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Peter Mullan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Peter Mullen.

Peter Mullan
Mullan in 2005
Born (1959-11-02) 2 November 1959 (age 65)
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Occupations
  • Actor
  • filmmaker
Years active1988–present
Spouse
Ann Swan
​
​
(m. 1989; div. 2006)​
Children4

Peter Mullan (/ˈmʊlən/; born 2 November 1959) is a Scottish actor and filmmaker. His credits include Riff-Raff (1991), Shallow Grave (1994), Braveheart (1995), Trainspotting (1996), My Name Is Joe (1998), The Claim (2000), Neds (2010), War Horse (2011), The Fixer (2008), Top of the Lake (2013), Mum (2016-2019), Ozark (2017-2018), Westworld (2018-2020), Cursed (2020), The North Water (2021), The Underground Railroad (2022), The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022–2024), After the Party (2023), and Baghead (2023).

He won a Golden Lion at 59th Venice International Film Festival for his direction of The Magdalene Sisters (2002).

Early life and education

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Mullan was born on 2 November 1959 in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of Patricia (a nurse) and Charles Mullan (a lab technician at Glasgow University).[1][2] The seventh of eight children, Mullan was brought up in a working class Roman Catholic family.[3][4] They later moved to Mosspark,[5] a district in Glasgow. An alcoholic, Mullan's father became increasingly tyrannical and abusive; he died from lung cancer when Mullan was 17.[6]

For a brief period, Mullan was a member of a street gang while at secondary school,[6][7] and worked as a bouncer in a number of south-side pubs.[8] He was homeless for short periods at the ages of 15 and 18.[9]

Mullan went on to the University of Glasgow to study economic history and drama, where he began acting on stage.[10]

Career

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Acting

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Mullan continued stage acting after graduation. He had roles in films alongside actors such as Robert Carlyle in Riff-Raff (1991),[11] Shallow Grave (1994),[11] with Mel Gibson in Braveheart (1995),[11] and with Ewan McGregor in Danny Boyle's Trainspotting (1996).[11]

Mullan's role as a recovering alcoholic in My Name Is Joe (1998) won him the Best Actor Award at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival.[12]

As a director, his film, Orphans (1998), won awards at the Venice Film Festival 1998 and Festival du Film de Paris 1999.[13]

He won the World Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Breakout Performances at 2011 Sundance Film Festival for his work on Paddy Considine's Tyrannosaur (2011).[14]

Mullan has appeared as supporting or guest actor in numerous cult movies, including Session 9 (2002),[11] Young Adam (2003),[11] Children of Men (2006),[11] the final two Harry Potter films (2010–2011),[11] and War Horse (2011).[11]

In television, he played a lead role in the 2008 ITV series The Fixer.[11] Mullan appeared in Gerard Lee's and Jane Campion's 2013 miniseries Top of the Lake[11] as Matt Mitcham, head of the Mitcham family and father of Tui Mitcham, whose disappearance is the main topic of the series. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his work in the series. From 2016 to 2019, he starred in the BBC Two sitcom Mum,[11] and from 2017 to 2018, Mullan appeared in the first two seasons of the Netflix series Ozark.[11] In 2018 and 2020, he starred in the second and third season of HBO's Westworld,[11] in a recurring and guest capacity respectively. Also in 2020, he starred in the first season of the Netflix series Cursed.[11]

Mullan appeared in the 2021 miniseries The North Water (2021),[11] and The Underground Railroad.[11] He also starred as Dwarf king Durin III in the Amazon Prime Video series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which premiered in 2022.[11]

In 2023 he starred in the New Zealand drama series After the Party,[11] and alongside Freya Allan in Baghead (2023).[11]

Directing

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Mullan is an art house movie director. In 2002, he returned to directing and screenwriting with the controversial film The Magdalene Sisters,[11] based on life in an Irish Magdalene asylum. He won a Golden Lion at 59th Venice International Film Festival for the film, listed by many critics among the best films of 2003 and nominated for BAFTA Award for Best British Film,[14] and European Film Award for best film.[14]

He also won a Golden Shell at San Sebastián International Film Festival for Neds (2010).[14]

He won top prizes both for acting (Cannes Best Actor award for My Name Is Joe)[14] and for the best film (Golden Lion for The Magdalene Sisters)[14] at major European film festivals.[14]

Personal life

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Mullan married Ann Swan, an actress and scriptwriter, in 1989; they divorced in 2006. He has four children – three with Swan including one son with autism and one with former girlfriend, activist Robina Qureshi.[15]

A self-described Marxist,[6] Mullan continues to support socialist causes and was a leading figure in the left-wing theatre movement that blossomed in Scotland during the Margaret Thatcher and John Major Conservative governments in the 1980s and early to mid-1990s. These included stints with the 7:84 and Wildcat Theatre companies. An outspoken critic of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s New Labour governments, he told The Guardian "the TUC and the Labour Party sold us [the working class] out big style, unashamedly so".[16] Ahead of the 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Mullan pledged support for the new Scottish Socialist Party and their leader Tommy Sheridan. Mullan took part in a 2006 occupation of the Glasgow offices of the UK Immigration Service, protesting against the UKIS's "dawn raid" tactics when deporting failed asylum seekers.[17]

In January 2009, Mullan joined other actors in protesting against the BBC's refusal to screen a Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Gaza. They told BBC director general Mark Thompson: "Like millions of others, we are absolutely appalled at the decision to refuse to broadcast the appeal. We will never work for the BBC again unless this disgraceful decision is reversed. We will urge others from our profession and beyond to do likewise."[18] Mullan has agreed to appear in an adaptation of Iain Banks's novel Stonemouth after the BBC aired a DEC appeal for Gaza in late 2014.[19]

Mullan was a supporter of the Yes Scotland campaign in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.[20] In 2015, he criticised the BBC for "horrendous bias" against the Yes campaign and told the Radio Times that "to see the BBC used as a political cudgel against a legitimate democratic movement ... really broke my heart."[21]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Director Writer Notes
1990 The Big Man Vince
1991 Riff Raff Jake European Film Award for Best European Film [14]
1992 Sealladh Sim Short film
1993 Close Vincent Yes Yes Short film
1994 Shallow Grave Andy
1995 Fridge - Yes Yes Short film
Good Day for the Bad Guys John Yes Yes Short film
Braveheart Veteran
1996 Trainspotting Swanney "Mother Superior"
1997 Poor Angels Gordon Short film
Fairy Tale: A True Story Sergeant Farmer
1998 Duck Mick
My Name Is Joe Joe Kavanagh Cannes Award for Best Actor [14]
Orphans - Yes Yes
1999 Miss Julie Jean
The Escort Patricia's husband
2000 Ordinary Decent Criminal Stevie
The Claim Daniel Dillon
2001 Session 9 Gordon Fleming
2002 The Magdalene Sisters Mr O'Connor Yes Yes Winner of Golden Lion[14]
2003 Young Adam Les Gault
Kiss of Life John
2004 Out of This World Jim
Criminal William Hannigan
Blinded Francis Black
Waves Him
2005 On a Clear Day Frank Redmond
2006 Cargo Brookes
Children of Men Syd
True North Riley
2007 The Last Legion Odoacer
Dog Altogether Joseph Short film
Boy A Terry
2008 Stone of Destiny Ian's dad
2009 Red Riding: 1974 Martin Laws
Red Riding: 1980 Martin Laws
Red Riding: 1983 Martin Laws
Connolly James Connolly
2010 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Corban Yaxley
Neds Mr. McGill Yes Yes Winner of Golden Shell[14]
2011 Tyrannosaur Joseph World Cinema Special Jury Prize: Dramatic (Male)[14]
War Horse Ted Narracott
2013 Sunshine on Leith Robert Henshaw A Musical, where he is singing in some of the songs
The Liability Peter
Welcome to the Punch Roy Edwards
2014 Hercules General Sitacles
2015 Sunset Song John Guthrie
Hector Hector McAdam[22]
2016 Tommy's Honour Old Tom Morris
2017 Hostiles Lieutenant Colonel Ross McCowan
2018 Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle Akela Voice and motion capture
Pearl Al
2019 The Vanishing Thomas
2020 Marionette Dr. McVittie
2022 The Hanging Sun Dad
2024 Baghead Owen

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 The Steamie Andy
1990 Opium Eaters Willy
Your Cheatin Heart Tonto Series 1, Episodes 3–5
Taggart Peter Latimer Series 5, Episode 2 and Series 6, Episode 3
1991 Jute City Mallet
1992 Rab C. Nesbitt Peter the Warlock Series 2, Episode 6
1993 Seeker Reaper[23] George Campbell Hay Bilingual drama about the life of Scottish poet George Campbell Hay (1915–1984).
1994 The Priest and the Pirate Billy Hill
1995 Ruffian Hearts Chez
Harry Jimmy Series 2, Episode 6
1996 Nightlife Billy
1997 The Longest Memory Sanders Sr. Whitbread First Novel Award for First Novel[14]
Bogwoman Barry
2003 This Little Life Consultant
Richard & Judy Himself
2004 Shoebox Zoo Michael Scot
2005 Sunday Morning Shootout Himself Series 2, Episode 15
2007 British Film Forever Himself Series 1, Episode 3
The Trial of Tony Blair Gordon Brown
2008–2009 The Fixer Lenny Douglas Series 1–2
2009 Scotland on Screen Himself
2012 The Fear Richie Beckett
2013 Top of the Lake Matt Mitcham Nominated – AACTA Award for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama[14]
Nominated – Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Movie/Miniseries Supporting Actor[14]
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie[14]
2014 Olive Kitteridge Jim O'Casey HBO miniseries, episodes 1–3
2014–2018 Lily's Driftwood Bay Captain Salty Dog Voice role
2016 Quarry The Broker
2016–2019 Mum Michael
2017–2018 Ozark Jacob Snell
2017 Gunpowder Henry Garnet
2018, 2020 Westworld James Delos Recurring role; Guest role
2020 Cursed Father Carden Recurring role; 9 episodes
2021 The Underground Railroad Ridgeway Senior 5 episodes
The North Water Priest 2 episodes
2022 Chivalry Fraser Schwartz Episode #1.3
2022–2024 The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Durin III
2023 Liaison Richard Banks
2023 Payback Cal Morris
2023 After the Party Phil
TBA Lockerbie Filming [24]

References

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  1. ^ "Peter Mullan Biography (1960–)" Yahoo.com (Retrieved: 15 August 2009).
  2. ^ "Biography: Peter Mullan", FilmReference.com (Retrieved: 15 August 2009).
  3. ^ Malcolm, Derek; "Sins of the sisters", Guardian.co.uk 16 September 2002 (Retrieved: 15 August 2009).
  4. ^ Ramsey, Nancy (27 July 2003). "An Abuse Scandal With Nuns As Villains". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Peter Mullan: Local hero". TheGuardian.com. 7 January 2001.
  6. ^ a b c Matheou, Demetrios; "Local Hero" Guardian.co.uk, 7 January 2001 (Retrieved: 15 August 2009).
  7. ^ "On a razor's edge: Neds portrays 70s Glasgow in one light, but what was it really like?". The Scotsman. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Peter Mullan & Anne-Marie Duff" FutureMovies.co.uk, 9 July 2003 (Retrieved: 15 August 2009).
  9. ^ Jones, Emma (11 December 2015). "Peter Mullan brings homeless reality to big screen". BBC News.
  10. ^ "Interview: Peter Mullan, a hard act to follow". www.scotsman.com.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Peter Mullan Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Festival de Cannes: My Name Is Joe". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  13. ^ "Moving Image archive - Orphans 1998". movingimage.nls.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Peter Mullan Bio". tvguide.com. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  15. ^ Christie, Janet (5 June 2015). "Interview: Peter Mullan, a hard act to follow". The Scotsman.
  16. ^ "The Players: Peter Mullan" Guardian.co.uk (Retrieved: 15 August 2009).
  17. ^ "Protesters in 'asylum raid' demo" news.BBC.co.uk, 2 November 2005 (Retrieved: 15 August 2009).
  18. ^ English, Paul; "Peter Mullan and other stars to boycott BBC over Gaza charity snub" DailyRecord.co.uk, 27 January 2009 (Retrieved: 15 August 2009).
  19. ^ "Peter Mullan among cast of BBC's adaptation of Iain Banks' Stonemouth - Inside Media Track". 20 October 2014.
  20. ^ "Peter Mullan: I would love to do more comedy in the future" Metro.co.uk (Retrieved: 14 September 2015).
  21. ^ "Peter Mullan: BBC showed 'horrendous bias' in Scottish referendum coverage" Guardian.co.uk (Retrieved: 14 September 2015).
  22. ^ Black, Stuart (11 December 2015). "Peter Mullan Makes Christmas Odyssey In New Film Hector". Londonist. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  23. ^ "Seeker Reaper - BBC ALBA". BBC.
  24. ^ Szalai, Georg (5 March 2024). "'Suits' Star Patrick J. Adams, Connor Swindells, Merritt Wever Cast in Netflix, BBC Series 'Lockerbie'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
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