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Paul Rhys

Paul Rhys

Actor · Born December 19, 1963 (62) · Neath, Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Paul Rhys (born 19 December 1963) is a Welsh actor with an extensive career in theatre, radio, television and film. Rhys was born in Neath to working-class Catholic parents, Kathryn Ivory and Richard Charles Rhys, a labourer. He is of part-Irish descent on his mother's side. From the age of ten, he bred and trained horses, becoming a highly accomplished rider. A committed punk during his youth, Rhys sang in several bands. His first acting job was playing Liverpudlian judo expert Ralph in John Godber's hit play Bouncers, before leaving for London, where he qualified for his Equity card by singing jazz standards at lunchtime for Peter Boizot's Pizza Express and Kettners. Rhys received a Bernard Shaw Scholarship to study at RADA. In the first term he was spotted by Philip Prowse and was invited to perform in Oscar Wilde's A Woman of No Importance at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre, playing the illegitimate son, Gerald. He also appeared as Dean Swift in Julien Temple's film Absolute Beginners. Rhys completed his education at RADA by winning the William Pole prize and the Bancroft Gold Medal. His next film role was in Franklin J. Schaffner's Lionheart. After a brief spell at the Royal Shakespeare Company he played opposite Colin Firth in Richard Eyre's award-winning film Tumbledown. Soon after this, he appeared in Vincent & Theo, directed by American film director Robert Altman, as Vincent van Gogh's younger brother Theo van Gogh. Continuing the theme of famous brothers, Paul then played Sydney Chaplin opposite Robert Downey Jr.'s Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough's Chaplin. He went on to play Massis in Alan Bennett's 102 Boulevard Haussmann. He then appeared opposite Peter O'Toole in Rebecca's Daughters. A series of films then followed including From Hell, Food of Love, Love Lies Bleeding, Becoming Colette and Hellraiser: Deader. He appears as Talleyrand in Ridley Scott's 2023 epic Napoleon, and as Duncan in Emerald Fennell's Saltburn. Running parallel to Rhys's film work has been a diverse and notable television career, working in leading roles with directors such as Mike Hodges, Stephen Frears, Sir Richard Eyre, Philip Martin, Christopher Morahan, Tom Vaughan, Edward Hall, Harry Bradbeer in productions including Tumbledown, A Dance to the Music of Time, The Heroes, Ghosts, Gallowglass, The Healer, Anna Karenina, The Deal, Beethoven, The Ten Commandments, Borgia, Luther and Spooks. In 2008 Rhys appeared in the series Agatha Christie's Poirot. In 2014, he played the lead as traitor Aldrich Ames, in The Assets miniseries, then as King George III in Turn: Washington's Spies and as Sir John Conroy in Victoria. He has made a minor industry out of playing vampires: Being Human (as Ivan); as Vlad, the Prince of Wallachia aka Dracula in seasons 1–3 of the 2015 series Da Vinci's Demons; and as Andrew Hubbard in two seasons of the 2020–2021 hit, A Discovery of Witches. In 2023, he appears as Tommy in the BBC film, Men Up.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 19, 1963 (62)
From
Neath, Glamorgan, Wales, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 72 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 18% in 30 days

What are Paul Rhys' films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
33%
Bonds
21%
Morality
16%
Power
11%
Society
10%
Survival
5%
Ideas
3%
Ambition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 4 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 7 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 8 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 4

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 7 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 12 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 12
Ally
2 of 12
Shapeshifter
2 of 12
Hero
1 of 12
Threshold guardian
1 of 12
Trickster
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Melancholic
10
Dread
4
Bittersweet
5
Contemplative
4
Other
13

How their films linger

Hopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Paul Rhys' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Paul Rhys' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

72 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page.

  • Madfabulous(2026)

    as Lord Penrhyn

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Tip Toe(2026)

    Show 5 episodes · as Melba

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Wuthering Heights(2026)

    as Heathcliff's Father

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Men Up(2023)

    as Tommy Cadogan

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Widow Clicquot(2023)

    as Droite

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 3 episodes · as Akela

  • Napoleon(2023)

    as Talleyrand

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Saltburn(2023)

    as Duncan

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Sandman(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Hippogriff (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • A Discovery of Witches(2018)

    Show 4 episodes · as Andrew Hubbard · as Father Hubbard

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Lore(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Philip Smith

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Rellik(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Patrick Barker

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Victoria(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sir John Conroy

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Casanova (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Comte De St Germain

  • Casanova(2015)

    as Comte De St Germain

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Assets(2014)

    Show 8 episodes · as Aldrich Ames

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Great Expectations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Compeyson · as Compeyson/Denby · as Denby

  • Borgia(2011)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Eliminate: Archie Cookson(2012)

    as Archie Cookson

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • When Harvey Met Bob(2010)

    as Paul McCartney

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Luther(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Lucien Burgess

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Moving On(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Andy

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Being Human(2008)

    Show 5 episodes · as Ivan

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Bonekickers(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • Murdoch Mysteries(2008)

    Show 13 episodes · as Dr. Llewllyn Francis

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Unknown Things (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Hoogstraten

  • The Ten Commandments(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ramses

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • Hellraiser: Deader(2005)

    as Winter

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Beethoven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ludwig van Beethoven

  • Murder in Rome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Cicero

  • This World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • New Tricks(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Sebastian Carter

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Deal(2003)

    as Peter Mandelson

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Otherworld (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Lord Pwyll (voice)

  • MI-5(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Alexis Meynell

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Food of Love(2002)

    as Richard Kennington

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Cazalets(2001)

    Show 6 episodes · as Rupert Cazalet

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Murder in Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Matthew Hopkins

  • From Hell(2001)

    as Dr. Ferral

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Innocent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as David Pastorov

  • Anna Karenina(2000)

    Show 4 episodes · as Nikolai

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Love Lies Bleeding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Jonathan

  • The Strange Case of Delfina Potocka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Chopin

  • King Lear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Edgar

  • A Dance to the Music of Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 4 episodes · as Charles Stringham

  • The Haunting of Helen Walker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Edward Goffe

  • Nina Takes a Lover(1994)

    as Photographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Ghosts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Peter Buckle

  • The Last Machine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Kavanagh QC(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Wicks

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Healer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Dr. John Lassiter

  • Gallowglass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · Casting · as Sandor

  • Chaplin(1992)

    as Sydney Chaplin

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Rebecca's Daughters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Anthony Raine

  • Becoming Colette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Chapo

  • Performance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Christopher · as Edgar

  • Vincent & Theo(1990)

    as Theodore 'Theo' Van Gogh

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • 102 Boulevard Haussmann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Amable Massis

  • Vincent & Theo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 4 episodes · as Theo Van Gogh

  • Chillers(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Marshall

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Poirot(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Robin Upward

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Tumbledown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Hugh MacKessac

  • The Heroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Ivan Lyon

  • My Family and Other Animals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 10 episodes · as George

  • Lionheart(1987)

    as Mayor of the Underground City

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Spirit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Sunday Premiere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Hugh MacKessac

  • Absolute Beginners(1986)

    as Dean Swift

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Timewatch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Cicero

  • The Lives of Animals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as John

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 72 titles, 71 of them dated from 1982 to 2026; peak year 2024.

Biggest box office

Napoleon (2023)

$222M worldwide

Highest rated

Chaplin (1992)

Midcredits 90th

Most popular right now

Napoleon (2023)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19822026

Peak 2024 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting72 of 72: 71 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thOther crew1 of 72: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s9 · acting1990s19 · 19 acting · 1 crew2000s22 · acting2010s12 · acting2020s9 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 10 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Paul Rhys' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 18; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Madfabulous (2026)

81st percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Victoria (2016)

Midcredits 92nd · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 53. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Paul Rhys' work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles29–91 · median 89 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles42–75 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles45–73 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles33–71 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles29–87 · median 71 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Paul Rhys work with?

People who share at least 2 of Paul Rhys' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; David Morrissey shares the most, 2.

Actors

Producers