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Russell Tovey

Russell Tovey

Actor · Born November 14, 1981 (44) · Billericay, Essex, England, UK

Sundance award winner · Critics Choice Award nominee

Russell George Tovey (born 14 November 1981) is an English actor with numerous television, film and stage credits. Tovey is best known for playing the role of a werewolf, George Sands in the BBC's supernatural drama Being Human. His other notable roles include Rudge in both the stage and film version of The History Boys, Steve in the BBC Three sitcom Him & Her, Kevin Matheson in the HBO original series Looking and as Henry Knight on BBC TV series Sherlock.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 14, 1981 (44)
From
Billericay, Essex, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
58 on MovieCove · 103 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 5% in 30 days

What are Russell Tovey's films like?

Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Animation5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Action 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
20%
Morality
19%
Society
14%
Survival
8%
Power
7%
Ideas
4%
Identity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 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 4 · Dark 5

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 11 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 10 · Intense 5

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

A split, not a type: Steady 10 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 2

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 8 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 10 · 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 10 · Full focus 2

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 8 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 5

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 17 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 17
Ally
3 of 17
Trickster
3 of 17
Shapeshifter
2 of 17
Shadow
1 of 17
Herald
1 of 17
Mentor
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Warm
11
Joyful
8
Dread
7
Melancholic
9
Other
24

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous4

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 Russell Tovey's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 43 of their 58 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Russell Tovey'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

103 credits, 58 with a MovieCove page; 13 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Queer Edward II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Executive Producer

  • I Am the Prize (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • The War Between the Land and the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 5 episodes · as Barclay Pierre-Dupont

  • The Cult of Americana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

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

    Show 4 episodes · as Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Plainclothes(2025)

    as Andrew

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Life is Excellent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • Pet Shop Boys: A New Bohemia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Actor

  • The Fortress(2023)

    Show 7 episodes · as Charlie Oldman

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • White Widow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Charlie

  • Juice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 12 episodes · as Guy

  • Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Russell Tovey

  • Love Again(2023)

    as Billy Brooks

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Allelujah(2022)

    as Colin Colman

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Wayfinder(2022)

    as Russell

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • AIDS: The Unheard Tapes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator

  • National Theatre Live: Constellations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Roland

  • Starstruck(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dave

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Picture of Dorian Gray(2021)

    as Basil Hallward

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Sister(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · as Nathan

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • No Masks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • Baby Lies Truthfully (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • Flesh and Blood(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jake

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • It's Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Joe

  • The Good Liar(2019)

    as Steven

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Years and Years(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · as Daniel Lyons

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as David

  • Hymn of Hate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Sergeant George May

  • Freedom Fighters: The Ray(2018)

    as Ray Terrill / The Ray (voice)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Shane the Chef(2018)

    Show 52 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Freedom Fighters: The Ray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 12 episodes · as Ray Terrill / The Ray (voice)

  • Queers(2017)

    Show 8 episodes · as Phil

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • National Theatre Live: Angels In America — Part Two: Perestroika (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Joseph Pitt/Mormon Centre Father/The Angel Europa

  • National Theatre Live: Angels In America — Part One: Millennium Approaches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Joseph Pitt/Prior 1/The Eskimo

  • The Hippopotamus(2017)

    as Rupert Keynes

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Feud(2017)

    Show 8 episodes · as John O'Shea

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Mindhorn(2016)

    as Paul Melly

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Looking(2016)

    as Kevin Matheson

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Pass(2016)

    as Jason

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Night Manager(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Simon Ogilvey

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Legends of Tomorrow(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Ray Terrill / The Ray

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Red Top (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Andy Coulson

  • Stick Man(2015)

    as Dog (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Lady in the Van(2015)

    as Young Man with Earring

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Supergirl(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Ray Terrill / The Ray (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Quantico(2015)

    Show 35 episodes · as Harry Doyle

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • Banished(2015)

    Show 7 episodes · as James Freeman

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Flash(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Ray Terrill / The Ray

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Mike the Knight: Journey to Dragon Mountain(2014)

    as Squirt (Voice)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Pride(2014)

    as Tim

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Blackwood(2014)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Muppets Most Wanted(2014)

    as Delivery Man

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Effie Gray(2014)

    as George

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Looking(2014)

    Show 15 episodes · as Kevin Matheson

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide(2013)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Talking to the Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as DS Huw Brydon

  • The Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 10 episodes · as Narrator

  • What Remains(2013)

    Show 4 episodes · as Michael

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Job Lot(2013)

    Show 18 episodes · as Karl Lyndhurst

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • The King is Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Nicky

  • Tower Block(2012)

    as Paul

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • BBC Comedy Feeds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Grabbers(2012)

    as Dr. Adam Smith

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Walking the Dogs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Footman

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

    Show 1 episode · as Footman

  • The Pirates! Band of Misfits(2012)

    as The Albino Pirate (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • So You Want to Be a Pirate!(2012)

    as The Albino Pirate

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Is This a Joke? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Tim

  • The Ballad of Russell & Julie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Midshipman Frame (archive footage)

  • American Horror Story(2011)

    Show 10 episodes · as Patrick Read

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Him & Her (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 25 episodes · as Steve

  • Sherlock(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Knight

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Mongrels(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Huge(2010)

    as Carl

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Roar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Tom

  • Being Human(2008)

    Show 23 episodes · as George Sands

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • In Passing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Henry Travers

  • Little Dorrit(2008)

    Show 14 episodes · as John Chivery

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Mutual Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Estate Agent

  • Ashes to Ashes(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Marcus Johnstone

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Midshipman Alonso Frame

  • Gavin & Stacey(2007)

    Show 4 episodes · as Budgie

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The History Boys(2006)

    as Rudge

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • My Family and Other Animals(2005)

    as Leslie Durrell

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who Confidential (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 13 episodes · as Narrator

  • Agatha Christie's Marple(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as PC Terence Reed

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • The Paul O'Grady Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Servants(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Ultimate Force(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Emperor's New Clothes(2001)

    as Recruit

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Messiah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · as Robbie McManus

  • The Red Peppers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Alf

  • Holby City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Spengler · as Jerome Hibbert

  • The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Stable boy

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Silent Witness(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Spywatch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 12 episodes · as Dennis Sealey

  • Mud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 14 episodes · as Bill

  • Poirot(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Lionel Marshall

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Real Love (Yes, It's Real Love!) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Mick

  • When the Wolves Came (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Sebastian

  • Wild Bird (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Alexander McQueen

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 102 titles, 99 of them dated from 1984 to 2026; peak year 2015.

Biggest box office

The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)

$123M worldwide

Highest rated

Looking (2016)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

Quantico (2015)

Film career

19842026

Peak 2015 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 18 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
Acting101 of 102: 100 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stWriting1 of 102: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 102: 1 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s2 · acting1990s5 · acting2000s19 · acting2010s49 · acting2020s24 · 23 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 10% of 21 roles
0116

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

1 major award from 2 major nominations, 2020–2025.

WinNomination
  1. 2025
    • Sundance award, won · Ensemble
  2. 2020
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television

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 Russell Tovey's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 58 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 58 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Mike the Knight: Journey to Dragon Mountain (2014)

97th percentile spread · 35% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Pride (2014)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 82, 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 Russell Tovey's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles0–70 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles31–65 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles38–65 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles34–43 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles12–67 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Russell Tovey work with?

People who share at least 2 of Russell Tovey's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Imelda Staunton shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers