Stephen Grahamhas some truly incredible movies and TV shows in his filmography. Although the British actor isn’t new on the scene, some viewers outside the UK are only just being introduced to him following his performance inNetflix’s highly rated crime dramaAdolescence, which he is also the co-writer and executive producer of.
From his beginnings in films likeGangs of New YorkandThis is Englandto his more recentTV shows likeAdolescenceandBodies, Stephen Graham continues to prove himself asan actor who can take on all manner of different characters. While thereviews ofAdolescenceare strong, audiences should also check out some of the actor’s best movies and TV shows.
12Gangs Of New York (2002)
Role: Shang
Martin Scorsese’smovieGangs of New Yorkis one of Graham’s earliest projects, and one that plays a part in his later casting inThis is England.Graham portrays Shang, one of the members of the Irish Catholic groupwho stands by Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam. Shang is a pickpocket with an edge, and Graham does a great job at bringing the character to life.
He has a lot of powerful scenes in the movie. The way Shang panics after seeing the military shoot McGloin down, before charging at them with an axe, is incredible. Shang’s presence in the movie is rather powerful, and it’s no surprise this role has made such a big impact on Graham’s career. It’s a shame Graham doesn’t play a bigger part in this, but considering how early this role is in his career, it’s still impressive.
11Little Boy Blue (2017)
Role: Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly
Little Boy Blueis a gripping four-part Britishminiseries worth bingeing over a weekend. The fantastic drama stars Graham as Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly. Kelly’s storycenters on his investigation into the death of a schoolboy.Little Boy Bluedelves into the harsh realities of gangs on the streets of the UK and is based on the true story of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot while on his way home from football practice in 2007.
Considering how important this story is to the British public, Graham’s nuanced performance as DS Kelly is nothing short of emotional, and it makes sense that he received an RTS award for this role. Graham tackles the role with a lot of respect by sticking to the story, and his powerful portrayal of Kelly reiterates the important message ofLittle Boy Bluebeautifully.Little Boy Blueis a show that sticks with audiences long after finishing it.
10Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014)
Role: Al Capone
Graham takes on another role in a Martin Scorcese project, this time as Al Capone in theHBO dramaBoardwalk Empire,a brutal Chicago gangster who works for crime boss Johnny Torio. What’s interesting about Graham’s Screen Actors Guild Award-winning portrayal inBoardwalk Empireis that Capone is supposed to be 21 years old, and while the actor is clearly older than this, it doesn’t dampen his performance whatsoever.
Boardwalk Empire
Cast
Based on Atlantic City in the 1920s and 1930s, Boardwalk Empire follows political heavyweight “Nucky” Thompson as he battles mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look to take him on. Now, with the federal government cracking down on bootlegging and other illegal activities, and everyone looking to take over control of the city, Nucky’s lavish lifestyle is in danger of collapsing.
Despite being inspired by the real-life gangster,Graham adds layers to Al Caponeand makes the character his own in several ways, too. Capone’s relationship with his deaf son, Sonny, is particularly poignant. It’s fascinating to see Graham demonstrate a more convoluted side to Capone, especially as this is something the history books don’t focus on as much in comparison to the gangster’s criminal activities.
9Bodies (2023)
Role: Elias Mannix
Graham plays Elias Mannix inBodies, one ofthe best detective sci-fi TV showsfrom recent years. Although the actor isn’t the only main focus ofBodies, despite his prominence in the show’s marketing, he still stands out in the ensemble cast.
Bodies Season 2: Will It Happen? Everything We Know
Bodies season 2 was never the intention of Netflix or Paul Tomalin, but if the time-traveling crime drama continues to be a hit plans could change.
Graham portrays the older Mannix in the year 2053, the last period in a lengthy murder mystery that spans over 150 years, and is the leader of the political group, The Executive. Graham’s character is an enigma, and his performance makes Mannix even more intriguing.
Bodies
Based on the graphic novel by Si Spencer, Bodies is a mystery sci-fi TV series created for Netflix by Paul Tomalin. A dead body appears in the middle of London with a strange catch - the same body has appeared in four different timelines. Now, following four different detectives across four timelines, the investigations lead to a conspiracy that could lead to the city of London’s ruin.
Even though Graham shares this role with Gabriel Howell, meaning audiences don’t see as much of him on-screen as they’d like, it’s fascinating to see how the older Mannix will act after a scene featuring his younger self. Sci-fi isn’t a typical genre for Graham to appear in, butBodiesstill stands as one of his best TV showsdespite this.
8Time (2021-2023)
Role: Eric McNally
Graham amazingly keeps up withthe star-studded cast of the BBC’sTime, including the likes of Sean Bean, in a story about a prison.The actor plays prison officer Eric McNallyopposite Bean as the recently incarcerated Mark Cobden but faces an impossible situation that forces him to choose between his loved ones and his morals.
Graham’s BAFTA-nominated performance is gripping, and McNally’s efforts to protect his son make his story even more enthralling.
Graham’s BAFTA-nominated performance is gripping, and McNally’s efforts to protect his son make his story even more enthralling. Despite being one of the two leads inTime, the rest of the characters’ stories are also so thrilling that Graham loses some focus at times.
Time
Time is a gritty drama series following Mark Cobden, a teacher imprisoned for an accidental crime, and Eric McNally, a dedicated prison officer facing moral dilemmas. Set in a British penitentiary, the show explores themes of guilt, redemption, and institutional brutality. The series features powerful performances and a compelling narrative, shedding light on the complexities and harsh realities of the criminal justice system.
However, this doesn’t mean the actor is bad inTime, it’s simply the case that the rest of the cast is so powerful that he faces some competition. Unfortunately, Graham isn’t inTimeseason 2, but this shouldn’t stop viewers from checking it out anyway.
7The Irishman (2019)
Role: Anthony “Tony Pro” Provenzano
Graham playsAnthony “Tony Pro” Provenzano inThe Irishman, based on the real-life mobster from the Genovese crime family. Graham proveshe can hold himself against some of Hollywood’s biggest names, and he doesn’t feel any less than titans of industry Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. Provenzano is hot-headed, and therefore is constantly facing conflict with other characters, and Graham does an astounding job at translating the character’s emotions to the screen.
WhileThe Irishmanis a rather long watch, Graham’s several confrontations with Pacino’s Jimmy Hoffa help break the time up. There’s no doubtGraham is a standout inThe Irishman, but I wish more people would watch the movie for the British actor, rather than the other popular names. Graham’s performance is stellar, but it’s quite impressive that others are even better.
6Help (2021)
Role: Tony
Helpis an incredibly touching story that never fails to make me emotional. Graham demonstrates that he is just as powerful in a supporting role inTime, in whichhe portrays Tony, a man with early-onset Alzheimer’swho lives in the home Jodie Comer’s Sarah starts working at. The interactions between Sarah and Tony are astounding, and it’s truly incredible how Graham portrays the illness.
Help
Sarah seems to have found her calling working in a care home in Liverpool, where she has a special talent for getting close to patients. However, everything takes a more frightening turn when the coronavirus pandemic begins in March 2020.
Helpdelves into the harrowing events of the COVID-19 pandemic and the healthcare workers in the UK who stick by those who need help. This makes Tony’s story even more heartbreaking, as not only is he struggling to remain in the present, but the lockdown impacts his sense of reality even more so. Even when Sarah takes Tony to her caravan, she never falters in her care of him.Graham is fantastic inHelp, but it’s important to note that his performance is even better because of Comer.
5The Virtues (2019)
Role: Joseph
The Virtuesis another deeply profound project from Graham, in which he plays Joseph. After Joseph’s wife leaves him and takes their child abroad, Joseph reunites with his long-lost sister in Ireland and faces the haunting memories of his upbringing in an orphanage.The Virtuesdoes a deep dive into some rather difficult topics, such as child abuse and sexual assault, and Graham tackles Joseph’s approach to his past beautifully.
Years afterThe Virtues’ release,Graham continues to be praised for his performance, and I’m still surprised he didn’t win the BAFTA for Best Actor for it. Graham is fantastic at taking on characters with complicated and harrowing backstories just like this one, and he continuously proves that he can tackle any topic or role with respect and commitment. Joseph’s battle with alcoholism is a particularly strong part of Graham’s portrayal, too, and he’s a character many remember well.
4Line Of Duty (2012-2021)
Role: John Corbett
Line of Dutyis one of the mostpopular British murder mystery TV showsof all time, anddespite Graham only starring in season 5, he still steals every scene he appears in. Graham is introduced as John Corbett, who initially appears to be a high-roller in an organized crime group, but he is later revealed to be an undercover police officer. Despite his limited run inLine of Duty, Corbett’s story immediately grips viewers.
Line of Duty
The story in each season deals with a conflict within a police department between the regular forces and the internal affairs or “anti-corruption” unit. Thematically, it is concerned with the moral ambiguities that arise when policemen investigate their own.
Corbett goes rogue, cuts contact with his handler, and throws himself further into the criminal life.The character is so complex and layered, but Graham plays him without batting an eyelid, yet you can tell how dedicated the actor is, as well. To this day, it astounds me that Graham has never received an accolade for his performance, especially as he made such a tremendous impact in such a small amount of time.
3Boiling Point (2021)
Role: Chef Andy Jones
Graham stars as Chef Andy Jones inBoiling Pointand also acts alongside his real-life wife, Hannah Walters, who plays Emily. Both the 2021 movie and the TV show continuation ofBoiling Pointis a great watch for fans ofThe Bear, as itfocuses on the high-stakes pressures of working in a restaurant’s kitchen.Boiling Pointis a single-shot title, which makes the pacing of the film even more intriguing.
Andy has some Gordon Ramsey moments inBoiling Point, but Graham’s performance has peaks and valleys, ensuring the character isn’t one-note. The way he tackles conflicts with his staff, the stress of his establishment’s declining rating, and the pressures of needing to repay $200,000 to his former boss are incredible. Graham doesn’t stop for a single moment inBoiling Point, andhe carries the film from start to finish.
