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David Thewlis

David Thewlis

Actor, also writer and director · Born March 20, 1963 (63) · Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK

Primetime Emmy nominee · Golden Globe nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 3 other major award bodies

David Wheeler (born March 20, 1963), better known as David Thewlis, is an English actor and filmmaker. He is known as a character actor and has appeared in a wide variety of genres in both film and television. He has received the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor and nominations for two BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Award, Primetime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Thewlis made his film debut in Little Dorrit (1987) and acted in the Mike Leigh films Life is Sweet (1990) and Naked (1993), winning the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor for the latter. He then appeared in films such as Black Beauty (1994), Restoration (1995), James and the Giant Peach (1996), Dragonheart (1996), and Seven Years in Tibet (1997). He became more widely known to film audiences for his roles as Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter franchise (2004–2011) and Ares / Sir Patrick Morgan in Wonder Woman (2017). Other film roles include Kingdom of Heaven (2005), The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008), War Horse (2011), The Theory of Everything (2014), Anomalisa (2015), I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020), and Enola Holmes 2 (2022). Thewlis' most notable television roles include V. M. Varga in the third season of FX's Fargo (2017), the voice of the Shame Wizard in the Netflix animated sitcoms Big Mouth (2017–present) and Human Resources (2022–present), Christopher Edwards in the HBO miniseries Landscapers (2021), and John Dee in the Netflix drama series The Sandman (2022). His performance in Fargo earned him nominations for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Critics' Choice Award.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 20, 1963 (63)
From
Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also writer and director
Titles
78 on MovieCove · 116 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 18% in 30 days

What are David Thewlis' films like?

Across their 62 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
24%
Bonds
22%
Morality
15%
Survival
12%
Power
11%
Ideas
8%
Society
8%
Romantic love13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity13 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 55 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 11 · Serious 16 · Dark 28

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 15 · Stylized 24 · Heightened 16

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 31 · Intense 20

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 12 · Shifting 34 · Whiplash 9

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 35 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 26 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 27 · Full focus 12

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 10 · Affecting 21 · Heavy 24

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 31 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 13

Roles they play

46 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 12 of 46 analyzed roles.

Shadow
12 of 46
Mentor
9 of 46
Hero
7 of 46
Trickster
6 of 46
Ally
4 of 46
Shapeshifter
3 of 46
Herald
3 of 46
Threshold guardian
2 of 46
Show the 46 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
38
Melancholic
37
Dread
17
Hopeful
14
Warm
10
Other
60

How their films linger

Bittersweet29 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 18 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet28
  • Tragic8
  • Ambiguous15

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch David Thewlis' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 60 of their 78 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Thewlis' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

116 credits, 78 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Signal One(2026)

    as Perry

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Dirty Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ash Smith

  • Avatar: Fire and Ash(2025)

    as Peylak

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Thing with Feathers(2025)

    as Crow (voice)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Sherlock & Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · as Sherlock Holmes

  • Kaos(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · as Hades

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Artful Dodger(2023)

    Show 16 episodes · as Norbert Fagin

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Amazing Maurice(2022)

    as Boss Man / Rat King (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Enola Holmes 2(2022)

    as Grail

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Sandman(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as John Dee

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Human Resources(2022)

    Show 20 episodes · as Lionel St. Swithens (voice) · as Memory Bank Manager (voice)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Landscapers(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · as Christopher Edwards

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Rare Beasts(2019)

    as Vic

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Zack Snyder's Justice League(2021)

    as Ares

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • I'm Thinking of Ending Things(2020)

    as Father

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Eternal Beauty(2019)

    as Mike

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Guest of Honour(2019)

    as Jim

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Barkskins(2020)

    Show 8 episodes · as Claude Trepagny

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • The Feed(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · as Lawrence Hatfield

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • The Mercy(2018)

    as Rodney Hallworth

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Justice League(2017)

    as Ares

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Big Mouth(2017)

    Show 8 episodes · as Actor (voice) · as Lionel St. Swithens (voice) · as Shame Wizard (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Wonder Woman(2017)

    as Sir Patrick

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Anomalisa(2015)

    as Michael Stone (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Regression(2015)

    as Professor Kenneth Raines

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Macbeth(2015)

    as Duncan

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • An Inspector Calls(2015)

    as Inspector Goole - The Inspector

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Legend(2015)

    as Leslie Payne

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Queen & Country(2014)

    as Sargeant Major Bradley

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Theory of Everything(2014)

    as Dennis Sciama

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Stonehearst Asylum(2014)

    as Mickey Finn

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Fargo(2014)

    Show 10 episodes · as V.M. Vargas

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Sunday Roast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Writer · as Dick Puck

  • Separate We Come, Separate We Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Norman

  • The Fifth Estate(2013)

    as Nick Davies

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Zero Theorem(2013)

    as Joby

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • RED 2(2013)

    as The Frog

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen(2012)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • War Horse(2011)

    as Lyons

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Lady(2011)

    as Michael Aris

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Anonymous(2011)

    as William Cecil

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2(2011)

    as Remus Lupin

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Organ Grinder's Monkey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Pablo (voice)

  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1(2010)

    as Remus Lupin

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • London Boulevard(2010)

    as Jordan

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Nice(2010)

    as Jim McCann

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Athena (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Chuck

  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince(2009)

    as Remus Lupin

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Veronika Decides to Die(2009)

    as Dr. Blake

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Boy in the Striped Pajamas(2008)

    as Father

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Inner Life of Martin Frost(2007)

    as Martin Frost

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix(2007)

    as Remus Lupin

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Omen(2006)

    as Keith Jennings

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Street(2006)

    Show 6 episodes · as Joe Jennerson / Harry Jennerson

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Basic Instinct 2(2006)

    as Roy Washburn

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • All the Invisible Children(2005)

    as Jonathan (segment "Jonathan")

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The New World(2005)

    as Wingfield

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Kingdom of Heaven(2005)

    as Hospitaler

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(2004)

    as Remus Lupin

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Little Wolf's Book of Badness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Mr. Twister (voice)

  • Timeline(2003)

    as Robert Doniger

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Cheeky(2003)

    Director · Writer · as Harry Sankey

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • D.I.Y. Hard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Man

  • Dinotopia(2002)

    Show 3 episodes · as Cyrus Crabb

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Discovering Dinotopia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Cyrus

  • Dinotopia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Cyrus Crabb

  • Hamilton Mattress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Hamilton Mattress (voice)

  • Goodbye Charlie Bright (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Charlie's Dad

  • Endgame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Clov

  • Gangster No. 1(2000)

    as Freddie Mays

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Miracle Maker(1999)

    as Judas Iscariot (voice)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?(1999)

    as Nesbit

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Love Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Dealer

  • Divorcing Jack(1998)

    as Dan Starkey

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Big Lebowski(1998)

    as Knox Harrington

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Besieged (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Jason Kinsky

  • Seven Years in Tibet(1997)

    as Peter Aufschnaiter

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • American Perfekt(1997)

    as Santini

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Island of Dr. Moreau(1996)

    as Douglas

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • DragonHeart(1996)

    as King Einon

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • James and the Giant Peach(1996)

    as Earthworm (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Restoration(1995)

    as John Pearce

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Total Eclipse(1995)

    as Paul Verlaine

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Hello, Hello, Hello (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Writer

  • Dandelion Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · as Oswald Martin

  • Black Beauty(1994)

    as Jerry Barker

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Naked(1993)

    as Johnny

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Frank Stubbs Promotes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Bence

  • The Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Franz

  • Naked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 5 episodes · as Johnny

  • Damage(1992)

    as Detective

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Black and Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Crematorium Attendant

  • Swords at Teatime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Mike

  • Afraid of the Dark(1991)

    as Locksmith / Tom Miller

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Journey to Knock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Terry

  • Filipina Dreamgirls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Tim Shanks

  • Skulduggery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Tony

  • Prime Suspect(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as James Jackson

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Life Is Sweet(1990)

    as Nicola's Lover

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Shrinks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Terry Slater

  • Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 3 episodes · as Doctor

  • Screen One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Tim Shanks

  • Resurrected(1989)

    as Kevin Deakin

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • A Bit of a Do (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 6 episodes · as Paul Simcock

  • Vroom(1988)

    as Ringe

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Deep Red Instant Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Little Dorrit(1987)

    as George Braddle

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Short & Curlies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Clive

  • Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Joey

  • Valentine Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 12 episodes · as Max

  • The Singing Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Soldier

  • ScreenPlay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Joey · as Terry

  • Radio Pictures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as JIM 'Grams'

  • Summer Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim 'Grams' Dench · as Keith

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Franz

  • Only Fools and Horses(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Stew

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 116 titles from 1981 to 2026; peak year 2014.

Biggest box office

Wonder Woman (2017)

$824M worldwide

Highest rated

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19812026

Peak 2014 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 22 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting115 of 116: 113 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thDirecting2 of 116: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting3 of 116: 0 only writing, 3 with another role

116 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1980s15 · acting1990s29 · 28 acting · 1 crew2000s25 · 25 acting · 1 crew2010s29 · 29 acting · 1 crew2020s18 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 8% of 62 roles
87970207121722

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

1 major award from 7 major nominations, 1993–2022.

WinNomination
  1. 2022
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Leading Actor
  2. 2018
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series
  3. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie
  4. 2015
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  5. 1996
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Short Film
  6. 1993
    • Cannes award, won

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do David Thewlis' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 65; across their 55 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 55

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 55

Reach · how many have seen their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 55

Midcredits score across 78 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up30
  • 50th to 74th23
  • 25th to 49th19
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

34 of their 78 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved17
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser34
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor, director, writer

Cheeky (2003)

73rd percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Fargo (2014)

Midcredits 99th · 96% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 52 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is David Thewlis' work okay for kids?

Across up to 42 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore36 titles26–82 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity42 titles9–70 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity34 titles15–88 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs29 titles25–66 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense30 titles34–78 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does David Thewlis work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Thewlis' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Benedict Cumberbatch shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles