Skip to content
MovieCove
Daniel Mays

Daniel Mays

Actor · Born March 31, 1978 (48) · Epping, Essex, England, UK

BAFTA Award nominee

Daniel Mays was born on March 31, 1978 in Epping, Essex, England as Daniel Alan Mays. He is an actor, known for The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011), The Bank Job (2008) and Atonement (2007). He has performed five plays at the Royal Court Theatre in London including two in the theatre's 50th Anniversary year in parts that were specifically written for him. He won the Best Actor prize at the Palmare Television Festival 2003 for his performance in the hard hitting improvised BBC film Rehab. He has made two films with the acclaimed British director Mike Leigh. All or Nothing (2002) and the 1950s abortion drama, Vera Drake (2004), which received 3 Academy Award Nominations, the Golden Lion Award for Best Film, 3 Bafta Awards and 6 British Independent Film Awards including Best British Independent Film. Son of Toni Mays.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 31, 1978 (48)
From
Epping, Essex, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
63 on MovieCove · 94 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 17% in 30 days

What are Daniel Mays' films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
Bonds
25%
Morality
21%
Society
15%
Survival
14%
Self
11%
Power
8%
Ideas
4%
Justice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity13 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 30 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 10 · Serious 3 · Dark 17

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 20 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 4

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 8 · Charged 9 · Intense 13

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 7 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 5

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 9 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 12

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

20 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 20 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 20
Hero
4 of 20
Trickster
3 of 20
Mentor
2 of 20
Threshold guardian
2 of 20
Shadow
2 of 20
Herald
1 of 20
Shapeshifter
1 of 20
Show the 20 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
27
Melancholic
19
Dread
15
Joyful
9
Warm
9
Other
37

How their films linger

Thought-provoking16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous9

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 Daniel Mays' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 53 of their 63 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Daniel Mays' 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

94 credits, 63 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • National Theatre Live: Golden Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Moody

  • Believe Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 4 episodes · as John Worboys

  • Lord of the Flies(2026)

    Show 4 episodes · as Fred

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Shelter(2026)

    as Booth

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Lynley(2025)

    Show 4 episodes · as DCI Brian Nies

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Thursday Murder Club(2025)

    as Chris Hudson

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Bookish(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Eric Wellbeloved

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes(2025)

    Show 4 episodes · as Cliff Todd

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • A Thousand Blows(2024)

    Show 12 episodes · as William 'Punch' Lewis

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Moonflower Murders(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · as Chubb / Locke

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

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

    Actor

  • Franklin(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · as Edward Bancroft

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget(2023)

    as Fetcher (voice)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Your Christmas or Mine 2(2023)

    as Geoff

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Long Shadow(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sydney Jackson

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Your Christmas or Mine?(2022)

    as Geoff

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Maryland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as PC Moody

  • Magpie Murders(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · as Locke / Chubb

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Des(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · as DCI Peter Jay

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • White Lines(2020)

    Show 10 episodes · as Marcus

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Code 404 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 18 episodes · as DI John Major

  • The Rhythm Section(2020)

    as Dean West

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • 1917(2019)

    as Sergeant Sanders

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

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

    Show 15 episodes · as Lee

  • Good Omens(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · as Arthur Young

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Fisherman's Friends(2019)

    as Danny

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Interrogation of Tony Martin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as DC Peters

  • My Dinner with Hervé(2018)

    as Casey

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Two for Joy(2018)

    as Lias

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Mother's Day(2018)

    as Colin Parry

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Swimming with Men(2018)

    as Colin

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Porters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Anthony De La Mer

  • Born to Kill(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · as Bill

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Guerrilla(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Cullen

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • Against the Law(2017)

    as Peter Wildeblood

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Urban Myths (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Housego

  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016)

    as Tivik

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Limehouse Golem(2016)

    as George Flood

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Infiltrator(2016)

    as Frankie

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Dad's Army(2016)

    as Private Walker

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Victor Frankenstein(2015)

    as Barnaby

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Great Fire(2014)

    Show 4 episodes · as Samuel Pepys

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • The Great War: The People's Story(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Reg Evans

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Common(2014)

    as Tommy Ward

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Inside No. 9(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Shane

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Byzantium(2012)

    as Noel

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Welcome to the Punch(2013)

    as Nathan Bartnick

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Mrs Biggs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Ronald Biggs

  • Mrs Biggs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 5 episodes · as Ronald Biggs

  • Line of Duty(2012)

    Show 6 episodes · as Sgt Danny Waldron

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Playhouse Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Guv

  • Public Enemies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · as Eddie Mottram

  • Treasure Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. David Livesey

  • The Adventures of Tintin(2011)

    as Allan / Pirate Flunky #1 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Outcasts(2010)

    Show 8 episodes · as Cass Cromwell

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Made in Dagenham(2010)

    as Eddie O'Grady

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang(2010)

    as Blenkinsop

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1974(2009)

    as Michael Myshkin

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Red Riding: The Year of Our Lord 1983(2009)

    as Michael Myshikin

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Nobody(2009)

    as Young Journalist

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Firm(2009)

    as Yeti

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Red Riding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Michael Myshkin

  • Plus One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 5 episodes · as Rob Black

  • Consuming Passion(2008)

    as Charles Boon

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Shifty(2008)

    as Chris

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • White Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Stevie

  • The Bank Job(2008)

    as Dave Shilling

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Ashes to Ashes(2008)

    Show 8 episodes · as Jim Keats

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Half Broken Things (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Michael

  • Saddam's Tribe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Uday

  • Middletown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Jim Hunter

  • Atonement(2007)

    as Tommy Nettle

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Consent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Steve

  • A Good Year(2006)

    as Bert the Doorman

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Life of Words(2005)

    as Martin

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

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

    Show 11 episodes · as Carter Krantz

  • Class of '76 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as DS Steven Grant

  • Class of '76 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as DS Steven Grant

  • The Best Man(2005)

    as Pool Guy

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Beneath the Skin(2005)

    as Moz Burnside

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Alex

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Vera Drake(2004)

    as Sid

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Top Buzzer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Hustle(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Mervyn Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Keen Eddie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    as Adam

  • Tipping the Velvet(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy Burns

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • All or Nothing(2002)

    as Jason

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Bodily Harm(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Trader

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Dead Casual (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Manchild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Pearl Harbor(2001)

    as Pilot #3

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • In Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dave Street

  • Do Not Disturb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 94 titles, 92 of them dated from 2001 to 2026; peak year 2009.

Biggest box office

1917 (2019)

$446M worldwide

Highest rated

1917 (2019)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Shelter (2026)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
20012026

Peak 2009 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 14 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
Acting94 of 94: 94 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score74th

By decade

2000s36 · acting2010s35 · acting2020s21 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 6% of 33 roles
0207121722

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

Nominated for a BAFTA Award in 2017, Best Supporting Actor.

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 Daniel Mays' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 65th percentile, the median of all 39; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 63 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up29
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 63 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Consuming Passion (2008)

72nd percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

1917 (2019)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 27 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 47. 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 Daniel Mays' work okay for kids?

Across up to 23 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore19 titles19–84 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity23 titles10–63 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity19 titles17–84 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs16 titles27–79 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense17 titles23–77 · median 58 · moderateheavier 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 Daniel Mays work with?

People who share at least 2 of Daniel Mays' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bill Nighy shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles