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Anthony Flanagan

Anthony Flanagan

Actor · Born April 11, 1972 (54) · Stockport, Cheshire, England, UK

Anthony Flanagan (born 11 April 1972 as Tony Bonello) is an English actor most widely known for his portrayal of policeman Tony in Channel 4's comedy-drama series Shameless. Flanagan was born in Stockport, Cheshire. At school he was called Anthony Bonello. After leaving Grange Comprehensive School, in Oldham, he worked as a joiner. At 16 he went to London, taking on occasional odd jobs and for a time slept on the streets. Flanagan has described this as "a very bad period". Flanagan decided to become an actor after seeing a friend of his sister perform at RADA. Flanagan studied at Oldham College and Capitol Theatre in Manchester (now Manchester Metropolitan University) after a year of unemployment. Flanagan's first professional job was in a lead role at the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) in the 2001/02 season, playing Pat Harford in Peter Whelan's play A Russian in the Woods. (Flanagan would later reflect on the experience of appearing on stage naked.) This led to a collaboration with writer and theatre critic Richard Edmonds on a one-man show on the life of Baudelaire entitled King of a Rainy Country. Notable work includes roles series in Shameless, Vincent, Cracker (where his roles as Kenny Archer in the 2006 TV film was almost universally praised despite mixed critical reaction to the comeback show itself), Life on Mars, Foyle's War, All About George, Casualty, Holby City, The Bill, Spooks, Spooks: Code 9, Doctor Who, Survivors and Red Riding. He played his first major lead role in the short serial Instinct, broadcast in February 2007 and was due to appear in the West End in Glengarry Glen Ross in October 2007 but withdrew due to 'personal reasons'.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 11, 1972 (54)
From
Stockport, Cheshire, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 49 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 63 days to Oct 26Down 11% in 30 days

What are Anthony Flanagan's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
30%
Morality
24%
Survival
19%
Self
19%
Power
5%
Society
3%
Family bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 4 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 1 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 4 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 0 · Intense 3

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

Steady 2 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 2 · 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 2 · Full focus 1

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

Easy watch 1 · Affecting 0 · Heavy 3

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

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
5
Tense
5
Dread
4
Contemplative
2
Warm
1
Other
5

How their films linger

Devastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Anthony Flanagan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Anthony Flanagan'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

49 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page.

  • Police Raid: Minute by Minute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Narrator

  • Mrs Sidhu Investigates(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Pitbull

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • House of the Dragon(2022)

    Show 9 episodes · as Ser Steffon Darklyn

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Around the World in 80 Days(2021)

    Show 5 episodes · as Thomas Kneedling

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Stardust(2020)

    as Dr Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Dracula(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Portmann

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • I Am...(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Wild Bill(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · as PC Sean Cobley

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • Gentleman Jack(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sam Sowden / Ben Sowden

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Care(2018)

    as Dave

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • God's Kingdom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Jack

  • The White Princess(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Francis Lovell

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Crown(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Thurman

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Marina and Adrienne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Jerimiah

  • The People Next Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Humans(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jansen

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Nigel

  • The List (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Christopher Corwin

  • The Village(2013)

    Show 12 episodes · as Arnold Hankin

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Arbiter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Mickey

  • Shetland(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Euan Ross

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Private Peaceful(2012)

    as Recruiting Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Prisoners' Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 6 episodes · as Andy

  • Appropriate Adult(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mike

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Vera(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Chris Worsten

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Glorious 39(2009)

    as Military Policeman

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

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

    as Barry Gannon

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Moving On(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Greg

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Barry Gannon

  • Being Human(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · as Fergus

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Survivors(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Dexter

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Spooks: Code 9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom

  • Heroes and Villains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

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

    Show 2 episodes · as D.C.I Thomas Flynn

  • Cracker: Nine Eleven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Kenny Archer

  • The Gil Mayo Mysteries(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Steven Marshall

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Life on Mars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Pete Bond

  • All About George (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Doctor Who(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Orin Scannell

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Shameless(2004)

    Show 16 episodes · as Tony

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • New Tricks(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Anthony Bassett

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Coming Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 8 episodes · as Goose · as Sirjad

  • Blue Murder(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Gavin Turner

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Murder Investigation Team (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Dexter Barnes

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

    Show 1 episode · as Collitt

  • Foyle's War(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Policeman 2 · as Tom Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • MI-5(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Craig Fletcher

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Steve Harwood

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 83rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 49 titles from 1984 to 2024; peak year 2009.

Biggest box office

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

$152K worldwide

Highest rated

The Village (2013)

Midcredits 79th

Most popular right now

Around the World in 80 Days (2021)

Film career

19842024

Peak 2009 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting49 of 49: 49 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score75th

By decade

1980s2 · acting2000s22 · acting2010s19 · acting2020s6 · acting

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.

How do Anthony Flanagan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 5; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Midcredits score across 30 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 30 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Stardust (2020)

67th percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Gentleman Jack (2019)

Midcredits 92nd · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 54. 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 Anthony Flanagan's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Anthony Flanagan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Anthony Flanagan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Julian Jarrold shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Editors

Producers