James Nesbitt is an actor from Northern Ireland whose filmography encompasses both television and film roles over a 30-year period. Nesbitt's screen career began in the early 1980s with uncredited roles in episodes of the BBC Play For Today strand, which he had while attached to the Riverside Theatre's youth group. His first credited role came in 1989, as a bit player in the John Ogdon biopic Virtuoso, which was followed by his first feature film role in 1991 in Hear My Song.
As a casual actor in the early 1990s, Nesbitt mixed television and film roles; he appeared in episodes of Boon, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Covington Cross, Lovejoy, and Between the Lines. He also played roles in several Michael Winterbottom films, beginning with Loves Lies Bleeding in 1993 and continuing with Go Now in 1995, Jude in 1996 and Welcome to Sarajevo in 1997.Steiner, Susie (27 October 2001). "The Irish question ". The Guardian (Guardian News & Media): p. 68 (Weekend supplement). URL retrieved on 15 April 2011.
In 1997, he secured his breakout television role as Adam Williams in Cold Feet, a character he played until 2003 and again from 2016 until 2020. In that time he also appeared in the film Waking Ned, two series of Playing the Field, Touching Evil, his feature film lead debut Lucky Break, and Paul Greengrass's controversial television film Bloody Sunday, as Ivan Cooper. After Bloody Sunday, Nesbitt started to take on more dramatic roles, appearing in five series of Murphy's Law (2003–2007), the two-part television film Passer By (2004), Steven Moffat's Jekyll (2007), and the Iraq War drama Occupation (2009). He has also furthered his feature film career by taking roles in Woody Allen's Match Point (2005), the Troubles drama Five Minutes of Heaven (2009), the thriller Outcast (2010), Nadia Tass's Matching Jack (2010), and Emilio Estevez's The Way (2010). He starred in the ITV medical drama series Monroe (2011–2012) and has a role as the dwarf Bofur in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014).ITV Press Centre (22 February 2011). "Monroe Press Pack " (.doc format). Press release: p. 11. URL retrieved 30 August 2011.Bulbeck, Pip (20 March 2011). "'Hobbit' Filming Finally Under Way in New Zealand ". The Hollywood Reporter (Prometheus Global Media). URL retrieved on 21 March 2011.
Nesbitt has also taken on theatrical roles throughout his career; between 1987 and 1994, he appeared in no less than five major plays, including the musical Up on the Roof, a world tour of Hamlet, and the Troubles drama Paddywack. After a break of eleven years, Nesbitt returned to the stage to make his London West End debut in Owen McCafferty's Shoot the Crow (2005).
Filmography
Television + Television acting roles"Nesbitt, James ". British Film Institute. URL retrieved on 25 March 2010. Year(s) Title RoleDescription 1982 Play for Today Too Late to Talk to Billy Extra Television filmNesbitt, James (2009). "Made in Northern Ireland: An Actor's View" (.pdf). BBC. URL retrieved on 21 March 2010. 1984 Play for Today: The Cry B Special Television filmUncredited extra.Lord, Derek (10 October 2008). "Lights, camera, action as the B Specials are put in spotlight ". Press and Journal (Aberdeen Journals). URL retrieved on 10 October 2008. 1985 The Ties of Blood: Out of Tune Extra Television film 1989 Screen Two: Virtuoso [Bit part] Television filmCredited television debut. 1991 Boon Martin Mulholland 1 episode of television series: "Stamp Duty" 1992 Yuri 1 episode of television series: "Germany, Mid-August 1916" Covington Cross Humphrey 1 episode of television series: "The Hero" 1993 Comedy Playhouse: Sailortown Skeeball Television film Screenplay: Love Lies Bleeding Niall Television filmFirst appearance in a Michael Winterbottom production. Lovejoy Jerry Boyle 1 episode of television series: "The Kakiemon Tiger" 1994 Between the Lines Sean Phellan 1 episode of television series: "Unknown Soldier" The All New Alexei Sayle Show Various characters 2 episodes of television series: Series 1, Episode 1 Series 1, Episode 3 1995 Searching Duncan 2 episodes of television series: Series 1, Episode 1 Series 1, Episode 6 Go Now Tony Television film with limited theatrical release Soldier Soldier Bryan Casey 1 episode of television series: "Sweet Revenge" 1996–1998 Ballykissangel Leo McGarvey 5 episodes of television series: "The Power and the Gory" (1996) "I Know When I'm Not Wanted" (1998) "Personal Call" (1998) "Lost Sheep" (1998) "Amongst Friends" (1998) 1997 Common As Muck Priest 1 episode of television series: Series 2, Episode 2 Comedy Premieres: Cold Feet Adam Williams Television pilot 1998–1999 Playing the Field John Dolan 2 series of television series 1998 Touching Evil II David Laney 2 episodes of television series: "Scalping, Part 1" "Scalping, Part 2" 1998–2003, 2016–2020 Cold Feet Adam Williams All 9 series 2001 Murphy's Law DS Tommy Murphy Television pilot 2002 Bloody Sunday Ivan Cooper Television film with limited theatrical release 2003 Tractor Tom Matt (voice) 1 series of animated television series 2003–2007 Murphy's Law DS Tommy Murphy 5 series of television series(also Creative Consultant, 2005–2007) 2003 Nick Zakian 1 episode of anthology television series: "The Miller's Tale" 2004 Wall of Silence Stuart Robe Television film Passer By Joe Keyes 2-part television film Quite Ugly One Morning Jack ParlabaneTelevision film 2005 Big Dippers Ray 2007 Jekyll Tom Jackman/HydeAlso plays the uncredited roles of Henry Jekyll in Episode 5, and several zombies in Episode 6. 6-part television serial 2008 Fairy Tales Professor Hans Michael Prince 1 episode of anthology television series: "Cinderella" Pontius Pilate 4-part television serial Midnight Man Max Raban 3-part television serial 2009 Five Minutes of Heaven Joe Griffin Television film with limited theatrical release Occupation Colour Sergeant Mike Swift 3-part television serial 2010 Clem Donnelly 5-part television serialMcLean, Craig (31 July 2010). "Thrown in at the deep end". The Times (Times Newspapers): p. 24 (Play supplement). 2011–2012 Monroe Gabriel Monroe 2 series of television seriesJeffrey, Morgan (14 November 2012). "James Nesbitt's 'Monroe' axed by ITV1". Digital Spy. URL retrieved on 15 November 2012 (archived by WebCite on 15 November 2012). 2013 James Nesbitt's Ireland Presenter/Himself 1 series, 8 episodes 2014 Babylon Commissioner Richard Miller Pilot, series to resume in 2014. The Missing Tony Hughes 1 series, 8 episode 2016–2018 Stan Lee's Lucky Man DI Harry Clayton 3 series, 28 episodes 2016 The Secret Colin Howell 1 series, 4 episodes 2018 James Nesbitt: Disasters That Changed Britain Presenter/Himself 1 series, 6 episodes 2019 British Airways 24/7: Access All Areas Narrator 1 series, 3 episodes 2021–2022 Bloodlands DCI Tom Brannick 2021 Line of Duty Retired DCI Marcus Thurwell 2 episodes (uncredited) 2021 Stay Close DS Michael Broome Netflix original drama 2022 Suspect Detective Danny Frater Channel 4 drama 2023 The Heist Before Christmas Bank Robber Sky Max film 2024 DNA Journey With Ancestry Himself 1 episode 2025 Missing You Calligan Netflix original drama 2026 Run Away Simon Greene Netflix original thriller series 2027 Hercule TBA Upcoming six-part series TBA Hopley Hall TBA Upcoming six-part comedy
Film + Film acting roles Year Title RoleDescription 1986 The End of the World Man Policeman Released as "The Bulldozer Brigade" in the US 1991 Hear My Song Fintan O'Donnell Based on the life of Josef Locke 1996 Jude Uncle JoeBased on "Jude the Obscure" by Thomas Hardy 1997 Welcome to Sarajevo Gregg Based on "Natasha's Story" by Michael Nicholson The James Gang Graham Armstrong Resurrection Man Ryan This Is the Sea Constable Hubert Porter Named after "This Is the Sea" a song by "The Waterboys" from their 1985 album "This Is the Sea" Jumpers Gerald Clarke 1998 Waking Ned Released as "Waking Ned Devine" in the US 1999 Women Talking Dirty Stanley 2000 The Most Fertile Man in Ireland Wild About Harry Walter Adair Furry Story Dad 2001 Lucky Break Jimmy Hands 2004 Millions Ronnie Cunningham 2005 Match Point Detective Banner 2006 0.0270270 (The Story of a Gambler) Distraught Man 2008 Blessed Peter 2010 Cherrybomb Dave Outcast Cathal Matching Jack Connor Jack 2011 Coriolanus Sicinius 2012 Bofur Based on "The Hobbit, or There and Back Again" by J.R.R Tolkien 2013 Based on "The Hobbit, or There and Back Again" by J.R.R Tolkien 2014 Based on "The Hobbit, or There and Back Again" by J.R.R Tolkien Gold Frank McGunn 2024 The Unholylands Himself Cameo
Theatre