Kieran O'Brien
O'Brien grew up in nearby Royton and was educated at the Bishop Henshaw Roman Catholic Memorial High School in Rochdale. He began acting at an early age and was the star of a BBC TV series Gruey by the time he was 15. He also featured in several other series at the time in one-off or recurring roles. In 1993, he played the role of Craig Lee in Coronation Street and then the role of Lee Jones in Children's Ward. In 1993 he also became a regular in the detective series, Cracker, playing Mark, the son of central character Robbie Coltrane. In 1999 he made his cinema debut with the film Virtual Sexuality and began a reunited with Cracker director Michael Winterbottom for 24 Hour Party People in 2002 and, in '04, for the controversial 9 Songs, which included scenes of genuine sexual intercourse between O'Brien and his leading lady Margo Stilley. His role had earned him the credit of being the only mainstream British actor who has been shown ejaculating in a mainstream UK-produced feature. Since 9 Songs, O'Brien has made two further films with Winterbottom; A Cock and Bull Story and The Look of Love. Recent regular TV roles include Holby Blue and The Syndicate.
Acted in
The Family Pile
2023
as Stuart
Star Wars: Andor
2022
as Pegla
The Following Year
2021
as Ben
The Cars That Made the World
2020
as Self - Narrator
Ted Lasso
2020
as James Tartt
Years and Years
2019
as Woody
Chernobyl
2019
as Khodemchuck
Holmes & Watson
2018
as PC Smalls
Peterloo
2018
as Peter Wilkes, a Farrier
Trucking Hell
2018
In the Dark
2017
as DS Gary Kenny
The Watchman
2016
as Lee Simpson
Glue
2014
as Thomas Bray
Prey
2014
as Phil Prentice
The Look of Love
2013
as Jimmy Humphries
Bluestone 42
2013
as Nutsack
Spike Island
2012
as Poster Vendor
Cuckoo
2012
as Goran
Love Life
2012
as Dez
Death in Paradise
2011
as Danny
Vera
2011
as Bobby Salter
The Shock Doctrine
2009
as Narrator (Voice)
Moving On
2009
as Shane
The Last Enemy
2008
as Wafa
Secret Diary of a Call Girl
2007
as Al
Indie Sex
2007
as Self
Holby Blue
2007
as Constable Robert Clifton
Goal II: Living the Dream
2007
as Hughie McGowan
Cracker: Nine Eleven
2006
as Mark Fitzgerald
Elizabeth David: A Life in Recipes
2006
as Charles Gibson Cowan
Life on Mars
2006
as Davie Mackay
Goal!
2005
as Hughie McGowan
A Cock and Bull Story
2005
as Gary
Bloodlines
2005
as Mark Hopkin
9 Songs
2004
as Matt
New Tricks
2004
as Michael Jacobs
The Terry and Gaby Show
2003
Blue Murder
2003
as Terry Camerton
Burn It
2003
as Andy Grimshaw
The Afternoon Play
2003
as Sean Tyler
24 Hour Party People
2002
as Nathan
Band of Brothers
2001
as Allen Vest
Messiah
2001
as Eric Metcalfe
Jason and the Argonauts
2000
as Actor
Virtual Sexuality
1999
as Alex Thorne
Dalziel & Pascoe
1996
Cracker
1993
Cracker
1993
as Mark Fitzgerald
Cracker
1993
as Mark
Heartbeat
1992
as Neil
Children's Ward
1989
as Lee Jones
Monster Maker
1989
as Matt Banting
Bellman and True
1987
as The Boy
Casualty
1986
as Chris Miller
Casualty
1986
as Billy
Dramarama
1983