Biography
Adrian John Rawlins (born 27 March 1958, Stoke-on-Trent) is an English actor who studied art and acting at Manchester Metropolitan University and has been active since 1980. He is best known for playing James Potter across all eight Harry Potter films (2001–2011), Arthur Kidd in the 1989 TV film The Woman in Black, and Nikolai Fomin in the 2019 HBO miniseries Chernobyl. He also appeared in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves (1996), Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2002), and Darkest Hour (2017) as Air Chief Marshal Dowding. His broader filmography includes Revolution (1985), Mountains of the Moon (1990), Living (2022), One Life (2023), and the upcoming The Brink of War (2026). On television he has had recurring roles in Soldier Soldier (1993), Dickensian (2015–2016), Slow Horses (2022), Moonflower Murders (2024), and Patience (2025). Since 2017 he has served as artistic director of East Riding Theatre.
Acted in 81
2020s
- 2026
- 2025
- 2024
Game Over
(voice)
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
The Colour Room
John
- 2020
Small Axe
Headmaster Mr. Evans · 1 episode
2010s
- 2019
Susan Hill's Ghost Story
Edward Merriman
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
Bridgend
Vicar
- 2014
Glue
DCI Simson · 8 episodes
- 2013
By Any Means
Daniel Foster · 1 episode
- 2012
Mrs Biggs
DI Williams
Mrs Biggs
DI Williams · 1 episode
- 2011
- 2010
2000s
- 2009
Hunter
John Elder · 2 episodes
- 2008
10 Days to War
Paul Stinchcombe · 1 episode
- 2007
J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life
James Potter (archival footage)
The Old Curiosity Shop
Jacob
Clapham Junction
Peter
Life Line
Movie
- 2005
Ahead of the Class
Tony Mackersie
- 2004
- 2003
Hear the Silence
Dr. Tony Danielson
- 2002
The Stretford Wives
Frank Foster
- 2001
My Brother Tom
Jack
- 2000
Blood
Carl Dyson
1990s
- 1999
Sunburn
Ronnie Vaughn · 1 episode
- 1997
- 1996
The Inner Sanctuary
Owen
- 1995
She's Out
DS Mike Withey · 6 episodes
- 1994
- 1992
Running Late
Michael Mitchum
- 1991
- 1990
1980s
- 1989
The Woman in Black
Arthur Kidd
The Ginger Tree
Captain Richard Collingsworth · 2 episodes
- 1988
The Four Minute Mile
Chris Chataway
- 1986
- 1985
I Live With Me Dad
Registrar
- 1983
Appearances2
2020s
- 2025
NASA, Nazis and the Space Race
Self - Narrator
2010s
- 2012
Once Around the Sun
Self