Acting
Paul Copley
EN, NL cinema · 64 credits
Born
25 November 1944 (age 81)
Birthplace
Denby Dale, West Yorkshire, England, UK
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.
Known for
Filmography
Dangerous Journey
as Narrator
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
as Albert Mason
Big Winners
as Arthur Thistle
Ticker
as Howard
The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble
as Great Uncle Geoffrey
Enola Holmes
as Station Master
Ropeless
as Larry Windsor
Reg
as Man 2
First Encounter: King Lear
as King Lear
When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Marian, Again
as Phillip Walsh
Hornblower: Loyalty
as Matthews
The Key
Actor
Hornblower: Duty
as Matthews
The Many Lives of Albert Walker
as Danny Peck
Hornblower: Mutiny
as Mathews
Blow Dry
as Ken
Hornblower: Retribution
as Matthews
Hornblower: The Even Chance
as Matthews
Written in Blood
as Brian Chappel
Jude
as Mr. Willis
A Pinch of Snuff
as Charlie Heppelwhite
The Remains of the Day
as Harry Smith
Testimony of a Child
as Gerry
Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus
as Local Man
Bird Fancier
as Roy Pearson
Silas Marner
as William Dane
Which Side Are You On?
as Narrator (voice)
Doll’s Eye
as Social Worker
Ghost in the Water
as Mr. Reed
P.Q. 17
as PO Jordan
Death of a Princess
as Steve Jackson
Happy
as Vernon
Black Jack
as Narrator
Zulu Dawn
as Cpl. Storey
Mucking Out
as Brian Wilson
Destiny
as Paul McShane
Travellers
as Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep
A Christmas Carol
as Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)
A Bridge Too Far
as Pvt. Wicks
Arnhem: The Story of an Escape
as Finnegan
Diane
as Jim
Alfie Darling
as Bakey
Father Dear Father
as Dumbo
Speech Day
as Woodwork Master