Andrew Scott’s 10 Best Movies & TV Shows

Andrew Scott is an incredible actor with some serious credits in his career, but in all of his performances, he put in an enormous effort to create convincing and emotionally rich characters. Scott was born in Dublin, Ireland, and developed a passion for acting from an early age. At 6 years old, he appeared in a TV commercial for a popular porridge brand in Ireland. He then pursued his passion for acting by joining a theater group where he continued to perform in increasingly larger productions before working in Ireland’s most famous playhouse, the Abbey Theater.

After that, Scott moved to London to pursue his career onscreen and in theater. Having been an actor for decades already, Scott’s big break came when he landed the role of Moriarty in the BBC drama series, Sherlock. This role changed the trajectory of Scott’s career and saw him playing in bigger and more prominent roles, as a seasoned actor with a wealth of talent who had finally earned the recognition he deserved. Since then, he has been cast in more than 50 credited roles, as opposed to less than 20 in the first 15 years of his career.

10 Catherine Called Birdy

Lord Rollo

Catherine Called Birdy

Director

Lena Dunham

Release Date

September 23, 2022

Writers

Karen Cushman , Lena Dunham

Starting strong, Scott’s role in the medieval comedy film, Catherine Called Birdy, highlights a side of his acting that he is profoundly talented at; comedy. The film stars Bella Ramsey as young Birdy, who seeks to be free from her father’s control in her life, as he intends to marry her off to the wealthiest suitor to improve his finances. Scott plays Lord Rollo, Birdy’s father, and he is well-suited to the role. His comic timing and ability to portray an awkward and struggling father is entertaining and a side of Scott that is not seen enough.

9 Black Mirror

Chris Gillhaney

Black Mirror

Black Mirror is a sci-fi anthology TV series that shows the dark side of life and technology. The series was created by Charlie Brooker, with the first season premiering on British Channel 4 in 2011. Black Mirror is notable for its dark, satirical edge that provides social commentary, particularly in continuously evolving technology. Each episode has a different cast, location, and even reality as it further explores the themes of technological advancement and its potential positives and repercussions of overreliance on it.

Writers

Charlie Brooker , Kanak Huq , Jesse Armstrong , Rashida Jones , Michael Schur , William Bridges

Directors

Charlie Brooker

Release Date

December 4, 2011

Black Mirror is an anthology series by Charlie Brooker that explores the harmful and dangerous spread of technology and its rapid advancement, which has received widespread praise. Each episode features a new cast and a brand new story highlighting another disturbing side of possible future technologies, and Scott appeared as the lead in Black Mirror season 5, episode 2, “Smithereens.” Scott plays a grieving rideshare driver who lost his child in an accident caused by his social media addiction, which everyone using the platform similarly experiences. It’s dark and emotional, and perfectly done by the talented Andrew Scott.

Related

Black Mirror Season 7: Renewal, Creator Comments & Everything We Know

Black Mirror season 7 could be the most innovative yet as Charlie Brooker’s anthology goes beyond dystopian futurism.

8 1917

Lieutenant Leslie

1917

Set against the backdrop of war-torn France during WWI, 1917 is directed by Sam Mendes and stars George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman as two young British soldiers tasked with delivering a dangerous message to stop an attack that could the lives of thousands of other soldiers at risk. The film uses long takes to make it appear that the entire narrative takes place over the course of two continuous shots. Mark Strong, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch also star. 

Director

Sam Mendes

Writers

Sam Mendes , Krysty Wilson-Cairns

Release Date

December 25, 2019

Scott appears in the groundbreaking war film that is presented as a single continuous moment on the frontlines of war. His role is limited, with him appearing for a total of about five minutes, but in that small time, he makes an impression. He serves to help the young soldiers, Schofield and Blake by directing them onward on their important mission. Scott is convincing as a wearied Lieutenant who has been beaten down by terrible war and suffering and stands out in a film full of perfectly executed moments.

7 Handsome Devil

Dan Sherry

Handsome Devil is an Irish movie that explores themes of private school snobbery, sports fanaticism, and how homosexuality fits into that world. Considering Scott is himself a gay Irish man, this movie likely holds some personal significance for him. Scott plays a homosexual teacher who helps the boys at the center of the story to accept themselves without shame, as he grows confident enough to make his sexuality publicly known to the headmaster of the school as well. The film is emotional and heartwarming, and Scott delivers an incredible performance which was certainly made better by his experiences.

6 Modern Love

Tobin

Modern Love

Developed by John Carney for Amazon’s streaming service, Modern Love began in 2019 and ran for two seasons until 2021. The show was classified as a Romance and Comedy Anthology series meaning each episode featured something new and followed a different theme concerning love in the modern age.

Writers

John Carney

Directors

John Carney

Release Date

October 18, 2019

Modern Love is an Amazon Original series based on a New York Times weekly column of the same name. Each episode explores a different side of love in all of its many forms, from familial and platonic, to romantic and intimate. Scott appears in episodes 7 and 8 of season 1 as Tobin, a gay man, who, with his partner, is hoping to adopt a baby. Olivia Cooke plays a young pregnant woman who appears to be the answer to the couple’s prayers and the episode explores the relationships that follow.

5 Pride

Gethin Roberts

Pride

Pride is a biographical comedy directed by Matthew Warchus. Set in 1984, Pride centers on gay activists in the UK who are determined to assist miners during their strike of the National Union of Mineworkers. The film stars Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, and Patty Considine.

Writers

Stephen Beresford

Director

Matthew Warchus

Release Date

September 12, 2014

While many of Scott’s roles see him adopt a bravado and confidence that he exudes throughout, the role of Gethin Roberts in 2014’s Pride was a very different case. Gethin, along with his partner, Jonathan, are among the first to support the miners during a political strike. Gethin is very quiet but maintains strong beliefs about right and wrong, but unfortunately, the community he lives in is strongly opposed to him and his lifestyle. Gethin is beaten up and hospitalized, but throughout, Scott delivers a moving performance through quiet confidence.

Related

The 15 Best Gay & LGBTQ+ Rom-Coms (& Where To Stream Them)

As the scope of LGBTQ+ representation in movies continues to evolve, more great gay rom-coms on increasingly larger scales are getting released.

4 His Dark Materials

Colonel John (Jopari) Parry

His Dark Materials

Based on author Philip Pullman’s beloved novel trilogy, His Dark Materials is a fantasy/drama television series that follows Lyra, a brave young woman from another world. Lyra’s quest to find her kidnapped friend leads her to uncover a sinister plot of a secret organization, encounter extraordinary beings, and protect dangerous secrets. Lyra will find that her life is inextricably linked with another as they discover they may be the ones to change the world.

Writers

Philip Pullman

Directors

Tom Hooper

Release Date

November 3, 2019

The TV adaptation of the books, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, was a runaway success for HBO. In the series, Scott had a fairly prominent role as a recurring cast member, John Parry. Parry served in the military before accidentally traveling to Lyra’s world and developing his skills as a talented Shaman. Scott brilliantly conveys real grit and importance to a role that is likely the most unrealistic thing he has appeared in to date. The role may be supernatural, but it is also one of the most captivating performances of Scott’s on TV.

3 Fleabag

The Priest

Fleabag

Created by and starring Pheobe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag follows its titular main character through her life in modern-day London. After the death of her best friend and the imminent demise of their joint business venture, the show deals with Fleabag’s grief over the loss, her struggle to maintain the business, and her complicated relationships with her immediate family. The show is known for its use of the fourth-wall break and is based on Waller-Bridge’s award-winning one-woman show which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013. 

Directors

Harry Bradbeer

Release Date

June 21, 2016

Scott features prominently in the second season of the hit Amazon Original comedy series Fleabag as the Priest. Unlike regular priests around the UK, Scott’s character is prone to swearing and making inappropriate jokes. He is a charismatic and charming character who often enjoys his own company and declares that he has no real friends of his own. Once again, featuring Scott as a comedy actor, he has a clear talent and disposition for delivering these lines and performing in a more lighthearted role. While his character is a figure of authority, much of that is disarmed by Scott’s performance.

2 Sherlock

Jim Moriarty

Sherlock

In this incarnation of Sherlock from creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman assume the roles of Sherlock and Watson as they establish their partnership and begin solving strange mysteries throughout the U.K. and beyond. Set in a more 2010’s modern setting, Sherlock’s eccentric and complex nature is accentuated as he solves seemingly supernatural crimes with unparalleled intellect while struggling to connect with others on a human level. Meanwhile, Watson blogs the stories summarizing their cases while building a strained but caring friendship with his new partner.

Streaming Service(s)

Disney+ , Netflix

Writers

Steven Moffat , Steve Thompson , Mark Gatiss

Directors

Steven Moffat

Release Date

August 8, 2010

The role that skyrocketed Scott’s career remains one of his very best roles and performances today. As the incredibly intelligent villain, Jim Moriarty in Sherlock, Scott provided the perfect contrast to the tortured genius that is Sherlock Holmes. Not only do Scott’s Moriarty and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock have a wonderful chemistry and rhythm whenever they appear together, but Scott also puts everything into this role. From his uniquely high voice to his physical acting, and his line delivery and facial expressions, Scott was perfectly cast and completely owned the role.

1 All Of Us Strangers

Adam

All of Us Strangers

All of Us Strangers is a dramatic fantasy romance film by writer-director Andrew Haigh. When Adam meets his neighbor, Harry, his routine is interrupted in what he feels is the best possible way as the two begin to develop a relationship. However, Adam’s mind begins to slip into the past and a journey back home where suddenly his parents are alive – and look no different than they did thirty years prior.

Writers

Andrew Haigh

Director

Andrew Haigh

Release Date

December 22, 2023

One of Scott’s most recent projects, All of Us Strangers, was nominated for six BAFTAs and has received incredible praise from many film critics. The movie explores themes of loss and love, as Adam struggles to resolve memories of his youth and his parents who passed away when he was young, and build a life for himself. However, that all changes when Adam forms a relationship with his neighbor, Harry. Andrew Scott is magnificent, expertly creating a layered character who is putting the pieces of his life together in an incredible and unique film, and proving his incredible talents.