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James Wilby

James Wilby

Actor · Born February 20, 1958 (68) · Rangoon, Burma. [now Yangôn, Myanmar]

Screen Actors Guild Award winner · 2 other major award bodies

James Wilby (born 20 February 1958) is an English actor, known for Maurice (1987), Gosford Park (2001), Howards End (1992), and A Handful of Dust (1988).

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 20, 1958 (68)
From
Rangoon, Burma. [now Yangôn, Myanmar]
Works as
Actor
Titles
49 on MovieCove · 88 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 19% in 30 days

What are James Wilby's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th 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
29%
Bonds
25%
Morality
16%
Power
15%
Survival
10%
Society
5%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 13 · Intense 2

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

Steady 13 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 5 · 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 6 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 3

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 12 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 5 of 11 analyzed roles.

Hero
5 of 11
Shadow
3 of 11
Trickster
1 of 11
Herald
1 of 11
Threshold guardian
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Contemplative
10
Melancholic
10
Warm
7
Romantic
5
Other
17

How their films linger

Thought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous3

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 James Wilby's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 39 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Wilby'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

88 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • I, Jack Wright(2025)

    Show 5 episodes · as Max Preston

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Mystery at the Prospect Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Mr. Vincent

  • The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare(2024)

    as Viscount Algernon

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Vindication Swim(2024)

    as Mr. Havers

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Marlow Murder Club(2024)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sir Peter Bailey

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Mascarade(2022)

    as Thomas

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Duke(2020)

    as Judge Aarvold

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • E. M. Forster: His Longest Journey(2019)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Salt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Conrad

  • The Sense of an Ending(2017)

    as David Ford

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • ChickLit(2016)

    as Geoffrey

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Victoria(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Sir Piers Gifford

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Churchill's Secret(2016)

    as Brendan Bracken

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Nightmare Worlds of H.G. Wells (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Pawkins

  • Poldark(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Lord Falmouth

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Legends(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · as Headmaster

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • The Great Train Robbery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Wheater

  • Vincent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as The Man

  • Father Brown(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Sefton Scott

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Ripper Street(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Broadwick

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Best Possible Taste: The Kenny Everett Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Wilfred De'Ath

  • Titanic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 4 episodes · as Bruce Ismay

  • Death in Paradise(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Elias Thomson

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • We Need to Talk About Kieran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Professor Hugh Merrill

  • Shadows in the Sun(2009)

    as Robert

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • A Risk Worth Taking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Patrick Trenchard

  • Lady Godiva(2008)

    as Earl of Mercia, Leofric

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Secret Diary of a Call Girl(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Clapham Junction(2007)

    as Julian Rowan

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • It's Gradiva Who Is Calling You(2006)

    as John Locke

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Last Days of the Raj (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Lord Mountbatten

  • Inspector Lewis(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Hugh Mallory

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Futureshock: Comet(2007)

    as Josh Hayden

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Ofonius Tigellinus

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Jericho(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Alan Mills

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Agatha Christie's Marple(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Stanley Kirkwood

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Island at War(2004)

    Show 6 episodes · as Sen. James Dorr

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • De-Lovely(2004)

    as Edward Thomas

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Sparkling Cyanide(2003)

    as Stephen Farraday

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • George Eliot: A Scandalous Life(2002)

    as Herbert Spencer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Foyle's War(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Cornwall

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Bertie and Elizabeth(2002)

    as King George VI, aka 'Bertie'

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Gosford Park(2001)

    as Freddie Nesbitt

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Jump Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Nathan

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

    Show 1 episode · as Daniel Morton / Sir Richard Morton

  • Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cotton Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as John MacIntosh

  • Tom's Midnight Garden(1998)

    as Uncle Alan Kitson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • An Ideal Husband (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Sir Robert Chiltern

  • The Dark Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Dr Alan Protheroe

  • The Dark Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Alan Protheroe

  • The Woman In White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Sir Percival Glyde

  • The Woman In White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sir Percival Glyde

  • Trial & Retribution(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as James McCready

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Regeneration(1997)

    as 2nd Lt. Siegfried Sassoon

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Edward Milton

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Original Sin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Gerard Etienne

  • The Treasure Seekers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Henry Carlisle

  • Witness Against Hitler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Helmuth James von Moltke

  • Silent Witness(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Chess Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Lord Staunton

  • Crocodile Shoes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Lady Chatterley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sir Clifford Chatterley, Bt

  • You, Me and It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Charles Henderson

  • Immaculate Conception (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Alistair

  • Howards End(1992)

    as Charles Wilcox

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Adam Bede (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Arthur Donnithorne

  • The Siege of Venice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Milord Runbiff

  • Tell Me That You Love Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Michael Evans

  • Conspiracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Stringer

  • Mother Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 4 episodes · as Christopher "Kit" Vesey

  • Screen One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Donnithorne · as Michael Evans

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Nick Marvin

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • A Tale of Two Cities (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sydney Carton

  • Poirot(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Andrew Restarick

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • A Summer Story(1988)

    as Frank Ashton

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Storyteller: Sapsorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Prince

  • A Handful of Dust(1988)

    as Tony Last

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Storyteller(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Prince

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Maurice(1987)

    as Maurice Hall

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 3 episodes · as Archie Grayling

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • A Room with a View(1986)

    as Party Guest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Dutch Girls(1985)

    as Dundine

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Dreamchild(1985)

    as Baker

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Young Barclay

  • The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Young James

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

    as Jamie

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 87 titles from 1982 to 2025; peak year 1987.

Biggest box office

Howards End (1992)

$26M worldwide

Highest rated

Maurice (1987)

Midcredits 95th

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutAward win
19822025

Peak 1987 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 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
Acting87 of 87: 87 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score76th

By decade

1980s19 · acting1990s23 · acting2000s21 · acting2010s17 · acting2020s7 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 25% of 16 roles
859515

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

a Screen Actors Guild Award and 2 other major awards from 3 major nominations, 1987–2002.

  1. 2002
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Acting Ensemble
  2. 1987
    • Venice award, won

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 James Wilby's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up25
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 49 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Lady Godiva (2008)

92nd percentile spread · 71% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Maurice (1987)

Midcredits 95th · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 45. 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 James Wilby's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity6 titles19–65 · median 54 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 36

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 James Wilby work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Wilby's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rupert Graves shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers