Emmett John Scanlan (born 31 January 1979) is an Irish actor, known for playing villainous, bad boy characters. His credits include Hollyoaks (2011–2013), The Fall (2013–2014), Peaky Blinders (2019–2022), Breakdown (2016), In The Flesh (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), The Tower (2021), Ten Percent (2022), Kin (2021–2023), Fool Me Once (2024), MobLand (2025), and How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (2026).
Early life Scanlan was born on 31 January 1979, in Dublin. His family are natives of Clontarf, Dublin.
Career He played the lovable rogue and bad boy Brendan Brady in Hollyoaks from 2010 to 2013, for which he was nominated and won many soap awards. He appeared alongside Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan in the BBC Two drama The Fall (2013–2014).
From 2013–2016, he starred alongside Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders, Series 5 and Series 6, and worked alongside Craig Fairbrass, James Cosmo, Bruce Payne, Olivia Grant and Tamer Hassan in Breakdown (2016),.
Scanlan has acted in BBC Three's In The Flesh series 2, and Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). In 2021, he starred as Inspector Kieran Shaw in ITV's The Tower.
In 2022, Scanlan appeared as Marcus MacLeod in the British remake of Call My Agent!: Ten Percent. He played a main role as Jimmy Kinsella in the RTÉ family gangster drama Kin.
In 2024, he starred alongside Michelle Keegan and Adeel Akhtar in the Netflix series Fool Me Once (2024), and worked alongside Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, Tom Hardy, Paddy Considine and Joanne Froggatt, playing a heavy for the Harrigan family in the British Gangster series MobLand (2025).
Personal life Scanlan married girlfriend Claire Cooper on 31 December 2015 in New York City. In July 2020, she gave birth to a boy. In October 2020, Cooper disclosed that she had suffered a miscarriage of their baby the previous year. On 12 November 2022, Cooper gave birth to their daughter. Scanlan also has a daughter born in September 2002 from a previous relationship.
For a period of time whilst filming Hollyoaks, Scanlan lived with friend and then-co star Joe Tracini. Tracini has credited Scanlan with helping him through his addiction issues, and addressed Scanlan's support during his 2026 comedy tour 10 Things I Hate About Me.
Scanlan is a vegan and supports PETA. He is a supporter of Manchester United.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2006 Triple Bill Jack Short 2006 Studs Jake 2006 Mebollix Copier man Short 2007 Shattered Matt Connolly 2008 Christian Blake Floyd 2008 Anton Prison Officer McMahon 2008 Freakdog Stranger 2008 Colour From The Dark Luigi 2008 The Bet Anthony 2008 Pass Them On James Collins Short 2009 Savage Gym changing room guy 1 2009 The Rise of the Bricks Ste 2009 3 Crosses Jonnie Linski 2010 Lapse Guy Post-Production 2010 BLOOD Guy 2010 Imperfect Couple Him Short 2010 Glassjaw Christian Connolly Short 2011 Charlie Casanova Charlie Barnum 2011 Legends of Valhalla: Thor Sindri Voice 2011 Analogue Love Guy Short 2012 Black Coffee Him Short 2012 The Inside Hughie 2012 Big Top Lead role Short 2013 Personal Appearance Lead role Short Film 2014 Patrick's Day Concierge Post-Production 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy Head Riot Guard 2016 Breakdown Connor Moran 2018 In the Cloud Alfie 2020 Here Are the Young Men Homeless man 2021 Lapwing David 2024 Argylle Handsome man 2025 A Working Man Viper 2026 In the Grey Mick dunne
Television Year Title Role Notes 2004 The Big Bow Wow Robert 3 episodes 2007 Paddywhackery Stephen 2 episodes 2008 The Roaring Twenties Pierre Leguin 3 episodes 2008–2009 The Clinic Jimmy Rice 2 episodes 2009 Marú John Cousins Episode: "The Murder of John Cousins" 2009 The Phone The Operator 6 episodes 2009 Mattie Paul Episode: "The Pilot" 2010 The Guards Diarmuid O'Briain 2 episodes 2010 Mariana Leonard Dalton 2 episodes 2010 Hollyoaks: King of Hearts Brendan Brady 1 episode 2010–2013 Hollyoaks Regular role; 340 episodes 2012 Hollyoaks Later 5 episodes 2013–2016 The Fall D.C. Glenn Martin Series 1 (4 episodes; recurring)Series 2 (5 episodes; main)Series 3 (main) 2014 In the Flesh Simon 6 episodes 2014 Atlantis Delmos 3 episodes 2014–2015 Constantine Jim Corrigan 2 episodes 2015 A.D. The Bible Continues Saul of Tarsus 6 episodes 2015 No Offence Andrew Curtis 8 Part series 2016 Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands Skellen 13 Part series 2017 My daughter is missing Alek TV movie 2018 Safe Josh 7 episodes 2018 Butterfly Stephen Duffy 3 episodes 2019 Krypton Lobo 4 episodes 2019–2022 Peaky Blinders Billy Grade 5 episodes 2019 Treadstone Spencer 3 episodes 2020; 2025 Gangs of London Jack O'Doherty 5 episodes 2020 The Deceived Michael Callaghan 4 episodes 2021–2023 Kin Jimmy Kinsella Main Cast; 16 episodes 2021 The Tower Inspector Kieran Shaw Main Cast 2022 Ten Percent Marcus MacLeod 3 episodes 2022 Derry Girls Mad Stab 1 episode 2024 Fool Me Once Shane Tessier Main CastThe Teacher Tim Oxley 4 episodes 2025–present MobLand Paul O'Donnell Recurring role season 1; main cast season 2 (10 episodes) 2026 How to Get to Heaven from Belfast Owen 8 episodes A Woman of Substance Adam Fairley 8 episodes
Awards and nominations Year Result Award Category Film or series Character2011 British Soap Awards Villain of the Year Hollyoaks Brendan Brady British Soap Awards Best Newcomer Hollyoaks Brendan Brady * British Soap Awards Best Actor Hollyoaks Brendan Brady British Soap Awards Best Onscreen Partnership (with Kieron Richardson) Hollyoaks Brendan Brady (with Ste Hay) * TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actor Hollyoaks Brendan Brady * TV Choice Awards Best Soap Newcomer Hollyoaks Brendan Brady Melbourne Underground Film Festival Best Actor Charlie Casanova Charlie Barnum2012 * TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actor Hollyoaks Brendan Brady * British Soap Awards Best Actor Hollyoaks Brendan Brady Inside Soap Awards Best Actor Hollyoaks Brendan Brady Inside Soap Awards Best Bad Boy Hollyoaks Brendan Brady * National Television Awards Outstanding Serial Drama Performance Hollyoaks Brendan Brady Irish Film & Television Awards Rising Star Award 2013 British Soap Awards Best Onscreen Partnership (with Kieron Richardson) Hollyoaks Brendan Brady (with Ste Hay) * British Soap Awards Best Actor Hollyoaks Brendan Brady * British Soap Awards Villain of the Year Hollyoaks Brendan Brady British Soap Awards Best Exit Hollyoaks Brendan Brady National Television Awards Most Popular Serial Drama Performance Hollyoaks Brendan Brady All About Soap Awards Forbidden Romance (with Kieron Richardson) Hollyoaks Brendan Brady (with Ste Hay) (*) means there were two main rounds of nominations for that category. Shortlisted means he made it to the second and final round of voting.
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