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Matthew Macfadyen

Matthew Macfadyen

Actor, also producer · Born October 17, 1974 (52) · Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, UK

2 Primetime Emmys · Golden Globe winner · 3 BAFTA Awards · 2 other major award bodies

David Matthew Macfadyen (born 17 October 1974) is an English actor. Known for his performances on stage and screen, he gained prominence for his role as Mr. Darcy in Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice (2005). He starred as Tom Wambsgans in the HBO drama series Succession (2018–2023), for which he has received two Primetime Emmy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Macfadyen is also known for his roles in films such as Death at a Funeral (2007), Frost/Nixon (2008), Anna Karenina (2012), The Assistant (2019), and Operation Mincemeat (2021). He made his television debut in 1998 as Hareton Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights. He portrayed Tom Quinn in the BBC One spy series Spooks (2002–04, 2011), and Inspector Edmund Reid in the BBC mystery series Ripper Street (2012–2016). He also starred as Henry Wilcox in Kenneth Lonergan's miniseries Howards End and Charles Ingram in the Stephen Frears' limited series Quiz (2020).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 17, 1974 (52)
From
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 56 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 15% in 30 days

What are Matthew Macfadyen's films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
Bonds
27%
Morality
21%
Power
20%
Self
15%
Survival
8%
Ideas
5%
Society
4%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themePower5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 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 5 · Dark 10

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 4

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 7 · Intense 11

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 3

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 12 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 8 · 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 6 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 3

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

19 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 5 of 19 analyzed roles.

Hero
5 of 19
Shadow
5 of 19
Mentor
4 of 19
Ally
2 of 19
Shapeshifter
1 of 19
Threshold guardian
1 of 19
Trickster
1 of 19
Show the 19 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Melancholic
18
Contemplative
7
Thrilling
5
Absurd
5
Other
29

How their films linger

Bittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet18
  • Tragic2
  • 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 Matthew Macfadyen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Matthew Macfadyen'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

56 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 12 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Miniature Wife(2026)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer · as Les Littlejohn

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Death by Lightning(2025)

    Show 4 episodes · as Charles Guiteau

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Holland(2025)

    as Fred Vandergroot

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Deadpool & Wolverine(2024)

    as Mr. Paradox

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Stonehouse(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · Executive Producer · as John Stonehouse

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Operation Mincemeat(2021)

    as Charles Cholmondeley

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Quiz(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · as Charles Ingram

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • The Assistant(2019)

    as Wilcock

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Nutcracker and the Four Realms(2018)

    as Benjamin Stahlbaum

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Succession(2018)

    Show 39 episodes · as Tom Wambsgans

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Current War(2017)

    as J.P. Morgan

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Howards End(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · as Henry Wilcox

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Revolution: New Art For A New World(2016)

    as Vladimir Lenin (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Churchill's Secret(2016)

    as Randolph Churchill

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The von Trapp Family: A Life of Music(2015)

    as Georg von Trapp

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Last Kingdom(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Lord Uhtred

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Enfield Haunting(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · as Guy Lyon Playfair

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Lost in Karastan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Emil Forester

  • If I Don't Come Home: Letters from D-Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Ambassadors(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · as POD

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Ripper Street(2012)

    Show 36 episodes · as Edmund Reid

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Anna Karenina(2012)

    as Oblonsky

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Three Musketeers(2011)

    as Athos

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Any Human Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 4 episodes · as Logan Mountstuart (Middle)

  • The Pillars of the Earth(2010)

    Show 8 episodes · as Prior Phillip

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Robin Hood(2010)

    as Sheriff of Nottingham

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Enid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Hugh Pollock

  • Little Dorrit(2008)

    Show 14 episodes · as Arthur Clennam

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Frost/Nixon(2008)

    as John Birt

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Criminal Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 10 episodes · as Joe Miller

  • Ashes to Ashes(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Gil Hollis

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Incendiary(2008)

    as Terrance

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Blair Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator

  • Death at a Funeral(2007)

    as Daniel

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Secret Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Charlie

  • Grindhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Hatchet Victim (segment "Don't") (uncredited)

  • Mr. Bean's Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Daniel

  • Middletown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Gabriel Hunter

  • Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Pride & Prejudice(2005)

    as Mr. Darcy

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Agatha Christie's Marple(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Neele

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • In My Father's Den(2004)

    as Paul Prior

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Reckoning(2003)

    as King’s Justice

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Paul Tibbenham

  • The Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Paul Tibbenham

  • MI-5(2002)

    Show 19 episodes · as Tom Quinn

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Way We Live Now (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sir Felix Carbury

  • Perfect Strangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · as Daniel

  • Enigma(2001)

    as Cave

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Maybe Baby(2000)

    as Nigel

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

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

    as Pte. Alan James

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Private Alan James

  • Wuthering Heights(1998)

    as Hareton Earnshaw

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Legacy of Spies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer · as George Smiley

  • Séance on a Wet Afternoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer · as Billy Savage

  • You Are Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer · as Michael

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 56 titles, 53 of them dated from 1998 to 2026; peak year 2008.

Biggest box office

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

$1.3B worldwide

Highest rated

Succession (2018)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19982026

Peak 2008 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 12 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
Acting56 of 56: 51 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thProducing5 of 56: 0 only producing, 5 with another role

56 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1990s3 · acting2000s24 · acting2010s18 · acting2020s8 · 8 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 14% of 22 roles
980813

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

2 Primetime Emmys, a Golden Globe, 3 BAFTA Awards and 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards from 15 major nominations, 2008–2024.

WinNomination
  1. 2024
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television
    • BAFTA Award, won · Supporting Actor
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
  2. 2023
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
  3. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
    • BAFTA Award, won · Supporting Actor
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
  4. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
  5. 2019
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
  6. 2010
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Supporting Actor
  7. 2009
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  8. 2008
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor

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 Matthew Macfadyen's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 21; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Revolution: New Art For A New World (2016)

67th percentile spread · 20% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Succession (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 19 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 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 Matthew Macfadyen's work okay for kids?

Across up to 21 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore15 titles7–71 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity21 titles13–64 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity17 titles21–88 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs16 titles16–64 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense15 titles9–60 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all 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 Matthew Macfadyen work with?

People who share at least 2 of Matthew Macfadyen's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Keira Knightley shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles