Barry Ward is an Irish actor. He began his career in the RTÉ/BBC series Family (1994) and Plotlands (1997), and the film Sunburn (1999). His films since include Jimmy's Hall, Blood Cells (both 2014), Extra Ordinary (2019), and Dating Amber (2020), the latter of which won him an IFTA.
On television, he is more recently known for his roles in the RTÉ series Rebellion (2016), Taken Down (2018) and Clean Sweep (2023), the Sky Atlantic series Britannia (2017–2019) and Save Me (2018–2020), and the BBC series The Capture (2019).
Early life and education Ward grew up in Blanchardstown, a northwestern suburb of Dublin. He went to school at St Declan's College in Cabra. He studied English and Philosophy at NUI Maynooth.
Career Ward made his television debut as a child actor aged 14, starring as John Paul Spencer in the 1994 BBC One and RTÉ One miniseries Family. He made his stage debut the following year in Buddleia at the Dublin Theatre Festival and London's Donmar Warehouse. He returned to television in the 1997 period drama Plotlands as Fionn Mulligan, also on BBC One. He made his feature film debut in Pip Broughton's Soft Sand, Blue Sea in 1998. He then starred alongside Cillian Murphy and Paloma Baeza in the comedy-drama film Sunburn in 1999.
In 2014, Ward played the titular role of James Gralton in Ken Loach's biographical film Jimmy's Hall, which premiered at the 67th Cannes Film Festival, and Adam in Luke Seomore and Joseph Bull's drama film Blood Cells, which premiered 71st Venice International Film Festival. He also appeared in the film Shooting for Socrates, and then starred alongside Liam Cunningham and Brendan Gleeson in the 2015 crime thriller film Pursuit.
In 2016, Ward had roles as Arthur Mahon in the RTÉ historical drama miniseries Rebellion and Dr Patrick Spencer in the third series of the BBC Two crime drama The Fall. He portrayed DUP politician Ian Paisley Jr in Nick Hamm's The Journey, and appeared in Mateo Gil's science fiction film Realive. The following year, he starred in the film Maze, and as Sawyer the first series of the Sky Atlantic series Britannia.
This was followed by a main role as Matt in the RTÉ Two crime drama Taken Down, and a recurring role as Barry McGory in the Sky Atlantic drama Save Me. He played Charlie Hall in the first series of the BBC One thriller The Capture, in 2019 and starred in the horror comedy film Extra Ordinary. For his performance in the 2020 film Dating Amber, Ward won the IFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. Also in 2020, he played DI Steve McCusker in the ITV miniseries Des and Mike Walker in the Netflix series White Lines. He portrayed Thomas Cromwell in the Channel 5 series Anne Boleyn in 2021.
Personal life Ward lives in East London.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1998 Soft Sand, Blue Sea Trevor Lipservice Darren O Murchu Short film 1999 Sunburn Robert Fiske Dilemmas Short film 2000 The Claim Young Dillon 2001 Watchmen Ray Short film 2008 Danger High Voltage Mick Short film 2010 The Tenement Ghost The Groom 2011 The Opening Mick Short film 2012 Songs for Amy Rory Jarvis 2013 The Fallen Anthony Short film 2014 Jimmy's Hall James Gralton Shooting for Socrates Jimmy Quinn Bypass New Supplier Blood Cells Adam 2015 L'accabadora Albert The Survivalist Forager Pursuit Diarmuid Insulin The Pharmacist Short film 2016 The Truth Commissioner Michael Madden Realive Dr. West The Journey Ian Paisley Jr. 2017 My Father, My Blood Cillian Short film Maze Gordon Close Take Me Swimming Thady Short film 2018 Time Traveller John Paul Short film 2019 Extra Ordinary Martin Martin The Yearning Mick Short film Lily Meets Charlie Charlie Short film Taxi Henry Short film 2020 Dating Amber Ian 2022 The Ulysses Project Leopold Bloom Burial Tor Oleynik 2023 Sunlight Leon That They May Face the Rising Sun Joe Ruttledge 2024 Restless Kevin2025 Salvable Paddy On the Sea Jack 2026 Everybody Digs Bill Evans Harry Evans Junior
Television
Year Title Role Notes 1994 Family John Paul Spencer Miniseries; main role 1997 Plotlands Fionn Mulligan Miniseries; main role 2005 ShakespeaRe-Told: Macbeth Roddy Television film 2007 Silent Witness Ashley Harris 2 episodes 2008 The Bill Jez Jenkins Episode: "Shadow Stalker" City of Vice Patrick Jones Miniseries; 1 episode 2009 Psych Ward Jimmy Murphy Main role 2013 Coming Up Slick Rick Episode: "Call it a Night" 2016 Rebellion Arthur Mahon Main role; miniseries (4 episodes) The Fall Dr. Patrick Spencer 4 episodes 2017 The End of the F***ing World Leslie 2 episodes 2017–2019 Britannia Sawyer Main role, series 1; guest, series 2–3 2018 Taken Down Matt Main role 2018–2020 Save Me Barry McGory 9 episodes 2019 Gomorrah Patrick 1 episode The Capture Charlie Hall 6 episodes 2020–2021 Feel Good Arnie Rivers 2 episodes 2020 White Lines Mike Walker 7 episodes Des DI Steve McCusker Miniseries; 3 episodes 2021 Anne Boleyn Thomas Cromwell Miniseries; 3 episodes 2022 Pistol John's Dad Episode: "Track 5: Nancy and Sid" 2022–2024 Bad Sisters Fergal Loftus 12 episodes 2023 Clean Sweep Jason Mohan6 episodes 2024 Protection DS Paul Brandice6 episodes 2025 TrespassesVictor McIntyre4 episodes Johnnie
Music videos Song Year Artist Notes "The Golden Sands" 2014 Ultan Conlon
Stage Year Title Role Notes 1995 Buddleia The Boy Dublin Theatre Festival / Donmar Warehouse, London 2000 Down the Line Johnny Abbey Theatre, Dublin A Quiet Life Gary 2004 Take Me Away Kev Project Arts Centre, Dublin Fringe Festival 2008 Lay Me Down Softly Dean Abbey Theatre, Dublin
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref 2016 IFTA Awards Rising Star Award Best Lead Actor in a Drama Rebellion 2018 Best Supporting Actor in a Film Maze 2020 Best Lead Actor in a Film Extra Ordinary 2021 Best Supporting Actor in a Film Dating Amber
References
External links
Barry Ward at Spotlight