---
name: "Vincent Franklin"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/vincent-franklin"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "3 November 1966"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-09-17T15:57:22.990785+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."
---

# Vincent Franklin

Actor. Born 3 November 1966 in Yorkshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 3 November 1966, Yorkshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1999–present
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 88 (1), 2000s 86 (4), 2010s 82 (3), 2020s 50 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 81 to 76 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Comedy 3, Mystery 3, Crime 2, Action 1, History 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $235m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Franklin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7931801, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291569/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/43024

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Gentleman Jack*](https://film.one/tv/gentleman-jack.md) (82)
- **Netflix:** [*Bodyguard*](https://film.one/tv/bodyguard.md) (77)

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

## Fi1m on Vincent Franklin

> Vincent Franklin makes officious dialogue sound like something a person might actually believe. We rate the precision of his supporting work, but his lead in *Cucumber* is a useful warning against casting him only as the man in charge.

Vincent Franklin can deliver a mouthful of managerial jargon as though it deserves a considered reply. As Stewart Pearson in *The Thick of It* (2007–2012), he makes the officiousness convincing enough for the comedy to work. The language may be ridiculous, but he gives it a recognisable speaker who appears to take it seriously. We can believe somebody would employ this man, which makes the nonsense more troubling and considerably funnier.

That television image does not account for all his work. His appearances for Mike Leigh include *Topsy-Turvy* (1999) and *Vera Drake* (2004), where his care with character detail serves the ensemble. Nick Jowett in *Twenty Twelve* (2011–2012) belongs to the later run of workplace comedy. Then Russell T Davies's *Cucumber* (2015) gave him the lead as Henry Best, a more inward-looking part. It is a useful corrective to the assumption that Franklin needs an official title and a quantity of jargon to be interesting.

The move into higher-profile drama includes Andy Shepherd in *Happy Valley* (2014–2023) and Mike Travis in *Bodyguard* (2018). *Bodyguard* is worth the evening, though it is not the place to go looking for Franklin at the centre of things. Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes are the main reason to stay. We were tense because Jed Mercurio keeps the suspense tight, and the two leads made that discomfort worthwhile. The accumulating complications demand more indulgence than they deserve; a cast containing good character actors cannot do all the work for the writing.

We value Franklin for making heightened dialogue sound usable, with enough conviction that the jokes need little assistance. The reservation concerns the casting habit rather than a failure of his: there are only so many variations on the officious man that we need. His ensemble work with Leigh and the leading part Davies gave him offer good reasons to look beyond those familiar roles. Start with *The Thick of It* for the precise comic delivery; try *Cucumber* before deciding that is all he does.

## Biography

Vincent Franklin is an English actor. Born on 3 November 1966 in Haworth, Yorkshire, he trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

He is known for television roles including Rowan in *The Office* (2001), Stewart Pearson in *The Thick of It*, Nick Jowett in *Twenty Twelve*, Henry Best in *Cucumber* and *Banana*, Andy Shepherd in *Happy Valley*, Mike Travis in *Bodyguard* (2018) and Christopher Rawson in *Gentleman Jack* (2019). Film appearances include *Topsy-Turvy* (1999), *The Bourne Identity* (2002), *Mr. Turner* (2014) and *Yesterday* (2019). He is married to actress Hilary Greatorex.

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

## On Fi1m (9)

- *Allelujah* (2023), Fi1m 50, as Mr Salter — [page](https://film.one/film/allelujah.md)
- *Gentleman Jack* (2019), Fi1m 82, as Christopher Rawson — [page](https://film.one/tv/gentleman-jack.md)
- *Bodyguard* (2018), Fi1m 77, as Mike Travis — [page](https://film.one/tv/bodyguard.md)
- *Happy Valley* (2014), Fi1m 88, as DSU Andy Shepherd — [page](https://film.one/tv/happy-valley-2014.md)
- *The Thick of It* (2005), Fi1m 89, as Stewart Pearson — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-thick-of-it.md)
- *Vera Drake* (2004), Fi1m 84, as Mr. Lewis — [page](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md)
- *The Bourne Identity* (2002), Fi1m 83, as Rawlins — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-identity.md)
- *The Office* (2001), Fi1m 89, as Rowan — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office.md)
- *Topsy-Turvy* (1999), Fi1m 88, as Rutland Barrington — [page](https://film.one/film/topsy-turvy.md)

## Complete filmography (54)

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

- *The War Between the Land and the Sea* (2025), series, as Prime Minister Harry Shaw
- *Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin* (2024), as Bishop Bell
- *Allelujah* (2023), as Mr Salter — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/allelujah.md)
- *The Wilds* (2022), as Father Richard
- *I Hate You* (2022), series, as Simon
- *The Witchfinder* (2022), series, as Topcliffe
- *Alice, Through the Looking* (2021), as PC Dee
- *Censor* (2021), as Fraser
- *Yesterday* (2019), as Brian
- *Gentleman Jack* (2019), series, as Christopher Rawson — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/gentleman-jack.md)
- *Nativity Rocks!* (2018), as Lord Mayor
- *Peterloo* (2018), as Magistrate Rev Ethelston
- *Bodyguard* (2018), series, as Mike Travis — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/bodyguard.md)
- *Decline and Fall* (2017), series, as Prendergast
- *Urban Myths* (2017), series, as Alexander
- *Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell* (2015), series, as Drawlight
- *Cucumber* (2015), series, as Henry Best
- *That Day We Sang* (2014), as Mr Stanley
- *Mr. Turner* (2014), as Gentleman Critic
- *The Riot Club* (2014), as Porter
- *Happy Valley* (2014), series, as DSU Andy Shepherd — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/happy-valley-2014.md)
- *The Wrong Mans* (2013), series, as Sergeant Ince
- *National Theatre Live: This House* (2013), as Michael Cocks
- *BBC Comedy Feeds* (2012), series, as Marshall
- *Twenty Twelve* (2011), series, as Nick Jowett
- *Grandma's House* (2010), series, as Uncle Barry
- *Bright Star* (2009), as Dr. Bree
- *Being Human* (2009), series, as Ross
- *Trimming the Fat* (2008), as Alan
- *Fairy Tales* (2008), series, as Ralf
- *Oliver Twist* (2007), series, as Mr Limbkins
- *Expresso* (2007), as Peter
- *Dead Clever: The Life and Crimes of Julie Bottomley* (2007), as Daniel
- *The Illusionist* (2006), as Loschek
- *Confetti* (2006), as Archie
- *The Thick of It* (2005), series, as Stewart Pearson — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-thick-of-it.md)
- *A Line in the Sand* (2004), as Sammy Cargill
- *Vera Drake* (2004), as Mr. Lewis — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/vera-drake.md)
- *Doc Martin* (2004), series, as Chris Parsons
- *The Worst Week of My Life* (2004), series, as Doctor
- *Hustle* (2004), series, as Nigel Henney
- *Celebrity Mastermind* (2003), series, Acting
- *Karishma Kaa Karishma* (2003), series, Creative Director
- *Wild West* (2002), series, as Priggish Man
- *The Bourne Identity* (2002), as Rawlins — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-identity.md)
- *The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells* (2001), series, as War Minister
- *The Office* (2001), series, as Rowan — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office.md)
- *From Hell* (2001), as George Lusk
- *Topsy-Turvy* (1999), as Rutland Barrington — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/topsy-turvy.md)
- *People Like Us* (1999), series, Acting
- *Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round* (1998), series, Acting
- *The Woodlanders* (1998), as Stable Lad
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Artie Blythe
- *Circles of Deceit: Kalon* (1996), as PC at Liz's House

---
© 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/vincent-franklin