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Frank Harper

Frank Harper

Actor, also director, producer and writer · Born January 1, 1962 (64) · London, England, UK

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Frank Harper (born 1962) is a British actor and film producer. He is best known for his "Hard Man" roles, such as Billy Bright in The Football Factory (2004), Dog in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). He appears as a white nationalist in South West 9, and as the bank robber in Harry Enfield's film Kevin & Perry Go Large. He was featured in The Streets' music video "Fit But You Know It", and cast as real life villain Jack Whomes in Rise of the Foot Soldier. During his career Harper has also appeared on many British TV shows including The Bill, Doctors, Lovejoy and Waking the Dead. Harper is an ardent Millwall F.C. fan.[1] He has admitted to partaking in casual football hooliganism and was interviewed for Cass Pennants book "Terrace Legends" Description above from the Wikipedia article Frank Harper, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia​

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 1, 1962 (64)
From
London, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also director, producer and writer
Titles
26 on Motif · 53 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 28Up 20% in 30 days

What are Frank Harper's films like?

Across their 16 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Society.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Motif score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Motif score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action3 titlesTypical Motif score: 24th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Motif score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
28%
Society
19%
Bonds
18%
Morality
18%
Power
12%
Survival
5%
Community4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 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 5 · Serious 3 · Dark 8

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

Grounded 10 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 5 · Intense 7

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 12 · 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 4 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 5 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 5
Hero
1 of 5
Ally
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Absurd
6
Warm
4
Dread
4
Hopeful
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Unsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous7

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 Frank Harper's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 26 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Frank Harper's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

53 credits, 26 with a Motif page.

  • Remember Us (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    as Steve

  • One for the Road (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    as Booth

  • Rita Goes Viral (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    as Pete Fairbrass

  • Bermondsey Tales: Fall of the Roman Empire(2024)

    as George

    Motif score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Bury the Dogs (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    as Tosh

  • The Bystanders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    as Joe

  • Nemesis(2021)

    as Richard Morgan

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Silent Night(2020)

    as Caddy

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Malcolm & the Magpies (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    as Cigar Sid

  • Gunned Down(2017)

    Writer

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Ripper Street(2012)

    Show 6 episodes · as Silas Duggan

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • St George's Day(2012)

    Director · Writer · as Mickey Mannock

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Victim (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    as Colin

  • Billy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    as Colin

  • Screwed(2011)

    as Deano

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • StreetDance 3D(2010)

    as Fred

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Flid (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    as Barry

  • Permanent Vacation (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Eric Bury

  • Rise of the Footsoldier(2007)

    as Jack Whomes

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Octane(2007)

    as Legend

    Motif score: 26th percentile of all films

  • This Is England (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Lenny

  • The Football Factory(2004)

    Associate Producer · as Billy Bright

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Calcium Kid(2004)

    as Clive Connelly

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • tlc (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Briggs

  • The Last Minute(2001)

    as Cabbie

    Motif score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Club Le Monde (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Danny

  • Rose and Maloney(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as DI Mike Glover

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Out of Control (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Sam's Dad

  • Bend It Like Beckham(2002)

    as Alan Paxton

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Search for John Gissing (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Dexter

  • South West 9 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Douser

  • Lucky Break(2001)

    as John Toombes

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Waking the Dead(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as John Tate

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all shows

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

    as Tommy's Dad

  • Second Sight: Kingdom of the Blind (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as DS Finch

  • Shiner(2000)

    as Jeff 'Stoney' Stone

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Other People's Children (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 4 episodes · as Matthew

  • Kevin & Perry Go Large(2000)

    as Armed Robber

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Second Sight (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 8 episodes · as DS Finch

  • Tube Tales(1999)

    as Station Guard (multiple segments)

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • A Room for Romeo Brass(1999)

    as Joe Brass

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Boyz Unlimited (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 6 episodes · as Nigel Gacey

  • Sunburn (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Colin Daley

  • Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels(1998)

    as Dog

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all films

  • TwentyFourSeven(1997)

    as Ronnie Marsh

    Motif score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Missing Postman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as BBC Security Man

  • Pie in the Sky(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Security Guard

    Motif score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • In the Name of the Father(1993)

    as Ronnie Smalls

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Fool's Gold: The Story Of The Brink's Mat Robbery (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Brother's Minder

  • Tight Trousers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Gip

  • Birds of a Feather(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • For Queen & Country (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    as Mickey

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

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Whymark

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles from 1986 to 2024; peak year 1999.

Biggest box office

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

$92M worldwide

Highest rated

A Room for Romeo Brass (1999)

Motif 93rd

Most popular right now

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

Film career

19862024

Peak 1999 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 2 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.

  • 1988Screen debut· For Queen & Country
  • 2012Career best· Ripper Street

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting52 of 52: 50 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Motif score48thDirecting1 of 52: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 52: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 52: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s3 · acting1990s11 · acting2000s23 · 23 acting · 1 crew2010s6 · 6 acting · 1 crew2020s9 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 17 roles
8803

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 Motif 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 Frank Harper's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 36th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Motif score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 26 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Octane (2007)

96th percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

In the Name of the Father (1993)

Motif 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 37. 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 Motif 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.

Who does Frank Harper work with?

People who share at least 2 of Frank Harper's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Paul Fraser shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers