ryan — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/mare-of-easttown.md)
- *The Seventh Day* (2021), as Father Peter · Executive Producer
- *Bloodshot* (2020), as Dr. Emil Harting
- *Disturbing the Peace* (2020), as Jim Dillon
- *A Christmas Carol* (2019), series, as Ebenezer Scrooge
- *FX's A Christmas Carol* (2019), as Ebenezer Scrooge
- *The Last Vermeer* (2019), as Han van Meegeren
- *Domino* (2019), as Joe Martin
- *Mary Queen of Scots* (2018), as William Cecil — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/mary-queen-of-scots.md)
- *The Innocents* (2018), series, as Halvorson
- *The Catcher Was a Spy* (2018), as Robert Furman
- *Spinning Man* (2018), as Evan Birch
- *Swinging Safari* (2018), as Keith Hall
- *Donny The Drone* (2017), as Donny (voice)
- *Alien: Covenant* (2017), as Peter Weyland (uncredited) — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/alien-covenant.md)
- *When We Rise* (2017), series, as Cleve Jones
- *Genius* (2016), as F. Scott Fitzgerald
- *Brimstone* (2016), as The Reverend
- *Jack Irish* (2016), series, as Jack Irish
- *Lorne* (2016), as Lorne
- *The Wizards of Aus* (2016), series, as Morgan Wright
- *Holding the Man* (2015), as Dick Conigrave
- *Equals* (2015), as Jonas
- *Results* (2015), as Trevor
- *The Rover* (2014), as Eric
- *Jack Irish: Dead Point* (2014), as Jack Irish
- *Hateship Loveship* (2014), as Ken
- *Sean Saves the World* (2013), series, as Miles
- *Iron Man 3* (2013), as Aldrich Killian — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/iron-man-3.md)
- *Breathe In* (2013), as Keith Reynolds
- *Jack Irish: Black Tide* (2012), as Jack Irish
- *Jack Irish: Bad Debts* (2012), as Jack Irish
- *Lawless* (2012), as Charlie Rakes
- *Prometheus* (2012), as Peter Weyland — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/prometheus.md)
- *Lockout* (2012), as Snow
- *The Peter Weyland Files: TED Conference, 2023* (2012), as Peter Weyland
- *Seeking Justice* (2011), as Simon
- *33 Postcards* (2011), as Dean Randall
- *Mildred Pierce* (2011), series, as Monte Beragon — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/mildred-pierce.md)
- *The King's Speech* (2010), as King Edward VIII — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-kings-speech.md)
- *Don't Be Afraid of the Dark* (2010), as Alex Hirst
- *Animal Kingdom* (2010), as Nathan Leckie — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/animal-kingdom.md)
- *The Road* (2009), as Veteran — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-road-2009.md)
- *Winged Creatures* (2009), as Dr Bruce Laraby
- *In Her Skin* (2009), as Mr. Barber
- *Bedtime Stories* (2008), as Kendall
- *The Hurt Locker* (2008), as Sergeant Matt Thompson — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hurt-locker.md)
- *Traitor* (2008), as Roy Clayton
- *Death Defying Acts* (2007), as Harry Houdini
- *Factory Girl* (2006), as Andy Warhol
- *First Snow* (2006), as Jimmy Starks
- *The Proposition* (2005), as Charlie Burns — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/the-proposition.md)
- *Two Brothers* (2004), as Aidan McRory
- *Till Human Voices Wake Us* (2002), as Dr. Sam Franks
- *The Hard Word* (2002), as Dale
- *The Time Machine* (2002), as Alexander Hartdegen — Fi1m 47, [page](https://film.one/film/the-time-machine.md)
- *The Count of Monte Cristo* (2002), as Fernand Mondego
- *Memento* (2000), as Leonard — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/memento.md)
- *Rules of Engagement* (2000), as Maj. Mark Biggs
- *Ravenous* (1999), as Boyd
- *A Slipping Down Life* (1999), as Drumstrings Casey
- *Woundings* (1998), as Jimmy Compton
- *L.A. Confidential* (1997), as Edmund 'Ed' Exley — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/l-a-confidential.md)
- *The Devil Game* (1997), as Michael
- *Dating the Enemy* (1996), as Brett
- *Halifax f.p.* (1994), series, as Daniel Viney/Richard Viney
- *The Man from Snowy River* (1994), series, as Rob McGregor
- *The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert* (1994), as Adam Whitely / Felicia Jollygoodfellow — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-priscilla-queen-of-the-desert.md)
- *Flynn* (1993), as Errol Flynn
- *Bony* (1992), series, as Late Arrival
- *Hunting* (1991), as Sharp
- *Heaven Tonight* (1990), as Paul Dysart
- *Friday on My Mind* (1990), Actor
- *Neighbours* (1985), series, as Mike Young
- *Easter Rising*, as Padraig Pearse
- *The Neverending Pillow Fort*, Actor
- *The Teller*, Actor
- *Poor Boy*, as Danny
- *Neponset Circle*, Actor
- *Priscilla Queen of the Desert 2*, as Adam Whitely / Felicia Jollygoodfellow
- *Mr. Sunny Sky*, as Leonard Moore
- *High End*, Actor
- *Blurred*, Actor
- *Queen of the Falls*, Actor
- *The Price of Peace*, as President Harry S. Truman
- *The Marshal*, as Marshal Clay Mercer
- *The Road Home*, as Archbishop Trevor Huddleston

## Gallery

- ![Crew members of the movie "Genius" at the 2016 Berlinale party of U.S. Embassy Berlin. L to R: John Logan (writer), Guy Pearce, and Tommy Tonge](https://film.one/media/person/220/gallery-87abb911fb82.jpg) Crew members of the movie "Genius" at the 2016 Berlinale party of U.S. Embassy Berlin. L to R: John Logan (writer), Guy Pearce, and Tommy Tonge — usbotschaftberlin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Crew_members_of_the_movie_%22Genius%22_at_the_Berlinale_party_%2825036107966%29.jpg/1280px-Crew_members_of_the_movie_%22Genius%22_at_the_Berlinale_party_%2825036107966%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Guy Pearce](https://film.one/media/person/220/gallery-fca7cc307398.jpg) Guy Pearce — usbotschaftberlin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Crew_members_of_the_movie_%22Genius%22_at_the_Berlinale_party_%2825036107966%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Guy Pearce at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival](https://film.one/media/person/220/gallery-fcb185cbbf61.jpg) Guy Pearce at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival — gdcgraphics at https://www.flickr.com/photos/gdcgraphics/, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/GuyPearce07TIFF.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Guy Pearce and Claire Bloom at a ceremony for Colin Firth to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/220/gallery-b5bf520ed62f.jpg) Guy Pearce and Claire Bloom at a ceremony for Colin Firth to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2011) — Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/GuyPearceClaireBloomJan11.jpg/1280px-GuyPearceClaireBloomJan11.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Guy Pearce](https://film.one/media/person/220/gallery-56ba27ca42ae.jpg) Guy Pearce — Image via TMDB
- ![Guy Pearce](https://film.one/media/person/220/gallery-ac01210d5708.jpg) Guy Pearce — Image via TMDB
- ![Guy Pearce](https://film.one/media/person/220/gallery-20bf5b6f50a3.jpg) Guy Pearce — Image via TMDB
- ![Guy Pearce at a ceremony for Colin Firth to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/220/gallery-a0af9a51d4c5.jpg) Guy Pearce at a ceremony for Colin Firth to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2011) — Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/GuyPearceJan11.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Guy Pearce](https://film.one/media/person/220/gallery-f06316bf3819.jpg) Guy Pearce — Image via TMDB
- ![Guy Pearce](https://film.one/media/person/220/gallery-5a22185997ae.jpg) Guy Pearce — Image via TMDB
- ![Guy Pearce](https://film.one/media/person/220/gallery-1d74ed3ba54c.jpg) Guy Pearce — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2025: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *The Brutalist*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2011: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Mildred Pierce*

*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/guy-pearce