Ralph Ineson’s Best Roles
With a voice that seems to rumble from the very earth and a screen presence that commands immediate attention, Ralph Ineson has become one of the most distinctive and compelling character actors working today. For years, he was a familiar face in British television, often in comedic roles that made great use of his imposing stature and deadpan delivery. He built a solid foundation with a wide variety of parts that showcased his versatility long before he became a go-to actor for intense and formidable characters.
His transition into more dramatic and often menacing roles in film and prestigious television series has been remarkable. He has brought to life complex figures in historical dramas, supernatural horror, and epic fantasies, earning acclaim for his powerful performances. Whether playing a flawed patriarch, a supernatural knight, or a hardened general, Ineson consistently delivers characters that are unforgettable. Let’s explore some of the best roles that have defined his impressive career.
‘The Office’ (2001–2003)
In the original British version of ‘The Office’, Ineson played the infamous Chris Finch, universally known as “Finchy”. He is an obnoxious traveling salesman who David Brent constantly refers to as his best friend, though their relationship is clearly built on Brent’s fear and admiration of him.
Finchy is a loud, arrogant bully whose appearances at the Wernham Hogg office are always a major event. He often serves as the catalyst for some of David Brent’s most humiliating moments, easily outsmarting him in trivia and telling cruel jokes at his expense, embodying a truly toxic form of masculinity.
‘Harry Potter’ franchise (2009–2011)
Ineson entered the Wizarding World in the later films of the ‘Harry Potter’ series. He played Amycus Carrow, a Death Eater and the brother of Alecto Carrow. He is a loyal and cruel follower of Lord Voldemort.
After Voldemort takes over the Ministry of Magic, Amycus is installed as the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, which he renames Dark Arts. He and his sister are tasked with punishing students, and he is present during the final battle at the school.
‘Game of Thrones’ (2012)
He appeared in the second season of ‘Game of Thrones’ as Dagmer Cleftjaw, a fearsome and respected Ironborn warrior. As the master-at-arms of Pyke, he is a loyal servant of House Greyjoy and a seasoned raider.
Dagmer plays a significant part in Theon Greyjoy’s story arc, acting as a mentor who pushes Theon to prove his loyalty to his people. He is instrumental in the plan to capture Winterfell, providing the strategic advice that leads to the Stark stronghold’s fall.
‘The Witch’ (2015)
Ineson delivered a powerful leading performance as William, the patriarch of a devout Puritan family in 17th-century New England. After being excommunicated from their community, William moves his wife and children to a remote homestead at the edge of a foreboding forest.
As his family is tormented by a series of terrifying and seemingly supernatural events, William’s steadfast faith is put to the ultimate test. His pride and stubbornness play a crucial role in his family’s tragic descent into paranoia and despair in this acclaimed folk horror film.
‘Chernobyl’ (2019)
In the award-winning miniseries ‘Chernobyl’, he portrayed Major General Nikolai Tarakanov. He was a real-life figure who was placed in charge of the liquidators responsible for the incredibly hazardous cleanup of the reactor roof.
His most memorable scene features him delivering a straightforward but powerful speech to the soldiers he must send onto the roof. He calmly explains the life-threatening danger of clearing the radioactive debris by hand, yet he also inspires them to do their duty for the greater good.
‘Peaky Blinders’ (2019)
Ineson had a guest role in the fifth season of the popular historical crime drama. He played Connor Nutley, a foul-mouthed and abusive foreman at a scrapyard that the Shelby family uses to transport their illicit goods.
His character comes into direct conflict with the Shelbys when he is suspected of being an informant. The role allowed Ineson to showcase his ability to create a deeply unpleasant and memorable character within a very short amount of screen time.
‘The Green Knight’ (2021)
He played the titular and fantastical role of the Green Knight in this cinematic retelling of the classic Arthurian legend. His character is a mysterious, bark-skinned entity who rides into King Arthur’s court to offer a strange Christmas game.
Ineson provided both the motion-capture performance and the haunting, resonant voice for the supernatural challenger. He sets the film’s hero, Gawain, on a perilous year-long quest to fulfill his end of their bizarre bargain and confront his own mortality.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)
Ineson made a brief but noticeable appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He played a Ravager pilot in the first ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ film. The Ravagers are an interstellar group of pirates and mercenaries led by Yondu Udonta.
His character is seen in the cockpit of one of the Ravager ships, the M-ship, during the climactic battle over the planet Xandar. He delivers a few memorable lines in his signature deep voice as the Ravagers join the fight against Ronan the Accuser.
‘The Northman’ (2022)
He reunited with director Robert Eggers for this brutal Viking epic. Ineson played Captain Volodymyr, the captain of a slave ship that transports the protagonist, Amleth, who is posing as a slave to reach his tyrannical uncle in Iceland.
Though his screen time is limited, his character has a key role in Amleth’s journey. Volodymyr oversees the brutal conditions on the slave ship and participates in a game of knattleikr, a violent Viking sport.
‘Ready Player One’ (2018)
In this science fiction adventure directed by Steven Spielberg, Ineson played Rick. Rick is the abrasive and unsupportive boyfriend of Wade Watts’s aunt, with whom Wade lives in the crowded “stacks” of Columbus, Ohio.
Rick is a minor antagonist in Wade’s real-world life, often threatening to kick him out. His character represents another one of the bleak realities that drives Wade to escape into the virtual reality world of the OASIS.
‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ (2018)
He appeared in the Coen Brothers’ anthology film in the segment titled “Near Algodones”. He is credited as the Leader of the Posse, a commanding figure who captures the segment’s protagonist, a bank robber played by James Franco.
Ineson’s character leads the group that rescues the bank robber from a hanging, only to immediately arrest him for rustling cattle. His imposing presence and stern delivery fit perfectly within the film’s dark, comedic vision of the Old West.
‘Absentia’ (2017–2020)
Ineson had a main role in the crime thriller series ‘Absentia’. He played Adam Radford, a special agent in the FBI’s Boston field office and the former partner of the show’s protagonist, Emily Byrne.
His character is a key figure in the overarching mystery of the series. After Emily returns with no memory after being declared dead for six years, Adam must investigate her potential involvement in a new series of murders while dealing with their complicated shared history.
‘The Creator’ (2023)
In the dystopian science fiction film ‘The Creator’, he portrayed General Andrews, a high-ranking military leader for the US Army. He is a primary antagonist, relentlessly hunting down the film’s protagonist and a powerful AI child.
As the commander of the massive anti-AI warship USS NOMAD, his character represents the ruthless and uncompromising side of the human war against artificial intelligence. He gives orders from the war room, determined to eradicate AI at any cost.
‘The First Omen’ (2024)
Ineson took on a significant role in this prequel to the classic horror film. He played Father Brennan, the same character who tries to warn the protagonist in the original 1976 movie, portrayed here as a younger man.
As a disgraced priest, he is a central figure who works to uncover a sinister conspiracy within a faction of the Catholic Church. He guides the main character, helping her understand the terrifying truth about a plot to birth the Antichrist.
‘Nosferatu’ (2024)
Ineson joined the cast of Robert Eggers’ gothic horror film ‘Nosferatu’, a retelling of the classic vampire story. He played Dr. Wilhelm Sievers, a character who becomes involved in the strange and terrifying events that unfold.
Dr. Sievers is a professor and paranormal investigator who tries to understand the mysterious plague and the dark entity that has arrived in the town of Wisborg. His character represents the voice of science and reason trying to comprehend an ancient, supernatural evil.
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