Acting
Paul Copley
Paul is a long established and much respected British actor and voiceover artist. Born in Denby Dale, West Riding of Yorkshire, on 25th November 1944 he grew up beside a dairy farm. His father, Harold, was involved with local amateur dramatic productions, as were the rest of his family. He went to Penistone Grammar School, then the Northern Counties College of Education in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he received an Associate of the Drama Board (ADB) in Drama. He taught English and Drama in Walthamstow, before he joined the Leeds Playhouse Theatre-in-education Company in 1971. In 1976, Paul won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a New Play for his role in John Wilson's For King and Country. With many and varied roles to follow, Paul soon established himself as one of the UK's leading stage, film, television and radio actors. In 2011-2015 Paul gained worldwide recognition appearing in 16 episodes of the hugely popular television series Downton Abbey playing the popular role of farmer Mr Mason. Paul is married to the actress Natasha Pyne. They married in 1972, after both performing in a Leeds Playhouse production of Frank Wedekind's Lulu, adapted by Peter Barnes, directed by Bill Hays in 1971.
Filmography
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Film · 2025
Big Winners
Film · 2025
Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks
Series · 2025
Play for Today
Series · 2025
Ticker
Film · 2023
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Film · 2022
DI Ray
Series · 2022
The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble
Film · 2021
Enola Holmes
Film · 2020
Ropeless
Film · 2020
On the Edge
Series · 2018
Broken
Series · 2017
Trust Me
Series · 2017
Reg
Film · 2016
The Nest Egg
Film · 2016
The Sound of Music Live!
Film · 2015
The 12 Days of Christine
Film · 2015
Code of a Killer
Series · 2015
The Coroner
Series · 2015
Inside No. 9
Series · 2014
Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork
Series · 2013
Father Brown
Series · 2013
First Encounter: King Lear
Film · 2012
Last Tango in Halifax
Series · 2012
White Heat
Series · 2012
Call the Midwife
Series · 2012
Last Tango in Halifax
Series · 2012
Vera
Series · 2011
Downton Abbey
Series · 2010
Moving On
Series · 2009
Survivors
Series · 2008
Inspector George Gently
Series · 2008
The Shadow in the North
Film · 2007
Kingdom
Series · 2007
When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital
Film · 2006
Torchwood
Series · 2006
Life on Mars
Series · 2006
The Street
Series · 2006
Johnny and the Bomb
Series · 2006
Marian, Again
Film · 2005
Dead Man Weds
Series · 2005
Shameless
Series · 2004
New Tricks
Series · 2004
Hornblower: Loyalty
Film · 2003
The Key
Film · 2003
Hornblower: Duty
Film · 2003
How Clean Is Your House?
Series · 2003
The Royal
Series · 2003
Burn It
Series · 2003
How Clean Is Your House?
Series · 2003
The Afternoon Play
Series · 2003
The Many Lives of Albert Walker
Film · 2002
Nice Guy Eddie
Series · 2002
Born and Bred
Series · 2002
Hornblower: Mutiny
Film · 2001
Blow Dry
Film · 2001
Hornblower: Retribution
Film · 2001
Waking the Dead
Series · 2001
Messiah
Series · 2001
Waking the Dead
Series · 2001
Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil
Film · 1999
Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters
Film · 1999
Queer as Folk
Series · 1999
Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant
Film · 1998
Hornblower: The Even Chance
Film · 1998
Written in Blood
Film · 1998
Hornblower
Series · 1998
The Worst Witch
Series · 1998
The Worst Witch
Series · 1998
Midsomer Murders
Series · 1997
The Lakes
Series · 1997
Jude
Film · 1996
Silent Witness
Series · 1996
This Life
Series · 1996
Dalziel and Pascoe
Series · 1996
A Pinch of Snuff
Film · 1994
Roughnecks
Series · 1994
The Remains of the Day
Film · 1993
Cracker
Series · 1993
Peak Practice
Series · 1993
Peak Practice
Series · 1993
Harry
Series · 1993
Heartbeat
Series · 1992
Heartbeat
Series · 1992
Heartbeat
Series · 1992
How's Business
Film · 1991
Testimony of a Child
Film · 1989
Young Charlie Chaplin
Series · 1989
Stay Lucky
Series · 1989
The Paradise Club
Series · 1989
Gruey
Series · 1988
Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus
Film · 1986
Casualty
Series · 1986
Casualty
Series · 1986
Casualty
Series · 1986
Bird Fancier
Film · 1985
Silas Marner
Film · 1985
Which Side Are You On?
Film · 1985
The Bright Side
Series · 1985
The Bill
Series · 1984
Big Deal
Series · 1984
Ends and Means
Film · 1983
Doll’s Eye
Film · 1983
The Gathering Seed
Series · 1983
Ghost in the Water
Film · 1982
A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado
Film · 1981
A Room for the Winter
Film · 1981
P.Q. 17
Film · 1981
Tenko
Series · 1981
West End Tales
Series · 1981
Death of a Princess
Film · 1980
Happy
Film · 1980
Black Jack
Film · 1979
Zulu Dawn
Film · 1979
Cries from a Watchtower
Film · 1979
Minder
Series · 1979
After Julius
Series · 1979
Turning Year Tales
Series · 1979
Mucking Out
Film · 1978
Destiny
Film · 1978
Some Enchanted Evening
Film · 1978
On a Paving Stone Mounted
Film · 1978
Travellers
Film · 1978
The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill
Film · 1978
Strangers
Series · 1978
A Christmas Carol
Film · 1977
A Bridge Too Far
Film · 1977
Treasure Island
Series · 1977
Secret Army
Series · 1977
BBC2 Play of the Week
Series · 1977
BBC2 Play of the Week
Series · 1977
Premiere
Series · 1977
Arnhem: The Story of an Escape
Film · 1976
The Chester Mystery Plays
Film · 1976
Trade Unions: Seven Days that Shook Young Jim
Film · 1976
Diane
Film · 1975
Alfie Darling
Film · 1975
Days of Hope
Series · 1975
Trinity Tales
Series · 1975
Playhouse
Series · 1974
Playhouse
Series · 1974
Churchill's People
Series · 1974
Father Dear Father
Film · 1973
Speech Day
Film · 1973
Second City Firsts
Series · 1973
Play for Today
Series · 1970
Play for Today
Series · 1970
ITV Playhouse
Series · 1967
BBC Play of the Month
Series · 1965
Dangerous Journey
Film