Adam Best (born 16 November 1983) is an actor from Northern Ireland, known for his roles in Holby City, Say Nothing, Blue Lights, Black Doves, Kneecap and Murder Most Puzzling.
Early life and education Adam Best was born in Donaghadee, County Down on 16 November 1983. He attended Donaghadee Primary School and Bangor Grammar School and gained experience with the Ulster Youth Theatre and Drama School.
He trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama for three years and graduated in 2004.
Career Best played Matt Parker on the BBC One drama Holby City from 2005 to 2007. He has also appeared in episodes of Silent Witness, The Bill, and Waking the Dead, as well as The Catherine Tate Show Christmas Special in 2007.
In 2011 Best took part in an advertisement for Meteor.
He played the role of Joe Lynskey in the 2024 TV drama about The Troubles in Northern Ireland, Say Nothing. In the same year, he played Doyle in the BAFTA-winning feature film Kneecap.
In 2025, he played series regular DCI Derek Hooper in the TV adaption of Parnell Hall’s Puzzle Lady books, Murder Most Puzzling.
Filmography Film Cup Cake (2010) as PJ Johnson Blooded (2011) as Ben Fitzpatrick Kneecap (2024) as Doyle
Television Year Title Role Notes 2004 Silent Witness Young David Kelman Episode: "A Time to Heal: Part 1" 2005–2007 Holby City Matt Parker Series regular 2007 The Catherine Tate Show Various characters Episode: "Christmas Special" 2009 The Bill Connor Deegan Episode: "On the Money" Waking the Dead Young Father Quinn 2 episodes 2012 Silent Witness D.S. Winter Episode: "Death Has No Dominion: Part 1" 2017 Doctors Tony Marshall Episode: "Seven Years" 2019 Giri/Haji Terry Episode #1.6 2022 Peaky Blinders Sam Ryan 2 episodes The Lazarus Project D.S. Cooper 2 episodes 2023 The Crown Journalist Nick 2 episodes 2024 Hope Street Jared Power Episode #3.12 Blue Lights Keith Wylie 4 episodes Say Nothing Joe Lynskey 3 episodes Black Doves Jim Perryman 2 episodes All Creatures Great and Small Major Robertson Episode: "All God's Creatures" 2025Murder Most PuzzlingDCI Hooper6 episodes
Theatre Year Title Role Company Director Notes 2014 Long Day's Journey into Night James Tyrone Jr. Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Tony Cownie
Other stage roles include: The Caucasian Chalk Circle (1998) as Old Man The Wizard of Oz (2000) as Wizard Blackout (2003) as Danny The Woman in Black (2012) as The Actor Public Enemy (2013) as Horster The Beauty Queen of Leenane as Pato; Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith), London (2021)
References
External links Holby.tv fan website Holby City website
Holby.tv series 8 interview and profile