Peter Mullan is an award-winning Scottish actor, writer and director who is known both for his hard-hitting performances in front of the camera, and the powerful execution of his stories behind it.
In 1995 his gritty short film FRIDGE won the Jury Award for Best Drama at Palm Springs International Film Festival.
After appearing in BRAVEHEART and TRAINSPOTTING Peter broke out as an actor in 1998, with his performance in Ken Loach’s MY NAME IS JOE winning him the prestigious Best Actor award at Cannes. In the same year his writing and directing debut ORPHANS was selected for the Venice Film Festival and won four awards.
Peter’s popular reception at Venice was to be revisited in 2002, where he won the Golden Lion for his second feature film THE MAGDALENE SISTERS, which depicts the treatment of ‘fallen women’ in convent laundries around Ireland. The film also won “the discovery award” at Toronto Film Festival.
His Cannes-winning performance in MY NAME IS JOE (1998) led to numerous roles across film and television in the UK and US including: MISS JULIE (1999), cult horror SESSION 9 (2001), opposite Brenda Blethyn in ON A CLEAR DAY (2005) and on popular children’s television show SHOEBOX ZOO (2004-2005).
Later roles on blockbusters like WAR HORSE (2011) and HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS (2010-2011) have always been balanced with award-winning performances on critically acclaimed and independent films and television including TYRANNOSAUR, BOY A and THE FEAR.
Peter has also had a large theatrical career, particularly involved in the political theatre scene in Glasgow but also with theatre companies 784, Wildcat Theatre and the Moscow State Theatre. He was also a nominee for Best Newcomer at the Shakespeare Theatre Awards and co-wrote an anti poll tax show which played to 40,000 people in ten weeks.
Peter’s feature film NEDS (2010) won him the Scottish BAFTA Awards for Best Writer and Best Director and also Best Film at St Sebastian Film Festival.
Most recently, Mullan appeared in Jane Campion’s critically acclaimed mini series TOP OF THE LAKE (2013). For his performance as Tui’s father Matt he received international acclaim and awards and was nominated for an Emmy.
Session info: Masterclass with Peter Mullan (Scotland)
Session info: In Conversation with Peter Mullan (Scotland)
