James Wilby

Biography

James Wilby is an English actor who gained international attention for his leading role in Maurice (1987), a performance that won him the Volpi Cup for Best Actor. Born in Rangoon, Burma, in 1958, he studied mathematics at Grey College, Durham, and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His later films include A Handful of Dust (1988), which earned him the Bari Film Festival Best Actor award, Howards End (1992), Regeneration (1997), and Gosford Park (2001). On television, he appeared in A Tale of Two Cities (1989). He has also worked extensively on stage, starring in a 1995 revival of A Patriot for Me with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and in productions such as Don Juan at the Lyric Theatre, On Emotion at the Soho Theatre, and tours of Less Than Kind and Gaslight.

68years old

Turns 69 on February 20in 125 days

Born February 20, 1958Yangon
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
Also credited as James Jonathon Wilby

Movie Career

Films: 13
Career span: 39 years1985 to 2024

Genres

Drama85%, 11 films
Romance23%, 3 films
Biography15%, 2 films
Comedy15%, 2 films
Mystery15%, 2 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Big break
Wilby appeared alongside Grant once more in Maurice, a Merchant Ivory period film from 1987. The Venice Film Festival gave its Best Actor award to both Wilby and Grant, and the role introduced Wilby to audiences worldwide.
First role
Wilby made his first appearance on screen in the Oxford Film Company production Privileged in 1982, appearing alongside Hugh Grant.
Early training
Wilby attended Terrington Hall and Sedbergh School, then went on to Grey College, Durham, where he worked toward a mathematics degree, and also trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

James Wilby movies on Netflix

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare2024IMDb rating 6.8as Viscount Algernon
Vindication Swim2024IMDb rating 5.8as Mr. Havers
The Duke2020IMDb rating 6.9as Judge Aarvold
The Sense of an Ending2017IMDb rating 6.4as David Ford
ChickLit2016IMDb rating 4.7as Geoffrey
De-Lovely2004IMDb rating 6.6as Edward Thomas
Gosford Park2001IMDb rating 7.2as Freddie Nesbitt
Regeneration1997IMDb rating 7.0as 2nd Lt. Siegfried Sassoon
Howards End1992IMDb rating 7.3as Charles Wilcox
A Handful of Dust1988IMDb rating 6.5as Tony Last
Maurice1987IMDb rating 7.6as Maurice Hall
Dreamchild1985IMDb rating 6.6as Baker
Dutch Girls1985IMDb rating 5.4as Dundine

Best known for

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

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Maurice1987 Drama, Romanceas Maurice Hall
IMDb rating 7.628K votes
Gosford Park2001 Drama, Mysteryas Freddie Nesbitt
IMDb rating 7.2103K votes
Howards End1992as Charles Wilcox
IMDb rating 7.339K votes
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare2024as Viscount Algernon
IMDb rating 6.8168K votes
A Handful of Dust1988as Tony Last
IMDb rating 6.52.7K votes
Regeneration1997as 2nd Lt. Siegfried Sassoon
IMDb rating 7.02.6K votes
The Sense of an Ending2017as David Ford
IMDb rating 6.48.3K votes
De-Lovely2004as Edward Thomas
IMDb rating 6.612K votes

Most often with

James Ivory directed two of these films. Nine 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.

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Jim Broadbent

Helen Mirren

Jonathan Pryce

Stephen Fry

Kristin Scott Thomas

Matthew Goode

James IvoryDirector, 2 films

Films together

Jim Broadbent2 films together, 2017 to 2020
Jim Broadbent's page
- The Duke2020IMDb rating 6.9Wilby as Judge AarvoldBroadbent as Kempton Bunton
- The Sense of an Ending2017IMDb rating 6.4Wilby as David FordBroadbent as Tony Webster
Helen Mirren2 films together, 2001 to 2020
Helen Mirren's page
- The Duke2020IMDb rating 6.9Wilby as Judge AarvoldMirren as Dorothy Bunton
- Gosford Park2001IMDb rating 7.2Wilby as Freddie NesbittMirren as Mrs. Wilson
Jonathan Pryce2 films together, 1997 to 2004
Jonathan Pryce's page
- De-Lovely2004IMDb rating 6.6Wilby as Edward ThomasPryce as Gabriel
- Regeneration1997IMDb rating 7.0Wilby as 2nd Lt. Siegfried SassoonPryce as Capt. William Rivers
Stephen Fry2 films together, 1988 to 2001
Stephen Fry's page
- Gosford Park2001IMDb rating 7.2Wilby as Freddie NesbittFry as Inspector Thompson
- A Handful of Dust1988IMDb rating 6.5Wilby as Tony LastFry as Reggie
Kristin Scott Thomas2 films together, 1988 to 2001
Kristin Scott Thomas's page
- Gosford Park2001IMDb rating 7.2Wilby as Freddie NesbittThomas as Sylvia McCordle
- A Handful of Dust1988IMDb rating 6.5Wilby as Tony LastThomas as Brenda Last
Matthew Goode2 films together, 2017 to 2020
Matthew Goode's page
- The Duke2020IMDb rating 6.9Wilby as Judge AarvoldGoode as Jeremy Hutchinson QC
- The Sense of an Ending2017IMDb rating 6.4Wilby as David FordGoode as Mr. Hunt
James IvoryDirector, 2 films, 1987 to 1992
All films by James Ivory
- Howards End1992IMDb rating 7.3Wilby as Charles Wilcox
- Maurice1987IMDb rating 7.6Wilby as Maurice Hall
Also two films together3 more actors
- Rupert GravesA Handful of Dust (1988) and Maurice (1987)
- Kevin McKiddDe-Lovely (2004) and Regeneration (1997)
- Mark TandyHowards End (1992) and Maurice (1987)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What James Wilby's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$187 million

9 of the 13 films have a worldwide figure.

9Worldwide figure
1US gross only
1Never in cinemas
2Figure not found

Top grosser

Gosford Park2001Freddie Nesbitt$87.8 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 99% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Gosford Park2001as Freddie Nesbitt
$88M47.0% of the total
2
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare2024as Viscount Algernon
$30M16.0% of the total
3
Howards End1992as Charles Wilcox
$26M14.0% of the total
4
De-Lovely2004as Edward Thomas
$18M9.9% of the total
5
The Duke2020as Judge Aarvold
$14M7.6% of the total
6
The Sense of an Ending2017as David Ford
$5.1M2.7% of the total
7
Maurice1987as Maurice Hall
$2.4M1.3% of the total
8
A Handful of Dust1988as Tony Last
$1.6M0.8% of the total