Ian McElhinney
ActingAbout Ian McElhinney
Ian McElhinney (born 19 August 1948) is a Northern Irish actor and director. He has appeared in many television series in a career spanning more than forty years; notable appearances include Taggart, Hornblower, Cold Feet, and The Tudors. In recent times his best known roles are as Barristan Selmy in Game of Thrones, Morgan Monroe in The Fall, and Granda Joe in Derry Girls.
Ian McElhinney Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Ian McElhinney reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Ian McElhinney's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 50% of Ian McElhinney's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Ian McElhinney Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Ian McElhinney's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Ian McElhinney has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Boys in the Boat | Elderly Joe Rantz | Hit | Similar → |
| 2023 | The Last Rifleman | Tom Malcolmson | Hit | Similar → |
| 2022 | Andor: A Disney+ Day Special Look | General Jan Dodonna (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2019 | Lost Lives | Self (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 2018 | Zoo | Mr. Shawcross | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Bad Day for the Cut | Eamon | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | The Journey | Rory O'Suaird | Average | Similar → |
| 2016 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | General Dodonna | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Sacrifice | D.I. McKie | Flop | Similar → |
| 2015 | A Patch of Fog | Freddie Clarke | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Van Morrison – Up on Cyprus Avenue | Narrator | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Game of Thrones: A Day in the Life | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience | Barristan Selmy | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2013 | Wodehouse In Exile | Major Cussen | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Bomb Squad Men: The Long Walk | Narrator | Flop | Similar → |
| 2010 | An Old Fashioned Christmas | Sean | Flop | Similar → |
| 2010 | Leap Year | Priest | Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | Triage | Ivan | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | City of Ember | Builder | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | Clay | Father O'Mahoney | Flop | Similar → |
| 2007 | Closing the Ring | Cathal Thomas | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | The Front Line | Mikey | Average | Similar → |
| 2005 | Omagh | Stanley McCombe | Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Hornblower: Loyalty | Captain Hammond | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Hornblower: Retribution | Captain Hammond | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Borstal Boy | Verreker | Average | Similar → |
| 1999 | Durango | Vestor McCarthy | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant | Captain Hammond | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Touch and Go | Clive Bevan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | The Boxer | Reggie Bell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | This Is the Sea | Da Stokes | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | Hamlet | Barnardo | Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | The Boy from Mercury | Brother Dowdall | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | Michael Collins | Belfast Detective | Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Small Faces | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | Blind Justice | Father Malone | Flop | Similar → |
| 1993 | Circles of Deceit | Father Fergal | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | You, Me & Marley | Reggie Devine | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | The Playboys | Joe Cassidy | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | Children of the North | O'Hare | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | The Grasscutter | Brian Deeds | Flop | Similar → |
| 1990 | Hidden Agenda | Jack Cunnigham | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | Fools of Fortune | Stranger | Flop | Similar → |
| 1990 | Who Bombed Birmingham? | Sinn Fein leader | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | The Lilac Bus | Billy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Reefer and the Model | Reefer | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | A Prayer for the Dying | Lodger | Average | Similar → |
| 1986 | Lamb | Maguire | Average | Similar → |
| 1984 | Anne Devlin | Maj. Sirr | Flop | Similar → |
| 1982 | Angel | Groom | Average | Similar → |
Ian McElhinney - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Ian McElhinney?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Ian McElhinney is "Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience" with a rating of 8.6/10.
How many movies has Ian McElhinney acted in?
Ian McElhinney has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Ian McElhinney?
Other notable films include "Circles of Deceit", "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", and "Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant".