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Matthew Macfadyen is an English actor with an impeccable range. The majority of viewers recognize him as the gloomy Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice, released in 2005. This character gave him the recognition he deserved, particularly among fans of classical dramas.
Yet Macfadyen hasn’t limited himself to one genre. He has moved from intense dramas to dark comedies and even crime thrillers, always managing to balance the extremes of being helpless and being slyly funny.
Lately, Macfadyen has been in the limelight for his engaging new projects. He is one of the main actors in the upcoming Netflix limited series Death by Lightning, which will be released in November 2025. He is also playing the main role in the dramedy The Miniature Wife.
However, viewers keep discussing his extraordinary performance as Tom Wambsgans in Succession, a character that revealed his talent for portraying complex moral ambiguity.
Below, we delve into five of the best Matthew Macfadyen TV shows and films you might want to explore.
5 best Matthew Macfadyen movies and TV shows
Pride & Prejudice
Matthew Macfadyen’s role as Mr. Darcy in the 2005 Pride & Prejudice sticks with you. Right from the start, he nails the look and feel of a man weighed down by money, manners, and his own impossible standards. The way he holds himself, how he speaks so carefully, even that thing he does where he can’t quite meet anyone’s eye, shows that he is trapped by the role.
What distinguishes Macfadyen most is his ability to subtly reveal the turmoil beneath the surface. He does not resort to powerfully eloquent speeches or exaggerated emotion. Rather, it’s the way his face tightens for a split second, or the pause before he actually speaks. One moment, he is doubting himself; the next, he is battling his self-esteem, and finally, he finds himself wondering how Elizabeth Bennet sees him. The change is not dramatic. While he is falling for her, he begins to question his own beliefs.
Matthew Macfadyen plays the part of a person deeply shaken by love. Darcy frees himself from all his strict beliefs and opens up. Thus, when he finally unburdens himself to Elizabeth, the impact is considerable because viewers have watched him at every little step of this journey.
Succession
Matthew Macfadyen is unforgettable as Tom Wambsgans in the HBO series Succession. He plays the role with such amazing depth that it becomes clear he loves to portray complicated characters who are involved in the chaos of the present-day corporate world.
At first, Tom is portrayed as an outsider, Shiv Roy’s awkward fiancé, later her husband. He does not seem like the type who can play the Roys’ very tricky and cruel games. There is an evident rookie-ness and insecurity in him, particularly in the presence of the Roys. However, the actor makes that mix of aspiration and self-doubt seem very real. The audience can tell that Tom desperately wants to fit in, while he slowly wakes up to the fact that everything is ruthless in the world he wants to be part of.
The character of Matthew Macfadyen starts with these good traits. Then, he becomes more of a master of deception by the end. He begins to act the part, making moves that are very brutal if that’s what it takes to get the job done. Besides, there are Tom and Shiv, their relationship is one of the most challenging ones in the series. Nevertheless, Tom still yearns for love and acceptance. He tries to be strong, but Macfadyen knows how to keep that frailness very close to the surface.
Stonehouse
The 2023 series Stonehouse showcases the incredible acting skills of Matthew Macfadyen. He completely transforms into the character of John Stonehouse, the British politician who deceived the public by faking his death in the 1970s. At the same time, he uncovers both the comic and tragic sides of the narrative.
Macfadyen’s performance is such that, while he can portray the sheer absurdity of Stonehouse’s decisions, he also makes the audience understand the real pain behind them.
The character depicted in the show is a complete mess, a desperate, flawed man entangled in a web of lies that has spun out of his control. The actor successfully presents the combination of the sad and funny aspects of the plot, allowing us to see a person who is not only ludicrous but also a bit tragic.
From a respected MP, he becomes a man using a fake name and hiding, all while his life is falling apart due to poor choices and increasing pressure. Matthew Macfadyen allows you to laugh at Stonehouse’s wild actions, but he also makes you empathize with the man.
Anna Karenina
Matthew Macfadyen takes on the character of Stiva Oblonsky, Anna Karenina’s attractive but shamelessly unfaithful brother, in Joe Wright’s 2012 adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s novel. Stiva is not only a comic figure; he is the dynamo that keeps the story lively when it delves into betrayal and heartbreak.
If Macfadyen is known to you only as the stiff Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice, you are in for a surprise. Here, he is full of life. Stiva glides out of trouble with almost unbelievable ease, escaping the consequences that come with his affairs and social mistakes. Yet somehow, Matthew Macfadyen still makes him utterly lovable.
Critics emphasize that he shines in every scene, delivering funny lines and making playful expressions that are memorable. Near the climax, there is a scene that reveals the inner self of Stiva and suggests a hidden depth. Macfadyen’s portrayal of Oblonsky balances on a narrow path: he exhibits extravagance and faults, yet one can’t help but support him. He is the ideal counterpart to Anna’s spiral, portraying both the allure and the irresponsibility that characterize the Russian elite.
Spooks
Matthew Macfadyen was one of the attractions of the BBC's Spooks with the role of Tom Quinn. With this role, he became a household name in the UK. As the head of Section D, he led the cast in the first two seasons, trying to keep the constant pressure of counter-terrorism work under control and still doing so according to his own set of morals.
Quinn is characterized by his allegiance both to his colleagues and to the nation. However, it is not as simple as that. His job constantly pulls him apart, particularly in the cases where his loyalty to his employer opposes his morality. There is one situation that really stands out: he refuses to betray a colleague in the second episode, and that decision results in one agent’s death.
Matthew Macfadyen does an incredible job, depicting Quinn as a leader who is calm and competent outside, but inside is struggling with guilt and uncertainty. He is later decommissioned in Season three for having sabotaged an operation.
Although Quinn’s character left the series after two seasons (with a brief appearance at the beginning of the third season), his presence is felt throughout the series till the very last moment. Macfadyen even appears in the series’ finale, thus offering a small closure to the loyal fans.
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Matthew Macfadyen’s versatility becomes apparent when one takes a closer look at the aforementioned characters. He perfectly adapts to each role’s demands, whether heavy, dramatic, or slightly comical. He can play the archetypal romantic hero as well as characters filled with psychological complexity. That kind of versatility is what makes him so fascinating to watch, both in movies and on TV today.
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