Josh Finan Biography, Movies, TV Shows, Career and Latest Roles

Josh Finan is a British actor who has steadily built a reputation through a mix of television drama, film, and stage performances. He first attracted wider attention as Marco in the BBC drama The Responder, a performance that earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Since then, his career has expanded into several high-profile productions, including The Gentlemen, Baby Reindeer, Say Nothing, Black Mirror, and Waiting for the Out. His growing list of credits has made him a familiar face to viewers interested in British television and contemporary streaming dramas.

This guide explores his background, acting education, notable roles, stage career, and the projects that have helped shape his career.

Who Is Josh Finan?

Josh Finan is an English actor from the Wirral in Merseyside. He studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield before continuing his acting education at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where he graduated in 2016.

His professional background is particularly interesting because it combines formal theatre training with work across television, film, and stage productions. That range has allowed him to move between intense dramas, crime stories, comedy-drama projects, and major streaming productions.

Josh Finan’s Early Life and Education

Finan grew up on the Wirral, near Liverpool. His route into acting was not simply a childhood path toward becoming a television star. According to an interview with 1883 Magazine, he became interested in acting after attending Friday-night drama classes.

He later studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield and trained professionally at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. The theatre school’s alumni profile confirms that he graduated in 2016.

His training helped establish a foundation for both stage and screen work.

Josh Finan’s Acting Career

Before becoming widely recognized, Finan appeared in smaller film and television roles. His early credits include Guerrilla, The Current War, Hellboy, Doctors, and Surge.

These projects gave him experience across different genres and production environments. His later television work would bring him much greater visibility.

Breakthrough Role in The Responder

One of the biggest turning points in his career came with BBC One’s The Responder.

Finan played Marco, appearing alongside Martin Freeman. He returned for the show’s second series in 2024. His performance in the first series resulted in a nomination for the BAFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actor.

The role demonstrated his ability to portray complicated characters in a tense, realistic drama. It also helped introduce him to a much larger television audience.

The Gentlemen

In 2024, Finan appeared in Netflix’s The Gentlemen, playing Jethro. The series expanded his international profile and placed him in a very different style of production from The Responder.

The role showed another side of his screen work and added a major Netflix production to his growing résumé.

Baby Reindeer

Finan also appeared in the Netflix series Baby Reindeer as Diggsy. Although his role was smaller than some of his other television parts, the series became another notable credit in his career.

Say Nothing

Another important project was Say Nothing, a drama based around the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Finan portrayed a younger version of Gerry Adams. The role presented a significant acting challenge because the character is a historically and politically controversial figure. An interview with 1883 Magazine discusses Finan’s approach to taking on the part.

The series gave him an opportunity to take on a more historically grounded dramatic role and further demonstrated his versatility.

Josh Finan in Black Mirror

Finan also joined the cast of Black Mirror. His credit in the seventh season is Lump, adding the anthology series to his television résumé.

Appearing in an anthology such as Black Mirror can give actors the opportunity to work within unusual stories and different creative styles. For Finan, it represents another step beyond the crime and historical dramas that helped establish his profile.

Waiting for the Out

In 2026, Finan took on a leading role in the BBC drama Waiting for the Out. He plays Dan, a philosophy teacher, marking another significant stage in his television career. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School lists the project among his recent major roles.

The series is particularly notable because it gives Finan a central role rather than simply a supporting appearance.

How to Get to Heaven from Belfast

Finan’s 2026 credits also include Netflix’s How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. His representation profile lists him among the cast, while entertainment databases credit him with the role of Jason.

The project adds another contemporary television production to an increasingly diverse filmography.

Josh Finan Movies and TV Shows

Here is a quick overview of some of his better-known screen credits:

The available filmography records also list appearances in Doctors, Stile, and Shook by Samuel Bailey.

His Stage Career

Although television has brought Finan considerable attention, theatre remains an important part of his career.

His stage work has included productions such as Southbury Child at the Bridge Theatre and Peggy for You at Hampstead Theatre. He has also worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company in productions including Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.

This theatre background helps explain the breadth of his acting experience. Rather than being known exclusively as a screen performer, Finan has developed experience across several areas of professional acting.

Why Josh Finan Is Getting More Attention

Several factors have contributed to Finan’s growing profile:

• Strong television roles: The Responder provided a major breakthrough.
• BAFTA recognition: His performance in the series earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination.
• Major streaming credits: He has appeared in Netflix productions including The Gentlemen, Baby Reindeer, and Black Mirror.
• Genre variety: His work covers crime drama, historical drama, comedy-drama, film, and anthology television.
• Theatre experience: His stage career includes work with respected British theatre companies.
• Leading roles: Waiting for the Out represents an important move into a central television role.

What Is Josh Finan Best Known For?

For many viewers, Finan is best known for playing Marco in The Responder. The series was an important career milestone because it brought him both critical attention and a BAFTA nomination.

However, audiences who discovered him through Netflix may recognize him from The Gentlemen, Baby Reindeer, Say Nothing, or Black Mirror. His more recent lead role in Waiting for the Out further broadens that recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Josh Finan?

Josh Finan is a British actor from the Wirral, England. He trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has worked in television, film, and theatre.

What is Josh Finan famous for?

He is particularly known for playing Marco in The Responder. He has also appeared in The Gentlemen, Baby Reindeer, Say Nothing, Black Mirror, and Waiting for the Out.

Did Josh Finan receive a BAFTA nomination?

Yes. Finan was nominated for the BAFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Responder.

Where is Josh Finan from?

He is from the Wirral in England.

What did Josh Finan study?

He studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield before training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

What role does Josh Finan play in The Gentlemen?

He plays Jethro in the Netflix series The Gentlemen.

Who does Josh Finan play in Say Nothing?

Finan portrays a younger Gerry Adams in the series Say Nothing.

What does Josh Finan play in Waiting for the Out?

He plays Dan, a philosophy teacher, in the BBC series Waiting for the Out.

Conclusion

Josh Finan‘s career is a good example of how sustained work across theatre, film, and television can gradually lead to wider recognition. From his early screen appearances and professional theatre work to his breakthrough in The Responder, he has built a varied résumé rather than relying on a single type of role.

His later appearances in The Gentlemen, Baby Reindeer, Say Nothing, and Black Mirror, followed by a leading role in Waiting for the Out, show an actor continuing to take on different kinds of characters. With his theatre training and expanding screen credits, Finan remains a notable name among Britain’s emerging television performers.