Acting · Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK · Born November 23, 1973
O'Brien grew up in nearby Royton and was educated at the Bishop Henshaw Roman Catholic Memorial High School in Rochdale. He began acting at an early age and was the star of a BBC TV series Gruey by the time he was 15. He also featured in several other series at the time in one-off or recurring roles. In 1993, he played the role of Craig Lee in Coronation Street and then the role of Lee Jones in Children's Ward. In 1993 he also became a regular in the detective series, Cracker, playing Mark, the son of central character Robbie Coltrane. In 1999 he made his cinema debut with the film Virtual Sexuality and began a reunited with Cracker director Michael Winterbottom for 24 Hour Party People in 2002 and, in '04, for the controversial 9 Songs, which included scenes of genuine sexual intercourse between O'Brien and his leading lady Margo Stilley. His role had earned him the credit of being the only mainstream British actor who has been shown ejaculating in a mainstream UK-produced feature. Since 9 Songs, O'Brien has made two further films with Winterbottom; A Cock and Bull Story and The Look of Love. Recent regular TV roles include Holby Blue and The Syndicate.
TVTrucking Heavy: Massive Moves
2025
as Narrator
TVA Thousand Blows
2025
as Mr Harkness
TVThe Family Pile
2023
as Stuart
TVAndor
2022
as Pegla
MovieThe Following Year
2021
as Ben
TVThe Cars That Made the World
2020
as Self - Narrator
TVTed Lasso
2020
as James Tartt
TVYears and Years
2019
as Woody
TVChernobyl
2019
as Khodemchuck
MovieHolmes & Watson
2018
as PC Smalls
MoviePeterloo
2018
as Peter Wilkes, a Farrier
TVTrucking Hell
2018
MovieThe Watchman
2016
as Lee Simpson
TVNo Offence
2015
as Stone
TVGrantchester
2014
as Arthur Evans
TVGlue
2014
as Thomas Bray
TVPrey
2014
as Phil Prentice
MovieThe Look of Love
2013
as Jimmy Humphries
TVBluestone 42
2013
as Nutsack
MovieSpike Island
2012
as Poster Vendor
TVCuckoo
2012
as Goran
MovieHeroes and Demons
2012
as (segment "The Banker")
TVLove Life
2012
as Dez
TVDeath in Paradise
2011
as Danny
TVVera
2011
as Bobby Salter
TVSilk
2011
as Sean
MovieThe Shock Doctrine
2009
as Narrator (Voice)
TVMoving On
2009
as Shane
TVThe Last Enemy
2008
as Wafa
TVSecret Diary of a Call Girl
2007
as Al
TVIndie Sex
2007
as Self
TVHolby Blue
2007
as Constable Robert Clifton
MovieGoal II: Living the Dream
2007
as Hughie McGowan
MovieCracker: Nine Eleven
2006
as Mark Fitzgerald
MovieElizabeth David: A Life in Recipes
2006
as Charles Gibson Cowan
TVLife on Mars
2006
as Davie Mackay
MovieGoal!
2005
as Hughie McGowan
MovieA Cock and Bull Story
2005
as Gary
TVBloodlines
2005
as Mark Hopkin
MovieThe Banker
2004
as Vain Man
Movie9 Songs
2004
as Matt
TVNew Tricks
2004
as Michael Jacobs
The Terry and Gaby Show
2003
TVBlue Murder
2003
as Terry Camerton
TVBurn It
2003
as Andy Grimshaw
TVThe Afternoon Play
2003
as Sean Tyler
Movie24 Hour Party People
2002
as Nathan
TVBand of Brothers
2001
as Allen E. Vest
TVMessiah
2001
as Eric Metcalfe
TVJason and the Argonauts
2000
as Actor
MovieVirtual Sexuality
1999
as Alex Thorne
TVBorn to Run
1997
as Ryan Flitch
TVCracker
1993
TVHeartbeat
1992
as Neil
TVThe Jim Henson Hour
1989
as Matt Banting
TVChildren's Ward
1989
as Lee Jones
MovieMonster Maker
1989
as Matt Banting
MovieBellman and True
1987
as The Boy
TVCasualty
1986
as Chris Miller
TVDramarama
1983
as Trotter
