Reeson Wayne Shearsmith (born 27 August 1969) is a British actor, comedian, writer and magician. He was a member of The League of Gentlemen, with Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss and Jeremy Dyson. Jointly with Pemberton, he created, wrote and starred in the sitcom Psychoville and the dark comedy anthology series Inside No. 9. He had notable roles in Spaced and The World's End. Shearsmith was born in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. He attended Andrew Marvell High School and then Bretton Hall College of Education, where he met Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton, fellow actors and comedians The League of Gentlemen began as a stage act in 1995, transferred to Radio 4 as On the Town with The League of Gentlemen in 1997, and arrived on television on BBC Two in 1999. The last saw Shearsmith and his colleagues awarded a British Academy Television Award, a Royal Television Society Award and the prestigious Golden Rose of Montreux. Following The League of Gentlemen, Shearsmith appeared in comedy programmes including Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere as well as playing villain Tony in the Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer comedy Catterick. He appeared in two episodes of the award-winning pop-culture comedy Spaced as Robot Wars-obsessed TA soldier Dexter, and played neurotic Doctor Flynn in hospital sitcom TLC alongside Alexander Armstrong. In 2014, Shearsmith and Pemberton returned to BBC2 with a new dark comedy series called Inside No. 9. Each episode of the anthology series takes place in a different 'No. 9' location. Shearsmith and Pemberton play various characters in the series and have also directed two of the episodes.[16] Also in 2014, he starred as Malcolm Webster in ITV drama series, based on a true story, The Widower.
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Biography from TMDB.
- August 27, 1969 (57)
- Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK
- Actor, producer and writer
- 35 on MovieCove · 92 credits in all
What are Reece Shearsmith's films like?
Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 4 · Wry 0 · Earnest 9
A split, not a type: Light 9 · Serious 1 · Dark 3
A split, not a type: Grounded 3 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 8
Gentle 2 · Charged 8 · Intense 3
Steady 3 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 3
Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 5
Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1
A split, not a type: Casual 6 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 2
A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 2
A split, not a type: Resolved 7 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 5
Roles they play
Usually the Hero: 5 of 12 analyzed roles.
Show the 12 rolesHide the roles
- Heroas Ashley Dodds in Christmas at the Riviera (2007)
- Heroas Peter in The Cottage (2008)
- Heroas Whitehead in A Field in England (2013)
- Tricksteras Reece Shearsmith (various) in Inside No. 9 (2014)
- Shadowas Malcolm Webster in The Widower (2014)
- Heroas DS Sean Stone in Chasing Shadows (2014)
- Heraldas V.C. Wall in Borley Rectory (2017)
- Tricksteras Mr. Curry in The Adventures of Paddington (2019)
- Shadowas Zach in In the Earth (2021)
- Heroas Inspector Stoppard in See How They Run (2022)
- Tricksteras Norbot in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024)
- Tricksteras Bagman in Rogue Trooper (2026)
Moods and endings
- Happy7
- Bittersweet4
- Ambiguous6
- Cyclical1
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 Reece Shearsmith's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).
- BritBox
- Magnolia Selects, show their title on Magnolia Selects
- Marquee TV, show their title on Marquee TV
- Monsters and Nightmares, show their title on Monsters and Nightmares
- PBS Masterpiece, show their title on PBS Masterpiece
- Sony Pictures Core, show their title on Sony Pictures Core
- Sundance Now, show their title on Sundance Now
- Warriors & Gangsters, show their title on Warriors & Gangsters
- Wonder Project, show their title on Wonder Project
Subscription and free streaming for Reece Shearsmith's 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
92 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 23 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Rogue Trooper(2026)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
3 Body Problem(2024)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows
Saltburn(2023)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
See How They Run(2022)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
The Witchfinder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Foundation(2021)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
In the Earth(2021)
Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
Investigating The Ladykillers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows
Good Omens(2019)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows
The League of Gentlemen - Live Again! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
Zanzibar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
Borley Rectory(2017)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
The Man You're Not (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
The Riddle of the Sphinx (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
The Devil of Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Bob Monkhouse: The Last Stand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Diddy TV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Stag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
High-Rise(2015)
Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
Peter Kay's Car Share (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
The 12 Days of Christine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
La Couchette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
Galavant(2015)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
Chasing Shadows(2014)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all showsOriginal Comedy Shorts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
The Case of the High Foot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
The Widower(2014)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
The Harrowing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
The Understudy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Last Gasp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Remembering 'Dead of Night' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Tom & Gerri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
A Quiet Night In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Sardines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Inside No. 9(2014)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
House of Fools (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
The World's End(2013)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
A Field in England(2013)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Psychobitches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Catchphrase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Gadget Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Bad Sugar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
The Hollow Crown(2012)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows
Him Indoors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Playhouse Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Squeamish! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
Eric & Ernie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
Chekhov Comedy Shorts(2010)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)
Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Psychoville Halloween Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Burke and Hare(2010)
Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all filmsRichard Bacon's Beer & Pizza Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Peacock Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Mid Life Christmas(2009)
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
Psychoville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
Horrible Histories(2009)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
The Cottage(2008)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Christmas at the Riviera(2007)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all filmsLadies and Gentlemen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
Comedy Showcase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
The League of Gentlemen Are Behind You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Doctor Who(2005)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
Shaun of the Dead(2004)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Catterick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)
New Tricks(2003)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
tlc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
The League of Gentlemen: Live at Drury Lane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Birthday Girl(2001)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all filmsRandall & Hopkirk (Deceased) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
Spaced (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
This Year's Love(1999)
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
The League of Gentlemen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
In the Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Alexei Sayle's Merry-Go-Round (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Auton (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
PROBE: Ghosts of Winterborne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Mash and Peas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
PROBE: The Devil of Winterborne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Highgate House of Horror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
The South Bank Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Cold Comfort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Doctor Who (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Prodigies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Career shape
Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 92 titles, 89 of them dated from 1978 to 2026; peak year 2014.
Biggest box office
See How They Run (2022)
Highest rated
An Adventure in Space and Time (2013)
Most popular right now
Inside No. 9 (2014)
Film career
Peak 2014 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. 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.
- 1999Screen debut· The League of Gentlemen
- 2001First film· Birthday Girl
- 2013First top-billed film· A Field in England
- 2013Career best· A Field in England
- 2014BAFTA Award win· Inside No. 9
Billing
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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.
Awards
3 BAFTA Awards from 4 major nominations, 2012–2025.
- BAFTA Award, won · Writer, Comedy
- BAFTA Award, won · Scripted Comedy
- BAFTA Award, nominated · Male Performance in a Comedy Programme
- BAFTA Award, won · New Media
Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.
How do Reece Shearsmith's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 22; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up14
- 50th to 74th10
- 25th to 49th10
- Below 25th1
Shape of the crowd
11 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved9
- Cult Classic1
- Crowd Pleaser11
- Broadly Agreed3
- Mixed11
Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 51. 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 Reece Shearsmith's work okay for kids?
Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.
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 Reece Shearsmith work with?
People who share at least 2 of Reece Shearsmith's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mark Gatiss shares the most, 4.
Directors
- Ben WheatleyShared titles: In the Earth (2021), High-Rise (2015), A Field in England (2013)See all 3 shared titles with Ben Wheatley
Writers
- Mark GatissShared titles: Inside No. 9 (2014), An Adventure in Space and Time (2013), The First Men in the Moon (2010), The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005)See all 4 shared titles with Mark Gatiss
- Amy JumpShared titles: In the Earth (2021), High-Rise (2015), A Field in England (2013)See all 3 shared titles with Amy Jump
Actors
- Steve PembertonShared titles: Inside No. 9: The Party's Over (2024), Inside No. 9 (2014), The First Men in the Moon (2010), The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005)See all 4 shared titles with Steve Pemberton
- Diane MorganShared titles: Rogue Trooper (2026), Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024)See all 2 shared titles with Diane Morgan
- Adjoa AndohShared titles: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024), Chasing Shadows (2014)See all 2 shared titles with Adjoa Andoh
- Amanda AbbingtonShared titles: Inside No. 9: The Party's Over (2024), Inside No. 9 (2014)See all 2 shared titles with Amanda Abbington
Composers and cinematographers
- Clint MansellShared titles: In the Earth (2021), High-Rise (2015)See all 2 shared titles with Clint Mansell
- Laurie RoseShared titles: High-Rise (2015), A Field in England (2013)See all 2 shared titles with Laurie Rose
Producers
- Andrew StarkeShared titles: In the Earth (2021), A Field in England (2013)See all 2 shared titles with Andrew Starke
- Anna HiggsShared titles: High-Rise (2015), A Field in England (2013)See all 2 shared titles with Anna Higgs
