If you’ve ever found yourself glued to your screen watching Doctor Who, Life on Mars, or the gritty crime series Collateral, chances are you’ve already experienced actor John Simm's brilliance. He has been a long-term fan favourite in the world of British telly.
Now, the star is back on our screens in Grace series 5, ITV’s hit crime drama where he plays the quietly intense Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. Based on the bestselling novels by Peter James, the series follows Grace as he investigates complex murder cases while dealing with his own personal ghosts - literally and emotionally.
John Simm: movies and TV shows
If you've been enjoying John Simm's performance in Grace, you may want to check out some of his other work. His extensive filmography includes:
Human Traffic (1999)
Lorraine Pilkington, Shaun Parkes, Nicola Reynolds, Danny Dyer and John Simm are in Human Traffic (a British cult film) as friends Lulu, Koop, Nina, Moff and Jip. The group live for the weekends and are a part of the rave and clubbing scene in Cardiff, Wales.
Sex Traffic (2004)
John Simm stars in the 2004 television film Sex Traffic, a hard-hitting drama that explores the dark world of human trafficking. In the film, he plays the role of a journalist named Jack, who becomes deeply involved in investigating the exploitation of young women being trafficked into the UK.
Life on Mars (2006-2007)
In one of the actor's most iconic roles, John Simm plays Sam Tyler, a modern-day detective who is inexplicably transported back to the 1970s. This mind-bending, time-traveling crime drama blends gripping detective work with psychological suspense, as Tyler grapples with his new reality and struggles to solve cases while questioning his own sanity.
The series masterfully weaves together elements of mystery, nostalgia, and the complexities of time itself, making it a standout in both the crime and sci-fi genres.
Doctor Who (2007, 2009–2010, 2017)
Before Doctor Who, John Simm’s career was primarily focused on gritty dramas for grown-ups. However, his portrayal of the Master marked a dramatic shift (and return) to the world of sci-fi.
As the Doctor’s arch-nemesis, he brought a manic energy and intense presence to the role, torturing the Tenth Doctor (played by David Tennant), while infusing the Master with a chaotic brilliance that became one of the series' most memorable performances.
After seven years, he made a triumphant and unique return to the show (although anything is possible in the multiple universes of Doctor Who) return to the show, where he met the Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Missy (played by Michelle Gomez), who was a regeneration his future self.
The Master and Missy were flirting with themselves - in a weird turn of events, which was very fitting for their character - as he tried to make her evil again, despite her best efforts to become good and be the Doctor's friend again.
In a tragic twist *spoiler alert* Missy pretends to go along with his cunning plan, before stabbing the Master (her former self) in the back, but then he shoots her in the back with his laser screwdriver... very macabre and metaphorical!
Prey (2014)
In this gripping crime drama he plays the lead role of Detective Sergeant Marcus Farrow, a cop who becomes a fugitive after being accused of the murder of his ex-wife and one of his sons. The series is filled with twists and intense drama.
Trauma (2018)
Written by Doctor Foster creator Mike Bartlett, this gripping medical drama, follows the lives of father's Dan Bowker (John Simm) and Jon Allerton (David Lester). Dan's son is stabbed and Jon is the surgeon who tries to save him, but he dies on the operating table.
The show explores the emotional toll of working in the high-pressure environment of the emergency room, particularly when a tragic incident leads to a series of moral and ethical dilemmas.
Collateral (2018)
Set in London, Collateral follows the investigation into the murder of a pizza delivery driver, which initially appears to be a random act of violence. However, as Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie (played by Oscar-winning Carey Mulligan) delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a web of conspiracy that links the murder to broader issues like political corruption, illegal arms trafficking, and social inequality.
In Collateral, John Simm plays David Mars MP (Shadow Secretary of State For Transport) and is joined by a stellar cast including fellow Doctor Who star Billie Piper as his ex-wife and Unforgotten actress Nicola Walker as a vicar in his constituency. Kae Alexander, plays her girlfriend and a murder witness, while Nathaniel Martello-White and Ben Miller also play detectives.
Grace (2021-present)
Set in Brighton, Grace is a crime drama based on the bestselling books by Peter James. John Simm plays Roy Grace, a role that suits him perfectly. As Detective Grace, he’s calm under pressure, methodical, and deeply empathetic, with just the right amount of edge. There’s a quiet sadness to him too, stemming from the mysterious disappearance of his wife years earlier - a storyline that adds an emotional weight to the character and keeps viewers hooked.
Richie Campbell plays Roy's buddy cop DS Glen Branson and Zoë Tapper is his fiancé Cleo.
How old is John Simm?
Born on July 10, 1970, in Leeds, West Yorkshire, John Simm is 54 years old. He was raised in Lancashire and moved to the capital to train at the Drama Centre London, a school renowned for producing actors with powerful stage and screen abilities.
Who's John Simm's family
John Simm grew up with his parents and two sisters.
On season 5 of DNA Journey, John Simm discovered that his biological father was not the man who raised him, but a man named Terence "Terry" Naylor. His mother, Brenda, had been in a brief relationship with Terry before reconnecting with Ronald, who went on to become John’s dad in every sense of the word.
She had broken the news of his potential parentage to him not long before he filmed the episode. Recalling the conversation he had with her, he said: "When they had me, in the Sixties, they were both young. They were together and then they split up and were both with other people and then they got back together and then they had me. And I'd never heard this story before."
However, Brenda was just as "floored" by the DNA test revelation as her son was, as she thought that Ronald was his father. Ronald passed away in 2015, aged 78, and never knew.
Usually very private about his personal life, the actor was understandably in shock and wasn't sure whether or not he should continue filming after the DNA test revelation. But with the support of his close friend—and Life on Mars co-star - Philip Glenister, who was by his side during the journey, he decided to keep going.
"It's turned out to be such a massive thing in my life and all I was doing was a favour for Phil so he didn't have to do it on his own. It spun my world, and everything I thought I knew, wasn't real."
Sadly, Terry passed away in 1998, long before John had the chance to meet him, but he did get to meet hi half-sister Karen. However, in a poignant twist during the episode, John discovered that their lives may have unknowingly overlapped. As a child, he performed alongside his dad, Ronald, in working men’s clubs - and it was revealed that his biological father, Terry, had been a regular at those very same venues. It's entirely possible their paths crossed, without either of them ever knowing the true connection they shared.
"The thing that blows my mind, me and my dad, we played around here loads of times, we definitely played here a lot and he might have been in the same pub one night and watched me play," he said.
"I can't get it out of my head, because we played this area in the 80s and he was here, and he was in working in men's clubs. It's one of those mad, Back To The Future, Life On Mars things."
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and spending time with her pet dogs, tortoise and chickens.