---
name: "John Simm"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/john-simm"
fi1m_id: "john-simm"
imdb_id: "nm0799591"
tmdb_id: 42604
wikidata_id: "Q443327"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "10 July 1970"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 12
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 12
updated: "2026-10-07T16:58:19.448268+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."
---

# John Simm

## Identity

John Simm

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/john-simm
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** john-simm
- **IMDb ID:** nm0799591
- **TMDB ID:** 42604
- **Wikidata ID:** Q443327
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Simm, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q443327, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0799591/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/42604

Actor. Born 10 July 1970 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 10 July 1970, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1997–present
- **Also known as:** 존 심, John Ronald Simm
- **Frequently works with:** [Philip Glenister](https://film.one/person/philip-glenister.md), [David Yates](https://film.one/person/david-yates.md), [Julie Rutterford](https://film.one/person/julie-rutterford.md), [Maxine Peake](https://film.one/person/maxine-peake.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 12 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 86 (1), 2000s 84 (5), 2010s 73 (5), 2020s 79 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 81 to 76 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 5 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Comedy 4, Crime 4, Mystery 3, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Simm, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q443327, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0799591/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/42604

## Streaming the US now

- **BritBox:** [*Life on Mars*](https://film.one/tv/life-on-mars.md) (84)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Village*](https://film.one/tv/the-village-2013.md) (78)
- **Apple TV:** [*Prey*](https://film.one/tv/prey-2014.md) (74)
- **AMC+:** [*Everyday*](https://film.one/film/everyday.md) (67)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Mad Dogs*](https://film.one/tv/mad-dogs.md) (65)

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

## Biography

John Simm is an English actor born on 10 July 1970 in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He grew up in Nelson, Lancashire, and trained at Blackpool Drama College and the Drama Centre in London.

He is known for playing Cal McCaffrey in the 2003 series *State of Play* and Sam Tyler in *Life on Mars* (2006). Other credits include the Master in *Doctor Who* (2005), Bernard in *24 Hour Party People* (2002), Jip in *Human Traffic* (1999), and roles in *Cracker* (1993) and *Spaced* (1999). He received a best actor award at the Valencia Film Festival for his film debut in *Boston Kickout* (1995) and has been nominated for BAFTA awards.

Simm is married to actress Kate Magowan.

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

## On Fi1m (12)

- *Starstruck* (2021), Fi1m 79, as Martin — [page](https://film.one/tv/starstruck.md)
- *Prey* (2014), Fi1m 74, as Marcus Farrow — [page](https://film.one/tv/prey-2014.md)
- *The Village* (2013), Fi1m 78, as John Middleton — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-village-2013.md)
- *Toast of London* (2013), Fi1m 80, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/toast-of-london.md)
- *Everyday* (2012), Fi1m 67, as Ian — [page](https://film.one/film/everyday.md)
- *Mad Dogs* (2011), Fi1m 65, as Baxter — [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-dogs.md)
- *The Devil's Whore* (2008), Fi1m 80, as Edward Sexby — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-devils-whore.md)
- *Life on Mars* (2006), Fi1m 84, as Sam Tyler — [page](https://film.one/tv/life-on-mars.md)
- *Sex Traffic* (2004), Fi1m 84, as Daniel Appleton — [page](https://film.one/tv/sex-traffic.md)
- *State of Play* (2003), Fi1m 88, as Cal McAffrey — [page](https://film.one/tv/state-of-play.md)
- *Clocking Off* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Stuart Leach — [page](https://film.one/tv/clocking-off.md)
- *Spaced* (1999), Fi1m 86, as Stephen Edwards — [page](https://film.one/tv/spaced.md)

## Complete filmography (75)

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

- *I, Jack Wright* (2025), series, as Gray Wright
- *Crime* (2021), series, as Mr Confectioner, Gareth Horsborough
- *Starstruck* (2021), series, as Martin — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/starstruck.md)
- *Grace* (2021), series, as DS Roy Grace
- *Joey* (2020), as Joey · Executive Producer
- *Cold Courage* (2020), series, as Arthur Fried
- *Strangers* (2018), series, as Jonah Mulray
- *Collateral* (2018), series, as David Mars
- *Trauma* (2018), series, as Dan Bowker
- *The Catch* (2016), series, as Rhys, Rhys Griffiths
- *Code of a Killer* (2015), series, as Alec Jeffreys
- *Intruders* (2014), series, as Jack Whalen
- *Prey* (2014), series, as Marcus Farrow — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/prey-2014.md)
- *Toast of London* (2013), series, Actor — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/toast-of-london.md)
- *Father's Day* (2013), as Dave
- *The Village* (2013), series, as John Middleton — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-village-2013.md)
- *Everyday* (2012), as Ian — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/everyday.md)
- *Exile* (2011), series, as Tom Ronstadt
- *Mad Dogs* (2011), series, as Baxter — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-dogs.md)
- *Doctor Who: The End of Time* (2010), as The Master
- *Moving On* (2009), series, as Moose
- *Skellig* (2009), as Dave
- *The Devil's Whore* (2008), series, as Edward Sexby — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-devils-whore.md)
- *Tu£sday* (2008), as Silver
- *The Human Spider* (2008), as Narrator
- *The Ties That Bind Us* (2008), as The Master (archive footage)
- *Monsoon Railway* (2007), series, as Narrator - (Voice)
- *Moose on the Loose* (2007), as Narrator
- *The Yellow House* (2007), as Vincent Van Gogh
- *Devilwood* (2006), as Gabriel
- *Brothers of the Head* (2006), as Boatman
- *The Dark Side of Porn: The Real Animal Farm* (2006), as Narrator
- *Life on Mars* (2006), series, as Sam Tyler — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/life-on-mars.md)
- *Monsoon Railway* (2005), as Narrator
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as The Master — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *Doctor Who Confidential* (2005), series, Actor
- *Blue/Orange* (2005), as Dr. Bruce Flaherty
- *Sex Traffic* (2004), series, as Daniel Appleton — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/sex-traffic.md)
- *Nero* (2004), as Caligula
- *Imperium: Nero* (2004), series, as Caligola
- *London* (2004), series, as Friedrich Engels
- *Ten Minute Movie* (2004), as Nick
- *This World* (2004), series, Actor
- *One Life* (2003), series, Actor
- *Canterbury Tales* (2003), series, as Ace
- *State of Play* (2003), series, as Cal McAffrey — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/state-of-play.md)
- *Boys Alone* (2002), as Narrator (voice)
- *24 Hour Party People* (2002), as Bernard
- *Crime and Punishment* (2002), as Raskolnikov
- *Crime and Punishment* (2002), series, as Raskolnikov
- *Miranda* (2002), as Frank
- *Is Harry on the Boat?* (2001), as Prize Winner
- *Never Never* (2000), series, as John Parlour
- *Forgive and Forget* (2000), as Theo
- *Clocking Off* (2000), series, as Stuart Leach — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/clocking-off.md)
- *Spaced* (1999), series, as Stephen Edwards — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/spaced.md)
- *Human Traffic* (1999), as Jip
- *Wonderland* (1999), as Eddie
- *Understanding Jane* (1998), as Oz/2nd Party Stonehead
- *Diana & Me* (1997), as Neil
- *The Lakes* (1997), series, as Danny Kavanagh
- *Boston Kickout* (1995), as Phil
- *Mirror Man* (1995), as Gary Kingston
- *Chiller* (1995), series, as Gary Kingston
- *Carrying Dad* (1995), as Sean
- *Meat* (1994), as Cecil
- *A Pinch of Snuff* (1994), as Clint Heppelwhite
- *Men of the World* (1994), series, as Kendle Bains
- *Cracker* (1993), series, as William 'Bill' Preece — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/cracker.md)
- *Oasis* (1993), series, as Posh Robert
- *Heartbeat* (1992), series, as Richard Francis
- *Screen One* (1989), series, as Cecil
- *Rumpole of the Bailey* (1975), series, as Joby Jonson
- *When the Wolves Came*, as Roger
- *Ark Royal*, series, as Other

## Gallery

- ![John Simm signing autographs at the European Premiere of Dark Knight (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/60648/gallery-fa7fd4c47dfb.jpg) John Simm signing autographs at the European Premiere of Dark Knight (2008) — Cristiano Betta from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/John_Simm.jpg/1280px-John_Simm.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![John Simm (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/60648/gallery-d7ae0af5c011.jpg) John Simm (2010) — rodwey2004 from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/John_Simm_%282010%29.jpg/1280px-John_Simm_%282010%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![John Simm](https://film.one/media/person/60648/gallery-0d7713243961.jpg) John Simm — rodwey2004 from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/John_Simm_%282010%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![John Simm signing autographs at the European Premiere of Dark Knight](https://film.one/media/person/60648/gallery-fab435f73d34.jpg) John Simm signing autographs at the European Premiere of Dark Knight — John_Simm.jpg: Cristiano Betta from London, UK
derivative work: RanZag (talk), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/John_Simm_cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

---
© 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/john-simm