Summary

• Scott's role as Lord Rollo in "Catherine Called Birdy" showcases his comedic talent and nuanced portrayal of a struggling father
• In the "Black Mirror" episode "Smithereens," Scott's performance as a grieving rideshare driver battling grief is dark and emotional.
• Scott's key role in "1917" as Lieutenant Leslie, a wearied lieutenant helping young soldiers, highlights his impactful presence in a short time.

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

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 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.

8 1917

Lieutenant Leslie

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 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

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.

4 His Dark Materials

Colonel John (Jopari) Parry

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

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