---
name: "Rafe Spall"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/rafe-spall"
fi1m_id: "rafe-spall"
imdb_id: "nm1245863"
tmdb_id: 28847
wikidata_id: "Q1190134"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "10 March 1983"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 13
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 12
updated: "2026-10-03T00:32:08.926662+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."
---

# Rafe Spall

## Identity

Rafe Spall

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/rafe-spall
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** rafe-spall
- **IMDb ID:** nm1245863
- **TMDB ID:** 28847
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1190134
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafe_Spall, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1190134, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1245863/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/28847

Actor. Born 10 March 1983 in East Dulwich, London, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 10 March 1983, East Dulwich, London, England, UK
- **Active:** 2004–present
- **Also known as:** Rafe Joseph Spall
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 13: 12 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Jim Broadbent](https://film.one/person/jim-broadbent.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 12 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 84 (2), 2010s 70 (8), 2020s 73 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 72 across 12 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Comedy 5, Adventure 3, Crime 2, Family 2, Horror 2
- **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,771m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafe_Spall, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1190134, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1245863/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/28847

## Streaming the US now

- **Peacock:** [*Shaun of the Dead*](https://film.one/film/shaun-of-the-dead.md) (85), [*Hot Fuzz*](https://film.one/film/hot-fuzz.md) (84), [*Prometheus*](https://film.one/film/prometheus.md) (60)
- **Disney+:** [*The BFG*](https://film.one/film/the-bfg.md) (64), [*Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom*](https://film.one/film/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom.md) (58)
- **Pluto TV:** [*The Big Short*](https://film.one/film/the-big-short.md) (80)
- **HBO Max:** [*Life of Pi*](https://film.one/film/life-of-pi.md) (78)
- **Apple TV:** [*Smoke*](https://film.one/tv/smoke.md) (68)

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

## Fi1m on Rafe Spall

> Rafe Spall makes ordinary, fallible men worth spending time with, especially when the comedy allows them some dignity. We rate his supporting work, though the habit of casting him as the feckless everyman can undersell him.

Rafe Spall is often the man who has not quite got his life together. In *Shaun of the Dead* (2004), his Noel belongs to a supporting cast that keeps Edgar Wright's zombie comedy engaging even when the horror becomes familiar. We laughed at the ordinary failings, then found ourselves worrying about the same people because Wright makes the danger count. Spall's place in that ensemble is a useful starting point: we value him as an actor who can make an ordinary character worth noticing without needing the film to stop for him.

*Hot Fuzz* (2007), with Spall as DC Andy Cartwright, continued the association with Wright and Simon Pegg. Supporting parts in Ridley Scott's *Prometheus* (2012) and the ensemble drama *The Big Short* (2015) took him beyond British comedy. Television gave him a more sustained lead as Jason Ross opposite Esther Smith in *Trying* (2020). That is a welcome change of scale for an actor so often cast as the recognisable everyman.

The honesty of his character work in *X+Y* (2014) helps explain why that casting persists. We would still like to see him asked to do more than make another feckless man agreeable. His one-man stage performance in *Death of England* (2020) brings physical and emotional intensity that the everyman description scarcely accounts for. More screen roles that ask for that force would be welcome.

*Smoke* (2025) is a reminder that casting can only do so much. Spall plays Steven Burk in a series whose actors make it worth considering, with Taron Egerton and Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine the particular strengths. The arson investigation cannot sustain nine episodes, and its repetitions become frustrating; none of the casting fixes that. Our confidence in Spall comes with that practical caveat: his presence is a reason to be interested, not a guarantee of a good evening. Start with *Shaun of the Dead*, but expect the horror to matter as much as the comedy.

## Biography

Rafe Joseph Spall is an English actor. Born on 10 March 1983 in East Dulwich, London, he is the son of actor Timothy Spall. He began acting in the early 2000s and has appeared in numerous films and television series.

Spall is known for roles including Millburn in *Prometheus* (2012), the Writer in *Life of Pi* (2012), Danny Moses in *The Big Short* (2015), Eli Mills in *Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom* (2018), and Steven Burk in the series *Smoke* (2025). He has collaborated frequently with director Edgar Wright, appearing in *Shaun of the Dead* (2004), *Hot Fuzz* (2007) and *The World's End* (2013). Other credits include *One Day* (2011), *Men in Black: International* (2019) and *Black Mirror* (2011).

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

## On Fi1m (13)

### Performed in (12) — the average rests on these

- *Bait* (2026), Fi1m 81, as Nigel — [page](https://film.one/tv/bait-2026.md)
- *Smoke* (2025), Fi1m 68, as Steven Burk — [page](https://film.one/tv/smoke.md)
- *The English* (2022), Fi1m 70, as David Melmont — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-english.md)
- *Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom* (2018), Fi1m 58, as Eli Mills — [page](https://film.one/film/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom.md)
- *The BFG* (2016), Fi1m 64, as Mr. Tibbs — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bfg.md)
- *The Big Short* (2015), Fi1m 80, as Danny Moses — [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-short.md)
- *Get Santa* (2014), Fi1m 66, as Steve — [page](https://film.one/film/get-santa.md)
- *Life of Pi* (2012), Fi1m 78, as Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/life-of-pi.md)
- *Prometheus* (2012), Fi1m 60, as Millburn — [page](https://film.one/film/prometheus.md)
- *Black Mirror* (2011), Fi1m 81, as Potter — [page](https://film.one/tv/black-mirror.md)
- *Hot Fuzz* (2007), Fi1m 84, as DC Andy Cartwright — [page](https://film.one/film/hot-fuzz.md)
- *Shaun of the Dead* (2004), Fi1m 85, as Noel — [page](https://film.one/film/shaun-of-the-dead.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Stan & Ollie* (2018), Fi1m 77, Thanks — [page](https://film.one/film/stan-and-ollie.md)

## Complete filmography (72)

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

- *Secret Service* (2026), series, as Stuart Henderson
- *Bait* (2026), series, as Nigel — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/bait-2026.md)
- *Under Salt Marsh* (2026), series, as Eric Bull
- *Smoke* (2025), series, as Steven Burk — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/smoke.md)
- *William Tell* (2025), as Stauffacher
- *Rich Flu* (2024), as Toni
- *The English* (2022), series, as David Melmont — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-english.md)
- *Long Story Short* (2021), as Teddy
- *The Salisbury Poisonings* (2020), series, as DS Nick Bailey
- *Trying* (2020), series, as Jason · Executive Producer
- *National Theatre Live: Death of England: Michael* (2020), as Michael
- *Just Mercy* (2019), as Tommy Champan
- *Denmark* (2019), as Herb
- *The War of the Worlds* (2019), series, as George
- *Men in Black: International* (2019), as Agent C
- *Stan & Ollie* (2018), Thanks — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/stan-and-ollie.md)
- *Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom* (2018), as Eli Mills — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom.md)
- *Grandpa's Great Escape* (2018), as Adult Jack (voice)
- *The Ritual* (2017), as Luke
- *My Online Nightmare* (2017), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *National Theatre Live: Hedda Gabler* (2017), as Brack
- *Mum's List* (2016), as Singe
- *Swallows and Amazons* (2016), as Jim 'Captain Flint' Turner / Polski the Parrot
- *Roadies* (2016), series, as Reg Whitehead
- *The BFG* (2016), as Mr. Tibbs — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bfg.md)
- *Harry Price: Ghost Hunter* (2015), as Harry Price
- *The Big Short* (2015), as Danny Moses — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-short.md)
- *X+Y* (2015), as Martin Humphreys
- *Sons of Liberty* (2015), series, as John Hancock
- *Get Santa* (2014), as Steve — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/get-santa.md)
- *Off the Page: Death of England* (2014), as Son
- *What If* (2013), as Ben
- *The World's End* (2013), as Young Man
- *I Give It a Year* (2013), as Josh
- *Life of Pi* (2012), as Writer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/life-of-pi.md)
- *Prometheus* (2012), as Millburn — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/prometheus.md)
- *Earthbound* (2012), as Joe
- *Black Mirror* (2011), series, as Potter — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/black-mirror.md)
- *Anonymous* (2011), as William Shakespeare
- *The Shadow Line* (2011), series, as Jay Wratten
- *One Day* (2011), as Ian Whitehead
- *Pete versus Life* (2010), series, as Pete Griffiths
- *SUS* (2010), as Wilby
- *The Scouting Book for Boys* (2010), as Steve
- *Modern Life Is Rubbish* (2009), as Liam
- *Desperate Romantics* (2009), series, as William Holman Hunt
- *Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me* (2008), as Dennis Heymer
- *A Room with a View* (2008), series, as George Emerson
- *He Kills Coppers* (2008), series, as Frank Taylor
- *A Room with a View* (2007), as George Emerson
- *Get Off My Land* (2007), as Man
- *Grindhouse* (2007), as Featured Ghost (segment "Don't") (uncredited)
- *Hot Fuzz* (2007), as DC Andy Cartwright — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/hot-fuzz.md)
- *Dracula* (2006), as Jonathan Harker
- *Cracker: Nine Eleven* (2006), as DS McAllister
- *Wide Sargasso Sea* (2006), as Edward Rochester
- *A Good Year* (2006), as Kenny
- *The Last Drop* (2006), as David Wellings
- *The Chatterley Affair* (2006), as Keith
- *Kidulthood* (2006), as Lenny
- *The Romantics* (2006), series, as John Clare
- *Green Street Hooligans* (2005), as Swill
- *The Rotters' Club* (2005), series, as Sean Harding
- *Twisted Tales* (2005), series, as Dominic
- *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Roger Bassington
- *The Calcium Kid* (2004), as Stan Parlour
- *The Legend of the Tamworth Two* (2004), as Crustie
- *Shaun of the Dead* (2004), as Noel — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/shaun-of-the-dead.md)
- *The Lion in Winter* (2003), as Prince John
- *Spine Chillers* (2003), series, Actor
- *Out of Control* (2002), as Ray
- *Number 10*, series, as Harry Douglas

## Gallery

- ![Rafe Spall](https://film.one/media/person/223/gallery-e89b113f6ca0.jpg) Rafe Spall — Sean Reynolds from Liverpool, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Rafe_Spall_and_wife_Elize_Du_Toit_%288464856194%29_%28Spall_cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Rafe Spall and wife Elize Du Toit (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/223/gallery-0acb867580f8.jpg) Rafe Spall and wife Elize Du Toit (2013) — Sean Reynolds from Liverpool, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Rafe_Spall_and_wife_Elize_Du_Toit_%288463759665%29.jpg/1280px-Rafe_Spall_and_wife_Elize_Du_Toit_%288463759665%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Rafe Spall and wife Elize Du Toit (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/223/gallery-453a1af99a75.jpg) Rafe Spall and wife Elize Du Toit (2013) — Sean Reynolds from Liverpool, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Rafe_Spall_and_wife_Elize_Du_Toit_%288463759165%29.jpg/1280px-Rafe_Spall_and_wife_Elize_Du_Toit_%288463759165%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Rafe Spall and wife Elize Du Toit (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/223/gallery-d4d047ad2a99.jpg) Rafe Spall and wife Elize Du Toit (2013) — Sean Reynolds from Liverpool, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Rafe_Spall_and_wife_Elize_Du_Toit_%288464856194%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Rafe Spall](https://film.one/media/person/223/gallery-ae86167465e5.jpg) Rafe Spall — Image via TMDB
- ![Rafe Spall](https://film.one/media/person/223/gallery-46cc65454f77.jpg) Rafe Spall — Image via TMDB
- ![Rafe Spall](https://film.one/media/person/223/gallery-1dcbb9881744.jpg) Rafe Spall — Image via TMDB
- ![Rafe Spall and wife Elize Du Toit (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/223/gallery-88b8aba88af1.jpg) Rafe Spall and wife Elize Du Toit (2013) — Sean Reynolds from Liverpool, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Rafe_Spall_and_wife_Elize_Du_Toit_%288463758565%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Rafe Spall](https://film.one/media/person/223/gallery-37186d61a6cd.jpg) Rafe Spall — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Sitges Film Festival Best Actor award 2017: Sitges Film Festival Best Actor award (won), for *The Ritual*

*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/rafe-spall