Paul McGann - Actor Profile

Paul McGann

Acting
Freshness: Jan 19, 2026
50Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Nov 14, 1959
Birth Place: Kensington, Liverpool, England, UK

About Paul McGann

Paul McGann (born November 14, 1959) is an English actor who made his name on The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role. He is also known for his role in Withnail and I, and for portraying the Eighth Doctor in the 1996 Doctor Who television movie as well as other media that features his incarnation of the character.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Paul McGann reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Documentary

The majority of Paul McGann's filmography leans towards the Documentary genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 76% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Paul McGann remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Swans: Mystery of the Missing, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Paul McGann Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Paul McGann's career based on audience ratings.

★10.0
Swans: Mystery of the Missing (2019) movie poster
★10.0

Swans: Mystery of the Missing — With narration from Paul McGann, this ground-breaking film sets out to solve one of nature's mysterious phenomena: the B

Swans: Mystery of the Missing

2019•Documentary
★10.0
The Orangutan King (2005) movie poster
★10.0

The Orangutan King — For fifteen million years orangutans roamed tropical forests from China to South East Asia. In Borneo, one of their last

The Orangutan King

2005•Documentary
★10.0
Swallow Your Dreams (2022) movie poster
★10.0

Swallow Your Dreams — James finds himself the unlikely composer of a beautiful symphony in his dreams, which - at the expense of his marriage

Swallow Your Dreams

2022•Drama
★10.0
Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace (2015) movie poster
★10.0

Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace — Just weeks after VE day, Winston Churchill found himself in new battle: to be reelected Prime Minister. Confident of his

Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace

2015•Documentary
★9.0
Finding Babylon's Hanging Garden (2015) movie poster
★9.0

Finding Babylon's Hanging Garden — There are many myths surrounding the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Previous excavations have not led to an answer to the q

Finding Babylon's Hanging Garden

2015•Documentary

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Paul McGann.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2024 Doctor Who at the Proms The Doctor (8) (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2024 Churchill’s Forgotten War Narrator (voice) Super Hit Similar →
2023 Mia and the Dragon Princess Walsh Hit Similar →
2022 Swallow Your Dreams James Super Hit Similar →
2020 The Big Night In Self Super Hit Similar →
2019 The Cavern Club: The Beat Goes On Self Super Hit Similar →
2019 Swans: Mystery of the Missing Narrator (voice) Super Hit Similar →
2017 Egypt's Great Pyramid: The New Evidence Narrator (voice) Super Hit Similar →
2017 B&B Josh Average Similar →
2015 Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song The Doctor (8) (picture) (uncredited) Super Hit Similar →
2015 China - Treasures of the Jade Empire Narrator Super Hit Similar →
2015 Absence Man Hit Similar →
2015 Finding Babylon's Hanging Garden Narrator (voice) Super Hit Similar →
2015 Churchill: When Britain Said No Narrator (voice) Super Hit Similar →
2015 Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace narrator Super Hit Similar →
2014 Cosmonauts: How Russia Won the Space Race Narrator (Voice) Hit Similar →
2014 Apples, Pears and Paint: How to Make a Still Life Painting Narrator Super Hit Similar →
2013 Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor The Doctor (8) (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2013 The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot Self Super Hit Similar →
2013 Doctor Who: The Night of the Doctor The Doctor Super Hit Similar →
2013 JFK's Secret Killer: The Evidence Himself - Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
2013 Brady and Hindley: Possession Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
2012 Britain's Greatest Codebreaker Himself - Narrator (voice) Average Similar →
2012 SOS: The Titanic Inquiry Sir Rufus Isaacs Average Similar →
2011 Doctor Who: Tales Lost in Time - Super Hit Similar →
2011 The 9/11 Surfer Narrator Average Similar →
2010 The Day John Lennon Died Narrator Super Hit Similar →
2008 Doctor Who: The Next Doctor The Doctor (8) (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2007 Always Crashing in the Same Car Bill Mackinnon Hit Similar →
2006 If I Had You Philip Andrews Hit Similar →
2005 Ghosts on the Underground Narrator Hit Similar →
2005 The Orangutan King Narrator Super Hit Similar →
2003 Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³' Self Super Hit Similar →
2003 Listening Man Hit Similar →
2003 Doctor Who: Shada The Doctor (voice) Hit Similar →
2003 Hornblower: Duty Lieutenant Bush Hit Similar →
2003 Hornblower: Loyalty Lieutenant Bush Hit Similar →
2002 Queen of the Damned David Talbot Average Similar →
2001 Like a Hurricane: The Alex Higgins Story Self- Narrator Average Similar →
2001 Hornblower: Retribution Lt. Bush Hit Similar →
2001 Hornblower: Mutiny Lieutenant Bush Hit Similar →
1999 Withnail and Us Self Average Similar →
1997 FairyTale: A True Story Arthur Wright Average Similar →
1996 Doctor Who The Doctor Average Similar →
1996 Bidding Adieu: A Video Diary Self Average Similar →
1993 The Three Musketeers Girard / Jussac Average Similar →
1992 Alien³ Golic Average Similar →
1989 Streets of Yesterday Joseph Hit Similar →
1987 Empire of the Sun Lieutenant Price Super Hit Similar →
1987 Withnail & I ...& I Hit Similar →

Paul McGann - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Paul McGann?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Paul McGann is "Swans: Mystery of the Missing" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has Paul McGann acted in?

Paul McGann has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Paul McGann?

Other notable films include "The Orangutan King", "Swallow Your Dreams", and "Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace".