Craig Parkinson (born 11 March 1976) is an English actor and podcaster. He has played Shaun in the E4 series Misfits, twins Jimmy and Johnny Kray in the ITV series Whitechapel, and DI Matthew "Dot" Cottan in Line of Duty. He has also acted in several independent films, including Control, Soulboy, The Unloved and Four Lions.
Early life Parkinson was born in 1976 in Blackpool, Lancashire. He began acting at an early age in school plays. He studied at Blackpool and The Fylde College before moving to London aged 17 to attend the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Acting career Parkinson's early roles were small parts in long-running British television series such as Dalziel and Pascoe, The Bill, and Holby City. He made his film debut in Control (2007), a biopic of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis in which he played the role of Tony Wilson. He starred in the 2008 independent film The Taxidermist, playing The Taxidermist. The film won several awards, including Palm Springs International Short Film Festival 'Best Live Action Film over 15 minutes' and Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival 'Best Short Film'.
In 2009 he played the abusive care worker Ben in the television drama The Unloved, the directorial debut of Samantha Morton. Parkinson had previously starred alongside her in Control. The Unloved also featured Lauren Socha, with whom Parkinson would later star alongside in Misfits, as well as his wife, Susan Lynch.
In 2010 Parkinson played twins Jimmy and Johnny Kray in the ITV television series Whitechapel. The role involved a boxing scene which he prepared for by taking boxing lessons and going on a no-carb diet. He played Alan in the film SoulBoy and Cubitt in the film Brighton Rock. Towards the end of 2010 he began playing the probation worker Shaun in the E4 television series Misfits. He continued this role throughout 2011.
In 2011 he starred in the independent film Ghosted, playing the psychotic and violent prisoner Clay. The film also starred John Lynch, Parkinson's brother-in-law, and Martin Compston, with whom Parkinson had previously starred in Soulboy. In the same year, Parkinson played Tommy Flynn in the BBC sitcom In with the Flynns. Parkinson's character was described as "the star of the show" by David Butcher of the Radio Times and "the standout character of the show" by Harry Hamburg of On the Box.
In 2011 Parkinson appeared as DS Matthew 'Dot' Cottan in the BBC Two series Line of Duty.
In 2012 he appeared as the Reverend Horace in the BBC supernatural thriller The Secret of Crickley Hall, adapted from the novel of the same name written by James Herbert. The Secret of Crickley Hall also featured his wife. Parkinson also starred in the music video for the song "Two Fingers" by Jake Bugg.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:
In 2013 he starred in the ITV1 comedy drama series Great Night Out as Glyn. He also appeared as Charles Crout in Channel 4 drama The Mill.
He reprised his role as Matthew 'Dot' Cottan in 2013 for the second series of Line of Duty, and in 2015 for the third series. Cotton was promoted to the rank of DI, known now as DI Dot Cotton.
In 2015, he originated the role of Inspector Fry in Martin McDonagh's play Hangmen, which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre before transferring to London's West End after a sold-out run, and being broadcast by National Theatre Live. He also played the compassionate missionary Dougie Raworth in Indian Summers.
In 2017, he appeared on the panel show Would I Lie to You?. Parkinson also starred as The Piano Man (Si) in the action/comedy drama Wild Bill.
In 2021, he guest-starred in several episodes of Series 13 of Doctor Who, as the Grand Serpent.
Podcasting Parkinson hosted the Two Shot Podcast, episodes of which typically featured interviews with actors. The Guardian favourably reviewed the podcast, describing it as the "antithesis of a luvvie-darling discussion" and Parkinson himself as a "natural interviewer". It won best culture podcast at the 2018 British Podcast Awards. The podcast is sometimes recorded at live events, such as Paddy Considine's episode at North by Northwich compered by The Charlatans.
In 2021, Parkinson hosted the "Obsessed with... Line of Duty" podcast for series 6 of Line of Duty on BBC Sounds.
Personal life In his youth, Parkinson lived in Camden and Crouch End before moving to Gloucestershire with his wife. He was married to actress Susan Lynch and they have a son. They separated in 2019.
Filmography
Television Year Title Role Notes 2001 Dalziel and Pascoe Paul Collingwood Series 6, Episode 2: "Home Truths" 2002 Attachments Darren Series 2, Episode 10: "Logan's Run" The Bill Detroitz Series 18, Episode 71 and 72 2002–2003 Ed Stone Is Dead Scotty Wilmslow Series 1, Episodes 1, 9, 10, and 11 2003 Holby City Gaz Simpson Series 5, Episode 29: "Desperate Measures" 2004 No Angels Mick Series 1, Episode 1 Hustle Art Tutor Series 1, Episode 5: "A Touch of Class" Black Books Martin the Tout Series 3, Episode 4: "A Little Flutter" Born and Bred Eric Series 3, Episode 6: "And Is There Still Honey for Tea?" 2005 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Simon Dawkins Series 4, Episode 1: "In Divine Proportion" 2007 Lead Balloon Simon Russell Series 2, Episode 6: "Debacle" 2008 Lark Rise to Candleford Young Amos Series 1, Episode 32008The PassionMan at TombEpisode 4 2010 Whitechapel Jimmy Kray/Johnny Kray Series 2 2010–2011 Misfits Shaun Series 2; Series 3, episodes 1–5 2011 In with the Flynns Tommy Flynn Series 1 2012 The Secret of Crickley Hall Reverend Horace Episode 32013 Endeavour Reg Tracepurcel Series 1, Episode 3: "Rocket" Great Night Out Glyn The Mill Charles Crout 2014 Prey DI Sean Devlin 2012–2021 Line of Duty DS/DI Matthew 'Dot' Cottan Series 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 2016 Uncle Cyril Resistance Captain David McLeod 2015–2016 Indian Summers Dougie Raworth Series 1 and Series 2, all episodes 2018 Killed by My Debt Bailiff Sick of It Neil Series 1, Episode 1Watership DownSergeant SainfoinVoice role 2019 Year of the Rabbit Patrick Levant Series 1, Episode 5 Wild Bill Piano Man Series 1, Episode 2: "Piano Man"TempleKeith SullivanSeries 1, Episodes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 82020 The English GameJames WalshSeries 1 2020–2021 SandylandsTerry Chino2021–2024Grace DS Norman Potting2021 IntergalacticDr. Benedict Lee2021Doctor WhoThe Grand SerpentSeries 132022VeraPhil SwannSeries 11 Life and Death in the WarehouseDannyTelevision filmEverything I Know About LoveJames3 episodes 2023 Mrs Sidhu Investigates DCI Peter Burton2024 Renegade NellSam Trotter2024Alma's Not NormalRichardEpisode: "The Black and White Movie"
Film Year Title Role Notes 2007 Control Tony Wilson Virgin Territory Tindaro 2008 The Other Man George 2009 The Taxidermist The Taxidermist Short film The Unloved Ben TV film Desert Flower Neil 2010 Four Lions Matthew 'Matt' Jaggard SoulBoy Alan Brighton Rock Cubitt 2011 When the Lights Went Out Brian Ghosted Clay 2016The FlagThe DonSee IMDB for more. 2018 Black Mirror: Bandersnatch Peter Butler Standalone film from TV series Black Mirror2019Wild RoseAlan
Theatre Year Title Role Notes 1998 Martin Guerre Ensemble Prince Edward Theatre 2000 Much Ado About Nothing Watchman Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park. The Pirates of Penzance Policeman Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park. A Midsummer Night's Dream Francis Flute Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park.2006 Measure for Measure Provost Complicite/National Theatre 2006 Everything is Illuminated Alex Perchov/Sofiowka Hampstead Theatre, London. Based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, adapted by Simon Block. 2011 Ecstasy Len Hampstead Theatre, London 2015 Hangmen Inspector Fry Royal Court Theatre and Wyndham's Theatre, London
References
External links
Parkinson's profile on Troika Talent