---
name: "Joe Gilgun"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/joseph-gilgun"
fi1m_id: "joseph-gilgun"
imdb_id: "nm0318543"
tmdb_id: 225610
wikidata_id: "Q960391"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "9 March 1984"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-07T20:07:46.887478+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."
---

# Joe Gilgun

## Identity

Joe Gilgun

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/joseph-gilgun
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** joseph-gilgun
- **IMDb ID:** nm0318543
- **TMDB ID:** 225610
- **Wikidata ID:** Q960391
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Gilgun, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q960391, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0318543/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/225610

Actor. Born 9 March 1984 in Chorley, Lancashire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 9 March 1984, Chorley, Lancashire, England, UK
- **Active:** 2007–2019
- **Also known as:** Joseph Gilgun
- **Frequently works with:** [Mark Herbert](https://film.one/person/mark-herbert.md), [Shane Meadows](https://film.one/person/shane-meadows.md), [Thomas Turgoose](https://film.one/person/thomas-turgoose.md), [Vicky McClure](https://film.one/person/vicky-mcclure.md), [Andrew Shim](https://film.one/person/andrew-shim.md), [Jack Thorne](https://film.one/person/jack-thorne.md), [Stephen Graham](https://film.one/person/stephen-graham.md), [Rebekah Wray-Rogers](https://film.one/person/rebekah-wray-rogers.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 82 (2), 2010s 80 (6)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 77 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Comedy 3, Crime 3, Mystery 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $25m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Gilgun, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q960391, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0318543/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/225610

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*This Is England '86*](https://film.one/tv/this-is-england-86.md) (80)
- **Disney+:** [*Misfits*](https://film.one/tv/misfits.md) (80)
- **Peacock:** [*Brassic*](https://film.one/tv/brassic.md) (76)

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

## Fi1m on Joe Gilgun

> Joseph Gilgun makes unruly characters feel like people worth spending time with. We rate him most highly in ensembles, where his improvisational ease gives the humour warmth, though the writing still needs to know when to stop.

As Woody in *This Is England* (2007), Joseph Gilgun makes the gang look like company worth joining. His naturalistic ensemble playing lets the humour feel spontaneous, and Shane Meadows gives that warmth an important job: we have to understand why Shaun wants to belong. We were moved by that longing, because the group feels inviting enough for it to make sense. Gilgun is especially persuasive here because he never appears to be asking for a moment apart from the others.

Meadows is the key collaborator in this work, continuing with Gilgun on the *This Is England* television extensions. Gilgun has described learning from him to use an idea that occurs during filming, even if it is not scripted. That helps explain the conversational looseness: we can believe these people are responding to one another rather than waiting for their lines. We are less persuaded by the film's neatly arranged lessons, which can make the writing feel more calculated than the performances.

He joined *Misfits* (2009) in 2011 as Rudy Wade, taking that comic instinct into Howard Overman's superhero comedy. Rudy's conscience-clone turns a divided personality into separate people for Gilgun to play. It is a useful fit for an actor comfortable with humour and darker feeling, and a more conspicuous device than Meadows's naturalism. The series also supplies the caveat to our enthusiasm: these characters can become wearing. We recommend it because the writing usually makes their unpleasantness funny enough, not because spending time with them is always a pleasure.

His later roles include Cassidy in *Preacher* (2016), but the clearer change comes with *Brassic* (2019). As co-creator and star, playing Vinnie O'Neill, he has a more direct hand in work drawn from his own background. Its mixture of comedy and darker emotional material gives him room to use the qualities that made the earlier ensemble work persuasive. Start with Woody and Meadows, then try Rudy if prolonged exposure to unpleasant people does not spoil the jokes.

## Biography

Joseph Gilgun, also credited as Joe Gilgun, is an English actor and producer. He was born on 9 March 1984 in Chorley, Lancashire. He is known for his role as Woody in the film *This Is England* (2006) and its television spin-off series.

Gilgun began acting as a child, appearing in *Coronation Street* from 1994 to 1997. After working as a plasterer, he returned to acting full-time in 2006 with roles in *Emmerdale* as Eli Dingle and *This Is England*. His other credits include Rudy Wade in *Misfits* (2011–2013), Cassidy in *Preacher* (2016–2019), and Vincent "Vinnie" O'Neill in *Brassic* (2019–), which he co-created. He has also appeared in films such as *Harry Brown* (2009), *Pride* (2014), *The Last Witch Hunter* (2015) and *The Infiltrator* (2016).

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

## On Fi1m (8)

- *Brassic* (2019), Fi1m 76, as Vincent "Vinnie" O'Neill — [page](https://film.one/tv/brassic.md)
- *This Is England '90* (2015), Fi1m 81, as Richard 'Woody' Woodford — [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-england-90.md)
- *Pride* (2014), Fi1m 82, as Mike — [page](https://film.one/film/pride.md)
- *Ripper Street* (2012), Fi1m 74, as Carmichael — [page](https://film.one/tv/ripper-street.md)
- *This Is England '88* (2011), Fi1m 86, as Richard 'Woody' Woodford — [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-england-88.md)
- *This Is England '86* (2010), Fi1m 80, as Richard 'Woody' Woodford — [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-england-86.md)
- *Misfits* (2009), Fi1m 80, as Rudy Wade — [page](https://film.one/tv/misfits.md)
- *This Is England* (2007), Fi1m 85, as Woody — [page](https://film.one/film/this-is-england.md)

## Complete filmography (20)

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

- *Brassic* (2019), series, as Vincent "Vinnie" O'Neill · Creator — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/brassic.md)
- *The Infiltrator* (2016), as Dominic
- *Preacher* (2016), series, as Cassidy
- *The Last Witch Hunter* (2015), as Ellic
- *This Is England '90* (2015), series, as Richard 'Woody' Woodford — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-england-90.md)
- *Pride* (2014), as Mike — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/pride.md)
- *Henry* (2013), as Martin
- *Tennis* (2013), as Jerry
- *Ripper Street* (2012), series, as Carmichael — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/ripper-street.md)
- *Lockout* (2012), as Hydell
- *This Is England '88* (2011), series, as Richard 'Woody' Woodford — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-england-88.md)
- *This Is England '86* (2010), series, as Richard 'Woody' Woodford — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-england-86.md)
- *Misfits* (2009), series, as Rudy Wade — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/misfits.md)
- *Harry Brown* (2009), as Kenny
- *This Is England* (2007), as Woody — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/this-is-england.md)
- *Sorted* (2006), series, as Mechanic
- *Big Dippers* (2005), as Carl
- *Shameless* (2004), series, as Rico — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless.md)
- *Emmerdale* (1972), series, as Eli Dingle
- *Top of the Range*, as Joe

## Gallery

- ![Joe Gilgun](https://film.one/media/person/99281/gallery-a16a211533bb.jpg) Joe Gilgun — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Joe_Gilgun_%2843702980991%29.jpg/1280px-Joe_Gilgun_%2843702980991%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Chris Hardwick, Seth Rogen, Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Graham McTavish, Ian Colletti, Pip Torrens, Julie Ann Emery and Malcolm Barrett speaking  (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/99281/gallery-e8aa5695fc1f.jpg) Chris Hardwick, Seth Rogen, Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Graham McTavish, Ian Colletti, Pip Torrens, Julie Ann Emery and Malcolm Barrett speaking  (2017) — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Chris_Hardwick%2C_Seth_Rogen%2C_Dominic_Cooper%2C_Ruth_Negga%2C_Joseph_Gilgun%2C_Graham_McTavish%2C_Ian_Colletti%2C_Pip_Torrens%2C_Julie_Ann_Emery_%26_Malcolm_Barrett_%2835340640254%29.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Chris Hardwick, Seth Rogen, Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Graham McTavish and Ian Colletti speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, ](https://film.one/media/person/99281/gallery-04cfbbeb60a8.jpg) Chris Hardwick, Seth Rogen, Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Graham McTavish and Ian Colletti speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International,  — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Chris_Hardwick%2C_Seth_Rogen%2C_Dominic_Cooper%2C_Ruth_Negga%2C_Joseph_Gilgun%2C_Graham_McTavish_%26_Ian_Colletti_%2836177958955%29.jpg/1280px-Chris_Hardwick%2C_Seth_Rogen%2C_Dominic_Cooper%2C_Ruth_Negga%2C_Joseph_Gilgun%2C_Graham_McTavish_%26_Ian_Colletti_%2836177958955%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Chris Hardwick, Seth Rogen, Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga and Joseph Gilgun speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Preacher", at the San Dieg](https://film.one/media/person/99281/gallery-aef9ce3f52c4.jpg) Chris Hardwick, Seth Rogen, Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga and Joseph Gilgun speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Preacher", at the San Dieg — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Chris_Hardwick%2C_Seth_Rogen%2C_Dominic_Cooper%2C_Ruth_Negga_%26_Joseph_Gilgun_%2836010568532%29.jpg/1280px-Chris_Hardwick%2C_Seth_Rogen%2C_Dominic_Cooper%2C_Ruth_Negga_%26_Joseph_Gilgun_%2836010568532%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Graham McTavish, Ian Colletti, Danielle Panabaker, Jason Mantzoukas, Evan Goldberg and Kevin Smith speaking at the 20 (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/99281/gallery-de631bdabc10.jpg) Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Graham McTavish, Ian Colletti, Danielle Panabaker, Jason Mantzoukas, Evan Goldberg and Kevin Smith speaking at the 20 (2016) — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Dominic_Cooper%2C_Ruth_Negga%2C_Joseph_Gilgun%2C_Graham_McTavish%2C_Ian_Colletti%2C_Danielle_Panabaker%2C_Jason_Mantzoukas%2C_Evan_Goldberg_%26_Kevin_Smith_%2828307017680%29.jpg/1280px-Dominic_Cooper%2C_Ruth_Negga%2C_Joseph_Gilgun%2C_Graham_McTavish%2C_Ian_Colletti%2C_Danielle_Panabaker%2C_Jason_Mantzoukas%2C_Evan_Goldberg_%26_Kevin_Smith_%2828307017680%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Graham McTavish, Ian Colletti, Danielle Panabaker, Jason Mantzoukas, Evan Goldberg and Kevin Smith speaking at the 20 (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/99281/gallery-dd22bf1204bf.jpg) Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Graham McTavish, Ian Colletti, Danielle Panabaker, Jason Mantzoukas, Evan Goldberg and Kevin Smith speaking at the 20 (2016) — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Dominic_Cooper%2C_Ruth_Negga%2C_Joseph_Gilgun%2C_Graham_McTavish%2C_Ian_Colletti%2C_Danielle_Panabaker%2C_Jason_Mantzoukas_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Dominic_Cooper%2C_Ruth_Negga%2C_Joseph_Gilgun%2C_Graham_McTavish%2C_Ian_Colletti%2C_Danielle_Panabaker%2C_Jason_Mantzoukas_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© 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/joseph-gilgun