---
name: "Philip Glenister"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/philip-glenister"
fi1m_id: "philip-glenister"
imdb_id: "nm0322562"
tmdb_id: 55689
wikidata_id: "Q200721"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "10 February 1963"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-07T16:58:19.443143+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."
---

# Philip Glenister

## Identity

Philip Glenister

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/philip-glenister
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** philip-glenister
- **IMDb ID:** nm0322562
- **TMDB ID:** 55689
- **Wikidata ID:** Q200721
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Glenister, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200721, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322562/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55689

Actor. Born 10 February 1963 in Harrow, Middlesex, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 10 February 1963, Harrow, Middlesex, England, UK
- **Active:** 1990–2014
- **Also known as:** Philip Haywood Glenister
- **Frequently works with:** [John Simm](https://film.one/person/john-simm.md), [Ashley Pharoah](https://film.one/person/ashley-pharoah.md), [Dean Andrews](https://film.one/person/dean-andrews.md), [Julie Rutterford](https://film.one/person/julie-rutterford.md), [Mark Greig](https://film.one/person/mark-greig.md), [Marshall Lancaster](https://film.one/person/marshall-lancaster.md), [Matthew Graham](https://film.one/person/matthew-graham.md), [Paul Abbott](https://film.one/person/paul-abbott.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 73 (2), 2000s 80 (5), 2010s 74 (3)
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Crime 5, Mystery 3, Comedy 2, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 2, Action & Adventure 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Glenister, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200721, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322562/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/55689

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Cranford*](https://film.one/tv/cranford.md) (84), [*Prey*](https://film.one/tv/prey-2014.md) (74), [*Ashes to Ashes*](https://film.one/tv/ashes-to-ashes.md) (64)
- **BritBox:** [*Life on Mars*](https://film.one/tv/life-on-mars.md) (84)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Vanity Fair*](https://film.one/tv/vanity-fair.md) (72)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Mad Dogs*](https://film.one/tv/mad-dogs.md) (65)

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

## Fi1m on Philip Glenister

> Philip Glenister makes an unreasonable man sound worth listening to, chiefly by letting him believe every word. We value that conviction, though Gene Hunt can be so entertaining that the objections barely get a hearing.

Gene Hunt speaks as though the discussion has already been settled. In *Life on Mars* (2006), Philip Glenister gives him such certainty that an unreasonable position can briefly sound like the only one worth considering. We laughed at Hunt's assurance, then felt uneasy about how readily we had enjoyed it: objections to his attitudes sometimes struggle to compete with the pleasure of watching Glenister. The performance makes the programme worth seeing, but it also leaves the writing with work to do.

Before Hunt, *Clocking Off* (2000–2002) and *State of Play* (2003) had brought him notice. In the latter he plays DCI William Bell, alongside John Simm in Paul Abbott's six-part conspiracy thriller. Our enthusiasm for that programme rests on its ensemble and its convincing newsroom, not on a single actor getting the better of everybody else. The story occasionally becomes so dense that keeping track takes precedence over caring about a character. It is still the place we would send anyone who has come to think of Glenister only as Hunt.

*Life on Mars* made that identification understandable, and *Ashes to Ashes* (2008–2010) continued the association. Simm gives that certainty someone to argue with, and their uneasy company is central to our recommendation. Even when the disagreements repeat, the performances keep them worth hearing. The ordinary police stories are a caveat, but they never cancelled our concern for Sam. The weakness comes when Hunt's certainty is allowed to settle matters that deserved a better answer.

His work also includes Lawrence in the ensemble comedy-drama *Calendar Girls* (2003) and Mr Carter in the period drama *Cranford* (2007). Those parts are worth remembering when the tough detectives and authority figures threaten to become the whole description. Hunt remains the clearest demonstration of what we value in Glenister: the ability to make us keep listening to a man whose reasoning ought to have lost us. Start with *State of Play*, then give *Life on Mars* enough time for Simm to answer back.

## Biography

Philip Glenister is an English actor. He is known for playing DCI William Bell in the BBC mini-series *State of Play* (2003) and DCI Gene Hunt in *Life on Mars* (2006–2007) and its sequel *Ashes to Ashes* (2008–2010).

Born Philip Haywood Glenister on 10 February 1963 in Harrow, Middlesex, he grew up in Hatch End and attended Hatch End High School. He is the son of television director John Glenister and the younger brother of actor Robert Glenister. He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Before acting, Glenister worked as a runner and later as a film publicist. His early television roles included appearances in series such as *Minder*, *Heartbeat* and *Clocking Off*.

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

## On Fi1m (10)

- *Prey* (2014), Fi1m 74, as David Murdoch — [page](https://film.one/tv/prey-2014.md)
- *The Hollow Crown* (2012), Fi1m 82, as Talbot — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hollow-crown.md)
- *Mad Dogs* (2011), Fi1m 65, as Quinn — [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-dogs.md)
- *Ashes to Ashes* (2008), Fi1m 64, as Gene Hunt — [page](https://film.one/tv/ashes-to-ashes.md)
- *Cranford* (2007), Fi1m 84, as Mr Carter — [page](https://film.one/tv/cranford.md)
- *Life on Mars* (2006), Fi1m 84, as Gene Hunt — [page](https://film.one/tv/life-on-mars.md)
- *State of Play* (2003), Fi1m 88, as DCI William Bell — [page](https://film.one/tv/state-of-play.md)
- *Clocking Off* (2000), Fi1m 82, as James 'Mack' Mackintosh — [page](https://film.one/tv/clocking-off.md)
- *Vanity Fair* (1998), Fi1m 72, as William Dobbin — [page](https://film.one/tv/vanity-fair.md)
- *Drop the Dead Donkey* (1990), Fi1m 74, as Harrison — [page](https://film.one/tv/drop-the-dead-donkey.md)

## Complete filmography (78)

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

- *The Lady* (2026), series, as DCI Jim Dickie
- *Bergerac* (2025), series, as Arthur Wakefield
- *After the Flood* (2024), series, as Jack Radcliffe
- *Steeltown Murders* (2023), series, as DCI Paul Bethell
- *Sheene* (2023), as Narrator (voice)
- *Carthago* (2022), series, as Lord James Davidson
- *Just in Case* (2021), as Mark
- *Foundation* (2021), series, as Commdor Argo — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/tv/foundation.md)
- *Belgravia* (2020), series, as James Trenchard
- *The Rubbish World of Dave Spud* (2019), series, as Betty Spud
- *Mamma Mia! Here We Go Yet Again* (2019), as Pierce Brosnan
- *Living the Dream* (2017), series, as Mal Pemberton
- *Urban Myths* (2017), series, as Kev Wells
- *The Level* (2016), series, as Frank Le Saux
- *Outcast* (2016), series, as Reverend Anderson
- *From There to Here* (2014), series, as Daniel
- *Prey* (2014), series, as David Murdoch — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/prey-2014.md)
- *Duck Quacks Don't Echo* (2014), series, Actor
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as Craig — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *Big School* (2013), series, as Mr Gunn
- *Spying on Hitler’s Army: The Secret Recordings* (2013), as Narrator
- *The Hollow Crown* (2012), series, as Talbot — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hollow-crown.md)
- *Bel Ami* (2012), as Charles Forestier
- *Treasure Island* (2012), series, as Captain Smollett
- *Treasure Island* (2012), as Smollett
- *Pavlopetri: The City Beneath the Waves* (2011), as Narrator · Executive Producer
- *Hidden* (2011), series, as Harry Venn
- *Mad Dogs* (2011), series, as Quinn — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-dogs.md)
- *The Secret Life of the National Grid* (2010), series, as Narrator (Voice)
- *You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger* (2010), as Poker Friend
- *Eyewitness* (2010), series, Actor
- *The Secret Life of the Airport* (2009), series, as Narrator
- *Demons* (2009), series, as Rupert Galvin
- *Tu£sday* (2008), as Earp
- *Ashes to Ashes* (2008), series, as Gene Hunt — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/tv/ashes-to-ashes.md)
- *Cranford* (2007), series, as Mr Carter — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/cranford.md)
- *The Secret Life of the motorway* (2007), series, as Narrator (Voice)
- *Life on Mars* (2006), series, as Gene Hunt — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/life-on-mars.md)
- *Vincent* (2005), series, Actor
- *Kingdom of Heaven* (2005), as Squire
- *Last Rights* (2005), series, as John Speers
- *The Walk* (2005), as Eddie
- *The Stepfather* (2005), series, as Dougie Molloy
- *Island at War* (2004), series, as Oberst Heinrich Baron Von Rheingarten
- *Byron* (2003), as William Fletcher
- *Calendar Girls* (2003), as Lawrence Sertain
- *Lloyd & Hill* (2003), as Daniel Lloyd
- *State of Play* (2003), series, as DCI William Bell — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/state-of-play.md)
- *The Other Boleyn Girl* (2003), as William Strafford
- *Hornblower: Retribution* (2001), as Gunner Hobbs
- *Hornblower: Mutiny* (2001), as Hobbs
- *The Hunt* (2001), as Rob Campbell
- *Clocking Off* (2000), series, as James 'Mack' Mackintosh — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/clocking-off.md)
- *The Vice* (1999), series, as Jason Grant
- *The Perfect Blue* (1998), as Tom
- *Vanity Fair* (1998), series, as William Dobbin — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/vanity-fair.md)
- *Hornblower* (1998), series, as Gunner Hobbs
- *Roger Roger* (1998), series, as Phil
- *Sharpe: The Legend* (1997), as Truman
- *Sharpe's Justice* (1997), as Matt Truman
- *Frontiers* (1996), series, as DS Danny Curtis
- *My Wonderful Life* (1996), series, as Phil
- *True Love* (1996), as Phil
- *Silent Witness* (1996), series, Actor
- *Loved Up* (1995), as Ray
- *I.D.* (1995), as Charlie
- *Law and Disorder* (1994), series, Actor
- *The Detectives* (1993), series, as Uniformed Officer
- *Blue Heaven* (1992), series, as Paul Twice
- *A Fatal Inversion* (1992), as Young Detective
- *Heartbeat* (1992), series, as Julian Cantley
- *London Kills Me* (1991), as Suited Man
- *In Suspicious Circumstances* (1991), series, as Herbert Bennett
- *Drop the Dead Donkey* (1990), series, as Harrison — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/drop-the-dead-donkey.md)
- *The Chief* (1990), series, as Angus Shadwell
- *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Sir William Boyd Carrington — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md)
- *The Ruth Rendell Mysteries* (1987), series, as Brian Gregson
- *Minder* (1979), series, as Greg Hunter — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/minder.md)

## Gallery

- ![Philip Glenister (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/60653/gallery-030db70605b2.jpg) Philip Glenister (2016) — Rach, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Philip_Glenister.jpg/1280px-Philip_Glenister.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Philip Glenister](https://film.one/media/person/60653/gallery-cf6b2e825414.jpg) Philip Glenister — Rach, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Philip_Glenister_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Philip_Glenister_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Філіп Ґленістер. Фотографія ангійського актора](https://film.one/media/person/60653/gallery-15ff3fc9c0b1.jpg) Філіп Ґленістер. Фотографія ангійського актора — Міккі Рейвер, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/%D0%93%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Philip Glenister](https://film.one/media/person/60653/gallery-221c1f99edc3.jpg) Philip Glenister — Image via TMDB

---
© 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/philip-glenister