---
name: "James Corden"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-corden"
fi1m_id: "james-corden"
imdb_id: "nm0179479"
tmdb_id: 55466
wikidata_id: "Q767499"
roles: ["Actor","Writer","Producer"]
born: "22 August 1978"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 17
average_fi1m_score: 61
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 16
updated: "2026-10-13T21:55:07.278168+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."
---

# James Corden

## Identity

James Corden

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/james-corden
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** james-corden
- **IMDb ID:** nm0179479
- **TMDB ID:** 55466
- **Wikidata ID:** Q767499
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Corden, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q767499, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0179479/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55466

Actor and writer. Born 22 August 1978 in Hillingdon, Middlesex, London, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Writer, Producer
- **Born:** 22 August 1978, Hillingdon, Middlesex, London, England, UK
- **Active:** 2000–present
- **Also known as:** James Kimberley Corden
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 17: 16 acting, 1 producing
- **Frequently works with:** [Alan Bennett](https://film.one/person/alan-bennett.md), [Dominic Cooper](https://film.one/person/dominic-cooper.md), [Nicholas Hytner](https://film.one/person/nicholas-hytner.md), [Alison Steadman](https://film.one/person/alison-steadman.md), [Anna Kendrick](https://film.one/person/anna-kendrick.md), [Damian Jones](https://film.one/person/damian-jones.md), [Kevin Loader](https://film.one/person/kevin-loader.md), [Ruth Jones](https://film.one/person/ruth-jones.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 61, as actor, over 16 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 66 (6), 2010s 57 (9), 2020s 66 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 57 to 53 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 10 at 60–79, 5 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 12 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 13, Drama 7, Fantasy 3, Action 2, Adventure 2, Animation 2
- **Screen time:** 21 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,316m across 10 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Corden, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q767499, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0179479/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55466

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Planet 51*](https://film.one/film/planet-51.md) (52), [*The Three Musketeers*](https://film.one/film/the-three-musketeers-2011.md) (50), [*The Emoji Movie*](https://film.one/film/the-emoji-movie.md) (27)
- **Disney+:** [*The Christophers*](https://film.one/film/the-christophers.md) (74), [*Into the Woods*](https://film.one/film/into-the-woods.md) (65)
- **HBO Max:** [*Ocean's Eight*](https://film.one/film/oceans-eight.md) (60), [*Friends: The Reunion*](https://film.one/film/friends-the-reunion.md) (58)
- **Apple TV:** [*Gavin & Stacey*](https://film.one/tv/gavin-and-stacey.md) (80)
- **Peacock:** [*Begin Again*](https://film.one/film/begin-again.md) (73)
- **BritBox:** [*The Wrong Mans*](https://film.one/tv/the-wrong-mans.md) (73)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Lady in the Van*](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md) (64)
- **Netflix:** [*Cats*](https://film.one/film/cats.md) (38)

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

## Fi1m on James Corden

> James Corden is most rewarding alongside Ruth Jones, writing and playing people who expect everyone else to make room for them. His comic energy can be useful, but too many film roles ask it to compensate for thin characters.

Smithy presses for attention in *Gavin & Stacey* (2007), delivering his lines with an expansiveness that Ruth Jones's Nessa seldom needs. James Corden is good company here, though he sometimes works harder for a laugh than the material requires. We laughed at Jones's impatient delivery; beside it, Corden's determination to be noticed sometimes felt like unnecessary effort. As co-creators and writers, however, they understand precisely how funny people can be when they assume their wishes will be accommodated without discussion.

His stage work has made direct use of that energy. His breakthrough came as Timms in Alan Bennett's *The History Boys* (2004), followed by the lead in *One Man, Two Guvnors* (2011), with its demands for physical timing and farce. Hosting *The Late Late Show* from 2015 to 2023 gave him an audience to engage and musical segments to lead. Supporting film roles have been less consistently useful to him, too often providing an opportunity to be busy without giving him much character to play.

The limits are plain in *The Emoji Movie* (2017), where his voice performance as Hi-5 has too little help from the writing. A capable performer cannot make that preassembled dialogue funny simply by delivering it enthusiastically. Tom Hooper's *Cats* (2019) has some use for the broad comedy of his Bustopher Jones. The turn offers a change of pace without making the succession of songs feel any more like a story.

Even a worthwhile film can leave him with little to play: Steven Soderbergh's *The Christophers* (2026) casts him as Barnaby Sklar, one of a painter's money-minded children. Ed Solomon's script gives Corden and Jessica Gunning greed with no shading, and neither finds a way past it. They play what is written, but the scenes remain ones we want to leave. We would not lay the thinness of these characters entirely at Corden's door, though his broad playing does little to disguise it.

Writing with Jones gives him more to work with, though *Gavin & Stacey* has its own imbalance. Their supporting characters have such firm comic rhythms that the central couple can seem to be waiting for another interruption. Corden shares responsibility for that weakness as well as for the warmth. Start with *Gavin & Stacey*, with fair warning that the people named in the title are not the main attraction.

## Biography

James Kimberley Corden (born 22 August 1978) is an English actor, comedian, writer and television host. He trained at the Jackie Palmer Stage School and began his career in British television and theatre, including a role in Alan Bennett's *The History Boys* (2004 stage production and 2006 film).

Corden co-created and starred in the BBC sitcom *Gavin & Stacey* (2007–2010) with Ruth Jones, winning a BAFTA Television Award for Best Male Comedy Performance. He later hosted *The Late Late Show with James Corden* (2015–2023) in the United States. His film credits include *Cats* (2019) as Bustopher Jones and *The Christophers* (2026) as Barnaby Sklar, alongside appearances in *Into the Woods* (2014) and *Ocean's Eight* (2018).

He received a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway transfer of *One Man, Two Guvnors*.

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

## On Fi1m (17)

### Performed in (16) — the average rests on these

- *The Christophers* (2026), Fi1m 74, as Barnaby Sklar — [page](https://film.one/film/the-christophers.md)
- *Cats* (2019), Fi1m 38, as Bustopher Jones — [page](https://film.one/film/cats.md)
- *Yesterday* (2019), Fi1m 60, as James Corden — [page](https://film.one/film/yesterday.md)
- *Ocean's Eight* (2018), Fi1m 60, as John Frazier — [page](https://film.one/film/oceans-eight.md)
- *The Emoji Movie* (2017), Fi1m 27, as Hi-5 (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-emoji-movie.md)
- *The Lady in the Van* (2015), Fi1m 64, as Street Trader — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md)
- *Into the Woods* (2014), Fi1m 65, as Baker — [page](https://film.one/film/into-the-woods.md)
- *Begin Again* (2013), Fi1m 73, as Steve — [page](https://film.one/film/begin-again.md)
- *The Wrong Mans* (2013), Fi1m 73, as Phil Bourne — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wrong-mans.md)
- *The Three Musketeers* (2011), Fi1m 50, as Planchet — [page](https://film.one/film/the-three-musketeers-2011.md)
- *Planet 51* (2009), Fi1m 52, as Soldier #2 (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/planet-51.md)
- *Gavin & Stacey* (2007), Fi1m 80, as Neil 'Smithy' Smith — [page](https://film.one/tv/gavin-and-stacey.md)
- *The History Boys* (2006), Fi1m 67, as Timms — [page](https://film.one/film/the-history-boys.md)
- *Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman* (2005), Fi1m 66, as Kirky — [page](https://film.one/film/pierrepoint-the-last-hangman.md)
- *Little Britain* (2003), Fi1m 58, as Dafydds Brother Dewi — [page](https://film.one/tv/little-britain.md)
- *Teachers* (2001), Fi1m 76, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/teachers.md)

### Produced (1)

- *Friends: The Reunion* (2021), Fi1m 58, as Self - Moderator — [page](https://film.one/film/friends-the-reunion.md)

## Complete filmography (81)

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

- *California Schemin'* (2026), as Ray Stone
- *The Christophers* (2026), as Barnaby Sklar — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-christophers.md)
- *Smurfs* (2025), as No Name (voice)
- *Gavin & Stacey: The Finale* (2024), as Neil 'Smithy' Smith · Writer, Executive Producer
- *A Carpool Karaoke Christmas* (2024), Executive Producer
- *Mammals* (2022), series, as Jamie Buckingham · Executive Producer
- *Visual Suspect* (2022), series, Creator
- *Super Greed: The Fight for Football* (2022), Associate Producer
- *Cinderella* (2021), as James · Producer
- *Friends: The Reunion* (2021), Producer — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/friends-the-reunion.md)
- *Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway* (2021), as Peter Rabbit (voice)
- *The Prom* (2020), as Barry Glickman
- *Superintelligence* (2020), as Superintelligence (voice) / James Corden
- *We Love Gavin and Stacey* (2020), Actor
- *Trolls: Tiny Diamond Goes Back to School* (2020), as Biggie (voice)
- *Trolls World Tour* (2020), as Biggie (voice)
- *Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmas* (2019), as Neil 'Smithy' Smith · Writer
- *Cats* (2019), as Bustopher Jones — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/cats.md)
- *Yesterday* (2019), as James Corden — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/yesterday.md)
- *Smallfoot* (2018), as Percy Patterson (voice)
- *Just Another Immigrant* (2018), series, Actor
- *Ocean's Eight* (2018), as John Frazier — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/oceans-eight.md)
- *Flopsy Turvy* (2018), as Peter Rabbit (voice)
- *Peter Rabbit* (2018), as Peter Rabbit (voice)
- *Trolls: Dress Up* (2017), as Biggie (voice)
- *Trolls Holiday* (2017), as Biggie (voice)
- *Carpool Karaoke: The Series* (2017), series, Producer, Executive Producer
- *The Emoji Movie* (2017), as Hi-5 (voice) — Fi1m 27, [page](https://film.one/film/the-emoji-movie.md)
- *Trolls* (2016), as Biggie (voice)
- *Kill Your Friends* (2015), as Roger Waters
- *The Lady in the Van* (2015), as Street Trader — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md)
- *Roald Dahl's Esio Trot* (2015), as Narrator
- *Into the Woods* (2014), as Baker — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/into-the-woods.md)
- *Begin Again* (2014), as Steve — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/begin-again.md)
- *Tom Daley Goes Global* (2014), series, as Narrator
- *Us & Them* (2014), series, Original Series Creator
- *National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage* (2013), as Timms
- *That Night* (2013), as Boy
- *The Wrong Mans* (2013), series, as Phil Bourne · Writer, Creator — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wrong-mans.md)
- *One Chance* (2013), as Paul Potts
- *Doctor Who - Night and the Doctor: Up All Night* (2012), as Craig Owens
- *Stella* (2012), series, Writer
- *The Gruffalo's Child* (2011), as The Mouse (voice)
- *National Theatre Live: One Man, Two Guvnors* (2011), as Francis Henshall
- *The Three Musketeers* (2011), as Planchet — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/the-three-musketeers-2011.md)
- *The One Ronnie* (2010), Actor
- *Gulliver's Travels* (2010), as Jinks
- *The Rob Brydon Show* (2010), series, Actor
- *John Bishop's Britain* (2010), series, Actor
- *Channel 4's Comedy Gala* (2010), series, Writer
- *The Gruffalo* (2009), as Mouse (voice)
- *Planet 51* (2009), as Soldier #2 (voice) — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/planet-51.md)
- *Lesbian Vampire Killers* (2009), as Fletch
- *Horne & Corden* (2009), series, Actor
- *Now That’s What I Call Comedy* (2009), as Smithy
- *Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special 2008* (2008), as Neil 'Smithy' Smith · Producer, Writer
- *The Secret Policeman's Ball 2008* (2008), Actor
- *How to Lose Friends & Alienate People* (2008), as Post Modern Review Staff
- *Telstar: The Joe Meek Story* (2008), as Clem Cattini
- *Where Have I Been All Your Life?* (2007), as Liam
- *Gavin & Stacey* (2007), series, as Neil 'Smithy' Smith · Producer, Writer, Associate Producer, Creator — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/gavin-and-stacey.md)
- *Heroes and Villains* (2006), as Sam
- *The History Boys* (2006), as Timms — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-history-boys.md)
- *Starter for 10* (2006), as Tone
- *Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman* (2005), as Kirky — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/pierrepoint-the-last-hangman.md)
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Craig Owens — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *Little Britain* (2003), series, as Dafydds Brother Dewi — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/tv/little-britain.md)
- *Heartlands* (2003), as Shady
- *Cruise of the Gods* (2002), as Russell
- *All or Nothing* (2002), as Rory
- *Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story* (2001), series, as Bran - Thunderdell's Son
- *Teachers* (2001), series, as Jeremy — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/teachers.md)
- *Fat Friends* (2000), series, as Jamie Rymer
- *Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?* (2000), as Walter
- *Boyz Unlimited* (1999), series, as Gareth Jones
- *TwentyFourSeven* (1998), as Carl 'Tonka' Marsh
- *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as Ben Forsythe
- *Out of Tune* (1996), series, Actor
- *The Bold and the Beautiful* (1987), series, as Busboy, Craig the Busboy
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, Actor
- *The Choir*, series, Executive Producer, Creator

## Gallery

- ![James Corden](https://film.one/media/person/339/gallery-4d5afe2a6d0d.jpg) James Corden — iDominick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/James_Corden_at_2015_PaleyFest_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Art Dixie Production Coordinator HallexChloe James Corden Show (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/339/gallery-4a1946fc9dda.jpg) Art Dixie Production Coordinator HallexChloe James Corden Show (2018) — PreDigitalLegacies, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Art_DixieJamesCordenShow_2018.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ben Winston, James Corden, Niall Horan & Harry Styles (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/339/gallery-f1139799de4f.jpg) Ben Winston, James Corden, Niall Horan & Harry Styles (2014) — vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Ben_Winston%2C_James_Corden%2C_Niall_Horan_%26_Harry_Styles_%2814286425324%29.jpg/1280px-Ben_Winston%2C_James_Corden%2C_Niall_Horan_%26_Harry_Styles_%2814286425324%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ben Winston, James Corden & Niall Horan (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/339/gallery-80c2d9d2636e.jpg) Ben Winston, James Corden & Niall Horan (2014) — vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Ben_Winston%2C_James_Corden_%26_Niall_Horan_%2814100392187%29.jpg/1280px-Ben_Winston%2C_James_Corden_%26_Niall_Horan_%2814100392187%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![James Corden](https://film.one/media/person/339/gallery-51a75b2230c8.jpg) James Corden — Image via TMDB
- ![Ben Winston, James Corden & Niall Horan (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/339/gallery-f6ee49270c64.jpg) Ben Winston, James Corden & Niall Horan (2014) — vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Ben_Winston%2C_James_Corden_%26_Niall_Horan_%2814283622841%29.jpg/1280px-Ben_Winston%2C_James_Corden_%26_Niall_Horan_%2814283622841%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ben Winston, James Corden & Niall Horan (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/339/gallery-e3fa55217b97.jpg) Ben Winston, James Corden & Niall Horan (2014) — vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Ben_Winston%2C_James_Corden_%26_Niall_Horan_%2814286437754%29.jpg/1280px-Ben_Winston%2C_James_Corden_%26_Niall_Horan_%2814286437754%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2018: Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series (won)

### Other awards — 1 won

- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 2012: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (won)

*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/james-corden