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British Academy Television Award for Best Actor

Annual award for performance in British TV

British Academy Television Award for Best Actor

Summary

Annual award for performance in British TV

FieldValue
nameBritish Academy Television Award
imageLennie James (48403597296) (cropped).jpg
caption2025 winner Lennie James
presenterBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts
countryUnited Kingdom
year1955
holderLennie James for Mr Loverman (2025)
websitehttp://www.bafta.org/

This is a list of the British Academy Television Awards for Best Actor. The Best Actor award was initially given as an "individual honour", without credit to a particular performance, until 1962, when Rupert Davies won for his performance in Maigret.

Since 1970, nominees have been announced in addition to the winner. The Actor category was split into Leading Actor and Supporting Actor starting in 2010.

Michael Gambon holds the record of most wins in this category with four, including three consecutive wins, followed by Robbie Coltrane with three, all of them also being consecutive. Additionally, Alan Badel, Peter Barkworth, Sean Bean, Alec Guinness, Mark Rylance, John Thaw, and Ben Whishaw, all have received the award twice. Benedict Cumberbatch has received the most nominations for this award with six, followed by Coltrane with five.

Winners and nominees

Paul Rogers]] (left) was the first recipient of the award.

1950s

YearActor
1955
Paul Rogers
1956
Peter Cushing
1957
Michael Gough
1958
Michael Hordern
1959
Donald Pleasence

1960s

Maigret]]''.
YearActorsWork
1960
Patrick McGoohan
1961
Lee Montague
1962
Rupert Davies*Maigret*
1963
Harry H. Corbett*Steptoe and Son*
1964
Alan Badel
1965
Patrick Wymark
1966
Alan BadelThe Count Of Monte Cristo; Meeting Point; A Couple of Dry Martinis; Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life; *Famous Gossips*
Richard BriersSimon and Laura; Marriage Lines; Points of View; Present Laughter - Excerpt; Charley's Aunt; To You At Home Today
Ian CarmichaelSimon and Laura; The World of Wooster
Patrick WymarkThe Plane Makers; Crime and Punishment; Once a Jolly Swagman; Malatesta; Sherlock Holmes; I Remember the Battle; Four of Hearts – Tilt
1967
Warren Mitchell*Till Death Us Do Part*
1968
Eric Porter*The Forsyte Saga*
1969
Roy Dotrice*Brief Lives*

1970s

[[Keith Michell]] won the award in 1971.
War and Peace]]'' in 1973
The Naked Civil Servant]]'' (1976)
[[Sir Derek Jacobi]] won the award for ''[[I, Claudius]]'' in 1977
Edward Fox]] won the award in 1979 for ''[[Edward & Mrs. Simpson]]''.
YearActorsWork
1970
Edward Woodward*Callan*
John AldertonPlease Sir!
Colin BlakelySon of Man, The Way We Live Now
Arthur LoweDad's Army
1971
Keith Michell*The Six Wives of Henry VIII*
Michael BryantThe Roads to Freedom
Anthony HopkinsThe Great Inimitable Mr. Dickens, Uncle Vanya, Hearts and Flowers, Danton
Michael JaystonCharles Dickens, Mad Jack, Beethoven
Freddie JonesGerminal/Omnibus: John Clare "I Am..."/Sweeney Todd/Uncle Vanya/Menace: The Straight And Narrow
1972
John Le Mesurier*Traitor*
Alfred BurkePublic Eye
Frank FinlayCasanova
Kenneth HaighSearch for the Nile, Man at the Top
1973
Anthony Hopkins*War and Peace*
Michael BryantThe Duchess of Malfi, Colditz
Nicol WilliamsonThe Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
1974
Frank FinlayThe Adventures of Don Quixote; Candide; *The Death of Adolf Hitler*
Michael CrawfordSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Bernard HeptonThe Adventures of Don Quixote, Colditz
Laurence OlivierLong Day's Journey Into Night
1975
Peter Barkworth*Crown Matrimonial*
Michael BryantMr Axelford's Angel
Gordon JacksonUpstairs, Downstairs
Arthur LoweMicrobes and Men, David Copperfield
1976
John Hurt*The Naked Civil Servant*
Alan BatesPlaintiffs and Defendants, Two Sundays
Tony BrittonThe Nearly Man
Timothy WestEdward the Seventh
1977
Derek Jacobi*I, Claudius*
James BolamWhen the Boat Comes In
Tom ContiThe Glittering Prizes
Jack ShepherdBill Brand, Ready When You Are Mr McGill
1978
Peter Barkworth*Professional Foul*
James BolamWhen the Boat Comes In
Derek JacobiPhilby, Burgess and Maclean
Robert PowellJesus of Nazareth
1979
Edward Fox*Edward and Mrs Simpson*
Tom BellOut
Ian HolmNight School, Flayed, Mirage, The Lost Boys
Bob HoskinsPennies From Heaven

1980s

Smiley's People]]'' (1983).
Brideshead Revisited]]'' in 1982.
[[Alan Bates]] won in 1984.
[[Michael Gambon]] won in 1987. Gambon holds the record of most wins in this category with four, including three consecutive wins.
YearActorsWork
1980
Alec Guinness*Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy*
Robert HardySpeed King & All Creatures Great and Small
Leo McKernRumpole of the Bailey
Timothy WestChurchill and the Generals; Henry VIII; Crime and Punishment; Timothy West as Beecham
1981
Denholm ElliottGentle Folk; In Hiding; Blade on the Feather; The Stinker (Tales of the Unexpected)
Trevor HowardThe Shillingbury Blowers; Staying On
Leo McKernRumpole's Return
Sam WaterstonOppenheimer
1982
Anthony Andrews*Brideshead Revisited*
Robert HardyWinston Churchill: The Wilderness Years; Fothergill
John GielgudBrideshead Revisited
Nickolas Grace
Jeremy Irons
1983
Alec Guinness*Smiley's People*
George ColeMinder
Bernard HillBoys from the Blackstuff
Laurence OlivierA Voyage Round My Father
1984
Alan Bates*An Englishman Abroad*
Leo McKernRumpole of the Bailey; Reilly, Ace of Spies
Ronald PickupOrwell on Jura; Waters of the Moon
Martin SheenKennedy
1985
Tim Pigott-Smith*The Jewel In The Crown*
George ColeMinder
Charles DanceThe Jewel In The Crown
Art Malik
1986
Bob Peck*Edge of Darkness*
Alec GuinnessMonsignor Quioxte
Joe Don BakerEdge of Darkness
Ben KingsleySilas Marner
1987
Michael Gambon*The Singing Detective*
Colin BlakelyDrums Along Balmoral Drive
Denholm ElliottHotel du Lac
Paul McGannThe Monocled Mutineer
Patrick MalahideThe Singing Detective
David ThrelfallParadise Postponed
1988
David Jason*Porterhouse Blue*
Kenneth BranaghFortunes of War; The Lady's Not for Burning
Ray McAnallyA Perfect Spy; Scout
Robbie ColtraneTutti Frutti
1989
Ray McAnally*A Very British Coup*
Alan BennettA Chip in the Sugar
Colin FirthTumbledown
Ian HolmGame, Set and Match

1990s

House of Cards]]''.
Cracker]]'' in 1994, 1995, and 1996
A Dance to the Music of Time]]''.
A Rather English Marriage]]''.
YearActorsWorkCharacterNetwork
1990
John Thaw*Inspector Morse*Endeavour MorseITV
Joss AcklandFirst and LastAlan HollyBBC One
Alfred MolinaThe AccountantLionel Ellerman
John GielgudSummer's LeaseHaverford DownsBBC Two
1991
Ian Richardson*House of Cards*Francis UrquhartBBC
John ThawInspector MorseEndeavour MorseITV
David SuchetAgatha Christie's PoirotHercule Poirot
Albert FinneyThe Green ManMaurice AllingtonBBC One
1992
Robert Lindsay*G.B.H.*Michael MurrayChannel 4
John ThawInspector MorseEndeavour MorseITV
Tom BellPrime SuspectBill Otley
Michael PalinG.B.H.Jim NelsonChannel 4
1993
John Thaw*Inspector Morse*Endeavour MorseITV
Alan BatesUnnatural PursuitsHamish ParttBBC Two
Brian CoxThe Lost Language of CranesOwen Benjamin
Ian RichardsonAn Ungentlemanly ActRex Hunt
1994
Robbie Coltrane*Cracker*Dr. Edward "Fitz" FitzgeraldITV
Michael KitchenTo Play the KingThe KingBBC
Ian RichardsonFrancis Urquhart
Neil PearsonBetween the LinesTony ClarkBBC One
1995
Robbie Coltrane*Cracker*Dr. Edward "Fitz" FitzgeraldITV
Pete PostlethwaiteMartin ChuzzlewitMontague TiggBBC Two
Paul ScofieldOld Martin Chuzzlewitt
Tom WilkinsonSeth Pecksniff
**1996
(42nd)**
Robbie Coltrane*Cracker*Dr. Edward "Fitz" FitzgeraldITV
Colin FirthPride and PrejudiceMr. DarcyBBC One
Benjamin WhitrowMr. Bennet
Robert LindsayJake's ProgressJamie DiadoniChannel 4
Ian RichardsonThe Final CutFrancis UrquhartBBC
**1997
(43rd)**
Nigel Hawthorne*The Fragile Heart*Edgar PascoeChannel 4
Albert FinneyCold Lazarus / KaraokeDaniel FeeldBBC One / Channel 4
Christopher EcclestonOur Friends in the NorthDominic 'Nicky' HutchinsonBBC Two
Peter VaughanFelix Hutchinson
**1998
(44th)**
Simon Russell Beale*A Dance to the Music of Time*Kenneth WidmerpoolChannel 4
Derek JacobiBreaking the CodeAlan TuringBBC
Robert CarlyleHamish MacbethHamish MacbethBBC One
Tom WilkinsonCold Enough for SnowHugh Lloyd
**1999
(45th)**
Tom Courtenay*A Rather English Marriage*Roy SouthgateBBC
Robert CarlyleLooking After Jo JoJohn Joe "Jo Jo" McCannBBC Two
Timothy SpallOur Mutual FriendMr. Venus
Albert FinneyA Rather English MarriageReggie Conyngham-JervisBBC

2000s

The Gathering Storm]]'' (2003).
State of Play]]'' in 2004.
Wolf Hall]]'' (2016).
Longford]]'' in 2007
Boy A]]'' (2009)
YearActorsWorkCharacterNetwork
**2000
(46th)**
Michael Gambon*Wives and Daughters*Squire HamleyBBC One
Aidan GillenQueer as FolkStuart Alan JonesChannel 4
Pete PostlethwaiteLost for WordsDeric LongdenITV
Timothy SpallShooting the PastOswald BatesBBC Two
**2001
(47th)**
Michael Gambon*Longitude*John HarrisonChannel 4
Steven MackintoshCareDavy YoungerBBC One
Pete PostlethwaiteThe SinsLen Green
Ken StottThe VicePat ChappelITV
**2002
(48th)**
Michael Gambon*Perfect Strangers*Raymond SymonBBC Two
Alan BatesLove in a Cold ClimateMatthew AlconleighBBC One
David SuchetThe Way We Live NowAugustus Melmotte
Timothy SpallVacuuming Completely Nude in ParadiseTommy RagBBC Two
**2003
(49th)
**
Albert Finney*The Gathering Storm*Winston ChurchillBBC
James NesbittBloody SundayIvan CooperITV
Kenneth BranaghConspiracyReinhard HeydrichBBC Two/HBO
ShackletonErnest ShackletonChannel 4
**2004
(50th)
**
Bill Nighy*State of Play*Cameron LloydBBC One
Christopher EcclestonThe Second ComingSteven BaxterITV
Jim BroadbentThe Young VisitersAlfred SalteenaBBC One
David MorrisseyState of PlayStephen Collins
**2005
(51st)
**
Rhys Ifans*Not Only But Always*Peter CookChannel 4
Benedict CumberbatchHawkingStephen HawkingBBC Two
Mark StrongThe Long FirmHarry Starks
Michael SheenDirty Filthy LoveMark FurnessITV
**2006
(52nd)
**
Mark Rylance*The Government Inspector*Dr. David KellyChannel 4
Denis LawsonBleak HouseJohn JarndyceBBC One
Rufus SewellShakespeaRe-Told: The Taming of the ShrewPetruchio
Bernard HillA Very Social SecretaryDavid BlunkettChannel 4
**2007
(53rd)
**
Jim Broadbent*Longford*Frank PakenhamChannel 4
John SimmLife on MarsSam TylerBBC One
Andy SerkisLongfordIan BradyChannel 4
Michael SheenKenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!Kenneth WilliamsBBC Four
**2008
(54th)
**
Andrew Garfield*Boy A*Jack Burridge / Eric WilsonChannel 4
Tom HardyStuart: A Life BackwardsStuart ShorterBBC Two
Matthew MacFadyenSecret LifeCharlie WebbChannel 4
Antony SherPrimoPrimo LeviBBC Four
**2009
(55th)
**
Stephen Dillane*The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall*Anthony HurndallChannel 4
Jason IsaacsThe Curse of SteptoeHarry H. CorbettBBC Four
Ken StottHancock & JoanTony Hancock
Ben WhishawCriminal JusticeBen CoulterBBC One

2010s

Wallander]]'' in 2010.
[[Dominic West]] won for ''[[Appropriate Adult]]'' in 2012.
This Is Going to Hurt]]'' (2023)
Time]]'' (2022)
Patrick Melrose]]'' (2019)
Chernobyl]]'' (2020)
Normal People]]'' in 2021.
The Sixth Commandment]]'' (2024)
YearActorsWorkCharacterNetwork
**2010
(56th)
**
Kenneth Branagh*Wallander*Kurt WallanderBBC One
Brendan GleesonInto the StormWinston ChurchillBBC
John HurtAn Englishman in New YorkQuentin CrispITV
David OyelowoSmall IslandGilbert JosephBBC One
**2011
(57th)
**
Daniel Rigby*Eric and Ernie*Eric MorecambeBBC Two
Jim BroadbentAny Human HeartLogan MountstuartChannel 4
Benedict CumberbatchSherlockSherlock HolmesBBC One
Matt SmithDoctor WhoThe Doctor
**2012
(58th)
**
Dominic West*Appropriate Adult*Fred WestITV
Benedict CumberbatchSherlockSherlock HolmesBBC One
John SimmExileTom Ronstadt
Joseph GilgunThis Is England '88Richard WoodfordChannel 4
**2013
(59th)
**
Ben Whishaw*The Hollow Crown*Richard IIBBC Two
Sean BeanAccusedSimon/TracieBBC One
Derek JacobiLast Tango in HalifaxAlan Buttershaw
Toby JonesThe GirlAlfred HitchcockBBC Two
**2014
(60th)
**
Sean Harris*Southcliffe*Stephen MortonChannel 4
Jamie DornanThe FallPaul SpectorBBC Two
Luke NewberryIn the FleshKieren WalkerBBC Three
Dominic WestBurton & TaylorRichard BurtonBBC Four
**2015
(61st)
**
Jason Watkins*The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies*Christopher JefferiesITV
Benedict CumberbatchSherlockSherlock HolmesBBC One
James NesbittThe MissingTony Hughes
Toby JonesMarvellousNeil BaldwinBBC Two
**2016
(62nd)
**
Mark Rylance*Wolf Hall*Thomas CromwellBBC Two
Stephen GrahamThis is England '90Andrew "Combo" GascoigneChannel 4
Idris ElbaLutherJohn LutherBBC One
Ben WhishawLondon SpyDaniel HoltBBC Two
**2017
(63rd)
**
Adeel Akhtar*Murdered by My Father*Shahzad KhanBBC Three
Babou CeesayDamilola, Our Loved BoyRichard TaylorBBC One
Robbie ColtraneNational TreasurePaul FinchleyChannel 4
Benedict CumberbatchThe Hollow Crown: The Wars of the RosesRichard IIIBBC Two
**2018
(64th)
**
Sean Bean*Broken*Michael KerriganBBC One
Jack RowanBorn to KillSam WoodfordChannel 4
Joe ColeBlack MirrorFrankNetflix
Tim Pigott-SmithKing Charles IIIKing Charles IIIBBC Two
**2019
(65th)
**
Benedict Cumberbatch*Patrick Melrose*Patrick MelroseSky Atlantic
Hugh GrantA Very English ScandalJeremy ThorpeBBC One
Lucian MsamatiKiriTobi AkindeleChannel 4
Chance PerdomoKilled by My DebtJerome RogersBBC Three

2020s

YearActorsWorkCharacterNetwork
**2020
(66th)
**
Jared Harris*Chernobyl*Valery LegasovSky Atlantic
Stephen GrahamThe VirtuesJoseph LoweryChannel 4
Takehiro HiraGiri/HajiKenzo MoriBBC Two
Callum TurnerThe CaptureShaun EmeryBBC One
**2021
(67th)
**
Paul Mescal*Normal People*Connell WaldronBBC Three
John Boyega Small Axe: Red, White and BlueLeroy LoganBBC One
Paapa EssieduI May Destroy YouKwame
Shaun Parkes Small Axe: MangroveFrank Crichlow
Josh O'ConnorThe CrownCharles, Prince of WalesNetflix
Waleed Zuaiter Baghdad CentralMuhsin al-KhafajiChannel 4
**2022
(68th)
**
Sean Bean*Time*Mark CobdenBBC One
Samuel AdewunmiYou Don't Know MeHeroBBC One
David ThewlisLandscapersChristopher EdwardsSky Atlantic
Olly AlexanderIt's a SinRitchie TozerChannel 4
Stephen GrahamHelpTony
Hugh QuarshieStephenNeville LawrenceITV
**2023
(69th)**
Ben Whishaw*This Is Going to Hurt*Adam KayBBC One
Taron EgertonBlack BirdJames "Jimmy" Keene Jr.Apple TV+
Gary OldmanSlow HorsesJackson Lamb
Martin FreemanThe ResponderChris CarsonBBC One
Cillian MurphyPeaky BlindersTommy Shelby
Chaske SpencerThe EnglishSgt. Eli Whipp / Wounded WolfBBC Two
**2024
(70th)**
Timothy Spall*The Sixth Commandment*Peter FarquharBBC One
Brian CoxSuccessionLogan RoySky Atlantic / HBO
Dominic WestThe CrownPrince CharlesNetflix
Kane RobinsonTop BoyGerard "Sully" Sullivan
Paapa EssieduThe Lazarus ProjectGeorgeSky Max
Steve CooganThe ReckoningJimmy SavileBBC One
**2025
(71st)**
Lennie James*Mr Loverman*Barrington Jedidiah 'Barry' WalkerBBC One
David TennantRivalsTony, Lord BaddinghamITV
Gary OldmanSlow HorsesJackson LambApple TV+
Martin FreemanThe ResponderPC Chris CarsonBBC One
Richard GaddBaby ReindeerDonny DunnNetflix
Toby JonesMr Bates vs The Post OfficeAlan BatesITV1

Actors with multiple wins and nominations

Multiple wins

The following people have been awarded the British Academy Television Award for Actor multiple times: 4 wins

  • Michael Gambon

3 wins

  • Robbie Coltrane

2 wins

  • Alan Badel
  • Peter Barkworth
  • Sean Bean
  • Alec Guinness
  • Mark Rylance
  • John Thaw
  • Ben Whishaw

Multiple nominations

The following people have been nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Actor multiple times:

6 nominations

  • Benedict Cumberbatch

5 nominations

  • Robbie Coltrane

4 nominations

  • Alan Bates
  • Kenneth Branagh
  • Albert Finney
  • Michael Gambon
  • Derek Jacobi
  • Ian Richardson
  • Timothy Spall
  • John Thaw
  • Ben Whishaw

3 nominations

  • Sean Bean
  • Jim Broadbent
  • Michael Bryant
  • Stephen Graham
  • Alec Guinness
  • Toby Jones
  • Leo McKern
  • Pete Postlethwaite
  • Michael Sheen
  • Dominic West

2 nominations

  • Alan Badel
  • Peter Barkworth
  • Tom Bell
  • Colin Blakely
  • James Bolam
  • Robert Carlyle
  • George Cole
  • Brian Cox
  • Christopher Eccleston
  • Denholm Elliott
  • Paapa Essiedu
  • Frank Finlay
  • Colin Firth
  • Martin Freeman
  • John Gielgud
  • Robert Hardy
  • Bernard Hill
  • Ian Holm
  • Anthony Hopkins
  • John Hurt
  • Robert Lindsay
  • Ray McAnally
  • James Nesbitt
  • Gary Oldman
  • Laurence Olivier
  • Tim Pigott-Smith
  • Mark Rylance
  • John Simm
  • Ken Stott
  • David Suchet
  • Timothy West
  • Tom Wilkinson

References

References

  1. "Television - 2020". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
  2. (2021-04-28). "BAFTA TV 2021: Nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards".
  3. (30 March 2022). "Bafta TV awards 2022: full list of nominations".
  4. Ritman, Alex. (22 March 2023). "BAFTA TV Awards: 'This is Going to Hurt,' 'The Responder' Lead Pack of Nominees". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
  5. (14 May 2023). "Bafta TV awards 2023: the full list of winners". Guardian.
  6. (20 March 2024). "BAFTA TV Awards 2024: Nominations".
  7. (27 March 2025). "BAFTA TV Awards: ‘Baby Reindeer’ Leads Noms With Eight, ‘Rivals,’ ‘Slow Horses’ Earn Six Each".
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