---
name: "Reece Shearsmith"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/reece-shearsmith"
fi1m_id: "reece-shearsmith"
imdb_id: "nm0790501"
tmdb_id: 34551
wikidata_id: "Q7306585"
roles: ["Actor","Writer","Director"]
born: "27 August 1969"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 14
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-22T03:31:12.320635+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."
---

# Reece Shearsmith

## Identity

Reece Shearsmith

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/reece-shearsmith
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** reece-shearsmith
- **IMDb ID:** nm0790501
- **TMDB ID:** 34551
- **Wikidata ID:** Q7306585
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reece_Shearsmith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7306585, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790501/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/34551

Actor and writer. Born 27 August 1969 in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Writer, Director
- **Born:** 27 August 1969, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1999–present
- **Also known as:** 里斯·希尔史密斯
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 14: 11 acting, 1 directing, 2 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Mark Gatiss](https://film.one/person/mark-gatiss.md), [Steve Pemberton](https://film.one/person/steve-pemberton.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 85 (2), 2000s 85 (2), 2010s 76 (4), 2020s 66 (6)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 68 to 67 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 6, Drama 5, Adventure 2, Mystery 2, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 2, Science Fiction 2
- **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $594m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reece_Shearsmith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7306585, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790501/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/34551

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*Spaced*](https://film.one/tv/spaced.md) (86)
- **Netflix:** [*Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl*](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-vengeance-most-fowl.md) (81)
- **Disney+:** [*See How They Run*](https://film.one/film/see-how-they-run.md) (70)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*High-Rise*](https://film.one/film/high-rise.md) (58)

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

## Fi1m on Reece Shearsmith

> Reece Shearsmith makes self-satisfied and frightened men funny without making them safe company. His writing with Steve Pemberton is strongest when the cruelty leaves room for sadness; *Inside No. 9* is where we would start.

In *Inside No. 9* (2014), Reece Shearsmith often plays men who are painfully pleased with themselves or frightened of saying what they mean. He and Steve Pemberton make that awkwardness funny, then allow it to become uncomfortable enough to sustain a story. Their strongest writing gives these people something to lose, rather than merely arranging for them to be caught out. The series is the best work they have made together, though its fondness for a final surprise can get the better of it.

*The League of Gentlemen* (1999) had already made its fictional northern town frightening through the people who lived there. Shearsmith, Pemberton and Mark Gatiss play almost everyone in Royston Vasey, with Jeremy Dyson sharing the writing. We rate it highly, but the first two series return to familiar jokes more often than they should. The third series, in 2002, tells six separately plotted half-hours, each following one character through the same week. That change matters: the characters now have to sustain stories, and the programme becomes colder and quieter.

*Psychoville* (2009), another writing and performing partnership with Pemberton, followed with an interlocking dark-comedy mystery. *Inside No. 9* then gave them a fresh story each half-hour, without the need to keep the same people going. The opener puts Timothy West in a wardrobe and gives his dignity as much attention as the joke. We were unexpectedly moved by West in that wardrobe, because he makes the effort to preserve his dignity look so difficult. Shearsmith and Pemberton are often called clever for their plotting, but this care with a character matters more to us.

His mixture of comedy and unease also serves him in Ben Wheatley's period horror *A Field in England* (2013), where he plays Whitehead. Yet the work he writes with Pemberton gives us the clearest reason to seek him out, and the clearest view of his weaknesses. The least satisfying *Inside No. 9* episodes spend too much of their half-hour preparing the last shot, until the people become less interesting than the puzzle. Start with that series, but do not make guessing the ending your chief occupation.

## Biography

Reece Shearsmith is a British actor, comedian and writer. Born on 27 August 1969 in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, he attended Andrew Marvell High School and Bretton Hall College of Education, where he met Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton.

Shearsmith was a member of The League of Gentlemen, alongside Pemberton, Gatiss and Jeremy Dyson. The group began as a stage act in 1995, moved to radio in 1997 and to television in 1999, winning a British Academy Television Award, a Royal Television Society Award and the Golden Rose of Montreux. With Pemberton, he created, wrote and starred in the sitcom *Psychoville* and the anthology series *Inside No. 9*.

He appeared as Dexter in two episodes of the series *Spaced* (1999). Other credits include roles in *Shaun of the Dead* (2004), *The World's End* (2013) and *Saltburn* (2023).

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

## On Fi1m (14)

### Performed in (11) — the average rests on these

- *3 Body Problem* (2024), Fi1m 65, as Alan Turing — [page](https://film.one/tv/3-body-problem.md)
- *Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl* (2024), Fi1m 81, as Norbot (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-vengeance-most-fowl.md)
- *Saltburn* (2023), Fi1m 60, as Professor Ware — [page](https://film.one/film/saltburn.md)
- *See How They Run* (2022), Fi1m 70, as John Woolf — [page](https://film.one/film/see-how-they-run.md)
- *Foundation* (2021), Fi1m 61, as Jerril — [page](https://film.one/tv/foundation.md)
- *Venom: Let There Be Carnage* (2021), Fi1m 56, as Priest — [page](https://film.one/film/venom-let-there-be-carnage.md)
- *High-Rise* (2015), Fi1m 58, as Nathan Steele — [page](https://film.one/film/high-rise.md)
- *An Adventure in Space and Time* (2013), Fi1m 80, as Patrick Troughton — [page](https://film.one/film/an-adventure-in-space-and-time.md)
- *Shaun of the Dead* (2004), Fi1m 85, as Mark — [page](https://film.one/film/shaun-of-the-dead.md)
- *Spaced* (1999), Fi1m 86, as Dexter — [page](https://film.one/tv/spaced.md)
- *The League of Gentlemen* (1999), Fi1m 84, as Various — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-league-of-gentlemen.md)

### Directed (1)

- *Inside No. 9* (2014), Fi1m 84, Director, Writer, Associate Producer, Creator — [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)

### Also credited (2) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Taskmaster* (2015), Fi1m 82, as Self — [page](https://film.one/tv/taskmaster.md)
- *Would I Lie to You?* (2007), Fi1m 85, as Self — [page](https://film.one/tv/would-i-lie-to-you.md)

## Complete filmography (89)

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

- *Rogue Trooper* (2026), as Bagman (voice)
- *Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl* (2024), as Norbot (voice) — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-vengeance-most-fowl.md)
- *3 Body Problem* (2024), series, as Alan Turing — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/3-body-problem.md)
- *Saltburn* (2023), as Professor Ware — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/saltburn.md)
- *See How They Run* (2022), as John Woolf — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/see-how-they-run.md)
- *The Witchfinder* (2022), series, as Matthew Hopkins
- *Venom: Let There Be Carnage* (2021), as Priest — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/venom-let-there-be-carnage.md)
- *Foundation* (2021), series, as Jerril — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/tv/foundation.md)
- *In the Earth* (2021), as Zach Whitehead
- *Investigating The Ladykillers* (2020), Actor
- *The Adventures of Paddington* (2019), series, as Містер Каррі (голос)
- *Good Omens* (2019), series, as Furfur, William Shakespeare
- *Zanzibar* (2018), as Henry · Writer
- *Borley Rectory* (2017), as V.C Wall
- *The Man You're Not* (2017), as Reece Shearsmith
- *The Riddle of the Sphinx* (2017), as Tyler · Writer
- *The Devil of Christmas* (2016), as Producer
- *Bob Monkhouse: The Last Stand* (2016), Actor
- *Diddy TV* (2016), series, as Mr. Stockholm
- *Stag* (2016), series, Actor
- *High-Rise* (2015), as Nathan Steele — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/high-rise.md)
- *Peter Kay's Car Share* (2015), series, Actor
- *The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge* (2015), as Mr Warren · Associate Producer
- *The 12 Days of Christine* (2015), as Stranger · Associate Producer
- *La Couchette* (2015), as Maxwell · Associate Producer
- *Galavant* (2015), series, as Neo of Sporin
- *Chasing Shadows* (2014), series, as DS Sean Stone
- *The Case of the High Foot* (2014), as The Doctor
- *Original Comedy Shorts* (2014), series, Actor
- *The Widower* (2014), series, as Malcolm Webster
- *The Harrowing* (2014), as Hector · Associate Producer
- *The Understudy* (2014), as Jim · Associate Producer
- *Last Gasp* (2014), Writer, Associate Producer
- *Remembering 'Dead of Night'* (2014), Actor
- *Tom & Gerri* (2014), as Tom · Associate Producer
- *A Quiet Night In* (2014), as Ray · Writer, Associate Producer
- *Sardines* (2014), as Stu · Writer, Associate Producer
- *Inside No. 9* (2014), series, as James, Scaramouche, a Soldier, Simon Smethurst, Urban Bedford, Brian, Eric, Gerry, Damon, Jonah, Doug, Tommy, Henry, Maurice, Viktor, Clive, Max, Nick, Drew, Stu, Tom, Ray, Jim, Hector, Maxwell, Stranger, Brendan, Neville Griffin, Alex, Maureen / Mr Jelly, George, Mr Warren, Terry, Pat, S/PC Varney, — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inside-no-9.md)
- *House of Fools* (2014), series, as Martin
- *An Adventure in Space and Time* (2013), as Patrick Troughton — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/an-adventure-in-space-and-time.md)
- *The World's End* (2013), as Collaborator
- *A Field in England* (2013), as Whitehead
- *Psychobitches* (2013), series, as Old Mother Shipton, Princess Margaret
- *Gadget Man* (2012), series, Actor
- *Bad Sugar* (2012), as Greg
- *The Hollow Crown* (2012), series, as Davy — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-hollow-crown.md)
- *Him Indoors* (2012), as Gregory Brewster
- *Playhouse Presents* (2012), series, as Old Mother Shipton
- *Squeamish!* (2011), series, as Narrator
- *Eric & Ernie* (2011), as Harry Wiseman
- *Chekhov Comedy Shorts* (2010), series, as Luka
- *Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge* (2010), series, as Jasper
- *Psychoville Halloween Special* (2010), as Various · Writer
- *Burke & Hare* (2010), as Sergeant Mackenzie
- *The First Men in the Moon* (2010), as Moon
- *Richard Bacon's Beer & Pizza Club* (2010), series, Actor
- *Peacock Season* (2010), as Stoaty
- *Victoria Wood's Midlife Christmas* (2009), Actor
- *Psychoville* (2009), series, Maureen Sowerbutts / Various Characters, Writer, Producer, Creator
- *Horrible Histories* (2009), series, Actor
- *The Cottage* (2008), as Peter
- *Christmas at the Riviera* (2007), as Ashley
- *Ladies and Gentlemen* (2007), as Freddie
- *Comedy Showcase* (2007), series, as Freddy
- *The League of Gentlemen Are Behind You* (2006), as Benjamin Denton / Papa Lazarou / Pamela Doove / Ross Gaines / Cathy Carter-Smith / Ollie Plimsoles / Vinnie Whytenshawe / Mr Lisgoe / Bernice Woodall / Dean Tavalouris / Edward Tattsyrup / Geoff Tipps / Judee Levinson · Author
- *The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse* (2005), Various Characters, Writer, Executive Producer
- *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* (2005), as Additional Vogon Voices
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Rassmussen — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *Shaun of the Dead* (2004), as Mark — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/shaun-of-the-dead.md)
- *Catterick* (2004), series, as Tony
- *New Tricks* (2004), series, Actor
- *Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe* (2002), as Viking (voice)
- *tlc* (2002), series, as Dr Laurence Flynn
- *The League of Gentlemen: Live at Drury Lane* (2001), as various · Writer
- *Birthday Girl* (2001), as Porter
- *Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)* (2000), series, Actor
- *Spaced* (1999), series, as Dexter — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/spaced.md)
- *This Year's Love* (1999), as Tourist
- *The League of Gentlemen* (1999), series, as Various · Writer, Creator — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-league-of-gentlemen.md)
- *In the Red* (1998), series, as Broadcast Journalist
- *Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round* (1998), series, Actor
- *Auton* (1997), as Dr. Daniel Matthews
- *PROBE: Ghosts of Winterborne* (1996), as Andrew Powell
- *Mash and Peas* (1996), series, Actor
- *PROBE: The Devil of Winterborne* (1995), as Andrew Powell
- *Highgate House of Horror* (1995), as Mr Dandridge · Director
- *Cold Comfort*, series, Creator
- *Doctor Who*, series, as Rassmussen
- *Prodigies*, series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Reece Shearsmith](https://film.one/media/person/60292/gallery-4c9a08b45a0e.jpg) Reece Shearsmith — Scott Matthewman from Aylesbury, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Reece_Shearsmith.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Reece Shearsmith, Michael Smiley and the rest of the A Field In England cast discuss what it's like to work with director Ben Wheatley. Explore the complete, in (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/60292/gallery-2a8c1998d7e3.png) Reece Shearsmith, Michael Smiley and the rest of the A Field In England cast discuss what it's like to work with director Ben Wheatley. Explore the complete, in (2013) — A Field In England, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Reece_Sheersmith.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Reece Shearsmith (2021)](https://film.one/media/person/60292/gallery-971e3c711e9a.jpg) Reece Shearsmith (2021) — PeterCarmichael51, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/ShearsmithR.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Reece Shearsmith](https://film.one/media/person/60292/gallery-90a69130fe6e.jpg) Reece Shearsmith — Image via TMDB
- ![Reece Shearsmith](https://film.one/media/person/60292/gallery-4551ad8cc1a9.jpg) Reece Shearsmith — Image via TMDB
- ![Reece Shearsmith](https://film.one/media/person/60292/gallery-10b78205fdd0.jpg) Reece Shearsmith — Image via TMDB
- ![Reece Shearsmith](https://film.one/media/person/60292/gallery-b888f6c08067.jpg) Reece Shearsmith — 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/reece-shearsmith