Skip to content
Motif
Nigel Hawthorne

Nigel Hawthorne

Actor, also producer · Died December 26, 2001, aged 72 · Hertfordshire, England, UK

Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne (April 5, 1929 – December 26, 2001) was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he would win four Bafta Awards during the 1980s in the 'Best Light Entertainment Performance' Category. In the 1990s He would win two more Bafta Awards, one as Best TV Actor for 'The Fragile Heart' and one as Best Film Actor for 'The Madness of King George'. His role in the latter also garnered him his sole Oscar Nomination.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 5, 1929
Died
December 26, 2001 (aged 72)
From
Hertfordshire, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
37 on Motif · 113 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 20% in 30 days

What are Nigel Hawthorne's films like?

Across their 27 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their Motif 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
Morality
28%
Bonds
20%
Self
20%
Power
12%
Survival
8%
Society
7%
Ideas
5%
Identity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themePower4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 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 9 · Serious 5 · Dark 11

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 14 · Intense 6

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 10 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 4

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

Easy watch 9 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 15 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 15
Threshold guardian
4 of 15
Herald
2 of 15
Mentor
2 of 15
Trickster
1 of 15
Hero
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Melancholic
10
Hopeful
10
Joyful
7
Warm
6
Other
24

How their films linger

Bittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5

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 Nigel Hawthorne's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 37 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Nigel Hawthorne's titles on Motif; 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

113 credits, 37 with a Motif page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Once Upon a Halloween (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Fflewddur Fflam (voice) (archive sound)

  • Animal Stories (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Narrator (Orig. U.K.)

  • The Funny Blokes of British Comedy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Sir Humphrey Appleby (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Call Me Claus(2001)

    as Nick

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Victoria & Albert (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Lord William Lamb

  • Victoria & Albert (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Viscount Melbourne

  • Higher Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Executive Producer · as Uncle Cullen

  • The Clandestine Marriage(1998)

    Producer · as Lord Ogleby

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • A Reasonable Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Judge Wendon

  • Tarzan(1999)

    as Professor Archimedes Q. Porter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Big Brass Ring(1999)

    as Kim Mennaker

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Winslow Boy(1999)

    as Arthur Winslow

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Atatürk: Founder of Modern Turkey (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Sir Percy Lorraine, British Ambassador

  • Madeline(1998)

    as Lord Covington

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Animal Stories (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 52 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

  • The Object of My Affection(1998)

    as Rodney Fraser

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Amistad(1997)

    as Martin Van Buren

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Forbidden Territory: Stanley's Search for Livingstone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as David Livingstone

  • Murder in Mind(1997)

    Associate Producer · as Dr. Ellis

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Fragile Heart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Edgar Pascoe

  • Twelfth Night(1996)

    as Malvolio

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Inside (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Colonel

  • Russia's War: Blood Upon the Snow (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 10 episodes · as Narrator

  • The Happy Prince (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Richard III(1995)

    as The Duke of Clarence

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Madness of King George(1994)

    as George III

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Late-Flowering Lust (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    as Cousin John

  • Demolition Man(1993)

    as Dr. Raymond Cocteau

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Freddie as F.R.O.7.(1992)

    as Brigadier G (voice)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Flea Bites (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Kryst

  • The Trials of Oz (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Brian Leary

  • Performance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Brian Leary

  • King of the Wind(1989)

    as Achmet

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Relatively Speaking (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Philip Carter

  • A Handful of Time (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Ted Walker

  • The Spirit of Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Rev. Jonathan Guerdon

  • The Shawl (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as John

  • RARG (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    as Storyteller

  • The Play on One (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as John

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

    Show 1 episode · as Rev. Jonathan Guerdon

  • Yes, Prime Minister(1986)

    Show 16 episodes · as Sir Humphrey Appleby

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Turtle Diary (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    as Publisher

  • Jenny's War (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    as Colonel

  • Theatre Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Harpagon

  • The Black Cauldron(1985)

    as Fflewddur Fflam (voice)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Jenny's War (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 4 episodes · as Colonel

  • Mapp & Lucia (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 10 episodes · as Georgie Pillson

  • The Chain (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    as Mr Thorn

  • The House (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    as General Fagg

  • Pope John Paul II(1984)

    as Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Natural World(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Tartuffe, or The Imposter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Orgon

  • The Crimson Permanent Assurance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Passerby (uncredited)

  • Dead on Time (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Doctor

  • The Funny Side of Christmas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Sir Humphrey Appleby

  • Gandhi(1982)

    as Kinnoch

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Barchester Chronicles (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 7 episodes · as Dr Grantly

  • The Plague Dogs(1982)

    as Dr. Boycott (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Critic (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Mr. Sneer

  • Firefox(1982)

    as Pyotr Baranovich

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The World Cup: A Captain's Tale(1982)

    as John Westwood

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • A Woman Called Golda(1982)

    as King Abdullah

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame(1982)

    as Magistrate at Esmeralda's trial

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Protest (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as Stanek / Vanek

  • Memoirs of a Survivor(1981)

    as Victorian Father

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • History of the World: Part I(1981)

    as Citizen Official - The French Revolution

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as Fulton

  • Jessie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    as Mr Edmonds

  • A Tale of Two Cities(1980)

    as Mr. CJ Stryver

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Russell Harty (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Rod of Iron (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    as Trevor

  • The Tempest(1980)

    as Stephano

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Yes Minister(1980)

    Show 21 episodes · as Sir Humphrey Appleby

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Enigma (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    as Fenton

  • The Misanthrope (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    as Philinte

  • The Other Side (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 5 episodes · as Skellow

  • Tales of the Unexpected(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Drummond

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Thomas & Sarah (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Wilson

  • The Knowledge (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    as Mr Burgess

  • The BBC Television Shakespeare (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Stephano

  • The Sailor's Return (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mr Fosse

  • Edward and Mrs Simpson (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 5 episodes · as Walter Monkton

  • Edward & Mrs. Simpson (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Walter Monkton

  • Watership Down(1978)

    as Captain Campion (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Holocaust (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Ohldendorf

  • Sweeney 2(1978)

    as Det. Chief Insp. Dilke

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Going Straight (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Worm Wellings

  • Warrior Queen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 6 episodes · as Catus Decianus

  • Destiny (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Major Lewis Rolfe

  • Marie Curie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 5 episodes · as Pierre Curie

  • Buffet (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    as Jack

  • Bill Brand (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Browning

  • Play Things (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    as Tenby

  • Spiderweb (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    as Erik Lönnrot

  • The Floater (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    as Morris Shelman

  • The Hiding Place(1975)

    as Pastor De Ruiter

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Child of Hope (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    as Police Captain

  • S*P*Y*S(1974)

    as Croft

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Occupations (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Libertini

  • Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Fenton · as Tenby

  • The Emergency Channel (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Graham

  • Young Winston(1972)

    as Boer Sentry (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Alma Mater (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    as Major

  • Play for Today (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 2 episodes · as Fulton · as Graham · as Jack · as Major Lewis Rolfe · as Morris Shelman · as Police Captain · as Stanek / Vanek

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Hugh

  • Dad's Army (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Angry Man

  • Omnibus (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Trevor

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Sneer · as Philinte

  • The Desperate People (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 4 episodes · as Cliff Fletcher

  • Man of the World (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Assistant Director

  • Carve Her Name with Pride(1958)

    as Park Soldier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Magistrate

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 113 titles from 1951 to 2005; peak year 1998.

Biggest box office

Tarzan (1999)

$448M worldwide

Highest rated

Yes Minister (1980)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Tarzan (1999)

Film career

19512005

Peak 1998 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 8 Motif 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
Acting113 of 113: 111 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stProducing2 of 113: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s7 · acting1970s29 · acting1980s42 · acting1990s26 · 26 acting · 1 crew2000s7 · 7 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 5% of 19 roles
588398

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 Motif, 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.

How do Nigel Hawthorne's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 33; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Pope John Paul II (1984)

86th percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Gandhi (1982)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif 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 Nigel Hawthorne's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 Motif titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles33–80 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles12–69 · median 25 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles3–65 · median 23 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles19–46 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles35–89 · median 60 · 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 Nigel Hawthorne work with?

People who share at least 2 of Nigel Hawthorne's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; William Shakespeare shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers