---
name: "Simon McBurney"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/simon-mcburney"
fi1m_id: "simon-mcburney"
imdb_id: "nm0564402"
tmdb_id: 16358
wikidata_id: "Q705602"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 August 1957"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 16
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 15
updated: "2026-10-05T11:53:27.444879+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."
---

# Simon McBurney

## Identity

Simon McBurney

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/simon-mcburney
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** simon-mcburney
- **IMDb ID:** nm0564402
- **TMDB ID:** 16358
- **Wikidata ID:** Q705602
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_McBurney, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q705602, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564402/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/16358

Actor. Born 25 August 1957 in Cambridge, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 August 1957, Cambridge, England, UK
- **Active:** 1991–present
- **Also known as:** سایمن مک‌برنی
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 16: 15 acting, 1 writing
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 15 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 58 (1), 2000s 61 (4), 2010s 73 (9), 2020s 80 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 69 to 66 across 14 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 4 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 12 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 10, Adventure 5, Action 4, Fantasy 4, Romance 4, Mystery 3
- **Screen time:** 27 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3,030m across 12 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_McBurney, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q705602, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564402/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/16358

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Wolfwalkers*](https://film.one/film/wolfwalkers.md) (84), [*Rev.*](https://film.one/tv/rev.md) (82), [*Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation*](https://film.one/film/mission-impossible-rogue-nation.md) (76), [*The Duchess*](https://film.one/film/the-duchess.md) (66)
- **Disney+:** [*Nosferatu*](https://film.one/film/nosferatu.md) (75)
- **Netflix:** [*The Theory of Everything*](https://film.one/film/the-theory-of-everything.md) (72)
- **HBO Max:** [*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1*](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-1.md) (67)

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

## Fi1m on Simon McBurney

> Simon McBurney can make a supporting character unpleasant with a giggle. We value his precision when it tells us something about the person; in *Kafka*, the comic coordination becomes a distraction.

In *Nosferatu* (2024), Simon McBurney gives Herr Knock a giggling servility that makes even deference seem suspect. He is Thomas Hutter's employer, yet he hardly offers the comfort of a sensible man in charge. We found his eager obedience unpleasant, which is precisely why the performance works. Robert Eggers gives him a character who benefits from being disagreeable, and McBurney is willing to oblige.

His attention to rhythm and physical behaviour has roots in the theatre work he has continued alongside supporting screen roles. He co-founded Complicité in 1983, developing work through research and collaborative physical theatre. In *Mnemonic* (1999) and *The Encounter* (2015), he is both director and performer. Officials, diplomats and eccentric authority figures recur in his screen casting, parts in which a small oddity can make an otherwise functional character worth watching. The risk is that we notice the timing long after we have stopped believing in the character.

His screen career began with *Kafka* (1991), where the effort is too visible. McBurney and Keith Allen play the assistants assigned to Kafka as a music-hall double act, synchronising nods and completing one another's sentences. We laughed once, then tired of a routine that kept asking for attention. The coordination is skilful, but it leaves us watching two performers rather than worrying about the man they have been assigned to assist. Steven Soderbergh's finely lit, thinly plotted mystery hardly needs another reason for us to stop following the story.

*Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (2011), with McBurney as Oliver Lacon, offers the stronger evening, though Tomas Alfredson's compressed storytelling sometimes makes the chronology hard work. Our admiration there rests chiefly with Gary Oldman's stillness as Smiley and the film's melancholy tension. For a clearer sense of what McBurney himself can add, try *Nosferatu*, provided you can tolerate stretches in which Eggers takes solemnity too far.

## Biography

Simon McBurney is an English actor, playwright and theatre director. He was born on 25 August 1957 in Cambridge and trained at the University of Cambridge, the Jacques Lecoq International School of Theatre and with Philippe Gaulier.

In 1983 he co-founded the theatre company Complicité, of which he is artistic director. His screen credits include *Kafka* (1991), *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (2011), *The Theory of Everything* (2014), *Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation* (2015) and *Nosferatu* (2024), in which he played Herr Knock. He has received Olivier Awards and a Tony Award nomination.

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

## On Fi1m (16)

### Performed in (15) — the average rests on these

- *Nosferatu* (2024), Fi1m 75, as Herr Knock — [page](https://film.one/film/nosferatu.md)
- *Wolfwalkers* (2020), Fi1m 84, as Lord Protector (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/wolfwalkers.md)
- *Allied* (2016), Fi1m 57, as S.O.E. Official — [page](https://film.one/film/allied.md)
- *Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation* (2015), Fi1m 76, as Atlee — [page](https://film.one/film/mission-impossible-rogue-nation.md)
- *The Theory of Everything* (2014), Fi1m 72, as Frank Hawking — [page](https://film.one/film/the-theory-of-everything.md)
- *Utopia* (2013), Fi1m 83, as Professor Donaldson — [page](https://film.one/tv/utopia.md)
- *Jane Eyre* (2011), Fi1m 77, as Mr. Brocklehurst — [page](https://film.one/film/jane-eyre.md)
- *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (2011), Fi1m 84, as Oliver Lacon — [page](https://film.one/film/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1* (2010), Fi1m 67, as Kreacher (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-1.md)
- *Rev.* (2010), Fi1m 82, as Robert — [page](https://film.one/tv/rev.md)
- *Robin Hood* (2010), Fi1m 55, as Father Tancred — [page](https://film.one/film/robin-hood-2010.md)
- *Body of Lies* (2008), Fi1m 60, as Garland — [page](https://film.one/film/body-of-lies.md)
- *The Duchess* (2008), Fi1m 66, as Charles Fox — [page](https://film.one/film/the-duchess.md)
- *The Golden Compass* (2007), Fi1m 54, as Fra Pavel — [page](https://film.one/film/the-golden-compass.md)
- *Kafka* (1991), Fi1m 58, as Assistant Oscar — [page](https://film.one/film/kafka.md)

### Wrote (1)

- *Mr. Bean's Holiday* (2007), Fi1m 63, Story, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/mr-beans-holiday.md)

## Complete filmography (63)

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

- *The Betrayers* (2026), Actor
- *The Actor* (2025), as Doctor Croft / Doctor Edgarton
- *Nosferatu* (2024), as Herr Knock — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/nosferatu.md)
- *Gardening* (2024), as Detective Danforth
- *National Theatre Live: Mnemonic* (2024), Director, Writer
- *A Mistake* (2023), as Andrew McGrath
- *Hijack* (2023), series, as Edgar Janssen — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/hijack.md)
- *The Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute* (2023), as Art Direction
- *Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead* (2023), Director
- *The Pale Blue Eye* (2022), as Captain Hitchcock
- *Can I Live?* (2021), Co-Director
- *Wolfwalkers* (2020), as Lord Protector (voice) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/wolfwalkers.md)
- *Siberia* (2020), as Magician
- *Carnival Row* (2019), series, as Runyan Millworthy
- *The Loudest Voice* (2019), series, as Rupert Murdoch
- *The Mercy* (2018), as Sir Francis Chichester
- *The Encounter* (2017), Director
- *Allied* (2016), as S.O.E. Official — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/allied.md)
- *The Conjuring 2* (2016), as Maurice Grosse
- *Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation* (2015), as Atlee — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/mission-impossible-rogue-nation.md)
- *The Casual Vacancy* (2015), series, as Colin Wall
- *The Theory of Everything* (2014), as Frank Hawking — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-theory-of-everything.md)
- *Magic in the Moonlight* (2014), as Howard Burkan
- *For Those Who Can Tell No Tales* (2013), as Tim Clancy
- *Utopia* (2013), series, as Professor Donaldson — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/utopia.md)
- *Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy* (2011), as Oliver Lacon — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy.md)
- *The Borgias* (2011), series, as Johannes Burchart
- *Jane Eyre* (2011), as Mr. Brocklehurst — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/jane-eyre.md)
- *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1* (2010), as Kreacher (voice) — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-1.md)
- *National Theatre Live: A Disappearing Number* (2010), Director, Writer
- *Rev.* (2010), series, as Robert — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/rev.md)
- *Robin Hood* (2010), as Father Tancred — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/robin-hood-2010.md)
- *Boogie Woogie* (2010), as Robert Freign
- *Body of Lies* (2008), as Garland — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/body-of-lies.md)
- *The Duchess* (2008), as Charles Fox — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-duchess.md)
- *The Golden Compass* (2007), as Fra Pavel — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/the-golden-compass.md)
- *Mr. Bean's Holiday* (2007), Story, Executive Producer — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/mr-beans-holiday.md)
- *The Last King of Scotland* (2006), as British Diplomat
- *Friends with Money* (2006), as Aaron
- *Lenny Henry Live - So Much Things To Say* (2005), Creative Consultant
- *The Manchurian Candidate* (2004), as Dr. Atticus Noyle
- *The Reckoning* (2004), as Stephen
- *Bright Young Things* (2003), as Sneath
- *The Elephant Vanishes* (2003), Director
- *Sweet Dreams* (2003), as Thomas
- *Eisenstein* (2000), as Sergei Eisenstein
- *Onegin* (1999), as Triquet
- *Inside-Out* (1999), as Market researcher
- *Cousin Bette* (1998), as Vauvinet
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Henry Carstairs — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *The Ogre* (1996), as Brigadier
- *Mesmer* (1994), as Franz Mesmer junior
- *Being Human* (1994), as Hermas
- *Tom & Viv* (1994), as Dr. Reginald Miller
- *A Business Affair* (1994), as Salesman
- *Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase* (1993), as Madman
- *The Crying Game* (1992), as Mick
- *Kafka* (1991), as Assistant Oscar — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/kafka.md)
- *Performance* (1991), series, as Pistol
- *He-Play* (1990), series, as Colin
- *Burning Ambition* (1988), as Martin
- *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Martin
- *Quo Vadis, Aida? – The Missing Mart*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Simon McBurney](https://film.one/media/person/8764/gallery-90db85c1297a.jpg) Simon McBurney — Christian Michelides, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Simon_McBurney_%27The_Encounter%27_5468-Michelides_2015_%28cropped-J1%29.jpg/1280px-Simon_McBurney_%27The_Encounter%27_5468-Michelides_2015_%28cropped-J1%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Star of Robin Hood and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. NYC Dec '16 (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/8764/gallery-434b3f64c845.jpg) Star of Robin Hood and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. NYC Dec '16 (2016) — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Simon_McBurney_%2831378819573%29.jpg/1280px-Simon_McBurney_%2831378819573%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Star of Robin Hood and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. NYC Dec '16 (2016)](https://film.one/media/person/8764/gallery-4032fa9633ba.jpg) Star of Robin Hood and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. NYC Dec '16 (2016) — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Simon_McBurney_%2831378819573%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Simon_McBurney_%2831378819573%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Simon McBurney in "The Encounter" (Théâtre de Complicité), World Premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival, August 2015](https://film.one/media/person/8764/gallery-670819455e94.jpg) Simon McBurney in "The Encounter" (Théâtre de Complicité), World Premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival, August 2015 — Francisco Peralta Torrejón, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/The_Encounter_3610-Peralta.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Simon McBurney](https://film.one/media/person/8764/gallery-fb3f6a9ccfc8.jpg) Simon McBurney — Image via TMDB
- ![Simon McBurney](https://film.one/media/person/8764/gallery-db259671fded.jpg) Simon McBurney — Image via TMDB
- ![Simon McBurney](https://film.one/media/person/8764/gallery-d905e0673e22.jpg) Simon McBurney — Image via TMDB
- ![Simon McBurney in "The Encounter" (Théâtre de Complicité), World Premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival, August 2015](https://film.one/media/person/8764/gallery-d6116b869a09.jpg) Simon McBurney in "The Encounter" (Théâtre de Complicité), World Premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival, August 2015 — Francisco Peralta Torrejón, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/The_Encounter_3633-Peralta.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Simon McBurney](https://film.one/media/person/8764/gallery-84f8c1fa52ca.jpg) Simon McBurney — Image via TMDB
- ![Simon McBurney](https://film.one/media/person/8764/gallery-449bee260c7d.jpg) Simon McBurney — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 2 won, 1 nominated

- Konrad Wolf Prize 2008: Konrad Wolf Prize (won)
- Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play 1998: Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (nominated)
- Europe Theatre Prize 1997: Europe Theatre Prize (won)

*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/simon-mcburney