--- name: "Peter Capaldi" canonical: "https://film.one/person/peter-capaldi" fi1m_id: "peter-capaldi" imdb_id: "nm0134922" tmdb_id: 12982 wikidata_id: "Q732661" roles: ["Actor","Director"] born: "14 April 1958" reviewed_on_fi1m: 19 average_fi1m_score: 79 average_as: "actor" average_over: 19 updated: "2026-10-07T16:09:21.715502+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." --- # Peter Capaldi ## Identity Peter Capaldi - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/peter-capaldi - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** peter-capaldi - **IMDb ID:** nm0134922 - **TMDB ID:** 12982 - **Wikidata ID:** Q732661 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Capaldi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q732661, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0134922/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12982 Actor and director. Born 14 April 1958 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor, Director - **Born:** 14 April 1958, Glasgow, Scotland, UK - **Active:** 1983–present - **Frequently works with:** [Adam Tandy](https://film.one/person/adam-tandy.md), [Armando Iannucci](https://film.one/person/armando-iannucci.md), [Simon Blackwell](https://film.one/person/simon-blackwell.md), [Tony Roche](https://film.one/person/tony-roche.md), [Ben Whishaw](https://film.one/person/ben-whishaw.md), [Chris Addison](https://film.one/person/chris-addison.md), [Jesse Armstrong](https://film.one/person/jesse-armstrong.md), [Kevin Loader](https://film.one/person/kevin-loader.md) - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 19 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 85 (2), 1990s 76 (3), 2000s 84 (6), 2010s 74 (7), 2020s 81 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 74 across 12 titles - **Score spread:** 12 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 4 of 13 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 10, Drama 9, Adventure 4, Crime 4, Family 4, Action & Adventure 2 - **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,663m across 9 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Capaldi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q732661, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0134922/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12982 ## 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), [*Criminal Record*](https://film.one/tv/criminal-record.md) (81), [*World War Z*](https://film.one/film/world-war-z.md) (55) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Local Hero*](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md) (86), [*Paddington*](https://film.one/film/paddington.md) (84), [*The Hour*](https://film.one/tv/the-hour.md) (70) - **HBO Max:** [*Paddington 2*](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md) (91) - **BritBox:** [*Peep Show*](https://film.one/tv/peep-show.md) (88) - **Disney+:** [*Christopher Robin*](https://film.one/film/christopher-robin.md) (62) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Peter Capaldi > Peter Capaldi is especially good at making authority uncomfortable. His comic timing is a familiar strength, but we rate him most when, as in *Criminal Record*, he makes an experienced man difficult to trust. In *Criminal Record* (2024), Peter Capaldi makes DCI Daniel Hegarty's seniority an advantage in every encounter. He seems accustomed to having his judgement accepted, which makes it hard to know when experience has become entitlement. Opposite him, Cush Jumbo's DS June Lenker has to work harder for the right to disagree. We felt uneasy watching them together because her challenges and his resistance never seemed to carry equal professional risk. We want to know how much of this man's standing he has earned. *Local Hero* (1983) provided an early film breakthrough, but Malcolm Tucker in *The Thick of It* (2005–2012) brought the decisive change in his career. With director and writer Armando Iannucci as a collaborator, Capaldi's precise comic timing made Tucker's profane monologues a particular strength. The character continued into *In the Loop* (2009). As the Twelfth Doctor in *Doctor Who* (2013–2017), he brought weight to a world-weary character, though the writing did not always serve him well. These parts explain the familiar association with abrasive authority; *Criminal Record* gives us more room to question the man exercising it. The danger with an actor so good at abrasion is that we start waiting for the next verbal assault. Hegarty is rewarding because the uncertainty about him lasts longer than any individual exchange. The writers, Paul Rutman, Thomas Eccleshare, Natasha Narayan and Ameir Brown, make race and gender affect the detectives' dealings, giving Capaldi something specific to work with beyond a senior officer's difficult manner. Jumbo makes Lenker determined without suggesting that determination protects her from strain. Their performances need each other: without a challenger of that weight, Hegarty's expectation of getting his way would be much less interesting to watch. Some secondary stories weaken *Criminal Record*, and the leads cannot keep every diversion as tense as their encounters. The series remains worth staying with for a contest in which neither performer lets us settle comfortably on a side. We would rather see Capaldi given another adversary as substantial as Jumbo than another opportunity to be extravagantly abrasive. Start here if Malcolm Tucker's swearing is the first thing that comes to mind. ## Biography Peter Capaldi is a Scottish actor, director and writer. Born in Glasgow in 1958, he trained at the Glasgow School of Art. He is known for his roles as Malcolm Tucker in the BBC series *The Thick of It* (2005–2012) and as the Twelfth Doctor in *Doctor Who* (2013–2017). Capaldi has appeared in numerous films, including *Local Hero* (1983), *Paddington* (2014) and *Paddington 2* (2017) as Reginald Curry, *World War Z* (2013), *Christopher Robin* (2018) and *The Suicide Squad* (2021). He played DCI Daniel Hegarty in the Apple TV+ series *Criminal Record* (2024). As a director, he won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for *Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life* (1993). He is married to producer Elaine Collins. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (19) - *Criminal Record* (2024), Fi1m 81, as DCI Daniel Hegarty — [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-record.md) - *The Personal History of David Copperfield* (2019), Fi1m 81, as Mr. Micawber — [page](https://film.one/film/the-personal-history-of-david-copperfield.md) - *Christopher Robin* (2018), Fi1m 62, as Rabbit (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/christopher-robin.md) - *Paddington 2* (2017), Fi1m 91, as Reginald Curry — [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md) - *Paddington* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Reginald Curry — [page](https://film.one/film/paddington.md) - *World War Z* (2013), Fi1m 55, as W.H.O. Doctor — [page](https://film.one/film/world-war-z.md) - *The Hour* (2011), Fi1m 70, as Randall Brown — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hour.md) - *Accused* (2010), Fi1m 76, as Frank Ryland — [page](https://film.one/tv/accused.md) - *In the Loop* (2009), Fi1m 92, as Malcolm Tucker — [page](https://film.one/film/in-the-loop.md) - *The Devil's Whore* (2008), Fi1m 80, as King Charles I — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-devils-whore.md) - *Torchwood* (2006), Fi1m 73, as John Frobisher — [page](https://film.one/tv/torchwood.md) - *Doctor Who* (2005), Fi1m 78, as The Doctor — [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md) - *The Thick of It* (2005), Fi1m 94, as Malcolm Tucker — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-thick-of-it.md) - *Peep Show* (2003), Fi1m 88, as Professor Alistair MacLeish — [page](https://film.one/tv/peep-show.md) - *Bean* (1997), Fi1m 60, as Gareth — [page](https://film.one/film/bean.md) - *The Vicar of Dibley* (1994), Fi1m 80, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-vicar-of-dibley.md) - *Prime Suspect* (1991), Fi1m 88, as Vera Reynolds — [page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md) - *Dangerous Liaisons* (1988), Fi1m 84, as Azolan — [page](https://film.one/film/dangerous-liaisons.md) - *Local Hero* (1983), Fi1m 86, as Danny Oldsen — [page](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md) ## Complete filmography (149) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War* (2025), as The Doctor (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Doctor Who at the Proms* (2024), as The Doctor (12) (archive footage) - *Criminal Record* (2024), series, as DCI Daniel Hegarty · Executive Producer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-record.md) - *The Devil's Hour* (2022), series, as Gideon Shepherd - *Riverwoods: An Untold Story* (2022), as Narrator - *Benediction* (2021), as Siegfried Sassoon (Older) - *National Theatre Live: Constellations* (2021), as Roland - *But Why?* (2021), as Older Man (uncredited) - *The Suicide Squad* (2021), as Thinker - *Being Beethoven* (2020), series, as Beethoven (voice) - *Martin's Close* (2019), as Dolben - *The Personal History of David Copperfield* (2019), as Mr. Micawber — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-personal-history-of-david-copperfield.md) - *How to See a Black Hole: The Universe's Greatest Mystery* (2019), as Narrator - *Watership Down* (2018), series, as Kehaar (voice) - *Christopher Robin* (2018), as Rabbit (voice) — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/christopher-robin.md) - *Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time* (2017), as The Doctor (12) - *Paddington 2* (2017), as Reginald Curry — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md) - *Doctor Who: The Return of Doctor Mysterio* (2016), as The Doctor - *Prison, My Parents & Me* (2016), as Narrator - *Class* (2016), series, as The Doctor - *Doctor Who: Friend from the Future* (2016), as The Doctor - *Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song* (2015), as The Doctor - *Doctor Who: The Doctor's Meditation* (2015), as The Doctor - *Doctor Who: Last Christmas* (2014), as The Doctor - *Paddington* (2014), as Reginald Curry — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/paddington.md) - *Doctor Who: Dark Water / Death in Heaven* (2014), as The Doctor - *Doctor Who: Deep Breath* (2014), as The Doctor (12) - *The Musketeers* (2014), series, as Cardinal Richelieu - *Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor* (2013), as The Doctor (12) - *Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor* (2013), as The Doctor (12) (uncredited) - *The Fifth Estate* (2013), as Alan Rusbridger - *World War Z* (2013), as W.H.O. Doctor — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/world-war-z.md) - *Inside the Mind of Leonardo* (2013), as Leonardo da Vinci - *Punk Britannia* (2012), series, as Narrator - *The Cricklewood Greats* (2012), Writer, Director - *Black Mirror* (2011), series, as Older Cameron Walker — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/black-mirror.md) - *Big Fat Gypsy Gangster* (2011), as Peter Van Gellis - *The Natural World--Komodo: The Deadly Bite* (2011), series, as voice actor · Creator - *The Natural World--Komodo: The Deadly Bite* (2011), Actor - *The Hour* (2011), series, as Randall Brown — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hour.md) - *The Field of Blood* (2011), series, as Dr. Pete - *The Murder at Road Hill House* (2011), as Samuel Kent - *The Nativity* (2010), series, as Balthazar - *Accused* (2010), series, as Frank Ryland — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/accused.md) - *Bistro* (2010), as Max - *10 Minute Tales* (2009), series, as The Man - *Getting On* (2009), series, as Peter Healy - *In the Loop* (2009), as Malcolm Tucker — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/in-the-loop.md) - *The Penguins of Madagascar* (2008), series, as Uncle Nigel (voice) - *The Devil's Whore* (2008), series, as King Charles I — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-devils-whore.md) - *Midnight Man* (2008), series, as Trevor - *Spinners and Losers* (2007), as Malcolm Tucker - *Magicians* (2007), as Mike Francis - *Fallen Angel* (2007), series, as Henry Appleton - *Skins* (2007), series, as Mark — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/skins.md) - *The Rise of the Nutters* (2007), as Malcolm Tucker - *The Martians and Us* (2006), series, as Narrator - *Torchwood* (2006), series, as John Frobisher — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/torchwood.md) - *Aftersun* (2006), as Jim - *Aftersun* (2006), series, Actor - *Trawlermen* (2006), series, as Narrator (voice) - *Pinochet in Suburbia* (2006), as Andy McEntee - *Wild Country* (2005), as Father Steve - *Michael Powell* (2005), as Narrator - *The Best Man* (2005), as Priest - *House of 9* (2005), as Max Roy - *The Thick of It* (2005), series, as Malcolm Tucker — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-thick-of-it.md) - *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Caecilius, The Doctor — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md) - *Salvage* (2004), as James Mulwray - *Napoleon's Waterloo* (2004), as Narrator - *Modigliani* (2004), as Jean Cocteau - *Sea of Souls* (2004), series, as Gordon Fleming - *Niceland (Population. 1.000.002)* (2004), as John - *Peep Show* (2003), series, as Professor Alistair MacLeish — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/peep-show.md) - *Fortysomething* (2003), series, as Dr. Ronnie Pilfrey - *The Afternoon Play* (2003), series, as Billy Shannon - *Unconditional Love* (2003), as DI Terry Machin - *Foyle's War* (2002), series, as Raymond Carter — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/foyles-war.md) - *Max* (2002), as David Cohn - *Solid Geometry* (2002), as David Hunter - *Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War* (2002), as Derek - *Judge John Deed* (2001), series, Actor - *Strictly Sinatra* (2001), Director, Writer - *Waking the Dead* (2001), series, as Lucien Calvin - *In Deep* (2001), series, as Jeremy Church - *Hotel!* (2001), as Hilton Gilfoyle - *My Family* (2000), series, as Colin Judd — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-family.md) - *The Greatest Store in the World* (1999), as Mr. Whiskers - *Psychos* (1999), series, as Mark Collins - *What Rats Won't Do* (1998), as Tony - *Boswell's Boswell* (1998), as James Boswell (voice) - *I Hate Christmas Too* (1997), as Man - *The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling* (1997), series, as Lord Fellamar - *Shooting Fish* (1997), as Mr Gilzean - *Bean* (1997), as Gareth — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/bean.md) - *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Laurence Barker — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md) - *Smilla's Sense of Snow* (1997), as Birgo Lander - *The Treasure Seekers* (1996), as Jellicoe - *The Crow Road* (1996), series, as Rory McHoan - *Neverwhere* (1996), series, as Islington - *Giving Tongue* (1996), as Duncan Fielding - *Lost for Words* (1996), as The Tourist - *Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life* (1995), Director, Writer - *Runway One* (1995), as Mick Galligan - *The Vicar of Dibley* (1994), series, Actor — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-vicar-of-dibley.md) - *Chandler & Co* (1994), series, as Larry - *Captives* (1994), as Simon - *The All New Alexei Sayle Show* (1994), series, Actor - *Jealousy* (1993), as John - *Rik Mayall Presents: Micky Love* (1993), as David Critchley - *Rik Mayall Presents* (1993), series, as David Critchley - *Selling Hitler* (1993), as Thomas Walde - *Soft Top Hard Shoulder* (1993), as Gavin Bellini · Writer - *The Secret Agent* (1992), as Mr Vladimir - *The Secret Agent* (1992), series, as Mr. Vladimir - *Mr. Wakefield's Crusade* (1992), as Luke Wakefield - *The Cloning of Joanna May* (1992), series, as Isaac - *Titmuss Regained* (1991), series, as Ken Cracken - *Selling Hitler* (1991), series, as Thomas Walde - *Prime Suspect* (1991), series, as Vernon 'Vera' Reynolds, Vera Reynolds — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/prime-suspect.md) - *Do Not Disturb* (1991), as Bruce - *Chain* (1990), series, as Robert McRae - *December Bride* (1990), as Young Sorleyson - *Triple Scotch & Wry* (1990), Writer - *Stay Lucky* (1989), series, Actor - *Rosie the Great* (1989), as The British Ambassador - *Dream Baby* (1989), as Willie - *Shadow of the Noose* (1989), series, as Robert Wood - *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Claude Langton — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md) - *Communicators From Hell* (1989), Actor - *Colleagues From Hell* (1989), Actor - *Dangerous Liaisons* (1988), as Azolan — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/dangerous-liaisons.md) - *The Love Child* (1988), as Dillon - *The Lair of the White Worm* (1988), as Angus Flint - *The Story of a Recluse* (1987), as Jamie Kirkwood - *The Ruth Rendell Mysteries* (1987), series, as Zeno Vedast - *Up Line* (1987), as Scott Dare - *God's Chosen Car Park* (1986), as Everard - *Turtle Diary* (1985), as Assistant Keeper - *John and Yoko: A Love Story* (1985), as George Harrison - *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Bruce Coldfield, Simon - *Travelling Man* (1984), series, as John - *Natural World* (1983), series, as Narrator - *Dramarama* (1983), series, as The British Ambassador - *Local Hero* (1983), as Danny Oldsen — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/local-hero.md) - *Living Apart Together* (1982), as Joe - *Minder* (1979), series, as Ozzie — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/minder.md) - *A Ghost Story for Christmas* (1971), series, as Dolben - *Doctor Who*, series, as The Twelfth Doctor ## Gallery - ![Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It (2005)](https://film.one/media/title/3165/still-d4dff487f07e.jpg) Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker in *The Thick of It* (2005) — Image via TMDB - ![Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker in In the Loop (2009)](https://film.one/media/title/4535/still-f2e133daf417.jpg) Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker in *In the Loop* (2009) — Image via TMDB - ![Peter Capaldi as DCI Daniel Hegarty in Criminal Record (2024)](https://film.one/media/title/2021/still-f4e4a45938e4.jpg) Peter Capaldi as DCI Daniel Hegarty in *Criminal Record* (2024) — Image via TMDB - ![Peter Capaldi](https://film.one/media/person/319/gallery-b71cbe93dce8.jpg) Peter Capaldi — Image via TMDB - ![Peter Capaldi](https://film.one/media/person/319/gallery-e95c7b580b3f.jpg) Peter Capaldi — Image via TMDB - ![Peter Capaldi](https://film.one/media/person/319/gallery-2da7ec691755.jpg) Peter Capaldi — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 1 won - 1995: Best Live Action Short Film (won), for *Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life* ### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won - 1994: Best Short Film (won), for *Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life* ### BAFTA Television Awards — 3 won, 3 nominated - 2013: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *The Hour* - 2013: Best Male Comedy Performance (nominated), for *The Thick of It* - 2012: Best Comedy (nominated) - 2010: Best Male Comedy Performance (won), for *The Thick of It* - 2008: Best Comedy Performance (won) - 2006: Best Comedy Performance (won) ### Other awards — 2 won, 4 nominated - Chlotrudis Award for Best Cast 2010: Chlotrudis Award for Best Cast (won), for *In the Loop* - Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor 2010: Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor (won), for *In the Loop* - British Independent Film Awards 2009: Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film (nominated), for *In the Loop* - Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor 2009: Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *In the Loop* - London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year 2009: London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year (nominated), for *In the Loop* - Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor 2009: Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *In the Loop* *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/peter-capaldi