Michael McElhatton (born 12 September 1963) is an Irish actor and writer. He is best known for playing the role of Roose Bolton in the HBO series Game of Thrones from the second to the sixth season (2012–2016). Other credits include I Went Down (1997), Paths to Freedom (2000), Saltwater (2000), Blow Dry (2001), The Actors (2003), Spin the Bottle (2003), Perrier's Bounty (2009), Albert Nobbs (2011), Death of a Superhero (2011), Pentecost (2012), The Fall (2013), The Hallow (2015), The Zookeeper's Wife (2017), Chernobyl (2019), Das Boot (2020), The Alienist: Angel of Darkness (2020), The Wheel of Time (2021), Jack Ryan (2022) and The Long Shadow (2023).
Early life McElhatton was born on 12 September 1963 in Terenure, a suburb in the south of Dublin. He began studying acting at Terenure College, and afterward spent eight years in London where he graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1987. McElhatton returned to Ireland in the early nineties, where he began his acting career mainly in theatre and television.
Career He appeared in a short film titled The Loser in 1990. In 1996, he was directed by John Carney in the film November Afternoon, in which he plays the main character. In the late nineties and early 2000s, McElhatton appeared in I Went Down (1997), Saltwater (2000), Blow Dry (2001), and The Actors (2003). Between 2000 and 2002, McElhatton gained fame from appearing in the situation comedies Paths to Freedom and Fergus's Wedding. In addition to acting, he also took on the role of screenwriter, writing the screenplay for all of the episodes. The character of Rats in Paths to Freedom (2000), which he wrote and starred in, became popular with the public and allowed it to be adapted into an entire feature film Spin the Bottle (2003). As his career went on, McElhatton continued playing minor characters in films by directors such as Lenny Abrahamson, John Boorman, and Kari Skogland. McElhatton also appeared in Perrier's Bounty (2009), and Death of a Superhero (2011).
He returned to his role as writer in 2010, writing six episodes of the sitcom Your Bad Self. Over the next decade, McElhatton began appearing in much larger roles. In 2011, he had a role in the film Albert Nobbs , directed by Rodrigo García, and Death of a Superhero (2011). The following year the short Pentecost, which received a nomination for Best Short Film at the 2012 Academy Awards. That same year he took part in the James Marsh directed film Shadow Dancer.
In 2012, McElhatton joined the cast of the HBO television series Game of Thrones, beginning in the second season, playing the character of warlord Roose Bolton. From the fifth season on he was promoted to series regular.
In 2013, he appeared in The Fall, alongside Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan. In 2015, he played one of the protagonists in the horror film The Hallow, which was presented at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. He appeared in the screen adaptation of the true story of World War II drama The Zookeeper's Wife in 2017.
In 2019, he starred as Andrei Stepashin in Chernobyl (2019). In 2020, he was Deputy Inspector Thomas O'Leary in Das Boot (2020), and starred in the series The Alienist: Angel of Darkness (2020).
In 2021, McElhatton appeared as Tam al'Thor in the adaptation of The Wheel of Time (2021) on Amazon Prime Video. His casting was announced on 6 November 2019 through Twitter.
In 2025, he played the butler's role of John Potter in the Netflix series House of Guinness based on the Dublin brewing family.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Director Notes 1990 The Loser Eddie Keith Boak Short film 1996 November Afternoon John John Carney, Tom Hall 1997BallyseedyComdt. Ed. BreslinFrank HandTelevision film I Went Down Johnner Doyle Paddy Breathnach All Souls' Day Alan Gilsenan 1998 To the Mountain Jean Pasley Short film Crush Proof Detective Sergeant Hogan Paul Tickell 1999 Between Dreams Mr. Fitzsimons Ian Fitzgibbon Short filmVicious CircleGarrettDavid BlairTelevision film Underworld Jimmy Ronan Gallagher Short film 2000 Saltwater John Traynor Conor McPherson 2001 Blow Dry Robert Paddy Breathnach Zulu 9 Garda Dispatcher Alan Gilsenan Short film 2002 Ape Dandy Dance Rory Bresnihan Short film, voice only 2003 The Actors Jock Conor McPherson Intermission Sam John Crowley Spin the Bottle Rats Ian Fitzgibbon 2004 Waterloo Dentures Captain Rachael Moriarty, Peter Murphy Short film Mickybo and Me Mechanic Terry Loane Adam & Paul Martin Lenny Abrahamson Voice only God's Early Work God Rory Bresnihan Short film, voice only 2005 George Rory Bresnihan, John Butler Short film English Rory Bresnihan Short film 2006 The Tiger's Tail Dr. Alex Loden John Boorman 2007 The Martyr's Crown Officer Rory Bresnihan Short filmMy Boy JackLeo Amery MPBrian KirkTelevision film 2008 Spacemen Three Dr. Yuri Semyonov Hugh O'Conor Short film Fifty Dead Men Walking Robbie Kari Skogland The Man Inside Locksmith Rory Bresnihan Short film 2009 Perrier's Bounty Ivan Ian Fitzgibbon Happy Ever Afters Detective Norman Ginty Stephen Burke 2010 Parked Frank Darragh ByrneThe Santa IncidentRossYelena LansyakaTelevision film 2011 Pentecost Pat Lynch Peter McDonald Short film Albert Nobbs Mr. Moore Rodrigo García Death of a Superhero James Clarke Ian Fitzgibbon 2012 Shadow Dancer Liam Hughes James Marsh 2013 The Food Guide to Love Famine narrator Dominic Harari, Teresa Pelegri Voice only 2014 The Legend of Longwood The Black Knight Lisa Mulcahy Voice only 2015 The Hallow Colm Donnelly Corin Hardy 2016 Norm of the North Laurence Trevor Wall Voice only Mammal Matt Rebecca Daly The Autopsy of Jane Doe Sheriff Sheldon André Øvredal Handsome Devil Walter Curly John Butler The Siege of Jadotville McEntee Richie Smyth 2017 The Zookeeper's Wife Jerzyk Niki Caro King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Jack's Eye Guy Ritchie The Foreigner Jim Kavanagh Martin Campbell Justice League Terrorist LeaderZack Snyder, Joss Whedon2018Agatha and the Truth of MurderSir Arthur Conan DoyleTerry LoaneTelevision film 2019 The Last RightFrank DelaneyAoife Crehan ArrachtLieutenantTomás Ó SúilleabháinIrish language TogoJafet LindebergEricson Core2020 The Winter LakeWardPhil Sheerin2021Zack Snyder's Justice LeagueBlack Clad AlphaZack SnyderDirector's cut of Justice League The Last DuelBernard LatourRidley ScottTBAWhiteMagus MagnussonSteven WaddingtonIn production
Television Year Title Role Notes 1999The AmbassadorCommander 2 Episode: "Vacant Possession"2000Paths to FreedomRaymond 'Rats' Doyle6 episodes2001Rebel HeartCathal BrughaMini-series3 episodes2002Fergus's WeddingFergus Walsh4 episodes2006Hide & SeekPaul Holden4 episodes2010Your Bad Self6 episodes2011ZenErnesto Heuber Mini-seriesEpisode: "Ratking"2012–2016Game of ThronesRoose Bolton19 episodes2013The FallRob Breedlove4 episodesRipper StreetCommissioner James Monro2 episodesThe Ice Cream GirlsBrianMini-series3 episodes2014New WorldsJohn Hawkins3 episodes2015Strike Back: LegacyOppenheimer 2 episodes2016MammonMelanie Holly, CIA Agent2 episodes2017–2018GeniusDr. Philipp Lenard / Jonas Salk4 episodes2019The RookLorik4 episodesChernobylAndrei StepashinEpisode: "Vichnaya Pamyat"Ant & Dec's DNA JourneyVoiceoverTelevision documentary2020Das BootDeputy Inspector Thomas O'Leary4 episodesThe Alienist: Angel of DarknessDr. Markoe6 episodes2021The Wheel of TimeTam al'Thor2023Jack RyanBill Tuttle 6 episodesThe Long Shadow Chief Constable Ronald Gregory 2025 House of Guinness John Potter
Video games YearTitleVoice role2013Assassin's Creed IV: Black FlagVance Travers2019Final Fantasy XIV: StormbloodGaius BaelsarFinal Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
Writing credits Paths to Freedom Fergus's Wedding Spin the Bottle Your Bad Self
Selected stage career The Night Alive, as Doc, Donmar Warehouse, London, and the Atlantic Theater, New York City The Seafarer, as Nicky Giblin, National Theatre, London Shining City, Royal Court Theatre, London The Wexford Trilogy, Tricycle Theatre An Ideal Husband, Gate Theatre The White Devil, Project at The Mint Car Show, Corn Exchange Twenty Grand, Abbey Theatre Greatest Hits, Project Arts Centre The Way of the World, Project Arts Centre A Decision Pure and Simple, Riverside Studios An Enemy of the People, for Young Vic As You Like It, Rose Theatre Midnight Court, Project Theatre Wind in the Willows, Sheffield Crucible Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs, BAC Water Music, Cockpit Theatre
Awards and nominations 2003 IFTA Award nomination, Best Actor – Film for "Spin the Bottle" 2003 IFTA Award nomination, Best Script for "Spin the Bottle" – Ian Fitzgibbon/Michael McElhatton/Grand Pictures 2007 IFTA Award nomination, Best Actor – Television for "Hide & Seek" 2013 IFTA Award nomination, Best Supporting Actor – Film for "Death of a Superhero" 20th Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
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