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Paul Copley

Paul Copley

Actor · Born November 25, 1944 (81) · Denby Dale, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Paul is a long established and much respected British actor and voiceover artist. Born in Denby Dale, West Riding of Yorkshire, on 25th November 1944 he grew up beside a dairy farm. His father, Harold, was involved with local amateur dramatic productions, as were the rest of his family. He went to Penistone Grammar School, then the Northern Counties College of Education in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he received an Associate of the Drama Board (ADB) in Drama. He taught English and Drama in Walthamstow, before he joined the Leeds Playhouse Theatre-in-education Company in 1971. In 1976, Paul won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a New Play for his role in John Wilson's For King and Country. With many and varied roles to follow, Paul soon established himself as one of the UK's leading stage, film, television and radio actors. In 2011-2015 Paul gained worldwide recognition appearing in 16 episodes of the hugely popular television series Downton Abbey playing the popular role of farmer Mr Mason. Paul is married to the actress Natasha Pyne. They married in 1972, after both performing in a Leeds Playhouse production of Frank Wedekind's Lulu, adapted by Peter Barnes, directed by Bill Hays in 1971.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 25, 1944 (81)
From
Denby Dale, West Yorkshire, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
51 on MovieCove · 136 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 55% in 30 days

What are Paul Copley's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 97th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile
: browse their Drama 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
Morality
39%
Bonds
15%
Power
13%
Self
9%
Ideas
9%
Survival
7%
Society
7%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 3 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 4 · Intense 4

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

Steady 2 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 0 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 0

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

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Melancholic
6
Warm
3
Contemplative
3
Dread
1
Other
4

How their films linger

Thought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic2

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 Paul Copley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 37 of their 51 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on BritBox (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Paul Copley'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

136 credits, 51 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Big Winners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Arthur Thistle

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Thistle

  • Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale(2025)

    as Albert Mason

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

  • Ticker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Howard

  • DI Ray(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Terry Hunter

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Downton Abbey: A New Era(2022)

    as Mason

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Great Uncle Geoffrey

  • Enola Holmes(2020)

    as Station Master

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Ropeless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Larry Windsor

  • On the Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Ray

  • Trust Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Arthur Hardacre

  • Broken(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Joe Kerrigan

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Reg(2016)

    as Man 2

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Nest Egg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • The Sound of Music Live(2015)

    as Franz

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Coroner(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as John Roxwell

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Code of a Killer(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sidney Jeffreys

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The 12 Days of Christine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Ernie

  • Inside No. 9(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Ernie

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • British Gardens in Time(2014)

    Show Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Father Brown(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Feste

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator

  • Last Tango in Halifax(2012)

    Show 24 episodes · as Harry

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • First Encounter: King Lear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as King Lear

  • White Heat(2012)

    Show 6 episodes · as Alan (present day)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Call the Midwife(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Tommy Smith

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Vera(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Malcolm Kenrich

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Downton Abbey(2010)

    Show 11 episodes · as Mr. Mason

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Moving On(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Ronnie

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Survivors(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Ted

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Inspector George Gently(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Shadow in the North(2007)

    as Paton

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Kingdom(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Vincent Straker

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Torchwood(2006)

    Show 4 episodes · as Clement McDonald

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Street(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Johnny and the Bomb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sgt. Bourke

  • Life on Mars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Reg Cole

  • Marian, Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Phillip Walsh

  • Dead Man Weds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 6 episodes · as Blind Man

  • Shameless(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Norman Owens

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • New Tricks(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Pat the Rat

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Key (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Burn It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 10 episodes · as Terry Grimshaw

  • The Afternoon Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Dave

  • The Royal(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Nesbitt

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Hornblower: Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Matthews

  • Hornblower: Loyalty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Matthews

  • Nice Guy Eddie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Born and Bred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Hubert Gough

  • The Many Lives of Albert Walker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Danny Peck

  • Waking the Dead(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Clifford Day

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Messiah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ian Fleet

  • Hornblower: Retribution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Matthews

  • Hornblower: Mutiny(2001)

    as Mathews

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Blow Dry(2001)

    as Ken

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Horatio Hornblower: The Wrong War(1999)

    as Mathews

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Horatio Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil(1999)

    as Matthews

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Queer as Folk(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Roy Maloney

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Horatio Hornblower: The Fire Ship(1998)

    as Mathews

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Worst Witch(1998)

    Show 3 episodes · as Algernon Rowan Webb · as Algernon Rowan-Webb

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Horatio Hornblower: The Duel(1998)

    as Matthews

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

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

    Show 8 episodes · as Matthews

  • Written in Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Brian Chappel

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

    Show 14 episodes · as Peter Quinlan

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Dewar

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • This Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 6 episodes · as Jerry Cook

  • Dalziel and Pascoe(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Henslowe

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Silent Witness(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Jude(1996)

    as Mr. Willis

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Roughnecks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 13 episodes · as Ian

  • A Pinch of Snuff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Charlie Heppelwhite

  • The Remains of the Day(1993)

    as Harry Smith

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Cracker(1993)

    Show 5 episodes · as Pathologist

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Thomas Thomas

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

    Show 2 episodes · as DS Patrick Hopkins · as Tim Shardlow

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Dick Radcliffe · as Herbie Lloyd · as Malcolm Stainsby

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • How's Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Jack

  • Stay Lucky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Paradise Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mousey Pavitt

  • Testimony of a Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Gerry

  • Young Charlie Chaplin(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Chimnery Sweep

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Local Man

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 4 episodes · as Arthur · as Frederick Chambers · as Mick McCarthur

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Silas Marner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as William Dane

  • The Bright Side (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Which Side Are You On? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Bird Fancier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Roy Pearson

  • The Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Big Deal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Max

  • The Gathering Seed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 6 episodes · as Bob Henshaw

  • Doll’s Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Social Worker

  • Ends and Means (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Ghost in the Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Mr. Reed

  • P.Q. 17 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as PO Jordan

  • A Room for the Winter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Robert

  • Tenko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as POW

  • West End Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Herbert

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

    as Tom

  • Happy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Vernon

  • Death of a Princess(1980)

    as Steve Jackson

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Minder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Palmer

  • Cries from a Watchtower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Andy

  • Black Jack(1979)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Turning Year Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Tim

  • Zulu Dawn(1979)

    as Cpl. Storey

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • After Julius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dan

  • Pillion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Writer

  • On a Paving Stone Mounted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • Travellers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep

  • Strangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Des White

  • Mucking Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Brian Wilson

  • The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Bill

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

    as Paul McShane

  • Some Enchanted Evening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Peter

  • A Christmas Carol(1977)

    as Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Treasure Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Premiere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Young William

  • BBC2 Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill · as Finnegan

  • Secret Army(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Eric Finch

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • A Bridge Too Far(1977)

    as Pvt. Wicks

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Arnhem: The Story of an Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Finnegan

  • The Chester Mystery Plays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • Trinity Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dave the Joiner

  • Days of Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 4 episodes · as Ben Matthews

  • Alfie Darling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Bakey

  • Diane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Jim

  • Churchill's People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Viventius

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

    Show 1 episode · as Jim · as Vernon

  • Second City Firsts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Brian Wilson

  • Father Dear Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Dumbo

  • Speech Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Woodwork Master

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Andy

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

    Show 1 episode · as Peter

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dangerous Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Narrator

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 136 titles, 135 of them dated from 1965 to 2025; peak year 2002.

Biggest box office

Jude (1996)

$409K worldwide

Highest rated

Horatio Hornblower: The Duel (1998)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Code of a Killer (2015)

Film career

19652025

Peak 2002 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting135 of 136: 135 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score87thWriting1 of 136: 1 only writing, 0 with another role

By decade

1960s2 · acting1970s32 · 31 acting · 1 crew1980s23 · acting1990s22 · acting2000s28 · acting2010s18 · acting2020s10 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 14 roles
7999

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.

How do Paul Copley's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 87th percentile, the median of all 19; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 90th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

97thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 51 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up33
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 51 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved20
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Casualty (1986)

78th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Downton Abbey (2010)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 80/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 84, detractors 56. 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 Paul Copley work with?

People who share at least 2 of Paul Copley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Andrew Grieve shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers