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Simon McBurney

Acting Born Aug 25, 1957 Cambridge, England, UK 67 credits
67
Total Credits
2025
47 Years Career Span
28
Vault Titles
10
Key Co-Stars

Biography

Simon Montagu McBurney, OBE, is an English actor, writer, and director who was born on August 25, 1957, in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom. He is recognized as an Olivier Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated artist. In addition to his acting career, he is the founder and artistic director of the English theatre company originally known as Théâtre de Complicité and now called Complicite. According to professional databases, his career includes sixty-four known acting credits. His biographical profile notes his contributions to both film and television performance, as well as his leadership role in the performing arts.

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Career

Career overview

Simon Montagu McBurney, OBE, is an English actor, writer, and director who was born on August 25, 1957, in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom. He is recognized as an Olivier Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated artist. In addition to his work in film and television, he established Théâtre de Complicité in England, which is now known as Complicite, serving as both its founder and artistic director.

Within the database record, McBurney has accumulated sixty-four known acting credits. His professional profile encompasses work across both movies and television shows, establishing a significant body of screen and stage work over the course of his career.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

The Actor
NosferatuGardening
HijackA MistakeThe Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute · Art DirectionDrive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead · Director
The Pale Blue Eye
Can I Live? · Co-Director
WolfwalkersSiberia
Carnival RowThe Loudest Voice
The Mercy
The EncounterThe Encounter · Director
The Conjuring 2AlliedJohn Berger or The Art of LookingThe New Man
Mission: Impossible - Rogue NationThe Casual Vacancy
The Theory of EverythingMagic in the Moonlight
UtopiaFor Those Who Can Tell No Tales
The BorgiasTinker Tailor Soldier SpyJane Eyre
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1Robin HoodRev.Boogie WoogieNational Theatre Live: A Disappearing Number · Director
Body of LiesThe Duchess
Mr. Bean's Holiday · StoryMr. Bean's Holiday · Executive ProducerThe Golden Compass
The Last King of ScotlandFriends with Money
Lenny Henry Live - So Much Things To Say · Creative Consultant
The Manchurian CandidateThe Reckoning
Bright Young ThingsSweet DreamsThe Elephant Vanishes · Director
Eisenstein
OneginInside-Out
Cousin Bette
Midsomer Murders
The Ogre
Being HumanA Business AffairMesmerTom & Viv
Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase
The Crying Game
PerformanceKafka

Full Filmography

67 titles
  • The Actor (2025) as Doctor Croft / Doctor Edgarton
  • Nosferatu (2024) as Herr Knock
  • Gardening (2024) as Detective Danforth
  • Hijack (2023) as Edgar Janssen
  • A Mistake (2023) as Andrew McGrath
  • The Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute (2023) Art Direction
  • Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (2023) Director
  • The Pale Blue Eye (2022) as Captain Hitchcock
  • Can I Live? (2021) Co-Director
  • Wolfwalkers (2020) as Lord Protector (voice)
  • Siberia (2020) as Magician
  • Carnival Row (2019) as Runyan Millworthy
  • The Loudest Voice (2019) as Rupert Murdoch
  • The Mercy (2018) as Sir Francis Chichester
  • The Encounter (2017) as Himself
  • The Encounter (2017) Director
  • The Conjuring 2 (2016) as Maurice Grosse
  • Allied (2016) as S.O.E. Official
  • John Berger or The Art of Looking (2016) as Self
  • The New Man (2016) as Self
  • Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) as Atlee
  • The Casual Vacancy (2015) as Colin Wall
  • The Theory of Everything (2014) as Frank Hawking
  • Magic in the Moonlight (2014) as Howard Burkan
  • Utopia (2013) as Professor Donaldson
  • For Those Who Can Tell No Tales (2013) as Tim Clancy
  • The Borgias (2011) as Johannes Burchart
  • Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) as Oliver Lacon
  • Jane Eyre (2011) as Mr. Brocklehurst
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) as Kreacher (voice)
  • Robin Hood (2010) as Father Tancred
  • Rev. (2010) as Robert
  • Boogie Woogie (2010) as Robert Freign
  • National Theatre Live: A Disappearing Number (2010) Director
  • National Theatre Live: A Disappearing Number (2010) Writer
  • Body of Lies (2008) as Garland
  • The Duchess (2008) as Charles Fox
  • Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007) Story
  • Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007) Executive Producer
  • The Golden Compass (2007) as Fra Pavel
  • The Last King of Scotland (2006) as British Diplomat
  • Friends with Money (2006) as Aaron
  • Lenny Henry Live - So Much Things To Say (2005) Creative Consultant
  • The Manchurian Candidate (2004) as Dr. Atticus Noyle
  • The Reckoning (2004) as Stephen
  • Bright Young Things (2003) as Sneath
  • Sweet Dreams (2003) as Thomas
  • The Elephant Vanishes (2003) Director
  • Eisenstein (2000) as Sergei Eisenstein
  • Onegin (1999) as Triquet
  • Inside-Out (1999) as Market researcher
  • Cousin Bette (1998) as Vauvinet
  • Midsomer Murders (1997) as Henry Carstairs
  • The Ogre (1996) as Brigadier
  • Being Human (1994) as Hermas
  • A Business Affair (1994) as Salesman
  • Mesmer (1994) as Franz Mesmer junior
  • Tom & Viv (1994) as Dr. Reginald Miller
  • Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase (1993) as Madman
  • The Crying Game (1992) as Mick
  • Performance (1991) as Pistol
  • Kafka (1991) as Assistant Oscar
  • Burning Ambition (1988) as Martin
  • ScreenPlay (1986) as Martin
  • Friday Night, Saturday Morning (1979)
  • The Betrayers
  • Quo Vadis, Aida? – The Missing Link

Frequently Asked Questions

What movies or TV shows is Simon McBurney best known for?

Simon McBurney is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Nosferatu (2024), Hijack (2023), The Pale Blue Eye (2022), Wolfwalkers (2020).

When and where was Simon McBurney born?

Simon McBurney was born on August 25, 1957 in Cambridge, England, UK.

How many credits does Simon McBurney have?

Simon McBurney has accumulated over 67 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1979 to 2025.

What is Simon McBurney's background in cinema and television?

Simon Montagu McBurney, OBE, is an English actor, writer, and director who was born on August 25, 1957, in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom. He is recognized as an Olivier Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated artist. In addition to his acting career, he is the founder and artistic director of the English theatre co...