# Phil Davis (actor)

Philip Davis (born 30 July 1953) is an English actor, writer, director and narrator. His early work as a director earned awards for Life’s a Gas (1992) and ID (1995). As an actor, he starred in Quadrophenia (1979), The Bounty (1984), High Hopes (1988), The Firm (1989), In the Name of the Father (1993), North Square (2000), Vera Drake (2004), Bleak House (2005), Whitechapel (2009–2013), Sherlock (2010), Brighton Rock (2010), Merlin (2011), Silk (2012–2014), Poldark (2015–2016), Mad Dogs (2015–2016), Trying (2020–2024) and Platform 7 (2023).

## Early life

Davis was born in Highgate, London, and brought up in South Ockendon in Thurrock, Essex. His father worked for Procter & Gamble in a soap factory and his mother was a hospital dining room supervisor. From the age of eight, he was interested in acting. After failing his eleven-plus, he attended Ockendon Courts County Secondary School in South Ockendon, Essex, where he was distracted in class, although he enjoyed school plays.
He was also a member of both the National Youth Theatre and Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop.

## Career

In 1977, he was cast in the lead role of the play Gotcha! about an under-achieving student who holds two teachers hostage on his last day at school. An early film role was as Chalky, a mod who is knocked off his scooter by a rocker in Quadrophenia (1979). He then landed the role of midshipman Edward "Ned" Young in The Bounty (1984); co-star Daniel Day-Lewis later rated him as one of his greatest inspirations. He appeared in the TV series To Have and to Hold with Amanda Redman. He began a long association with Mike Leigh with roles including Cyril the motorcycle courier in High Hopes in 1988. In 1989, he starred opposite Gary Oldman in the BBC's football violence based film The Firm as 'Yeti', the rival gang leader to the protagonist.
In 2004, Davis played Stanley, the husband of the abortion care provider in Vera Drake (2004). He portrayed the mean money lender Smallweed in the BBC adaptation of Bleak House (2005), and as Jeff Hope, a cab driver in the first episode of Sherlock (2010).
From 2009 until 2013, Davis played a main role as DS Ray Miles in the ITV1 series Whitechapel, starring alongside Rupert Penry Jones and Steve Pemberton.
In 2012, he starred as crime family solicitor Micky Joy in Silk, then in 2015 as Jud, the malevolent servant in Poldark alongside Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson.
From November 2017 until February 2018, Davis played Ebenezer Scrooge in David Edgar's new adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In 2023, Davis played a main role in the ITV1 psychological thriller Platform 7, alongside actors Jasmine Jobson and Toby Regbo.

## Personal life

Davis married actress Eve Matheson in Hackney, London in 2002. They have a daughter (born 2002). Davis also has a son (born 1996) by a previous partner.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1972 | The Canterbury Tales | 2nd homosexual lover | Uncredited role |
| 1975 | Mister Quilp | Tom Scott | a.k.a. The Old Curiosity Shop (original title) |
| 1979 | Quadrophenia | Chalky | |
| 1980 | Dark Water | Eddie | Short film |
| 1982 | Pink Floyd – The Wall | Roadie | |
| 1984 | The Bounty | Midshipman Edward 'Ned' Young | |
| 1985 | The Doctor and the Devils | Billy Bedlam | |
| 1985 | Underworld | Lazarus | |
| 1986 | Comrades | Young (John) Standfield | |
| 1988 | High Hopes | Cyril | |
| 1989 | Howling V: The Rebirth | The Count | |
| 1992 | Alien 3 | Kevin Dodd | |
| 1992 | Blue Ice | Westy | |
| 1992 | Life's a Gas | – | Short film. Director |
| 1993 | In the Name of the Father | Detective | |
| 1994 | Wanted | Randall | Short film |
| 1995 | I.D. | Duty Sergeant | Also director |
| 1996 | Different for Girls | Taxi Driver | |
| 1996 | Secrets & Lies | Man in Suit | |
| 1996 | Crimetime | Simon | |
| 1997 | Face | Julian | |
| 1997 | Photographing Fairies | Roy | |
| 1998 | Still Crazy | Limo Driver | |
| 2002 | Nicholas Nickleby | Brooker | |
| 2004 | The Baby Juice Express | Frank O'Reilly | |
| 2004 | Jack Brown and the Curse of the Crown | Inspector Kray | |
| 2004 | Vera Drake | Stan Drake | |
| 2005 | Casanova | Guardi | |
| 2006 | Notes on a Scandal | Brian Bangs | |
| 2007 | Diggers | Fred | Short film |
| 2007 | Cassandra's Dream | Martin Burns | |
| 2008 | A Fox's Tale | Jack (voice) | a.k.a. Kis Vuk (original Hungarian title) |
| 2008 | Bitter | Jack | Short film |
| 2009 | Dead Man Running | Johnny Sands | |
| 2010 | The Big I Am | Stubbs | |
| 2010 | Just for the Record | Ed Grains | |
| 2010 | Another Year | Jack | |
| 2010 | Brighton Rock | Spicer | |
| 2010 | The Rapture | Sir David | |
| 2012 | Outside Bet | Threads | |
| 2012 | Fast Girls | Brian | |
| 2012 | The Hot Potato | Sgt. Ryan | |
| 2012 | Borrowed Time | Philip | |
| 2012 | Roadkiller | Gavin | Short film |
| 2013 | Having You | Peter | |
| 2014 | Peterman | Grandad | |
| 2015 | Mr. Holmes | Inspector Gilbert | |
| 2015 | Dough | Sam Cotton | |
| 2015 | Age of Kill | Bill Weybridge | |
| 2015 | Midnight of My Life | – | Short film. Director |
| 2016 | Golden Years | Brian | |
| 2016 | Tale of a Timelord | The Oracle | Short films |
| 2016 | The Complete Walk: The Comedy of Errors | Egeon | Short films |
| 2016 | The Swing of It | Ray | Short films |
| 2016 | Zero Sum | Neumann | Short films |
| 2017 | Hampstead | Sid Fyfe | |
| 2017 | We Can Be Heroes | Grandad Evans | |
| 2018 | Juliet, Naked | Mayor Terry Barton | |
| 2019 | Brighton | Dave | |
| 2020 | Knuckledust | Happy | |
| 2022 | Deus | Vance | |
| 2023 | Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance | David Hexell | |
| 2023 | Keep | Gordon | Short film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1973 | Orson Welles Great Mysteries | Johnny Sheeham | Episode: "In the Confessional" |
| 1974 | Death or Glory Boy | Tpr. Smiff | Episode: "Early Arrival" |
| 1975 | Centre Play | Steve | Episode: "Hanging On" |
| 1976 | Angels | Tom | Episode: "Legacies" |
| 1977 | Target | Ray | Episode: "Vandraggers" |
| 1977–1980 | Play for Today | Kid; Mr. Destry; Kevin; Post Office Clerk; 2nd Youth | 5 episodes |
| 1978 | The Professionals | Billy Turner | Episode: "Old Dog with New Tricks" |
| 1978 | People Like Us | Berni Carver | Mini-series, 5 episodes |
| 1978 | Sexton Blake and the Demon God | Tinker | 6 episodes |
| 1979 | S.O.S. Titanic | Crow's Nest Lookout | Television film. Uncredited role |
| 1980 | BBC2 Playhouse | Dick | Episode: "Grown-Ups" |
| 1982 | Oliver Twist | Noah Claypole | Television film |
| 1983 | Bergerac | Eric | Episode: "A Message for the Rich" |
| 1983 | Studio | Stew | 7 episodes |
| 1984 | Crown Court | Joseph Guilfoyle | 3 episodes: "Whisper Who Dares: Parts 1–3" |
| 1984–1986 | Robin of Sherwood | Prince John / King John | 3 episodes |
| 1985 | Dramarama | Frog | Episode: "Frog" |
| 1987 | Truckers | Cowboy | 7 episodes |
| 1988 | Rumpole of the Bailey | Tony Timson | Episode: "Rumpole and the Tap End" |
| 1988 | Screen Two | Finn | Episode: "Dead Lucky" |
| 1989 | Screen Two | Yeti | Episode: "The Firm" |
| 1989 | Skulduggery | – | Television film. Writer and director |
| 1990 | The Paradise Club | Walter Fagin | Episode: "Chinese Whispers" |
| 1992 | Inspector Morse | Roland Sherman / Harold Manners | Episode "Absolute Conviction" |
| 1992 | Nice Town | Paul Thompson | Mini-series, 3 episodes |
| 1993 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | Interrogator | Episode: "Prague, August 1917" |
| 1994–1995 | Moving Story | Adrenalin | 13 episodes. Also director of 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Prime Suspect 5: Errors of Judgment | – | Director |
| 1996 | Tales from the Crypt | Henry | Episode: "Ear Today... Gone Tomorrow" |
| 1998 | Real Women | – | Director |
| 1999 | Births, Marriages and Deaths | Graham | 4 episodes |
| 1999 | Hold Back the Night | – | Director |
| 2000 | Black Cab | Nick | Episode: "Lost & Found" |
| 2000 | North Square | Peter McLeish | 10 episodes |
| 2001 | Trance | Philip | Television film |
| 2002 | Fields of Gold | Roy Lodge | Television film |
| 2002 | White Teeth | Archie | Mini-series, 4 episodes |
| 2002 | The Safe House | Det. Inspector Baird | Television film |
| 2002–2005 | Rose and Maloney | Maloney | 11 episodes |
| 2003 | Murder in Mind | Chaz Hadley | Episode: "Favours" |
| 2003 | Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill | Denis | Television film |
| 2004 | Wall of Silence | Tony Cottis | Television film |
| 2005 | Like Father Like Son | Paul Barker | Television film |
| 2005 | Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky | Ernest Eccles | Mini-series, 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Footprints in the Snow | Tim Perkins | Television film |
| 2005 | Bleak House | Smallweed | Mini-series, 10 episodes |
| 2006 | Agatha Christie's Marple | Dr. Kennedy | Episode: "Sleeping Murder" |
| 2006 | Beau Brummell: This Charming Man | Master Servant Robinson | Television film |
| 2007 | Five Days | Mic Danes | 3 episodes |
| 2007 | Midsomer Murders | Gary Cooper | Episode: "The Axeman Cometh" |
| 2007 | Inspector George Gently | Joe Webster | Episode: "Gently Go Man" |
| 2007 | Secret Life | Rudi | Television film |
| 2007 | All About Me | Tony Conroy | Television film |
| 2007 | Cold Blood | DI Ted Radcliffe | Episode: "Interference" |
| 2007 | Comedy Showcase | Sergeant | Episode: "Other People" |
| 2008 | Lark Rise to Candleford | Ashlow | Episode: #1.4 |
| 2008 | Bike Squad | CI Albert Custer | Television film |
| 2008 | Ashes to Ashes | Chas Cale | Episode: #1.6 |
| 2008 | The Curse of Steptoe | Wilfrid Brambell | Television film |
| 2008 | Doctor Who | Lucius Petrus Dextrus | Episode "The Fires of Pompeii" |
| 2008 | Silent Witness | Derek Pargeter | 2 episodes: "Death's Door: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2009 | Desperate Romantics | Frank Stone | Mini-series, 4 episodes |
| 2009 | The Fixer | Roger Bowland | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Collision | Brian Edwards | Mini-series, 5 episodes |
| 2009 | Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor Adventures | Titus (voice) | Episode: "The Cannibalists" |
| 2009–2013 | Whitechapel | DS Ray Miles | 18 episodes |
| 2010 | Identity | David Sinclair | Episode: "Pariah" |
| 2010 | My Family | Carl | Episode: "Slammertime" |
| 2010 | Sherlock | Jeff Hope | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Case Histories | Theo Wyre | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | First Cut | David De Gale | Episode: "Double Lesson" |
| 2011 | Merlin | The Gleeman | Episode: "The Wicked Day" |
| 2012 | Hacks | Ray | Television film |
| 2012 | Secrets and Words | Ray Collins | Episode: "Help Me If You Can" |
| 2012 | Vexed | Ron Poynter | Episode: #2.6 |
| 2012 | The Town | Tony Nicholas | Mini-series, Episode: #1.1 |
| 2012–2014 | Silk | Micky Joy | 7 episodes |
| 2013 | Being Human | Captain Hatch | 5 episodes |
| 2013 | Medics | Professor Barber | Television film |
| 2014 | This Is Jinsy | Roley Jenkins | Episode: "The Golden Woggle" |
| 2014 | Death in Paradise | Jim Chandler | Episode: "Rue Morgue" |
| 2014 | New Tricks | Gavin Gibson | Episode: "In Vino Veritas" |
| 2015 | Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain | Charles McMoran Wilson | Television film |
| 2015 | Black Work | DI Tom Piper | Mini-series, 2 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Mad Dogs | Lawrence | 10 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Poldark | Jud Paynter | 15 episodes |
| 2016 | Undercover | Jimmy | Mini-series, 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Riviera | Jukes | 9 episodes |
| 2017 | Broken | Harry 'Aitch' Parkinson | Episode: "Father Michael" |
| 2017 | Comedy Playhouse | Gal | Episode: "Static" |
| 2017–2023 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Himself - Narrator (voice) | 51 episodes |
| 2018 | The Reluctant Landlord | Dirty Harry | Episode: "Dirty Harry" |
| 2019 | Plebs | Serverus | Episode: "The Grumbrella" |
| 2019 | Dial M for Middlesbrough | Jed | Television film |
| 2020 | Silent Witness | Mick Ramsden | 2 episodes: "Close to Home: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2020 | Inside No. 9 | Bill Ryland | Episode: "Thinking Out Loud" |
| 2020–2024 | Trying | Victor Ross | 17 episodes |
| 2021 | Viewpoint | DI Liam Cox | Mini-series, 5 episodes |
| 2021 | Ragdoll | Mayor Ray Turnbull | Episode: #1.1 |
| 2022 | Slow Horses | Dickie Bough | Episode: "Last Stop" |
| 2023 | Platform 7 | Edward Warren | 4 episodes |
| 2024 | Truelove | Nigel | Mini-series, 5 episodes |

## Recording career

In 1980, Davis recorded "Blown It", which was released on the Elton John-owned label The Rocket Record Company.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| As director ||||||
| 1992 | Torino International Festival of Young Cinema | Prize of the City of Torino – Best Short Film | Life's a Gas | Nominated |
| 1995 | Thessaloniki Film Festival | Golden Alexander Award | I.D. | Nominated |
| 1996 | Valenciennes Int Fest of Action and Adventure Films | Audience Award (Director) | I.D. | Won |
| As actor ||||||
| 2001 | Broadcasting Press Guild Awards | Best Actor | North Square | Nominated |
| 2001 | Royal Television Society Awards | Best Actor - Male | North Square | Nominated |
| 2004 | British Independent Film Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film | Vera Drake | Won |
| 2004 | San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Vera Drake | Won |
| 2005 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Vera Drake | Nominated |
| 2005 | Chlotrudis Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Vera Drake | Nominated |
| 2005 | London Critics Circle Film Awards | Best British Supporting Actor | Vera Drake | Won |
| 2006 | Online Film & Television Association | Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Bleak House | Nominated |
| 2009 | Clarence Derwent Awards | Best Supporting Male (UK) | The Philistines | Won |
| 2012 | Crime Thriller Awards | Dagger Award - Best Supporting Actor | Whitechapel and Silk | Nominated |
| 2012 | Monte-Carlo TV Festival | Golden Nymph - Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Whitechapel | Nominated |