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Kate Nelligan

Kate Nelligan

Actor · Born March 16, 1950 (76) · London, Ontario, Canada

Kate Nelligan (born Patricia Colleen Nelligan; March 16, 1950) is a Canadian retired actress, who was celebrated for her commanding performances and versatility. She trained at Glendon College in Toronto and London's Central School of Speech and Drama before launching her professional career in 1972 with the Bristol Old Vic, appearing in productions like Barefoot in the Park. Nelligan rose to prominence in the UK with the National Theatre in plays such as David Hare's Knuckle (1974) and Tales from the Vienna Woods (1977), alongside early television roles in The Onedin Line and her film debut in The Romantic Englishwoman (1975). In the early 1980s, she relocated to New York, where she garnered critical acclaim on Broadway, earning four Tony Award nominations for Plenty (1983), A Moon for the Misbegotten (1984), Serious Money (1988), and Spoils of War (1989). Her film career flourished with standout roles in Eye of the Needle (1981) opposite Donald Sutherland, Without a Trace (1983), and later Frankie and Johnny (1991), for which she won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress; she also received an Academy Award nomination for The Prince of Tides (1991). Other notable films include Wolf (1994), U.S. Marshals (1998), and The Cider House Rules (1999).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 16, 1950 (76)
From
London, Ontario, Canada
Works as
Actor
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 65 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 64 days to Oct 27Down 48% in 30 days

What are Kate Nelligan's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure 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
32%
Morality
29%
Self
18%
Survival
12%
Power
3%
Society
3%
Ideas
2%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeParenthood2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 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 6 · Serious 4 · Dark 16

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

Grounded 20 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 11 · Intense 11

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 1

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

A split, not a type: Casual 12 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 3

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 4 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 14

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

18 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 5 of 18 analyzed roles.

Hero
5 of 18
Shapeshifter
4 of 18
Ally
3 of 18
Threshold guardian
2 of 18
Mentor
2 of 18
Shadow
1 of 18
Herald
1 of 18
Show the 18 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Melancholic
14
Contemplative
9
Hopeful
9
Romantic
6
Other
21

How their films linger

Hopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet15
  • Ambiguous4

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 Kate Nelligan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kate Nelligan'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

65 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Eleventh Hour(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Gepetto

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Premonition(2007)

    as Joanne

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • In from the Night(2006)

    as Vera Miller

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • A Wrinkle in Time(2003)

    as Mrs. Which

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Walter and Henry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Elizabeth

  • Blessed Stranger: After Flight 111(2000)

    as Kate O'Rourke

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Cider House Rules(1999)

    as Olive Worthington

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sylvia Quinn

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Swing Vote (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Justice Sara Marie Brandwynne

  • Love Is Strange(1999)

    as Kathryn McClain

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Boy Meets Girl(1998)

    as Mrs. Jones

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Stolen Moments (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • U.S. Marshals(1998)

    as Walsh

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Rape: A Crime of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Narrator

  • Calm at Sunset(1996)

    as Margaret Pfeiffer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Captive Heart: The James Mink Story(1996)

    as Elizabeth Mink

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Up Close & Personal(1996)

    as Joanna Kennelly

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • How to Make an American Quilt(1995)

    as Constance Saunders

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Margaret's Museum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Catherine MacNeil

  • A Mother's Prayer(1995)

    as Sheila Walker

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Million Dollar Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · as Helena Reid

  • Wolf(1994)

    as Charlotte Randall

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Spoils of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Elise

  • Fatal Instinct(1993)

    as Lana Ravine

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story(1993)

    as Stephanie Chadford

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Liar, Liar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Susan Miori

  • The Diamond Fleece (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Heritage Minutes: Emily Murphy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Emily Murphy

  • Terror Stalks the Class Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Kay

  • The Prince of Tides(1991)

    as Lila Wingo Newbury

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Shadows and Fog(1991)

    as Eve

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Old Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Frankie and Johnny(1991)

    as Cora

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Kate

  • Golden Fiddles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Anne Balfour

  • Heritage Minutes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Emily Murphy

  • White Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Jane

  • Love and Hate: The Story of Colin and Joanne Thatcher(1989)

    as JoAnn Thatcher

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Kojak: The Price of Justice(1987)

    as Kitty

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Control (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Sarah Howell

  • Eleni(1985)

    as Eleni

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Without a Trace(1983)

    as Susan Selky

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Hoyle

  • Victims (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Ruth Hession

  • Eye of the Needle(1981)

    as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Mr. Patman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Peabody

  • Therese Raquin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 3 episodes · as Thérèse

  • Dreams of Leaving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Charlotte

  • Dracula(1979)

    as Lucy Seward

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Measure for Measure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Isabella

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

    Show 1 episode · as Isabella

  • Licking Hitler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Anna Seaton

  • The Sunday Drama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Ann

  • Do as I Say (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Hilary

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

    as Frances Bethune

  • The Lady of the Camellias (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Marguerite Gautier

  • The Count of Monte-Cristo(1975)

    as Mercédès

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Romantic Englishwoman(1975)

    as Isabel

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Arcata Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Laura

  • The Four Beauties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Christie

  • The Edwardians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice Keppel

  • Country Matters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Christie Davenport

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

    Show 1 episode · as Hilary

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

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret Pfeiffer · as Vera Miller

  • Human Cargo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 65 titles, 64 of them dated from 1951 to 2008; peak year 1992.

Biggest box office

Wolf (1994)

$131M worldwide

Highest rated

The Cider House Rules (1999)

Midcredits 90th

Most popular right now

U.S. Marshals (1998)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19512008

Peak 1992 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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.

  • 1975Screen debut· The Romantic Englishwoman
  • 1981Breakout· Eye of the Needle
  • 1983First top-billed film· Without a Trace

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting65 of 65: 65 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s15 · acting1980s11 · acting1990s31 · acting2000s6 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 6% of 16 roles
759095

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 Kate Nelligan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th10

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Boy Meets Girl (1998)

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

Most loved · actor

The Cider House Rules (1999)

Midcredits 90th · 80% liked

Reviewers score the acting 76/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 52. 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 Kate Nelligan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles40–70 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles23–64 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles28–61 · median 50 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles18–42 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles30–73 · median 53 · 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 Kate Nelligan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kate Nelligan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michelle Pfeiffer shares the most, 3.

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles