---
name: "Janet McTeer"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/janet-mcteer"
fi1m_id: "janet-mcteer"
imdb_id: "nm0005216"
tmdb_id: 47627
wikidata_id: "Q232292"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "5 August 1961"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-21T04:28:48.460703+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."
---

# Janet McTeer

## Identity

Janet McTeer

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/janet-mcteer
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** janet-mcteer
- **IMDb ID:** nm0005216
- **TMDB ID:** 47627
- **Wikidata ID:** Q232292
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_McTeer, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232292, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005216/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47627

Actor. Born 5 August 1961 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 5 August 1961, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
- **Active:** 1990–present
- **Frequently works with:** [Mark Mylod](https://film.one/person/mark-mylod.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscar nominations
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 81 (1), 2000s 76 (1), 2010s 70 (5), 2020s 67 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 67 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Crime 3, Action 2, Adventure 2, Comedy 2, Horror 2
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,570m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_McTeer, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232292, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005216/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47627

## Coming up

- *Harry Potter* (2026-12-25), as Minerva McGonagall — [page](https://film.one/tv/harry-potter.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Parade's End*](https://film.one/tv/parades-end.md) (80), [*Five Days*](https://film.one/tv/five-days.md) (76)
- **Netflix:** [*Ozark*](https://film.one/tv/ozark.md) (70), [*KAOS*](https://film.one/tv/kaos.md) (67)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Woman in Black*](https://film.one/film/the-woman-in-black.md) (65), [*Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning*](https://film.one/film/mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning.md) (63)
- **Disney+:** [*The Menu*](https://film.one/film/the-menu.md) (72)

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

## Fi1m on Janet McTeer

> Janet McTeer’s low voice and physical poise make authority look easy, but she is more interesting when several feelings are visible at once. We rate her most when a part gives her something beyond instructions to deliver.

In *Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning* (2025), Janet McTeer’s Walters is among the people explaining why Ethan is the only man who can manage the crisis. McTeer has the low voice and poise for the assignment, but it is a thin use of an actor who can convey several conflicting feelings at once. We were bored by the repeated assurances of Ethan’s indispensability, not by a lack of capable people delivering them. The part needs her authority and has little use for anything else.

Her stage reputation was established by Nora Helmer in *A Doll’s House* (1997), before *Tumbleweeds* (1999) gave her a film breakthrough as Mary Jo Walker. Between those came her voice work as the female narrator in Todd Haynes’s *Velvet Goldmine* (1998). Haynes makes reinvention feel worth believing in, with clothes doing much of the storytelling. The music repeatedly wins us back when the investigation drags, though this is a film to choose for the ensemble rather than as an introduction to McTeer.

The useful constant is the way her voice, eyes and body can suggest different feelings at the same time. The physical ease of Hubert Page in *Albert Nobbs* (2011) gives more to consider than the simple business of looking formidable. Television has also made use of her intensity, with the cartel lawyer Helen Pierce in *Ozark* (2018), while Lillian Bloom in *The Menu* (2022) continues the supporting film work. These are better places to look for the actor behind the imposing presence.

Christopher McQuarrie’s film does have two fine set pieces, under the sea and in the air. But editor Eddie Hamilton’s fragmented briefings turn the dialogue into a list, with hands and flashbacks interrupting the people speaking. There is little opportunity for the conflicting feelings McTeer can suggest with her voice and eyes. Walters, like Holt McCallany’s Serling and Nick Offerman’s General Sidney, is largely required to tell us how much Ethan matters. For a fuller introduction to McTeer, we would start with *Albert Nobbs*.

## Biography

Janet McTeer is an English actress. Born on 5 August 1961 in Wallsend, North Tyneside, she trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and made her professional stage debut in 1984. She received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in *A Doll's House* (1997).

McTeer earned Academy Award nominations for Best Actress for *Tumbleweeds* (1999) and Best Supporting Actress for *Albert Nobbs* (2011). Her other film roles include *The Woman in Black* (2012), *Me Before You* (2016) and *The Menu* (2022). On television she has appeared in *Ozark* (2017–2020) as Helen Pierce and *Jessica Jones* (2015–2019) as Alisa Jones. She played Walters in *Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning* (2025). She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2008 for services to drama.

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

## On Fi1m (10)

- *Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning* (2025), Fi1m 63, as Walters — [page](https://film.one/film/mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning.md)
- *KAOS* (2024), Fi1m 67, as Hera — [page](https://film.one/tv/kaos.md)
- *The Menu* (2022), Fi1m 72, as Lillian — [page](https://film.one/film/the-menu.md)
- *Ozark* (2017), Fi1m 70, as Helen Pierce — [page](https://film.one/tv/ozark.md)
- *Maleficent* (2014), Fi1m 55, as Narrator (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/maleficent.md)
- *The Honourable Woman* (2014), Fi1m 80, as Julia Walsh — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-honourable-woman.md)
- *Parade's End* (2012), Fi1m 80, as Mrs. Satterthwaite — [page](https://film.one/tv/parades-end.md)
- *The Woman in Black* (2012), Fi1m 65, as Mrs. Daily — [page](https://film.one/film/the-woman-in-black.md)
- *Five Days* (2007), Fi1m 76, as DS Amy Foster — [page](https://film.one/tv/five-days.md)
- *Velvet Goldmine* (1998), Fi1m 81, as Female Narrator (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/velvet-goldmine.md)

## Complete filmography (73)

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

- *Harry Potter* (2026), series, as Minerva McGonagall — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/tv/harry-potter.md)
- *The Artist* (2025), series, as Marian Henry
- *Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning* (2025), as Walters — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning.md)
- *MobLand* (2025), series, as Kat McAllister — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/mobland.md)
- *KAOS* (2024), series, as Hera — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/tv/kaos.md)
- *Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator* (2023), series, as Narrator
- *National Theatre Live: Phaedra* (2023), as Helen
- *The Menu* (2022), as Lillian — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-menu.md)
- *The Old Man* (2022), series, as Marion
- *Glimpse* (2022), as Lucienne
- *Disclosure* (2020), as Hubert Page / Self (archive footage)
- *Gangs of London* (2020), series, as Isabel Vaughn — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/gangs-of-london.md)
- *Sorry for Your Loss* (2018), series, as Amy
- *Angelica* (2017), as Anne Montague
- *Ozark* (2017), series, as Helen Pierce — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/ozark.md)
- *The Exception* (2017), as Princess Hermine 'Hermo' Reuss of Greiz
- *Paint It Black* (2016), as Meredith · Executive Producer
- *Me Before You* (2016), as Camilla Traynor
- *Allegiant* (2016), as Edith Prior
- *National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses* (2016), as La Marquise de Merteuil
- *Marvel's Jessica Jones* (2015), series, as Alisa Jones
- *Fathers and Daughters* (2015), as Carolyn
- *Insurgent* (2015), as Edith Prior
- *Battle Creek* (2015), series, as Commander Guziewicz
- *The Honourable Woman* (2014), series, as Julia Walsh — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-honourable-woman.md)
- *Maleficent* (2014), as Narrator (voice) — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/maleficent.md)
- *The White Queen* (2013), series, as Jacquetta of Luxembourg
- *Hannah Arendt* (2012), as Mary McCarthy
- *Parade's End* (2012), series, as Mrs. Satterthwaite — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/parades-end.md)
- *The Woman in Black* (2012), as Mrs. Daily — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/the-woman-in-black.md)
- *Albert Nobbs* (2011), as Hubert Page
- *Island* (2011), as Phyllis
- *Cat Run* (2011), as Helen Bingham
- *Weekends at Bellevue* (2011), as Diane Wallace
- *Psychoville* (2009), series, as Cheryl
- *Into the Storm* (2009), as Clementine Churchill
- *Hunter* (2009), series, as DS Amy Foster
- *Sense and Sensibility* (2008), series, as Mrs. Dashwood
- *Damages* (2007), series, as Kate Franklin — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *Daphne* (2007), as Gertrude Lawrence
- *Five Days* (2007), series, as DS Amy Foster — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/five-days.md)
- *The Amazing Mrs Pritchard* (2006), series, as Catherine Walker
- *As You Like It* (2006), as Audrey
- *Tideland* (2005), as Dell
- *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Anne Protheroe
- *The Intended* (2002), as Sarah Morris · Writer
- *Songcatcher* (2001), as Professor Lily Penleric, PhD
- *The King Is Alive* (2000), as Liz
- *Waking the Dead* (2000), as Caroline Pierce
- *Tumbleweeds* (1999), as Mary Jo Walker
- *Velvet Goldmine* (1998), as Female Narrator (voice) — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/velvet-goldmine.md)
- *Saint-Ex* (1996), as Genevieve de Ville-Franche
- *Carrington* (1995), as Vanessa Bell
- *The Governor* (1995), series, as Helen Hewitt
- *Don't Leave Me This Way* (1993), as Loretta Lawson
- *Dead Romantic* (1993), as Madeleine Severn
- *Wuthering Heights* (1992), as Ellen Dean
- *A Masculine Ending* (1992), as Loretta Lawson
- *I Dreamt I Woke Up* (1991), as Mysterious Woman/Lady of the Lake/Journalist
- *Prince* (1991), as Adult Claudie
- *The Black Velvet Gown* (1991), as Riah Millican
- *102 Boulevard Haussmann* (1990), as Céleste Albaret
- *Sweet Nothing* (1990), as Caroline
- *Portrait of a Marriage* (1990), series, as Vita Sackville-West
- *Yellowbacks* (1990), as Dr Juliet Horwitz
- *Screen One* (1989), series, as Adult Claudie
- *Precious Bane* (1989), as Prue Sarn
- *Hawks* (1988), as Hazel
- *Les Girls* (1988), series, as Susan
- *The Play on One* (1988), series, as Dr Juliet Horwitz
- *Miss Julie* (1987), as Miss Julie
- *Half Moon Street* (1986), as Van Arkady's Secretary
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Céleste Albaret, Madeleine Severn

## Gallery

- ![Star of The Woman in Black, Ozark, Jessica Jones. NYC Oct '16 (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/8500/gallery-e6fba5a5631c.jpg) Star of The Woman in Black, Ozark, Jessica Jones. NYC Oct '16 (2016) — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Janet_McTeer_%2830503740231%29.jpg/1280px-Janet_McTeer_%2830503740231%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Janet McTeer Premiere of the movie "Angelica" at the Zoo Palast (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/8500/gallery-b5d2125535a7.jpg) Janet McTeer Premiere of the movie "Angelica" at the Zoo Palast (2015) — Siebbi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Janet_McTeer_Berlin_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Janet McTeer](https://film.one/media/person/8500/gallery-824dcdbdb2f6.jpg) Janet McTeer — Siebbi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Janet_McTeer_Berlin_2015_%28cropped%29.jpeg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Janet McTeer](https://film.one/media/person/8500/gallery-0a8feb8671f9.jpg) Janet McTeer — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 2012: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Albert Nobbs*
- 2000: Best Actress (nominated), for *Tumbleweeds*

### Other awards — 2 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2009: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Theatre World Award 1997: Theatre World Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 1997: Tony Award for Best Actress 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/janet-mcteer