--- name: "Peter Mullan" canonical: "https://film.one/person/peter-mullan" fi1m_id: "peter-mullan" imdb_id: "nm0611932" tmdb_id: 3064 wikidata_id: "Q430804" roles: ["Actor","Director"] born: "2 November 1959" reviewed_on_fi1m: 20 average_fi1m_score: 76 average_as: "actor" average_over: 20 updated: "2026-10-07T20:07:15.353635+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 Mullan ## Identity Peter Mullan - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/peter-mullan - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** peter-mullan - **IMDb ID:** nm0611932 - **TMDB ID:** 3064 - **Wikidata ID:** Q430804 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mullan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q430804, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0611932/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3064 Actor and director. Born 2 November 1959 in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor, Director - **Born:** 2 November 1959, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK - **Active:** 1991–present - **Also known as:** Пітер Маллан - **Frequently works with:** [Andrew Garfield](https://film.one/person/andrew-garfield.md), [Andrew Macdonald](https://film.one/person/andrew-macdonald.md), [Danny Boyle](https://film.one/person/danny-boyle.md), [Ewan McGregor](https://film.one/person/ewan-mcgregor.md), [John Hodge](https://film.one/person/john-hodge.md), [Robert Carlyle](https://film.one/person/robert-carlyle.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 20 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 78 (4), 2000s 79 (3), 2010s 74 (8), 2020s 76 (5) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 73 across 18 titles - **Score spread:** 9 at 80+, 10 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 4 of 15 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 16, Crime 6, History 4, Action 2, Adventure 2, Comedy 2 - **Screen time:** 24 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,562m across 11 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mullan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q430804, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0611932/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3064 ## Coming up - *Elsinore* (2026-11-20), as Jack Charleson — [page](https://film.one/film/elsinore.md) ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Tyrannosaur*](https://film.one/film/tyrannosaur.md) (81), [*Riff-Raff*](https://film.one/film/riff-raff.md) (77), [*Boy A*](https://film.one/film/boy-a.md) (73) - **Apple TV:** [*Mum*](https://film.one/tv/mum.md) (84), [*Hostiles*](https://film.one/film/hostiles.md) (58) - **HBO Max:** [*Olive Kitteridge*](https://film.one/tv/olive-kitteridge.md) (84) - **Disney+:** [*Top of the Lake*](https://film.one/tv/top-of-the-lake.md) (82) - **Netflix:** [*I Swear*](https://film.one/film/i-swear.md) (70) - **Hulu:** [*Outlander: Blood of My Blood*](https://film.one/tv/outlander-blood-of-my-blood.md) (68) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Peter Mullan > Peter Mullan is persuasive as a man we might trust and have reason to fear. We value the warmth in his forceful performances, and would rather see him carry a complicated lead than simply supply menace in a supporting part. Peter Mullan’s working-class men can be appealing company and a reason to feel uneasy. Their intensity seldom settles the question of how far we should trust them. We rate him for keeping sympathy possible, though a supporting part that asks only for menace can waste much of what he offers. After an early role as Jake in Ken Loach’s *Riff-Raff* (1991), the Danny Boyle films brought him wider notice. In *Shallow Grave* (1994), he plays Andy in a thriller about three flatmates and money they should leave alone. We recommend it for the brisk storytelling, nasty humour and performances that keep it entertaining. The growing violence interests us less, and the distinction matters when considering an actor so often associated with intensity. Harder and nastier are not automatically better, even in material that appears to invite both. *Trainspotting* (1996), with Mullan as Swanney, is the stronger Boyle film and earns a warmer recommendation. The actors keep its Edinburgh addicts human while the film moves between speed, comedy and fear. We were unsettled by that humanity: the suffering still mattered when the pace was encouraging us to enjoy ourselves. The editing sometimes rushes past pain that needs more time, but the performances keep us interested in people the film might otherwise hurry us past. Mullan is part of that ensemble, and this is a film to see for the acting as much as the momentum. *My Name Is Joe* (1998) marks the breakthrough into a leading role, with Joe Kavanagh giving his force and complexity more room. It is the important next stop for anyone whose sense of Mullan comes chiefly from Boyle’s supporting casts. His own directing, in *Orphans* (1998) and *The Magdalene Sisters* (2002), also makes room for anger and humour in stories about people with little power. Later supporting work across films and television has taken him beyond British social realism and into genre productions. That variety of work can still bring a narrow expectation of what he should supply. We would welcome another substantial lead before another part that merely needs someone formidable. ## Biography Peter Mullan is a Scottish actor and filmmaker. He was born on 2 November 1959 in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. Mullan began his career in theatre before appearing in films including *Riff-Raff* (1991), *Shallow Grave* (1994), *Braveheart* (1995) and *Trainspotting* (1996), in which he played Swanney. He won the Best Actor award at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival for his performance in *My Name Is Joe*. As a director, Mullan made *Orphans* (1998) and *The Magdalene Sisters* (2002), the latter of which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. His other screen credits include *Children of Men* (2006), *War Horse* (2011), *Ozark* (2017–2018), *Westworld* (2018–2020) and *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power* (2022–2024). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, screenonline.org.uk.* ## On Fi1m (20) - *Elsinore* (2026), Fi1m 74, as Jack Charleson — [page](https://film.one/film/elsinore.md) - *I Swear* (2025), Fi1m 70, as Tommy — [page](https://film.one/film/i-swear.md) - *Outlander: Blood of My Blood* (2025), Fi1m 68, as Red Jacob MacKenzie — [page](https://film.one/tv/outlander-blood-of-my-blood.md) - *After the Party* (2023), Fi1m 84, as Phil — [page](https://film.one/tv/after-the-party.md) - *The Underground Railroad* (2021), Fi1m 86, as Ridgeway Senior — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-underground-railroad.md) - *Hostiles* (2017), Fi1m 58, as Lieutenant Colonel Ross McCowan — [page](https://film.one/film/hostiles.md) - *Ozark* (2017), Fi1m 70, as Jacob Snell — [page](https://film.one/tv/ozark.md) - *Mum* (2016), Fi1m 84, as Michael — [page](https://film.one/tv/mum.md) - *Olive Kitteridge* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Jim O'Casey — [page](https://film.one/tv/olive-kitteridge.md) - *Top of the Lake* (2013), Fi1m 82, as Matt Mitcham — [page](https://film.one/tv/top-of-the-lake.md) - *Tyrannosaur* (2011), Fi1m 81, as Joseph — [page](https://film.one/film/tyrannosaur.md) - *War Horse* (2011), Fi1m 62, as Ted Narracott — [page](https://film.one/film/war-horse.md) - *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1* (2010), Fi1m 67, as Corban Yaxley — [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-1.md) - *Red Riding* (2009), Fi1m 80, as Reverend Martin Laws — [page](https://film.one/tv/red-riding.md) - *Boy A* (2008), Fi1m 73, as Terry — [page](https://film.one/film/boy-a.md) - *Children of Men* (2006), Fi1m 85, as Syd — [page](https://film.one/film/children-of-men.md) - *Trainspotting* (1996), Fi1m 88, as Swanney — [page](https://film.one/film/trainspotting.md) - *Braveheart* (1995), Fi1m 68, as Veteran — [page](https://film.one/film/braveheart.md) - *Shallow Grave* (1994), Fi1m 78, as Andy — [page](https://film.one/film/shallow-grave.md) - *Riff-Raff* (1991), Fi1m 77, as Jake — [page](https://film.one/film/riff-raff.md) ## Complete filmography (115) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Elsinore* (2026), as Jack Charleson — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/elsinore.md) - *Borges and Me* (2026), as George Mackay Brown - *The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford* (2026), as Kenneth - *RHYTHMS* (2026), as Jamie's Dad - *Steal* (2026), series, as Sir Toby Gould - *I Swear* (2025), as Tommy — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/i-swear.md) - *Outlander: Blood of My Blood* (2025), series, as Red Jacob MacKenzie — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/outlander-blood-of-my-blood.md) - *The Bombing of Pan Am 103* (2025), series, as John Orr - *Hogmanay* (2025), as Mr Milne - *Baghead* (2023), as Owen Lark - *After the Party* (2023), series, as Phil — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/after-the-party.md) - *Payback* (2023), series, as Cal Morris - *Liaison* (2023), series, as Richard Banks - *The Hanging Sun* (2022), as Dad - *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power* (2022), series, as King Durin III - *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Global Fan Screening* (2022), as King Durin III - *Chivalry* (2022), series, as Fraser Schwartz - *Skint* (2022), series, as Donny - *Don vs Lightning* (2021), as Don - *The North Water* (2021), series, as Priest - *The Underground Railroad* (2021), series, as Ridgeway Senior — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-underground-railroad.md) - *Chips* (2020), as Chips (voice) - *Marionette* (2020), as Dr. McVittie - *Cursed* (2020), series, as Father Carden - *Fatbaws* (2020), Director - *The Witcher* (2019), series, as Vesemir — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-witcher.md) - *Orphans Reunited* (2019), Actor - *The Vanishing* (2019), as Thomas - *Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle* (2018), as Akela (voice) - *Pearl* (2018), as Al - *Hostiles* (2017), as Lieutenant Colonel Ross McCowan — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/hostiles.md) - *Gunpowder* (2017), series, as Father Henry Garnet - *Ozark* (2017), series, as Jacob Snell — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/ozark.md) - *Tommy's Honour* (2017), as 'Old' Tom Morris - *Edith* (2016), as Jake - *Westworld* (2016), series, as James Delos — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/westworld-2016.md) - *Quarry* (2016), series, as The Broker - *Mum* (2016), series, as Michael — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/mum.md) - *Hector* (2015), as Hector McAdam - *Sunset Song* (2015), as John Guthrie - *Stonemouth* (2015), series, as Don Murston - *Olive Kitteridge* (2014), series, as Jim O'Casey — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/olive-kitteridge.md) - *Hercules* (2014), as Sitacles - *Lily's Driftwood Bay* (2014), series, as Captain Salty Dog (voice) - *Sunshine on Leith* (2013), as Robert 'Rab' Henshaw - *Top of the Lake* (2013), series, as Matt Mitcham — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/top-of-the-lake.md) - *Welcome to the Punch* (2013), as Roy Edwards - *The Fear* (2012), series, as Richie Beckett - *The Liability* (2012), as Peter - *The Man Inside* (2012), as Gordon Sinclair - *War Horse* (2011), as Ted Narracott — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/war-horse.md) - *Long Distance Information* (2011), as Jack - *Tyrannosaur* (2011), as Joseph — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/tyrannosaur.md) - *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1* (2010), as Corban Yaxley — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-1.md) - *Neds* (2010), as Mr. McGill · Director, Writer - *Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1974* (2009), as Martin Laws - *Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1980* (2009), as Martin Laws - *Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1983* (2009), as Martin Laws - *Red Riding* (2009), series, as Reverend Martin Laws — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/red-riding.md) - *Stone of Destiny* (2008), as Ian's Father - *Boy A* (2008), as Terry — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/boy-a.md) - *The Fixer* (2008), series, Actor - *To Build a Home* (2007), Actor - *True North* (2007), as Riley - *Dog Altogether* (2007), as Joseph - *British Film Forever* (2007), series, Actor - *The Last Legion* (2007), as Odoacer - *The Trial of Tony Blair* (2007), as Gordon Brown - *Children of Men* (2006), as Syd — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/children-of-men.md) - *Cinema 16: European Short Films (European Edition)* (2006), Director - *Cargo* (2006), as Brookes - *Carry On Ken* (2006), Actor - *On a Clear Day* (2005), as Frank - *Shoebox Zoo* (2004), series, as Michael Scot - *Criminal* (2004), as William Hannigan - *Blinded* (2004), as Francis Black - *Out of This World* (2004), as Jim - *Kiss of Life* (2003), as John - *Young Adam* (2003), as Les Gault - *This Little Life* (2003), as Neonatologist - *The Magdalene Sisters* (2002), as Mr O'Connor · Director, Screenplay - *Session 9* (2001), as Gordon - *The Claim* (2000), as Daniel Dillon - *Ordinary Decent Criminal* (2000), as Stevie - *Miss Julie* (1999), as Jean - *The Escort* (1999), as Patricia's Husband - *Exterior Park - Day* (1999), Actor - *Orphans* (1998), Writer, Director - *My Name Is Joe* (1998), as Joe - *Duck* (1998), as Nick - *FairyTale: A True Story* (1997), as Sergeant Farmer - *Bogwoman* (1997), as Barry - *The Longest Memory* (1997), as Sanders Sr. - *Nightlife* (1996), as Billy - *Trainspotting* (1996), as Swanney — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/trainspotting.md) - *Fridge* (1995), Writer, Director - *Ruffian Hearts* (1995), as Chez - *Narance* (1995), Actor - *Braveheart* (1995), as Veteran — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/braveheart.md) - *Good Day for the Bad Guys* (1995), as John · Writer, Director - *Shallow Grave* (1994), as Andy — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/shallow-grave.md) - *Cardiac Arrest* (1994), series, Director - *The Priest and the Pirate* (1994), as Billy Hill - *Harry* (1993), series, as Jimmy - *Close* (1993), as Vincent · Director, Writer - *Vision* (1993), as Sim - *Jute City* (1991), series, as Mallet - *Riff-Raff* (1991), as Jake — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/riff-raff.md) - *Your Cheatin' Heart* (1990), Actor - *Your Cheatin' Heart* (1990), series, as Tonto - *The Big Man* (1990), as Vince - *The Steamie* (1988), as Andy - *Taggart* (1983), series, Actor - *Mystery Ride*, as Callum Macfarlane - *Mountain*, as Bill ## Gallery - ![Taken at BAFTA Scotland, 2005](https://film.one/media/person/59803/gallery-73ac390f2f20.jpg) Taken at BAFTA Scotland, 2005 — Andymiah, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/PeterMullan.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Peter Mullan](https://film.one/media/person/59803/gallery-67d95683141d.jpg) Peter Mullan — Image via TMDB - ![Peter Mullan](https://film.one/media/person/59803/gallery-9447a950a58d.jpg) Peter Mullan — Image via TMDB - ![Peter Mullan](https://film.one/media/person/59803/gallery-9af4d3a19b23.jpg) Peter Mullan — Image via TMDB - ![Peter Mullan](https://film.one/media/person/59803/gallery-9c1a3d57ebba.jpg) Peter Mullan — Image via TMDB - ![Peter Mullan](https://film.one/media/person/59803/gallery-cb7a586c146a.jpg) Peter Mullan — Image via TMDB - ![Peter Mullan](https://film.one/media/person/59803/gallery-d9958e51b297.jpg) Peter Mullan — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won, 2 nominated - Golden Nymph for Outstanding Actor in a Mini Series 2014: Golden Nymph for Outstanding Actor in a Mini Series (won), for *Top of the Lake* - European Film Award for Best Film 2002: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *The Magdalene Sisters* - European Film Award for Best Actor 1998: European Film Award for Best Actor (nominated), for *My Name Is Joe* *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-mullan