Aidan Gillen

Biography

Aidan Gillen is an Irish actor who got his start as a teenager in Dublin youth theater, playing Nick Bottom in a youth production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at 16 before moving to London and taking his first London stage role at the Bush Theatre. His breakthrough on television came as Stuart Alan Jones in Queer as Folk (1999), and he went on to play Tommy Carcetti in The Wire, Petyr Baelish, known as Littlefinger, in Game of Thrones, and the crime boss John Boy in Love/Hate. He has won three Irish Film and Television Awards and been nominated for a BAFTA Television Award, a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award. His film work includes Shanghai Knights (2003), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Calvary (2014), Sing Street (2016), Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), in which he played Queen's manager John Reid, and two Maze Runner sequels. He also co-wrote and starred in Pickups (2017).

58years old

Turns 59 on April 24in 188 days

Born April 24, 1968Dublin
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Also credited as Aidan Murphy

Movie Career

Films: 24
Career span: 38 years1987 to 2025

Genres

Drama58%, 14 films
Action38%, 9 films
Thriller33%, 8 films
Comedy21%, 5 films
Adventure17%, 4 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
At 16, Gillen took the part of Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, staged by the Dublin Youth Theatre at the Project Theatre in 1983.
Big break
Producers spotted Gillen in The Caretaker and cast him as Tommy Carcetti in The Wire, a role that won him an Irish Film & Television Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role in Television.
Behind the camera
Gillen starred in Pickups, the 2017 film that was Jamie Thraves' fourth feature, and he also co-wrote its script. The project marked his third time working with Thraves.
Early training
At fourteen, Gillen became a member of the National Youth Theatre, and during his teens he also joined the Dublin Youth Theatre.

Aidan Gillen movies on Netflix

London Calling2025IMDb rating 5.7as Freddy Darby
Amongst the Wolves2024IMDb rating 5.3as Power
Barber2023IMDb rating 5.1as Valentine Barber
Dance First2023IMDb rating 6.1as James Joyce
Rose Plays Julie2021IMDb rating 6.4as Peter
Those Who Wish Me Dead2021IMDb rating 6.0as Jack Blackwell
Bohemian Rhapsody2018IMDb rating 7.9as John Reid
Maze Runner: The Death Cure2018IMDb rating 6.3as Janson
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword2017IMDb rating 6.7as Bill
The Lovers2017IMDb rating 6.1as Robert
Sing Street2016IMDb rating 7.9as Robert
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials2015IMDb rating 6.3as Janson
Calvary2014IMDb rating 7.4as Dr. Frank Harte
Beneath the Harvest Sky2013IMDb rating 6.1as Clayton Cote
Shadow Dancer2012IMDb rating 6.2as Gerry
The Dark Knight Rises2012IMDb rating 8.4as CIA Op
Blitz2011IMDb rating 6.2as Weiss
12 Rounds2009IMDb rating 5.6as Miles Jackson
Wake Wood2009IMDb rating 5.5as Patrick
Shanghai Knights2003IMDb rating 6.2as Rathbone
Some Mother's Son1996IMDb rating 7.2as Gerard Quigley
Circle of Friends1995IMDb rating 6.7as Aidan Lynch
An Ungentlemanly Act1992IMDb rating 7.2as Marine Wilcox
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne1987IMDb rating 7.0as Youth at Liquor Store

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Bohemian Rhapsody2018 Biography, Drama, Musicas John Reid
IMDb rating 7.9655K votes
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword2017 Action, Adventure, Dramaas Bill
IMDb rating 6.7250K votes
Blitz2011as Weiss
IMDb rating 6.297K votes
Shanghai Knights2003as Rathbone
IMDb rating 6.2118K votes
The Dark Knight Rises2012as CIA Op
IMDb rating 8.42.0M votes
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials2015as Janson
IMDb rating 6.3313K votes
Calvary2014as Dr. Frank Harte
IMDb rating 7.469K votes
Those Who Wish Me Dead2021as Jack Blackwell
IMDb rating 6.082K votes

Most often with

Wes Ball directed two of these films, James Marsh two. 23 actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Ciarán Hinds

Giancarlo Esposito

Patricia Clarkson

Tom Hollander

Barry Pepper

Ian McNeiceWes BallDirector, 2 films

James MarshDirector, 2 films

Films together

Ciarán Hinds2 films together, 1995 to 1996
Ciarán Hinds's page
- Some Mother's Son1996IMDb rating 7.2Gillen as Gerard QuigleyHinds as Danny Boyle
- Circle of Friends1995IMDb rating 6.7Gillen as Aidan LynchHinds as Professor Flynn
Giancarlo Esposito2 films together, 2015 to 2018
Giancarlo Esposito's page
- Maze Runner: The Death Cure2018IMDb rating 6.3Gillen as JansonEsposito as Jorge
- Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials2015IMDb rating 6.3Gillen as JansonEsposito as Jorge
Patricia Clarkson2 films together, 2015 to 2018
Patricia Clarkson's page
- Maze Runner: The Death Cure2018IMDb rating 6.3Gillen as JansonClarkson as Ava Paige
- Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials2015IMDb rating 6.3Gillen as JansonClarkson as Ava Paige
Tom Hollander2 films together, 1996 to 2018
Tom Hollander's page
- Bohemian Rhapsody2018IMDb rating 7.9Gillen as John ReidHollander as Jim Beach
- Some Mother's Son1996IMDb rating 7.2Gillen as Gerard QuigleyHollander as Farnsworth
Barry Pepper2 films together, 2015 to 2018
Barry Pepper's page
- Maze Runner: The Death Cure2018IMDb rating 6.3Gillen as JansonPepper as Vince
- Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials2015IMDb rating 6.3Gillen as JansonPepper as Vince
Ian McNeice2 films together, 1987 to 1992
Ian McNeice's page
- An Ungentlemanly Act1992IMDb rating 7.2Gillen as Marine WilcoxMcNeice as Dick Baker
- The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne1987IMDb rating 7.0Gillen as Youth at Liquor StoreMcNeice as Bernard Rice
Wes BallDirector, 2 films, 2015 to 2018
All films by Wes Ball
- Maze Runner: The Death Cure2018IMDb rating 6.3Gillen as Janson
- Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials2015IMDb rating 6.3Gillen as Janson
James MarshDirector, 2 films, 2012 to 2023
All films by James Marsh
- Dance First2023IMDb rating 6.1Gillen as James Joyce
- Shadow Dancer2012IMDb rating 6.2Gillen as Gerry
Also two films together17 more actors
- Domhnall GleesonCalvary (2014) and Shadow Dancer (2012)
- David WilmotCalvary (2014) and Shadow Dancer (2012)
- Dylan O'BrienMaze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
- Kaya ScodelarioMaze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
- John KavanaghSome Mother's Son (1996) and Circle of Friends (1995)
- Lucy BoyntonBohemian Rhapsody (2018) and Sing Street (2016)
- Nathalie EmmanuelMaze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
- Dexter DardenMaze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
- Rosa SalazarMaze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
- Thomas Brodie-SangsterMaze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
- Ruth McCabeWake Wood (2009) and Circle of Friends (1995)
- Gary LydonBarber (2023) and Calvary (2014)
- Jacob LoflandMaze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
- Ki Hong LeeMaze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
- Geraldine O'RaweSome Mother's Son (1996) and Circle of Friends (1995)
- Helen BehanAmongst the Wolves (2024) and Barber (2023)
- Dan GordonWake Wood (2009) and Some Mother's Son (1996)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.