Belfast: Ciarán Hinds’ 10 Best Film & TV Roles, Ranked By IMDb

Many fans might know him as Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall in HBO’s Game of Thrones. Others might instead see him as Aberforth Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. A few might even recognize his voice as Steppenwolf from Justice League and its better-received director’s cut.

Whatever he does, Ciarán Hinds is one of the finest character actors working today. His most recent release, Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast, might make him an Oscar nominee. However, a quick look at his IMDb page reveals that he has plenty of other celebrated and highly-rated projects, cementing his reputation as a revered performer.

10 The Terror (2018-2019) – 7.9

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Hinds is a prolific television actor with numerous credits on the small screen, like The Terror. The show, which takes its name from Dan Simmons’ 2007 novel, tells a fictionalized account of Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition to the Arctic in 1845. Hinds takes the role of Franklin, accompanied by other veteran actors like Jared Harris, Ian Hart, and Tobias Menzies.

The show received critical acclaim from reviewers, who praised the eerie atmosphere and horror elements. Season 2 deviated from the source material and told a completely unrelated story with a different cast, effectively turning The Terror into one of the best anthology series on television.

9 Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011) – 8.1

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After ten years and seven movies, the Harry Potter franchise came to an end in 2011 with the release of Deathly Hallows Part 2. The movie follows Harry’s last stand against Voldemort, culminating in a massive battle in Hogwarts castle. Hinds plays Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus’ younger brother and one of the strongest members of the First Order of the Phoenix, who plays a pivotal role in helping Harry come to terms with the headmaster’s life and death.

Deathly Hallows Part 2 received universal acclaim from critics and audiences, who deemed it a worthy and appropriately epic ending to the beloved franchise.

8 Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) – 8.1

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The story of DC’s now infamous and doomed Justice League is known by almost every fan. Ruined by two conflicting directing visions and a mustache, Justice League was the biggest disappointment of 2017. It would take four years before the movie’s original director, Zack Snyder, got to fulfill his vision, with the release of the aptly titled Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

Hinds played the film’s primary antagonist, Steppenwolf, through motion capture. The director’s cut greatly enhances his role in the story, fleshing out his motives and backstory while still presenting him as a menacing and dangerous figure. Unlike the 2017 movie, ZSJL received positive reviews from critics, quickly becoming one of HBO Max’s best original movies, according to IMDb.

7 Shetland (2013-Present) – 8.2

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Scottish drama series Shetland premiered in 2013 and is still going strong. The plot follows detective inspector Jimmy Pérez, who investigates crimes in the Scottish archipelago of Shetland. So far, the show has produced six seasons, with a seventh on the way.

Hinds plays Michael Maguire in season 3, a man implicated in the gruesome death of a young man. However, things aren’t always as they seem. Like the show itself, the series received critical acclaim from reviewers and audiences, cementing itself as one of BBC Scotland’s best crime drama series.

6 Prime Suspect 3 (1993) – 8.2

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Acclaimed actress Helen Mirren became an icon in British television thanks to the Prime Suspect series. She plays Jane Tennison, one of the first-ever female Detective Chief Inspectors in the London Metropolitan Police Service, who ascends through the ranks of a male-dominated environment that constantly tries to undermine her authority.

Hinds is one of the many notable British actors to play guest roles in the show. He appears in series 3, which first broadcasted in 1993, playing Edward Parker-Jones, a community center manager.

5 There Will Be Blood (2007) – 8.2

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Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 masterpiece is notable for featuring what is arguably Daniel Day-Lewis’ best performance of his esteemed career. There Will Be Blood follows Daniel Plainview, a ruthless oilman hellbent on acquiring wealth during the Southern California oil boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Playing Fletcher Hamilton, Hinds holds his own against the titan that is Day-Lewis. The movie received raves from critics, who named it one of 2007’s best. Day-Lewis won the Oscar for his performance, while the film itself was nominated for Best Picture, among other accolades.

4 National Theatre Live: Hamlet (2015) – 8.5

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Along with Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet is one of William Shakespeare’s most notable and acclaimed works. The play follows the titular character as he seeks revenge against his evil uncle, Claudius, who killed Hamlet’s father, the King of Denmark, and married Hamlet’s mother.

Many adaptations of the play exist, but Hinds took part in the 2015 staging at the Barbican Theatre. Benedict Cumberbatch took on the role of Hamlet, with Hinds antagonizing him as Claudius. A three-and-a-half-hour filmed version of the play premiered in late 2015, garnering positive reviews from audiences and critics.

3 The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes (1994) – 8.6

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And speaking of commonly adapted works of fiction, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes also has several film and television versions. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, based on Doyle’s short story of the same name, is the last series in the overall Sherlock Holmes show, which aired intermittently from 1984 to 1994.

The show stars Jeremy Brett, often considered the best Holmes in British television, and adapts many of the detective’s most notable storylines. Hinds appears in the series’ last episode, “The Cardboard Box,” playing the role of Jim Browner.

2 Rome (2005-2007) – 8.7

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Rome’s transition from a thriving republic into a mighty empire is the basis for the 2005 historical drama Rome. Although the show features many real-life historical characters, the leads are two fictional soldiers who play prominent roles in some of the empire’s pivotal events.

Hinds appeared in season 1 only, but he played one of the best roles in the show, Julius Caesar. History buffs know that things don’t end well for Ceasar, and the season ends with the infamous Ides of March. Hinds received positive reviews for his performance, and the show itself has become something of a cult favorite.

1 Game Of Thrones (2011-2019) – 9.2

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Not even a famously rushed and uneven final season could stain the legacy of Game of Thrones. The epic and already iconic HBO show, which follows a sprawling cast of characters across the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, remains a fan favorite thanks to its high production values, compelling performances, and engaging storyline.

In seasons 3, 4, and 5, Hinds played Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall, leader of the free folk, and one of the best characters introduced after season 1. Critics praised Hinds’ performance and his interactions with Kit Harington’s Jon Snow. Fans were sad to see him die at the hands of Stannis Baratheon, but in Game of Thrones, death was a common occurrence.

About The Author

David Caballero
(798 Articles Published)

David is a twenty-eight-year-old Mexican writer and reader. Having studied Marketing in school, he spent three years working a nine-to-five desk job before deciding to pursue a writing career. He now works as a Senior Writer in ScreenRant and does some more freelancing job, talking about the entertainment business he so loves. Currently, he’s also writing his second novel while actively working to get his first one published.

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