Tom Hollanders movies and TV shows throughout his career showcase the versatility and amazing work of the British character actor. Not to be confused with Spider-Man actor Tom Holland, Hollander first gained success on stage before transitioning to movie and television roles that brought him even more acclaim and popularity. With Holland recently nominated for an Emmy for his role on Feud: Capote v The SwansIt is clear that his success is continuing to gain momentum.
Hollander has been a scene-stealing presence in countless movies and series, stepping into several huge blockbuster franchises as well as hit TV shows. He has worked with several famous directors on Best Picture-nominated movies and starred alongside the likes of Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise and other big-name stars. He can be just as effective at intimidating the audience with a memorable villain role as he is at earning laughs in a comedic role. For those looking to become more familiar with his work, Hollander’s most notable projects include some must-see movies and shows.
10
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The fifth film in the franchise, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is an action-thriller film that takes place after the events of Ghost Protocol and follows former IMF agent Ethan Hunt and his crew. With the IMF disbanded and the crew now rogue agents, they decide to take the fight to the terrorist organization known as the Syndicate. The opposing rogue operation has recruited other agents worldwide to participate in black-ops terrorist actions, and Ethan’s crew intends to shut them down.
- Director
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Christopher McQuarrie
- Release date
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July 31, 2015
- runtime
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131 minutes
Tom Hollander has played real-life kings and politicians in the past, but he got the chance to play a fictional Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the Mission: Impossible Franchise. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is the fifth installment in the series that finds Ethan Hunt on the run and operating as a rogue agent in his attempts to take down a dangerous group of terrorists known as the Syndicate.
Hollander pokes fun at the film’s chaotic and complex final act, in which the Prime Minister is brought into the mix as part of Hunt’s plan.. The film itself is another wonderful step forward for the franchise with some key new additions, such as Rebecca Ferguson’s first appearance as Ilsa Faust and the first time Christopher McQuarrie took over as director.
9
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006)
Like Cutler Beckett
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is the second installment in the swashbuckling franchise directed by Gore Verbinski. Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow, who must settle a blood debt with the legendary Davy Jones, portrayed by Bill Nighy. As Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) are drawn into Jack’s perilous quest, they face new dangers on the high seas and encounter the terrifying Kraken.
- Director
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Gore Verbinski
- Release date
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July 6, 2006
- runtime
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151 minutes
Tom Hollander excels at playing the kind of smart villains that audiences love to hate. He perfected this type of performance in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, where he played the ruthless Cutler Beckett. The second movie in the franchise sees Jack Sparrow and his allies facing off against the villain Davy Jones and his crew of pirate monsters. However, the growing threat to pirates of all kinds comes from Kather as the chairman of the East India Trading Company.
He is the perfect human villain alongside Davy Jones.
Hollander is wonderfully effective in the role, Playing Cather as a man who never raises his voice or loses his temper, but his eerie calm and confidence make him an endlessly intimidating villain. He is the perfect human villain alongside Davy Jones. While the Pirates of the Caribbean Sequels were criticized for falling short of the original, looking back, they were wildly fun and inventive summer blockbusters that showcased director Gore Verbinski’s energetic style.
8
Hannah (2011)
Like Isaac
Hanna is an action thriller film directed by Joe Wright. Saoirse Ronan stars as the titular character, a young girl trained to be an assassin by her father, played by Eric Bana. Raised in isolation, Hannah’s mission takes her across Europe while evading a relentless intelligence agent, portrayed by Cate Blanchett. The film weaves intense action sequences with a coming-of-age narrative, exploring themes of identity and survival.
- Director
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Joe Wright
- Release date
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April 7, 2011
- runtime
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111 minutes
Although Cather may be Tom Hollander’s most memorable villain role, he shows a different approach to being bad in the action thriller Hanna. Directed by Joe Wright, Hannah Star Saoirse Ronan as the titular character, a young girl raised in the wild by her father who is a former operator for a top-secret organization. When she decides she wants to get out of the desert and experience the real world, it puts her on a crash course with the people who have hunted her and her father her entire life.
However, in hunting down her targets, she decides to seek out Hollander’s sadistic and savage mercenary, Isaac.
Cate Blanchett is the main villain of the movie as the agency’s shot-caller. However, in hunting down her targets, she decides to seek out Hollander’s sadistic and savage mercenary, Isaac. Although it is a minor role in the larger story, Hollander steals many scenes with his restless and unique take on the character. It’s a gritty and intense thriller with a terrific lead performance from Ronan.
7
The Night Manager (2016)
Like Lance “Corky” Corcoran
The Night Manager is a drama thriller miniseries based on John le Carré’s novel, starring Tom Hiddleston as a former British soldier who infiltrates the inner circle of an arms dealer, played by Hugh Laurie. The series covers an ever-increasing game of cat and mouse where one wrong move can spell disaster for either party.
- Release date
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February 21, 2016
- Seasons
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1
- creator(s)
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David Farr
Tom Hollander once again stole the show as an unpredictable villain in the miniseries The Night Agent. Adapted from the novel by John le Carré, The Night Manager Tom Hiddleston stars as Jonathan Pine, a former British soldier who works as a hotel manager in Cairo. He is approached by a government agency to infiltrate the inner circle of a dangerous arms dealer, Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). The mission is further complicated when Payne falls for Roper’s mistress, Jemima (Elizabeth Debicki).
Once again, Hollander does not play the main villain but comes across as the main threat in the story. He plays Corky, Roper’s right-hand man who has an immediate distrust of Paine. Like many of Le Carre’s best works, The Night Manager is a grounded and deep thriller that stands out in the genre for its cleverness. Hiddleston will return for The Night Manager Season 2 after a long wait, but fans should not expect to see Hollander again.
6
Rev. (2010-2014)
Like Adam Smallbone
While American audiences may not be as familiar with Rev.The sitcom is one of the main things Tom Hollander is known for in his native England. Rev. Play Hollander as Adam Smallbone, a priest who moves from his work in a small country town and takes the position of a vicar in the big city of London. The show finds humor and heart as Adam is constantly faced with the struggles of serving the community in a way that actually makes a difference..
Hollander not only stars in the series, but is also a writer and co-creator. His commitment to the role is clear as Adam is made to be a complex and entertaining sitcom protagonist. The show also bucks the conventions of leaving the small town behind and exploring the hustle and bustle of modern London. Hollander gives a funny, charming and grounded performance while Olivia Colman plays his wife, Alexandra, throughout the series.
5
The White Lotus (2022)
Like Quentin
The White Lotus is known for featuring massive and brilliant ensembles for each new season and Tom Hollander found himself as one of the standout additions to season 2 of the show. Each season takes place in a new White Lotus resort around the world with Italy as the destination. Once again, the show looks at the self-centered and often oblivious guests at the resort, all building up to a murder.
He plays Quentin, an expatriate living in Sicily who welcomes Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) into his inner circle.
Hollander is a key part of one of the best storylines of the season. He plays Quentin, an expatriate living in Sicily who welcomes Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) into his inner circle. Hollander plays the role with charm, class and an underlying menacing aura. The second season continued to highlight the show as a smart and clever satire of privileged people and how they treat the working-class people around them.
4
Feud: Capote v The Swans (2024)
Like Truman Capote
Tom Hollander earned his first Emmy nomination for his starring role in Feud: Capote v The Swans. The second installment in Ryan Murphy’s Feud Anthology series, The Last Story is another scandal-filled tale of fame and drama. Hollander stars as Truman Capote, who befriends a group of wealthy socialite women known as the Swans, and ends up tearing them apart as he begins to write about their scandalous lives and uncover their deepest secrets.
Hollander puts his own stamp on Capote’s distinct persona, playing up the nuances of his character. He can be a frustrating character, as he owes the right to ruin anyone’s life because his writing is so important. However, he is also funny, charming and compelling. Hollander steals the show among a large ensemble that also includes Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Demi Moore, and Calista Flockhart, among others.
3
Gosford Park (2001)
Like Anthony Meredith
Gosford Park is a 2001 British mystery film directed by Robert Altman. The film takes place in 1932 during a weekend shooting party in an English country house, where a group of wealthy guests and their servants become involved in a murder investigation. With an ensemble cast that includes Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren, the film explores themes of class and social structure.
- Director
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Robert Altman
- Release date
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November 7, 2001
- Figure
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Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Christine Scott Thomas, Camilla Rutherford, Charles Dance, Geraldine Somerville, Tom Hollander, Natasha Whiteman, Jeremy Northam, Bob Balaban, James Wilby, Claudie Blackley
- runtime
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137 minutes
One of Tom Hollander’s breakout roles in movies was working with a legendary director in a massive ensemble in a Best Picture nominee. Gosford Park is the hilarious, clever, and captivating Robert Altman movie set in the 1930s on an English estate. As a group of various rich and privileged people gather for a weekend of shooting and dinners, the estate’s hardworking staff ensure that everything goes smoothly. However, the tension and scandals eventually lead to a murder.
Hollander has a funny and excellent supporting role As Lt. Commander Anthony Meredith, a desperate young businessman who becomes one of the top suspects in the murder. Altman has a lot of fun with the mystery, including the satisfying reveal, but this is really a story of class differences, brilliantly depicted in the same house where the people feel like they are worlds apart.
2
in the loop (2009)
Like Simon Foster
Although he is perhaps best known for dramatic or villainous roles, Tom Hollander is also a wonderful comedic actor who has displayed his hilarious, dry sense of humor in a number of memorable roles. However, perhaps the funniest of them all is in the loop. Based on the dark British comedy series The thick of it, in the loop Focuses on Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) and his spin team as they go to work for bumbling politicians.
Hollander is the politician in question, A UK minister makes a mistake on TV that sets off a series of public relations crises This takes Tucker and his team to America. Hollander is hilarious as the politician who is in over his head and subject to constant verbal barrages from Tucker. It’s a witty and thoughtful look at modern politics with some laugh-out-loud moments.
1
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Like Mr. Collins
Pride & Prejudice is a 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel, directed by Joe Wright. The story follows Elizabeth Bennet, played by Keira Knightley, as she navigates social pressures, family expectations and romantic entanglements in early 19th century England. Matthew Macfadyen stars as the enigmatic Mr. Darcy, whose evolving relationship with Elizabeth highlights themes of love, class and misunderstanding.
- Director
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Joe Wright
- Release date
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November 23, 2005
- runtime
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129 minutes
Tom Hollander’s role in Pride & Prejudice is a perfect example of how effectively he can steal the show in a smaller supporting role. Based on Jane Austen’s classic novel, the film is set in the late 18th century and focuses on the Bennet girls, a family of unmarried daughters who find their futures potentially changing with the arrival of a group of entitled people in their small Community. While Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) is not as concerned about marriage as her sister, she finds herself drawn into a relationship with Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen).
Hollander plays Mr. Collins, a distant cousin of the Bennet girls who comes looking for one of them to be his wife. Hollander brings a hilarious desperation to the character, made even funnier by the fact that he’s oblivious to how uninterested the girls are in him.. The movie is a beautiful and striking romance that many have called the best version of Pride & Prejudice.