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Ian Burfield

Ian Burfield

Actor, also writer · Born November 9, 1964 (61) · London, England, UK

Ian Burfield is an English actor, who has often played roles as police officers and detectives on television. He appeared in 12 episodes of The Bill, 39 episodes of EastEnders, and played the part of a Tweed Coat Fingerman in 2005 film V for Vendetta. He is also a company member of the National Theatre, and has acted in two plays which were screened in cinemas around the UK as part of the National Theatre Live scheme. Since September 2018, Burfield has been a recurring character in EastEnders as Detective Inspector/Detective Chief Inspector Peter Arthurs. (wikipedia)

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 9, 1964 (61)
From
London, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 54 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 65 days to Oct 28Up 8% in 30 days

What are Ian Burfield's films like?

Across their 5 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Power and Ideas.

Themes

share of theme weight
Power
27%
Ideas
20%
Bonds
18%
Morality
18%
Self
17%
Greed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 4 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 0 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 3 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 0 · Intense 3

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

Steady 2 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

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 3 · Even-paced 0 · 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 1 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1

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 1 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 2

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

Resolved 2 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Melancholic
2
Contemplative
1
Dread
1
Thrilling
1
Other
3

How their films linger

Thought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

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 Ian Burfield's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ian Burfield's 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

54 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page.

  • Tales of the Underworld(2026)

    Writer · as Charlie Boy (segment "A Cigar Is a Cigar")

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Hack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 7 episodes · as Sid Fillery

  • The Full House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Tony Beck

  • Who Is Erin Carter?(2023)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Hijack(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · as John Bailey-Brown

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Big Boys(2022)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lance · as Lance (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Capture(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · as Taxi Driver

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Angel of Auschwitz(2019)

    as Karl Mengele

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Press(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Kingsley

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Defending the Guilty(2018)

    Show as Mike

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Prime Suspect: Tennison(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt Fred Turner

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Hatton Garden: The Heist(2016)

    Writer · as Chief Flying Squad Officer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Criminal(2016)

    as Fisherman / Father

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Humans(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gavin

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Selfish Giant(2013)

    as Mick Brazil

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Way to Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as George

  • The Secret of Crickley Hall(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as DI Michael

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • National Theatre Live: The Comedy of Errors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Solnius

  • Acts of Godfrey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Terry

  • Call the Midwife(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Maurice

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • National Theatre Live: The Kitchen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Max

  • Injustice(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Terry Cooper

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Vera(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Iain Hobswain

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The International(2009)

    as Thomas Schumer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Merlin(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Nollar

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Color of Magic(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Ymor

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Inspector Lewis(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeffreys

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • V for Vendetta(2005)

    as Tweed Coat Fingerman

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Nathan Barley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Bailiff

  • Dangerous and the Lonely Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Adrian Martindale

  • Canterbury Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Healey

  • Rosemary & Thyme(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Dave Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Tomorrow La Scala! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Walter

  • Waking the Dead(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Stephen Lovell

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Parent's Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Graham

  • In the Beginning(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lot

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Urban Gothic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Lynch

  • Circus(2000)

    as Casper

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Jos Killick

  • Shockers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Graham

  • The Investigator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Derek Soper

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Hetty Wainthropp Investigates(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Kenyon

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Plant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as DS Worrall

  • Royce(1994)

    as Jullus

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Knock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 14 episodes · as Tommy Maddern

  • Peak Practice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Steve Mellor

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Harold Carrick · as Kendal · as Terry Parsons

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Krays(1990)

    as Whip

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Chief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Ronnie Meek

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeff

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as P.C. Bainbridge

  • EastEnders(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as D.I. Hamilton

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • The Dark Channel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Bibi

Career shape

Star power in the 86th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles, 52 of them dated from 1985 to 2026; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

The Selfish Giant (2013)

$1.1M worldwide

Highest rated

The Selfish Giant (2013)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

Defending the Guilty (2018)

Film career

19852026

Peak 2013 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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.

  • 1990Screen debut· The Krays

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting53 of 53: 51 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thWriting2 of 53: 0 only writing, 2 with another role

By decade

1980s3 · acting1990s11 · acting2000s16 · acting2010s16 · 16 acting · 1 crew2020s6 · 6 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 16th · top billed in 0% of 5 roles

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.

How do Ian Burfield's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 10; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 25th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

25thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Approval · how many liked their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 33 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor, writer

Tales of the Underworld (2026)

97th percentile spread · 63% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

V for Vendetta (2005)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 55/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 30. 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.

Who does Ian Burfield work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ian Burfield's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael McKell shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Producers

Mixed roles