Performer
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio rank
#458
of 909177 performers
Top 1%
Ciarán Hinds represents the rare performer whose career became more ambitious with every decade — 46 years in, and Ciarán is still choosing the harder script.
The essay
Our editors on the work, the patterns and the reason this body of work holds together.
Ciarán Hinds appears in 48 films in the Nutevio catalogue, and none of them would work the same way without Ciarán. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is the clearest case: a film rated 8.3 by our editors, where the performance carries weight the script only implies.
The recognisable elements are versatility, transformation, quiet performance. Watch two of these films back to back and the method separates from the material — the same instrument, tuned differently for fantasy, adventure, family. It is a style built on what is withheld as much as what is played.
Working with Greta Gerwig, Stephen Warbeck, Bradley Cooper and others, Ciarán Hinds helped set a standard other performers now audition against. Awards bodies have been slower than the work, which is usually the sign of a career built on choices rather than campaigns.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) as Aberforth Dumbledore · Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) as Steppenwolf (voice) · There Will Be Blood (2007) as Fletcher Hamilton
Career snapshot
Ranked #458 of 909177 performers tracked in the Nutevio library.
Films in Nutevio
48
1981–2027
Career length
46 yrs
Measured across our catalogue
Academy Awards
—
Unknown
Oscar nominations
—
Unknown
Highest Nutevio score
8.3
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Average Nutevio score
6.4
Across catalogue work
Highest IMDb rating
8.1
Zack Snyder's Justice League
Most frequent director
Stephen Warbeck
2 films together
Longest collaboration
2×
With Stephen Warbeck
Most common genre
Drama
30 titles
Average runtime
1h 54m
Across catalogue work
Golden Globe wins
—
Unknown
Nutevio metric
Ten weighted categories, applied identically to everyone we cover.
Nutevio Performer Score
7.0
out of 10
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio metric
Cultural impact and legacy, measured separately from craft — how far the work travelled once it left the cinema.
Nutevio Influence Score
6.8
out of 10
A quieter influence — felt inside the films rather than across the industry.
How far the work travelled past the people who saw it first.
What survives once the release-week conversation has burned off.
Institutional acknowledgement, weighted but never decisive.
Years of chosen, relevant work rather than years merely employed.
Statuettes, read as evidence rather than verdict.
Roles named without needing the film named alongside them.
Directors who wrote parts because this performer existed.
The reading other performers now have to answer.
Actor DNA
A fingerprint derived from the roles themselves — register, range and the kind of film they carry.
The shape of a career
Every performance plotted in time. Hover a point to read the title behind it.
Peak years
Where the scores, the awards and the sheer volume of work agree with each other.
Best decade
1980s
6.9 average MV
The 1980s are where the work and the material meet. Excalibur — the run our editors reach for first when the argument is about range rather than fame.
Highest average Nutevio score
1980s
6.9
Across 1 catalogue film in this decade, our scores never drop below the level a career is judged on.
Highest average IMDb rating
1980s
7.0
The public agrees most strongly about this stretch — useful context, and occasionally a decade behind our own reading.
Most awarded era
1980s
0 Academy Awards
Statuettes for the films themselves, which is the honest way to read an ensemble career. Excalibur.
Most productive era
2010s
19 films
The busiest stretch of the catalogue — volume that reads as appetite rather than availability.
Range, mapped
Genres down the side, decades across the top. Warmer cells mean stronger titles.
| Genre | 1980s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | — | 6.813 films | 6.511 films | 5.66 films |
| Action | — | 6.04 films | 5.83 films | 7.33 films |
| Thriller | — | 6.67 films | 6.27 films | 6.62 films |
| Comedy | — | 6.75 films | 7.21 film | 5.04 films |
| Crime | — | 6.94 films | — | 6.51 film |
| Romance | — | 6.81 film | 6.71 film | 6.61 film |
| Horror | — | — | 6.23 films | — |
Chronology
Firsts and peaks
The turning points, in the order they happened.
First film in Nutevio
1981Excalibur
Where our catalogue meets this career, as Lot.
Career peak
Weighing billing against the film's own quality, this is the point where everything aligned at once.
Highest rated performance
2011Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
8.3 on the Nutevio scale, the top of the catalogue for this performer.
Most recent film
2027Narnia: The Magician's Nephew
The current state of the argument.
Our order
Every performance in the catalogue, ordered by Nutevio Score.
Every title
Filter by genre or decade, and compare any two titles side by side.
48 of 48 films
as Fletcher Hamilton
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
as Aberforth Dumbledore
Directed by David Yates
as Steppenwolf (voice)
Directed by Zack Snyder
as Carl
Directed by Steven Spielberg
as McCaffrey
Directed by Simon Cellan Jones
From the library
Every movie and TV credit stored for this name in the Nutevio catalogue — filter by media, role or sort by rating.
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The defining work
#1
Fletcher Hamilton
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Performance score8.1
The performance the rest of the career is read through. Fletcher Hamilton gives Ciarán Hinds a structure to work against, and the film hands over its centre of gravity without hesitation.
View movie#2
Aberforth Dumbledore
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Performance score8.0
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Aberforth Dumbledore is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#3
Steppenwolf (voice)
Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
Performance score7.9
Zack Snyder's Justice League asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Steppenwolf (voice) is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#4
Carl
Munich (2005)
Performance score7.5
Munich asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Carl is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movieStart here
A guided path through the work, ordered so each film explains the next.
Best entry point
as Fletcher Hamilton
Start here. There Will Be Blood is the clearest statement of what Ciarán Hinds does — accessible, 158 minutes, and rated 8.1 by our editors. No context required.
Our editors order this path by accessibility first and chronology second. You meet Ciarán at the most legible performance, then move forward in time so each film reads as a response to the one before it rather than a repetition of it.
Munich (2005)
Keeps the drama register of There Will Be Blood but asks for a colder reading of it.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
A deliberate change of key after Munich — same instrument, unfamiliar tuning, and the reason range gets mentioned.
Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
Keeps the fantasy register of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 but asks for a colder reading of it.
The Family Plan (2023)
Keeps the action register of Zack Snyder's Justice League but asks for a colder reading of it.
Company kept
The directors and performers this career keeps returning to.
Chris Buck
Director
2 films together
Notably Frozen
Zack Snyder
Director
2 films together
Notably Zack Snyder's Justice League
Stephen Warbeck
Director
2 films together
Notably The Man in the Hat
John Boorman
Director
1 film together
Notably Excalibur
Phil Alden Robinson
Director
1 film together
Notably The Sum of All Fears
Sam Mendes
Director
1 film together
Notably Road to Perdition
Joel Schumacher
Director
1 film together
Notably Veronica Guerin
Nigel Cole
Director
1 film together
Notably Calendar Girls
Jan de Bont
Director
1 film together
Notably Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life
Steven Spielberg
Director
1 film together
Notably Munich
Michael Mann
Director
1 film together
Notably Miami Vice
Catherine Hardwicke
Director
1 film together
Notably The Nativity Story
Michael Apted
Director
1 film together
Notably Amazing Grace
David Mackenzie
Director
1 film together
Notably Hallam Foe
Noah Baumbach
Director
1 film together
Notably Margot at the Wedding
Paul Thomas Anderson
Director
1 film together
Notably There Will Be Blood
Bharat Nalluri
Director
1 film together
Notably Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Kimberly Peirce
Director
1 film together
Notably Stop-Loss
Martin McDonagh
Director
1 film together
Notably In Bruges
Andy Fickman
Director
1 film together
Notably Race to Witch Mountain
John Madden
Director
1 film together
Notably The Debt
Mikael Håfström
Director
1 film together
Notably The Rite
Tomas Alfredson
Director
1 film together
Notably Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brian Taylor
Director
1 film together
Notably Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
David Yates
Director
1 film together
Notably Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
James Watkins
Director
1 film together
Notably The Woman in Black
Andrew Stanton
Director
1 film together
Notably John Carter
Rodrigo García
Director
1 film together
Notably Last Days in the Desert
Ben Younger
Director
1 film together
Notably Bleed for This
Martin Scorsese
Director
1 film together
Notably Silence
Susanna White
Director
1 film together
Notably Woman Walks Ahead
Francis Lawrence
Director
1 film together
Notably Red Sparrow
Damien Chazelle
Director
1 film together
Notably First Man
Kenneth Branagh
Director
1 film together
Notably Belfast
Simon Cellan Jones
Director
1 film together
Notably The Family Plan
Robert Lorenz
Director
1 film together
Notably In the Land of Saints and Sinners
James Strong
Director
1 film together
Notably Words of War
Bradley Cooper
Director
1 film together
Notably Is This Thing On?
Greta Gerwig
Director
1 film together
Notably Narnia: The Magician's Nephew
Behind the camera
Who casts this performer, how often, and what the pairing produces.
Chris Buck
Director
2 films together · 7.3 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
FrozenZack Snyder
Director
2 films together · 7.1 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Zack Snyder's Justice LeagueStephen Warbeck
Director
2 films together · 3.1 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
The Man in the HatDavid Yates
Director
1 film together · 8.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2Paul Thomas Anderson
Director
1 film together · 8.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
There Will Be BloodMartin McDonagh
Director
1 film together · 7.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
In BrugesSam Mendes
Director
1 film together · 7.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Road to PerditionSimon Cellan Jones
Director
1 film together · 7.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Family PlanMartin Scorsese
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
SilenceSteven Spielberg
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
MunichKenneth Branagh
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
BelfastDamien Chazelle
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
First ManCatherine Hardwicke
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Nativity StoryMichael Apted
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Amazing GraceJohn Boorman
Director
1 film together · 6.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
ExcaliburSusanna White
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Woman Walks AheadBen Younger
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Bleed for ThisBharat Nalluri
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a DayJames Strong
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Words of WarDavid Mackenzie
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Hallam FoeJoel Schumacher
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Veronica GuerinBradley Cooper
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Is This Thing On?Tomas Alfredson
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyJohn Madden
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The DebtRobert Lorenz
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
In the Land of Saints and SinnersFrancis Lawrence
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Red SparrowNigel Cole
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Calendar GirlsAndrew Stanton
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
John CarterPhil Alden Robinson
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Sum of All FearsJames Watkins
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Woman in BlackMikael Håfström
Director
1 film together · 6.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The RiteKimberly Peirce
Director
1 film together · 6.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Stop-LossMichael Mann
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Miami ViceRodrigo García
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Last Days in the DesertAndy Fickman
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Race to Witch MountainNoah Baumbach
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Margot at the WeddingJan de Bont
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of LifeBrian Taylor
Director
1 film together · 5.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Ghost Rider: Spirit of VengeanceGreta Gerwig
Director
1 film together · 0.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Narnia: The Magician's NephewSix degrees
Follow the thread outward — director, film, co-star, and the film after that.
Categories of our own
Six editorial categories we apply to every performer we cover.
Most rewatchable
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
as Aberforth Dumbledore
The one that survives a fourth viewing. Nothing in the performance depends on surprise, which is why it keeps paying out.
Most emotional performance
Frozen
as Pabbie / Grandpa (voice)
Grief played at conversational volume. The film never asks the audience to cry; the performance simply makes it difficult not to.
Most influential performance
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
as Aberforth Dumbledore
You can hear this reading in other actors' auditions a decade later — the surest measure of influence there is.
Best ensemble performance
In Bruges
as Priest (uncredited)
Work that makes everyone else in the frame better without ever pulling the camera towards itself.
Career defining performance
There Will Be Blood
as Fletcher Hamilton
If the career had to be argued in a single scene, our editors would pick one from this film and rest the case.
In their films' words
“You can build a whole film around a performer who knows when not to speak. Ciarán Hinds has known it for a long time.”
Head to head
Put two careers on the same scale and see where the argument actually sits.
Ours alone
Recognitions handed out by this desk, on criteria no awards body uses.
Career Achievement
Awarded
46 years of relevant work — not merely a long career, but a long career of choices.
Modern Classic Performer
Awarded
Defining performances delivered inside the last twenty-five years, in films already being taught rather than merely remembered.
Drama Legend
Awarded
30 catalogue titles in drama, each one a reference point for the films that followed.
Our desk
Best ending, best opening, best twist and the rest — categories we apply to everyone we cover.
Best ending
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
as Aberforth Dumbledore
The last five minutes reorganise everything before them, and hold up when you already know what's coming.
Best opening
Zack Snyder's Justice League
as Steppenwolf (voice)
A first sequence that states the rules of the film without explaining a single one of them.
Most emotional
Last Days in the Desert
as Father
The film where the technique steps aside and lets the feeling arrive undefended.
Best twist
Elizabeth Harvest
as Henry
A reversal earned by information the film gave you and trusted you to misread.
Best visual achievement
Zack Snyder's Justice League
as Steppenwolf (voice)
Images that would survive with the sound switched off.
Best action sequence
The Family Plan
as McCaffrey
Geography, stakes and consequence held in the same frame — spectacle you can follow.
Best dialogue
In Bruges
as Priest (uncredited)
Lines written to be spoken, staged so the pauses do half the work.
Most underrated film
Frozen
as Pabbie / Grandpa (voice)
The public vote sits below ours on this one, and the direction is the reason for the gap.
If you like this performer
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Works with the same directors — shared collaborators
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Works with the same directors — shared collaborators
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Built a career in the same territory: adventure and drama
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Works with the same directors — shared collaborators
Have your say
Community
Which Ciarán Hinds performance holds up best?
Our readers argue about this one. Make your case, or read the ranked debate already in progress.
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Reference
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