--- name: "Paul McGann" canonical: "https://film.one/person/paul-mcgann" fi1m_id: "paul-mcgann" imdb_id: "nm0001524" tmdb_id: 47654 wikidata_id: "Q335863" roles: ["Actor"] born: "14 November 1959" reviewed_on_fi1m: 6 average_fi1m_score: 73 average_as: "actor" average_over: 6 updated: "2026-10-07T16:03:49.722919+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." --- # Paul McGann ## Identity Paul McGann - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/paul-mcgann - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** paul-mcgann - **IMDb ID:** nm0001524 - **TMDB ID:** 47654 - **Wikidata ID:** Q335863 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McGann, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335863, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001524/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47654 Actor. Born 14 November 1959 in Kensington, Liverpool, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 14 November 1959, Kensington, Liverpool, England, UK - **Active:** 1986–2012 - **Also known as:** Paul John McGann - **Frequently works with:** Catherine Wearing - **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 6 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (2), 1990s 61 (2), 2010s 73 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 68 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 2 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 4, Crime 2, Mystery 2, Science Fiction 2, Action 1, Adventure 1 - **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $270m across 4 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McGann, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335863, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001524/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47654 ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*Withnail & I*](https://film.one/film/withnail-and-i.md) (88) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Paul McGann > Paul McGann is the actor you watch listening. He gave *Withnail & I* its conscience by reacting rather than performing, and the film career that ought to have followed never quite did; television and audio got the better part of him instead. Watch Paul McGann in *Withnail & I* (1987) while Richard E. Grant is talking, which is most of the time. Bruce Robinson gives Withnail the lines and Marwood the job of hearing them, and McGann does that job without once asking for a laugh of his own. He flinches, he calculates, he looks at the door. Our review called his the less conspicuous task, and the film depends on it: two men shouting for our attention would make a long evening, while one man shouting and one man wondering how much more he can stand is a comedy with sadness underneath. It moved us more than we expected, and it was his face that did it, the face of a man quietly doing the sums on a friendship. He had already carried a series by then, as Percy Toplis in *The Monocled Mutineer* (1986), and the year of *Withnail* also gave him a supporting part in *Empire of the Sun* (1987). Then, for an actor of that promise, the films came sparingly. There was Golic in *Alien³* (1992), and not a great deal else on that scale. Television took him instead: the Doctor in the 1996 *Doctor Who* television film, and Lieutenant William Bush through *Hornblower* (1998–2002). He is most often cast as the sensible man beside the flamboyant one, the everyman in the cult comedy or the ensemble, and he is good enough at it that the casting has followed him around. What he does well is react. The naturalism was there from his first film and has not left, and he is at his best when a script gives him little to say and something to watch, as in *The Undertaker* (2023), where much of the performance is wordless. The other strand is the period piece with a moral shadow across it, Toplis being the first of several. What he does less often, or has less often been asked to do, is dominate a scene. There is no McGann film in the way there is a Grant scene. The complaint that his film career went quiet after such a start is a fair one, and he seems to have felt it himself. As he put it in 2009: "As an actor, you get hired to repeat yourself. It wears you out." The part he has repeated longest is the Doctor, whom he has played in audio dramas since 2001 and on screen only in the 1996 film and two returns, in 2013 and 2022. That is a strange shape for a career: the role most people attach to him is one they have mostly heard rather than seen. It suits him better than it should. If you want to understand what he does, put *Withnail & I* on again and, this time, do not watch Withnail. ## Biography Paul McGann is an English actor. He was born on 14 November 1959 in Kensington, Liverpool. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. McGann first came to prominence playing Percy Toplis in the 1986 BBC serial *The Monocled Mutineer*. His film debut was as the character credited '... & I' in the 1987 comedy *Withnail & I*. He is also known for playing the Eighth Doctor in the 1996 *Doctor Who* television film and subsequent audio dramas and appearances, as well as roles in *Alien³* (1992), *The Three Musketeers* (1993) and the series *Luther*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, screenonline.org.uk.* ## On Fi1m (6) - *Ripper Street* (2012), Fi1m 74, as Stanley Bone — [page](https://film.one/tv/ripper-street.md) - *Luther* (2010), Fi1m 72, as Mark North — [page](https://film.one/tv/luther.md) - *Doctor Who* (1996), Fi1m 60, as The Doctor — [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-who-1996.md) - *Alien³* (1992), Fi1m 62, as Golic — [page](https://film.one/film/alien3.md) - *Empire of the Sun* (1987), Fi1m 81, as Lieutenant Price — [page](https://film.one/film/empire-of-the-sun.md) - *Withnail & I* (1987), Fi1m 88, as ...& I — [page](https://film.one/film/withnail-and-i.md) ## Complete filmography (145) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Triesverse: Cataclysm* (2026), as The Doctor - *Good Behaviour* (2026), as Richard - *The Marbles* (2025), as Lord Byron (voice) - *Bookish* (2025), series, as Mr. Kind - *Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War* (2025), as The Doctor (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Doctor Who at the Proms* (2024), as The Doctor (8) (archive footage) - *Churchill’s Forgotten War* (2024), as Narrator (voice) - *The Day of the Sun Dog* (2023), as Jaggers - *The Undertaker* (2023), as Arthur - *Mia and the Dragon Princess* (2023), as Walsh - *Swallow Your Dreams* (2022), as James - *Anne* (2022), series, as Malcolm Thornton MP - *Annika* (2021), series, as Jake Strathearn - *McDonald & Dodds* (2020), series, as Archie Addington - *The Doctors: The Paul McGann Years* (2019), Actor - *Picasso's Last Stand* (2018), as Narrator - *Perplexed Music* (2017), as Man - *Brakes* (2017), as Peter - *Egypt's Great Pyramid: The New Evidence* (2017), as Narrator (voice) - *Nero's Sunken City* (2017), as Narrator (English Voice) - *B&B* (2017), as Josh - *Wildest Europe* (2017), series, as Narrator - *Wildest Islands of Indonesia* (2016), series, as Narrator - *China: Between Clouds and Dreams* (2016), series, Commissioning Editor - *Unfinished: The Making of Massive Attack* (2016), as Narrator (Voice) - *Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song* (2015), as The Doctor (8) (picture) (uncredited) - *China - Treasures of the Jade Empire* (2015), as Narrator - *Absence* (2015), as Man - *Finding Babylon's Hanging Garden* (2015), as Narrator (voice) - *Churchill: When Britain Said No* (2015), as Narrator (voice) - *Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace* (2015), as narrator - *Super Powered Owls* (2015), as Narrator - *Wild Sri Lanka* (2015), series, as Paul McGann - *Wildest Middle East* (2014), series, as Narrator - *Secrets of the Castle* (2014), series, as Narrator (Voice) - *The Minister of Chance: Prologue* (2014), as Durian - *Cosmonauts: How Russia Won the Space Race* (2014), as Narrator (Voice) - *Wildest Indochina* (2014), series, as Narrator (voice) - *France: The Wild Side* (2014), as Narrator - *Codebreaker Alan Turing Persecution Of A Genius* (2014), Actor - *A Little Place Off the Edgware Road* (2014), as James Craven - *The Musketeers* (2014), series, as St Pierre, Saint Pierre - *Apples, Pears and Paint: How to Make a Still Life Painting* (2014), as Narrator - *Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor* (2013), as The Doctor (8) (archive footage) - *Doctor Who: The Night of the Doctor* (2013), as The Doctor - *Brady and Hindley: Possession* (2013), as Narrator (voice) - *Art Is...* (2013), as Lulu's Dad - *Wildest Islands* (2012), series, as Narrator - *Ripper Street* (2012), series, as Stanley Bone — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/ripper-street.md) - *The Bletchley Circle* (2012), series, as John Richards - *A Mother's Son* (2012), series, as David - *Tiger Island* (2012), as Narrator - *SOS: The Titanic Inquiry* (2012), as Sir Rufus Isaacs - *Digging The Great Escape* (2011), as narrator - *Doctor Who: Tales Lost in Time* (2011), Actor - *Gadaffi and the IRA* (2011), as Narrator - *The 9/11 Surfer* (2011), as Narrator - *The Day John Lennon Died* (2010), as Narrator - *Godard & Others* (2010), as Torrence - *Luther* (2010), series, as Mark North — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/luther.md) - *Collision* (2009), series, as Richard Reeves - *Moving On* (2009), series, as Phil · Director - *Lesbian Vampire Killers* (2009), as Vicar - *Doctor Who: The Next Doctor* (2008), as The Doctor (8) (archive footage) - *Fables of Forgotten Things* (2008), as Clarence - *My Dad Was a Communist* (2008), as Narrator - *The True Story* (2008), series, as Narrator - *Davros Connections* (2007), as (archival audio) - *Chernobyl Reclaimed: An Animal Takeover* (2007), as Narrator - *True Dare Kiss* (2007), series, as Nash McKinnon - *Always Crashing in the Same Car* (2007), as Bill Mackinnon - *World of Compulsive Hoarders* (2007), Actor - *Tripping Over* (2006), series, as Jeremy - *If I Had You* (2006), as Philip Andrews - *Ghosts on the Underground* (2005), as Narrator - *The Orangutan King* (2005), as Narrator - *Gypo* (2005), as Paul - *Psycho* (2005), series, as Narrator - *Kidnapped* (2005), series, Actor - *Daphne Ashbrook in the UK* (2005), Actor - *Twisted Tales* (2005), series, as Phone (voice) - *Death of an Idealist* (2005), as Narrator - *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Dickie Erskine - *Lie with Me* (2004), series, as Gerry Henson - *Zero Hour* (2004), series, as Narrator (Voice) - *Sea of Souls* (2004), series, as Christopher Chambers - *New Tricks* (2004), series, as D.C.I. James Larson - *Listening* (2003), as Man - *Otherworld* (2003), as King Matholwch (voice) - *Doctor Who: Shada* (2003), as The Doctor (voice) - *Hornblower: Duty* (2003), as Lieutenant Bush - *Hornblower: Loyalty* (2003), as Lieutenant Bush - *The Biographer* (2002), as Andrew Morton - *Queen of the Damned* (2002), as David Talbot - *Blood Strangers* (2002), series, as DC David Ingram - *Sweet Revenge* (2001), series, as Patrick Vine - *My Kingdom* (2001), as Dean - *Waking the Dead* (2001), series, as ACC Tony Nicholson - *Real Crime* (2001), series, Actor - *Hornblower: Retribution* (2001), as Lt. Bush - *Hornblower: Mutiny* (2001), as Lieutenant Bush - *Hotel!* (2001), as Ben Carter - *Fish* (2000), series, as Jonathan Vishnevski - *Nature Boy* (2000), series, as Steve Witton - *Forgotten* (1999), series, as Ben Turner - *Holby City* (1999), series, as John Gaskell - *The Dance of Shiva* (1998), as Captain Greville - *Hornblower* (1998), series, as William Bush - *Our Mutual Friend* (1998), series, as Eugene Wrayburn - *FairyTale: A True Story* (1997), as Arthur Wright - *Downtime* (1997), as Rob - *Testament: The Bible in Animation* (1996), series, as David (voice) - *Doctor Who* (1996), as The Doctor — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-who-1996.md) - *Catherine the Great* (1996), as Potemkin - *The One That Got Away* (1996), as Chris Ryan - *The Merchant of Venice* (1996), as Bassanio - *The Hanging Gale* (1995), series, as Liam Phelan - *The Hanging Gale* (1995), as Liam Phelan - *The Three Musketeers* (1993), as Girard / Jussac - *Nice Town* (1992), series, as Joe Thompson - *Alien³* (1992), as Golic — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/alien3.md) - *Afraid of the Dark* (1991), as Tony - *Paper Mask* (1990), as Matthew Harris - *Drowning in the Shallow End* (1990), as Colin - *The Monk* (1990), as Father Lorenzo Rojas - *Dealers* (1989), as Daniel Pascoe - *The Rainbow* (1989), as Anton Skrebensky - *Streets of Yesterday* (1989), as Joseph - *Tree of Hands* (1989), as Barry - *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Dr. Peter Lord — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md) - *The Importance of Being Earnest* (1988), as John Worthing - *Empire of the Sun* (1987), as Lieutenant Price — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/empire-of-the-sun.md) - *Cariani and the Courtesans* (1987), as Giovanni Cariani - *Withnail & I* (1987), as ...& I — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/withnail-and-i.md) - *The Monocled Mutineer* (1986), series, as Percy Toplis - *Sunday Premiere* (1986), series, as Percy Toplis - *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Giovanni Cariani - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Colin - *Give Us a Break: Hustle Bustle Toil and Muscle* (1984), as Mo Morris - *Natural World* (1983), series, as Narrator - *Give us a Break* (1983), series, as Mo Morris - *Gaskin* (1983), as Graham Gaskin - *Whistling Wally* (1982), as Norman - *Fish* (1977), series, Actor - *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Norman ## Gallery - ![Paul McGann](https://film.one/media/person/59697/gallery-ca35c1276a20.jpg) Paul McGann — Florida Supercon, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Paul_McGann_2015.jpg/500px-Paul_McGann_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Director and Producer Christian Francis-Davies pictured with Presenter Paul McGann (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/59697/gallery-4b17d518f185.jpg) Director and Producer Christian Francis-Davies pictured with Presenter Paul McGann (2016) — Conortommyburns, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Director_and_Producer%2C_Christian_Francis-Davies_and_Presenter%2C_Paul_McGann_in_Le_Caveau_de_la_Huchette_on_the_Left_bank_in_Paris%2C_the_inspiration_for_the_Cavern.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![English actor Paul McGann. (2007)](https://film.one/media/person/59697/gallery-582afd0d7323.jpg) English actor Paul McGann. (2007) — Tim Drury from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Paul_McGann.JPG/1280px-Paul_McGann.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Paul McGann speaking at the 2014 Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used e](https://film.one/media/person/59697/gallery-7e5e69e53d0d.jpg) Paul McGann speaking at the 2014 Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used e — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Paul_McGann_%2815390819173%29.jpg/1280px-Paul_McGann_%2815390819173%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Paul McGann](https://film.one/media/person/59697/gallery-3a150ec9528f.jpg) Paul McGann — Image via TMDB - ![Paul McGann speaking at the 2014 Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used e](https://film.one/media/person/59697/gallery-8857e3261c55.jpg) Paul McGann speaking at the 2014 Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used e — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Paul_McGann_%2815390819173%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Paul_McGann_%2815390819173%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Paul McGann speaking at the 2014 Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used e](https://film.one/media/person/59697/gallery-9e2013f9e27c.jpg) Paul McGann speaking at the 2014 Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used e — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Paul_McGann_%2815390819173%29_%28further_cropped%29.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/paul-mcgann