Rory Michael Kinnear (born 17 February 1978) is an English actor. He won two Olivier Awards, both at the National Theatre, in 2008 for his portrayal of Sir Fopling Flutter in The Man of Mode, and for playing the William Shakespeare villain Iago in Othello in 2014.
He played Bill Tanner in four James Bond films: Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and No Time to Die (2021); and in various video games of the franchise. Kinnear also played Dave Fishwick in Bank of Dave (2023) and Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger (2025). His other film roles include Broken (2012), for which he won a British Independent Film Award, The Imitation Game (2014), Men (2022), and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024).
Television roles include Michael Callow in the debut episode of the anthology Black Mirror, "The National Anthem" (2011), Michael Baker in the sitcom Count Arthur Strong (2013–2017), Lord Lucan in the two-part thriller Lucan (2013), the Creature in the horror drama Penny Dreadful (2014–2016), Stephen in the dystopian mini-series Years and Years (2019), and Tom Bombadil in the Amazon Prime Video series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2024).
Early life and education Kinnear was born on 17 February 1978, in Hammersmith, London, the son of actor Roy Kinnear and actress Carmel Cryan. He grew up with two older sisters. He is the grandson of Scottish international rugby union and rugby league player Roy Kinnear and the godson of actor Michael Williams. He was educated at Tower House School (leaving in 1991), St Paul's School, London (leaving in 1996), and Balliol College, Oxford, where he studied English. He then studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
Career Theatre Kinnear performed in Phyllida Lloyd's production of Mary Stuart, and in Trevor Nunn's Hamlet, in which he played Laertes. He also achieved recognition as the outrageous Sir Fopling Flutter in The Man of Mode at the National Theatre, winning the 2008 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role and Ian Charleson Award. His other notable theatre work includes the lead in Thomas Middleton's The Revenger's Tragedy, Pyotr in Maxim Gorky's Philistines, and Mitia in a stage adaptation of the Nikita Mikhalkov film Burnt by the Sun, all for the National Theatre.
In 2010 he played Angelo in Measure for Measure at the Almeida Theatre. Later in 2010, he played the title role in Hamlet at the National Theatre. The two portrayals won him the best actor award in the Evening Standard Drama Awards for 2010.
Kinnear appeared in The Last of the Haussmans by Stephen Beresford at the National Theatre during the summer of 2012. It was broadcast to cinemas around the world on 11 October 2012 through the National Theatre Live programme.
He starred as Iago opposite Adrian Lester in the title role of Othello in 2013 at the National Theatre throughout the summer of 2013. Both actors won the Best Actor award in the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for their roles; it is normally given to only one actor, but the judges were unable to choose between them. Kinnear also won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor 2014 for his performance in Othello.
From September 2013, the Bush Theatre in London staged Kinnear's debut play The Herd, directed by Howard Davies. It ran at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago beginning 2 April 2015. In October 2017, he appeared in the title role of Young Marx, the premiere production at the Bridge Theatre. He returned to the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre to star in the title role in Macbeth with Anne-Marie Duff from February 2018.
Opera For The Threepenny Opera (a "play with songs") at the Olivier Theatre from May to October 2016, Kinnear found his "dormant" singing voice for the role of Macheath. In February 2017, he made his directing debut with The Winter's Tale, a new opera written by Ryan Wigglesworth and based on Shakespeare's play, for English National Opera.
Film Kinnear portrayed Bill Tanner in the Daniel Craig–era James Bond film series after taking over from Michael Kitchen. He is the fourth person to play the character. He has appeared in Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021). As well as the films, Kinnear also lends his voice and likeness to the Bond video games; GoldenEye 007 (2010), James Bond 007: Blood Stone (2010) and 007 Legends (2012). In 2014, he played the fictional character, Detective Nock, in The Imitation Game based loosely on the biography Alan Turing:The Enigma by Andrew Hodges. In January 2017, he portrayed Ellmann in the Netflix film iBoy. He played Henry Hunt in Mike Leigh's 2018 film Peterloo. In 2022, he played Geoffrey, as well as most of the other male roles, in Alex Garland's A24 horror film Men.
In 2023 Kinnear starred as Burnley wannabe banker Dave Fishwick in the film Bank of Dave, released on Netflix in January 2023, reprising his role in the sequel Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger in January 2025.
Television Kinnear appeared in the 2007 television film Mansfield Park, with Billie Piper and Michelle Ryan. He followed this in 2008, with his portrayal of Denis Thatcher in a BBC dramatisation of Margaret Thatcher's political career, The Long Walk to Finchley, which also starred Andrea Riseborough and Samuel West. in 2010, he starred alongside Lucy Punch and Toby Stephens in the BBC Two series Vexed. The same year, he was the co-lead with Mark Gatiss in the BBC4 TV drama, The First Men in the Moon.
In 2011 he provided narration during the BBC Proms production of 'Henry V – suite' arranged by Muir Mathieson during their Film Music Prom. He appeared in the lead role of Prime Minister Michael Callow in "The National Anthem", the first episode of the anthology series Black Mirror. In July 2012, Kinnear appeared as Bolingbroke in Richard II, a BBC Two adaptation of the play of the same name, with Ben Whishaw as King Richard and Patrick Stewart as John of Gaunt.
In 2013 Kinnear starred as Michael in the BBC sitcom Count Arthur Strong, continuing in that role for 4 years. The same year, he appeared in the Channel 4 drama Southcliffe, and in December 2013, he portrayed British peer and suspected murderer Lord Lucan in the two-part ITV series Lucan. He also appeared as Frankenstein's monster in the Showtime television series Penny Dreadful, for which, he won the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2014.
In 2017 he appeared in the British miniseries Guerrilla as a Chief Inspector in the Special Branches. and as Robert Lessing from the early days of English medicine in the BBC Two comedy series Quacks. In 2018, he appeared in the first episode of the fourth series of the BBC One anthology series Inside No. 9, Zanzibar, a modern take on a Shakespearean comedy performed entirely in iambic pentameter.
In 2019 Kinnear played Craig Oliver in the Channel 4 television film Brexit: The Uncivil War, and the desperate financial advisor Stephen Lyons in the futuristic series Years and Years.
In 2021 Kinnear played Neo-Nazi Colin Jordan in the television drama Ridley Road and was Edward Williams in the BBC's The Mezzotint. In 2022, he starred in Our Flag Means Death.
Since 2023 he plays the fictional character of British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge in the Netflix series The Diplomat alongside Keri Russell. In 2024, Kinnear played Tom Bombadil in the Amazon Prime Video series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Radio In 2010 he played Jürgen Rahl in the BBC Radio drama Slipstream as a disaffected German pilot who joins a mission to steal an alien spacecraft harboured by the Nazis.
Personal life Kinnear's partner is the actress Pandora Colin (née Ormsby-Gore), daughter of the 5th Baron Harlech. They have a son born in 2010, and a daughter born in 2014.
Acting credits
Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 Judas Andrew 2008 Quantum of Solace Bill Tanner 2009 Wish 143 Wisham Short film 2010 The First Men in the Moon Julius Bedford Wild Target Gerry Bailey 2012 Skyfall Bill Tanner Broken Bob Oswald 2014 Cuban Fury Gary The Imitation Game Detective Nock 2015 Man Up Sean Spectre Bill Tanner 2016 Trespass Against Us P.C Lovage The Roof Yet Another Fan Short filmDaddy My Father Short film 2017 iBoy Ellman 2018 Peterloo Henry Hunt 2021 No Time to Die Bill Tanner 2022 Men Geoffrey / Various roles 2023 Bank of Dave Dave Fishwick 2024 The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Winston Churchill 2025 Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger Dave Fishwick 2026 Onwards and Sideways Professor Ridge TBA TBA Pre-production Harold Laing Post-production
Television
Year Title Role Notes 2001 Judge John Deed Tony Cootes Episode: "Duty of Care" 2002 Menace Kevin 2 episodesUltimate Force Policeman Episode: "The Killing House" 2003 The Second Coming Father Dillane Episode: "#1.1" 2005 Silent Witness Paul Episode: "The Meaning of Death"Secret Smile Nick Television movie 2007 Mansfield Park James Rushworth Television movieFive Days Kyle Betts 5 episodesComedy Showcase Rob Black Episode: "Plus One" 2008 Messiah: The Rapture Stewart Dean 2 episodesThe Curse of Steptoe Alan Simpson Television movieThe Long Walk to Finchley Denis Thatcher Television movie 2009 Waking the Dead James Mitcham 2 episodesBeautiful People Ross Episode: "How I Got My Plumes"Ashes to Ashes Jeremy Episode: "#2.3"Cranford Septimus Hanbury Episode: "Return to Cranford: Part One – August 1844"The Thick of It Ed Atkins Episode: "#3.1" 2010 Vexed Dan Bishop 3 episodesLennon Naked Brian Epstein Television movie 2011 Women in Love Rupert Birkin 2 episodesBlack Mirror Prime Minister Michael Callow Episode: "The National Anthem" 2012 The Mystery of Edwin Drood Reverend Septimus Crisparkle 2 episodesThe Hollow Crown Bolingbroke Episode: "Richard II" 2013 Southcliffe David Whitehead 4 episodesLucan Lord Lucan 2 episodes 2013–2017 Count Arthur Strong Michael 20 episodes 2014–2016 Penny Dreadful The Creature 22 episodes 2015 The Casual Vacancy Barry Fairbrother 3 episodes 2017 Guerrilla Pence 6 episodesQuacks Robert Lessing 6 episodes 2018 Inside No. 9 Prince Rico / Gus Episode: "Zanzibar"Watership Down Cowslip (voice) Miniseries 2019 Brexit: The Uncivil War Craig Oliver Television filmYears and Years Stephen Lyons Main roleCatherine the Great Nikita Ivanovich Panin Miniseries2020 Penny Dreadful: City of Angels Peter Craft Main role2021 Ridley RoadColin Jordan2022 Our Flag Means Death Captain Nigel Badminton/Admiral Chauncey Badminton Main role2023–presentThe DiplomatPrime Minister Nicol TrowbridgeMain role2024The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerTom Bombadil3 episodesSay NothingFrank KitsonMiniseries2025Toxic TownDes Collins3 episodesLord of the FliesRalph's father1 episodeAmadeusEmperor JosephMiniseries TBA Graham Anderson Filming
Theatre