---
name: "Peter Firth"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/peter-firth"
fi1m_id: "peter-firth"
imdb_id: "nm0278752"
tmdb_id: 22109
wikidata_id: "Q376981"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "27 October 1953"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-07T14:03:51.871180+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 Firth

## Identity

Peter Firth

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/peter-firth
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** peter-firth
- **IMDb ID:** nm0278752
- **TMDB ID:** 22109
- **Wikidata ID:** Q376981
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Firth, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q376981, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278752/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/22109

Actor. Born 27 October 1953 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 27 October 1953, Bradford, Yorkshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1979–2004
- **Also known as:** Peter Macintosh Firth, پیتر فرث
- **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 74 (1), 1980s 65 (1), 1990s 74 (4), 2000s 77 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 66 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Action 2, Crime 2, Mystery 2, Romance 2, Action & Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $302m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Firth, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q376981, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278752/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/22109

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Spooks*](https://film.one/tv/spooks.md) (77), [*Lifeforce*](https://film.one/film/lifeforce.md) (65)

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

## Fi1m on Peter Firth

> Peter Firth gives men in authority a persuasive steadiness. We rate the sustained work of *Spooks* most highly, while his sympathetic turn in *Shadowlands* is a quieter pleasure.

Harry Pearce, the MI5 chief in *Spooks* (2002–2011), is steady enough to make authority seem like ordinary work. Peter Firth sustains that performance across ten series, and we rate the patience it takes. He need not be the most demonstrative actor to be worth watching.

The early reputation came from more troubled characters. As Alan Strang in *Equus* (1977), reprising his stage role, Firth combined raw emotional intensity with technical control. Angel Clare in *Tess* (1979) and Peter in *Letter to Brezhnev* (1985) followed, before officials became his more familiar occupation on screen.

*The Hunt for Red October* (1990) casts him as Captain Ivan Putin, the submarine's political officer. John McTiernan's patient thriller is built around people trying to understand one another under pressure, a natural setting for Firth's authority. We recommend it for the thinking, chiefly made compelling by Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin. The character writing is sometimes thin, and there are stretches when the explanations test our patience. Firth fits this company, but his presence alone is not why we would choose the film.

*Shadowlands* (1993) offers a supporting role, Dr Craig, in Richard Attenborough's moving but uneven romance. We were moved by Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger because they make the relationship worth the tears the film so carefully prepares. Firth is sympathetic here, though we would not mistake that virtue for the film's main attraction: its leads do the difficult emotional work. The writing also gives Joy less room to be complicated than the man she loves, a limitation that good supporting performances cannot repair.

Begin with *Spooks* for the sustained performance. Its ten series give Firth more room than these supporting parts, and his steadiness earns the time. Then try *Equus* for a less reassuring use of the same control.

## Biography

Peter Firth is an English actor. Born Peter Macintosh Firth on 27 October 1953 in Bradford, West Yorkshire, he began his career as a child actor in television series such as *Here Come the Double Deckers!* (1970). He first gained notice on stage as Alan Strang in the 1973 National Theatre production of *Equus*.

Firth reprised the role in the 1977 film adaptation of *Equus*, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. His other film credits include *Tess* (1979), *The Hunt for Red October* (1990) as Capt. 2nd Ivan Putin, *Shadowlands* (1993) as Dr Craig, *Amistad* (1997), *Pearl Harbor* (2001), and *Spooks: The Greater Good* (2015). On television he played Harry Pearce in the BBC series *Spooks* (2002–2011).

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

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Spooks* (2002), Fi1m 77, as Harry Pearce — [page](https://film.one/tv/spooks.md)
- *Amistad* (1997), Fi1m 63, as Captain Fitzgerald — [page](https://film.one/film/amistad.md)
- *Band of Gold* (1995), Fi1m 72, as Brian Roberts — [page](https://film.one/tv/band-of-gold.md)
- *Shadowlands* (1993), Fi1m 79, as Dr Craig — [page](https://film.one/film/shadowlands.md)
- *The Hunt for Red October* (1990), Fi1m 82, as Capt. 2nd Ivan Putin (Political Officer, Red October) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunt-for-red-october.md)
- *Lifeforce* (1985), Fi1m 65, as Col. Colin Caine — [page](https://film.one/film/lifeforce.md)
- *Tess* (1979), Fi1m 74, as Angel Clare — [page](https://film.one/film/tess.md)

## Complete filmography (98)

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

- *Shardlake* (2024), series, as Norfolk
- *Cheat* (2019), series, as Michael Shadley
- *Victoria* (2016), series, as Duke of Cumberland
- *Happily Ever After* (2016), as Walt
- *Risen* (2016), as Pontius Pilate
- *Dickensian* (2015), series, as Jacob Marley
- *Spooks: The Greater Good* (2015), as Harry Pearce
- *Undeniable* (2014), series, as Andrew Rawlins
- *Mayday* (2013), series, as Malcolm Spicer
- *World Without End* (2012), series, as Earl Roland
- *South Riding* (2011), series, as Anthony Snaith
- *Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire* (2006), series, as Vespasian
- *The Greatest Game Ever Played* (2005), as Lord Northcliffe
- *Hawking* (2004), as Sir Fred Hoyle
- *Me & Mrs. Jones* (2003), as Benedict
- *Spooks* (2002), series, as Harry Pearce — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/spooks.md)
- *Pearl Harbor* (2001), as West Virginia Captain
- *That's Life* (2000), series, as Victor Leski
- *The Magicians* (2000), as Simon Magus
- *The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Masks of Evil* (1999), as Stefan
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Dr. Preston Blair
- *Chill Factor* (1999), as Col. Andrew Brynner
- *Total Recall 2070* (1999), series, Actor
- *The Vice* (1999), series, as Keith Beaumont
- *Mighty Joe Young* (1998), as Garth
- *The Magnificent Seven* (1998), series, as Federal Marshal Walter Bryce
- *Amistad* (1997), as Captain Fitzgerald — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/amistad.md)
- *Cracker* (1997), series, as Mitchell Grady
- *The Broker's Man* (1997), series, as Alex 'Godzilla' Turnbull
- *The Garden of Redemption* (1997), as Nazi Commandant
- *Dead Man's Gun* (1997), series, Actor
- *Marco Polo: Haperek Ha'aharon* (1997), as Rusticello
- *Seasick* (1996), as 1st Officer Roald Jensen
- *The Witch's Daughter* (1996), as Mr. Jones
- *Resort to Murder* (1995), series, as Peter Dennigan
- *An Awfully Big Adventure* (1995), as Bunny
- *Band of Gold* (1995), series, as Brian Roberts — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/band-of-gold.md)
- *Kavanagh Q.C.* (1995), series, as Charlie Beck
- *White Angel* (1994), as Leslie Steckler
- *Shadowlands* (1993), as Dr Craig — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/shadowlands.md)
- *The Perfect Husband* (1993), as Franz
- *Highlander: The Series* (1992), series, as Arthur Drake, aka Drakov
- *Heartbeat* (1992), series, as Dr. James Radcliffe
- *The Pleasure Principle* (1992), as Dick
- *The Laughter of God* (1991), as Steve Clemant
- *Prisoner of Honor* (1991), as Maj. Henry
- *Murder in Eden* (1991), series, as Kenneth Potter
- *Soldier Soldier* (1991), series, as Major Ben Collins
- *The Rescuers Down Under* (1990), as Red (voice)
- *Burndown* (1990), as Jake Stern
- *Children Crossing* (1990), as Joe
- *The Incident* (1990), as Geiger
- *The Hunt for Red October* (1990), as Capt. 2nd Ivan Putin (Political Officer, Red October) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunt-for-red-october.md)
- *Blood Royal: William the Conqueror* (1990), as William Rufus
- *Trouble in Paradise* (1989), as Adriaan
- *Tree of Hands* (1989), as Terence
- *Prisoner of Rio* (1988), as Clive Ingram
- *Born of Fire* (1987), as Paul Bergson
- *Tickets for the Titanic* (1987), series, as Michael
- *Northanger Abbey* (1987), as Henry Tilney
- *A State of Emergency* (1986), as Ken Parrish
- *Letter to Brezhnev* (1985), as Peter
- *Lifeforce* (1985), as Col. Colin Caine — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/lifeforce.md)
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Henry Tilney, Joe, Steve Clemant
- *Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight* (1984), as Sir Gaiwan (uncredited voice)
- *White Elephant* (1984), as Peter Davidson
- *The Aerodrome* (1983), as Roy
- *Another Flip for Dominick* (1982), as Dominick Hide
- *Fire and Sword* (1982), as Dinas
- *The Flipside of Dominick Hide* (1980), as Dominick Hide
- *The Flipside of Dominick Hide* (1980), series, as Dominick Hide
- *Tess* (1979), as Angel Clare — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/tess.md)
- *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, Actor
- *When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?* (1979), as Stephen Ryder
- *Equus* (1977), as Alan Strang
- *Joseph Andrews* (1977), as Joseph Andrews
- *The Lady of the Camellias* (1976), as Armand Duval
- *The Picture of Dorian Gray* (1976), as Dorian Gray
- *Aces High* (1976), as Lt. Stephen Croft
- *King Arthur, the Young Warlord* (1975), as Corin
- *The Ballad of Ben Bagot* (1973), as Ben Bagot
- *Her Majesty's Pleasure* (1973), as Arsenic
- *Diamonds on Wheels* (1973), as Robert 'Bobby' Stewart
- *Daniele and Maria* (1973), as Daniele
- *Arthur of the Britons* (1972), series, Actor
- *The Protectors* (1972), series, as Stephen Douglas
- *The Adventures of Black Beauty* (1972), series, as David Abbott
- *The Sullens Sisters* (1972), as Tommy Adams
- *Country Matters* (1972), series, as Tommy Adams, Roger Blackburn
- *Brother Sun, Sister Moon* (1972), Actor
- *Home and Away* (1972), series, as Fred
- *Owen, M.D.* (1971), series, as David Redman
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Arsenic, Dominick Hide
- *Here Come the Double Deckers* (1970), series, as Scooper
- *The Flaxton Boys* (1969), series, as Archie Weekes
- *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Cis Farringdon, Dorian Gray
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Robert 'Bobby' Stewart
- *The Simple Life*, as Roger Blackburn

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1978: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Equus*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 1977: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (won), for *Equus*

### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- Theatre World Award 1975: Theatre World Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1975: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated)

*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-firth