---
name: "James Smith"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-smith"
fi1m_id: "james-smith"
imdb_id: "nm0808576"
tmdb_id: 1184006
wikidata_id: "Q6143324"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "2 April 1953"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-12T20:11:37.000540+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 Smith

## Identity

James Smith

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/james-smith
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** james-smith
- **IMDb ID:** nm0808576
- **TMDB ID:** 1184006
- **Wikidata ID:** Q6143324
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Smith_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6143324, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0808576/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1184006

Actor. Born 2 April 1953 in Magnolia, North Carolina, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 2 April 1953, Magnolia, North Carolina, USA
- **Active:** 2005–present
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 93 (2), 2010s 70 (2), 2020s 65 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 72 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 5, Drama 4, History 2
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $219m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Smith_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6143324, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0808576/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1184006

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*The Thick of It*](https://film.one/tv/the-thick-of-it.md) (94), [*In the Loop*](https://film.one/film/in-the-loop.md) (92)

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

## Fi1m on James Smith

> James Smith makes a put-upon official’s anger worth listening to. As Glenn Cullen in *The Thick of It*, he gives an abrasive ensemble comedy some feeling without asking it to stop being funny.

In *The Thick of It* (2005), Glenn Cullen has the difficult job of being angry in a programme already crowded with anger. James Smith makes his indignation carry weight, so the abuse registers as something done to a person rather than merely another opportunity for a good line. We felt for Glenn because Smith lets us take his grievance seriously even while the programme encourages us to enjoy the bullying. That is the strongest reason to seek him out: he makes a supporting character worth caring about.

Smith had spent years in supporting parts on stage, television and film before Glenn made him widely known. He played him across all four series, from 2005 to 2012, within an ensemble whose differing reactions keep the ministerial panic from becoming monotonous. Joanna Scanlan’s Terri Coverley holds herself in check; Rebecca Front lets us feel Nicola Murray’s distress. Smith’s indignation gives us another response to the pressure, especially welcome when the insults threaten to drown everybody out.

*In the Loop* (2009) puts him back among Armando Iannucci’s officials, as Michael Rodgers. Its officials let wounded pride shape the prospect of war, and we recommend it strongly despite the relentless abuse sometimes overwhelming the characters. Peter Capaldi makes the bullying horribly enjoyable. Our enthusiasm for it does not require us to pretend that Smith is its chief attraction; the longer acquaintance with Glenn gives us more to value in his acting.

Later supporting roles include Lord Carrington in *The Iron Lady* (2011), Trevor in *Boomers* (2014–2016) and Godolphin in *The Favourite* (2018). It would be a mistake to expect every supporting part to give him as much to work with as four series do. Start with *The Thick of It*, and pay attention to the person left receiving the insult.

## Biography

James Smith is an English actor. He is best known for playing senior special adviser Glenn Cullen in all four series of the BBC satirical comedy *The Thick of It* (2005–2012). He reprised a similar role as Michael Rodgers in the 2009 spin-off film *In the Loop*.

Smith has appeared in supporting roles in films including *The Iron Lady* (2011) as Lord Carrington and *The Favourite* (2018) as Sidney Godolphin. His television credits include *Grandma's House* (2010–2012) as Clive, *Boomers* (2014–2016) as Trevor, and *Carnage* (2017). He is set to appear in the 2025 film *Vanilla*.

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

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Savage House* (2026), Fi1m 56, as Lord Wilbury, Art Dealer — [page](https://film.one/film/savage-house.md)
- *The Great* (2020), Fi1m 74, as Count Gorky of Norilsk — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-great.md)
- *The Favourite* (2018), Fi1m 87, as Godolphin — [page](https://film.one/film/the-favourite.md)
- *The Iron Lady* (2011), Fi1m 52, as Lord Carrington - Cabinet Minister — [page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-lady.md)
- *In the Loop* (2009), Fi1m 92, as Michael Rodgers — [page](https://film.one/film/in-the-loop.md)
- *The Thick of It* (2005), Fi1m 94, as Glenn Cullen — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-thick-of-it.md)

## Complete filmography (38)

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

- *Savage House* (2026), as Lord Wilbury, Art Dealer — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/savage-house.md)
- *Vanilla* (2025), as Lewis
- *Gen V* (2023), series, as Intruder #3
- *Live at the Moth Club* (2022), series, as Sergeant Fawley
- *One French Summer* (2022), as Executive Producer
- *The Great* (2020), series, as Count Gorky of Norilsk — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-great.md)
- *The Favourite* (2018), as Godolphin — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/the-favourite.md)
- *Starhunter ReduX* (2018), series, as Colonel Bramwell
- *Carnage: Swallowing the Past* (2017), as Graham Watkins
- *Boomers* (2014), series, as Trevor
- *The Iron Lady* (2011), as Lord Carrington - Cabinet Minister — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-lady.md)
- *Grandma's House* (2010), series, as Clive Freeman
- *In the Loop* (2009), as Michael Rodgers — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/in-the-loop.md)
- *Spinners and Losers* (2007), as Glenn Cullen
- *Magicians* (2007), as Richard
- *The Rise of the Nutters* (2007), as Glenn Cullen
- *The Thick of It* (2005), series, as Glenn Cullen — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-thick-of-it.md)
- *The Armando Iannucci Shows* (2001), series, as Various Characters
- *The Parole Officer* (2001), as Tribunal Man
- *Buried Treasure* (2001), as Coroner
- *Daylight Robbery* (1999), series, as Magistrate
- *The Tenant of Wildfell Hall* (1996), series, as Mr Maxwell
- *99-1* (1994), series, as Massingham
- *Black and Blue* (1992), as Superintendent
- *Heartbeat* (1992), series, as Mr. Dobson
- *Sleepers* (1991), series, as Roger Stanley
- *Sleepers* (1991), as Roger Stanley
- *Inside Story* (1986), series, as Toby Greene
- *Lovejoy* (1986), series, as Charles Bullivant
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Dr. Harrison
- *Take a Letter, Mr Jones* (1981), series, as Robin Hayes
- *Wolcott* (1981), series, as CI Berry
- *Rumpole's Return* (1980), as D.C. Jarwood
- *Oppenheimer* (1980), series, as Dr Harrison
- *Pews* (1980), as Hodge
- *The Boy Merlin* (1979), series, as Octa
- *The Professionals* (1977), series, as Pennington
- *Secret Army* (1977), series, as Dunlop

---
© 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-smith