# Daryl McCormack
**Daryl McCormack** (born 1993) is an Irish actor from Nenagh, County Tipperary, known for the RTÉ One soap opera *Fair City*, the BBC series *Peaky Blinders*, and his lead role opposite [Emma Thompson](https://www.edgepedia.org/emma-thompson) in *Good Luck to You, Leo Grande* (2022), which brought him dual BAFTA film award nominations in 2023[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7580109/) • [2](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/feb/11/daryl-mccormack-interview). His later screen work includes [Sharon Horgan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sharon-horgan)'s Apple TV black comedy *Bad Sisters*, the disaster film *Twisters* (2024), and [Rian Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/rian-johnson)'s *Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery* (2025)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7580109/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland; IMDb gives 1993, while Rotten Tomatoes lists 1992[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7580109/) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/daryl_mccormack) |
| Training | Theatre and performance at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin; graduate of the Gaiety School of Acting[4](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2021-daryl-mccormack-actor/5163769.article) • [5](https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2022/0620/1305124-emma-thompson/) |
| Breakthrough | Title role in *Good Luck to You, Leo Grande* (2022), a two-hander with Emma Thompson directed by Sophie Hyde[6](https://www.westendtheatre.com/170552/star-watch/daryl-mccormack/) |
| 2023 BAFTAs | Nominated for both Leading Actor and the EE Rising Star Award for *Leo Grande*; Emma Mackey won the Rising Star Award[7](https://www.bafta.org/awards/film/leading-actor/) • [8](https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/british-public-crowns-emma-mackey-winner-of-the-ee-rising-star-award-at-the-2023-ee-bafta-film-awards/) |
| Television | Isaiah Jesus in *Peaky Blinders* (2019–2022, 11 episodes); Matthew Claffin in *Bad Sisters* (2022–2024, 14 episodes)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7580109/) |
| Recent films | *The Lesson* (2023), *Twisters* (2024), *Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery* (2025) as Cy Draven[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7580109/) • [9](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/wake-up-dead-man-knives-out-mystery-cast-release-date-plot?inapp=true) |
| Upcoming | Mr Bingley in Netflix's *Pride and Prejudice* adaptation, alongside Olivia Colman, Jack Lowden, and Emma Corrin[10](https://www.connachttribune.ie/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/supermacs-most-famous-employee-returns-for-visit-after-conquering-hollywood-9047461) |
## Early life and training
McCormack was born in Nenagh, County Tipperary, to an Irish mother and an American father; his mother raised him as a single parent[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7580109/) • [2](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/feb/11/daryl-mccormack-interview). He has described the experience of growing up mixed-race in Nenagh, and has said there was "a very particular identity in being biracial and Irish"[11](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/daryl-mccormack-leo-grande-bad-sisters-b2266164.html). As a child he tried many activities, including music, dance, hurling, tennis, basketball, and football, and has said he took especially to sports and acting[11](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/daryl-mccormack-leo-grande-bad-sisters-b2266164.html). His earliest acting memories are of playing the panther in *The Jungle Book* at infant school and performing in *Anything Goes* with his local choral society[12](https://www.timeout.com/london/news/daryl-mccormack-five-years-ago-i-was-waiting-tables-now-im-at-the-baftas-020723).
He moved to Dublin to study theater and performance at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and is a graduate of the Gaiety School of Acting[4](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2021-daryl-mccormack-actor/5163769.article) • [5](https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2022/0620/1305124-emma-thompson/). His first screen role was as the bad boy Pierce Devlin in *Fair City*, Ireland's long-running soap, in a six-month stint spanning 36 episodes, which he called his "first steady paycheck" after appearing in ads for Mace and the Senate referendum[11](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/daryl-mccormack-leo-grande-bad-sisters-b2266164.html) • [13](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/06/18/daryl-mccormack/).
## Stage and early screen career
McCormack moved to London in 2017, saying that Dublin "didn't have everything to offer" him and that London offered different stories and broader casting[4](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2021-daryl-mccormack-actor/5163769.article). He was waiting tables when he was cast as Brendan in the 2018 West End revival of [Martin McDonagh](https://www.edgepedia.org/martin-mcdonagh)'s *The Lieutenant of Inishmore* at the Noel Coward Theatre, going, in his words, "straight from making people coffee on to the stage"[13](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/06/18/daryl-mccormack/). In Dublin theater he had played the title roles in *Romeo and Juliet* at the Gate Theatre and *Othello* on a national tour from the Theatre Royal Waterford[13](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/06/18/daryl-mccormack/).
On screen, small roles in *Cleaning Up*, *Vikings*, and *A Very English Scandal* were followed by Isaiah Jesus, the preacher's son in *Peaky Blinders*, a role he took over from Jordan Bolger in 2019 and played across the fifth and sixth series[14](https://www.screendaily.com/features/daryl-mccormack-on-researching-good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-role-auditioning-for-star-wars/5178722.article). His film work before 2022 was limited to *Pixie* (2020), an Ireland-set road-trip crime comedy with [Olivia Cooke](https://www.edgepedia.org/olivia-cooke) and Ben Hardy, and smaller parts[4](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2021-daryl-mccormack-actor/5163769.article) • [14](https://www.screendaily.com/features/daryl-mccormack-on-researching-good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-role-auditioning-for-star-wars/5178722.article). At age 21 he reached the final round of auditions for Finn in *Star Wars: Episode VII*, losing the role to [John Boyega](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-boyega); director J.J. Abrams nonetheless tipped him as someone to watch[13](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/06/18/daryl-mccormack/).
## Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
*Good Luck to You, Leo Grande*, written by [Katy Brand](https://www.edgepedia.org/katy-brand) and directed by Sophie Hyde, premiered at the [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival) in 2022 and stars McCormack as Leo, a sex worker hired by Nancy, a widowed retired teacher played by Emma Thompson, who is seeking the intimacy missing from her marriage[6](https://www.westendtheatre.com/170552/star-watch/daryl-mccormack/) • [4](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2021-daryl-mccormack-actor/5163769.article). The film is a two-hander set almost entirely in a hotel room, and it was shot in Norwich during a Covid-19 lockdown, with McCormack and Thompson kept in the same bubble and spending most of each day together[15](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/we-are-very-close-now-tipperarys-daryl-mccormack-on-getting-intimate-with-emma-thompson-for-a-new-film-role/b40491842.html) • [4](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2021-daryl-mccormack-actor/5163769.article). [Searchlight Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/searchlight-pictures) acquired the US rights at Sundance for a reported $7.5 million and released the film digitally on Hulu[14](https://www.screendaily.com/features/daryl-mccormack-on-researching-good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-role-auditioning-for-star-wars/5178722.article).
Critics singled McCormack out. Variety's [Amy Nicholson](https://www.edgepedia.org/amy-nicholson) called him "fantastic in a role so subtle it could appear flatlined and phoney if people aren't paying attention", and the New York Times wrote that he "moves between wit, compassion and vulnerability with grace"[13](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/06/18/daryl-mccormack/) • [16](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio/2022/08/23/oh-my-god-its-the-guy-all-the-women-in-hackney-fancy-how-daryl-mccormack-landed-his-role-in-bad-sisters/). In preparation he spoke with people who had worked in sex work, and he has said he did not want his performance to claim to represent the whole of that experience[17](https://www.vogue.com/article/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-breakout-daryl-mccormack-interview) • [18](https://squaremile.com/culture/film-tv/daryl-mccormack-interview/).
## Recognition and later work
The film made McCormack an awards contender. At the 2023 EE BAFTA Film Awards he was nominated for Leading Actor, alongside [Colin Farrell](https://www.edgepedia.org/colin-farrell), Brendan Fraser, Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and [Bill Nighy](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-nighy), and for the EE Rising Star Award, the only BAFTA film award decided by public vote[7](https://www.bafta.org/awards/film/leading-actor/) • [19](https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/nominees-announced-for-the-2023-ee-rising-star-award-ahead-of-the-ee-bafta-film-awards/). Time Out reported that he was only the third person ever nominated for Best Actor and Rising Star in the same year[12](https://www.timeout.com/london/news/daryl-mccormack-five-years-ago-i-was-waiting-tables-now-im-at-the-baftas-020723). [Emma Mackey](https://www.edgepedia.org/emma-mackey) won the Rising Star Award[8](https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/british-public-crowns-emma-mackey-winner-of-the-ee-rising-star-award-at-the-2023-ee-bafta-film-awards/). He and Thompson also shared a British Independent Film Awards nomination for Best Joint Lead Performance in 2022[14](https://www.screendaily.com/features/daryl-mccormack-on-researching-good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-role-auditioning-for-star-wars/5178722.article).
**Television and film roles followed quickly.** He played Matthew Claffin in Sharon Horgan's Apple TV black comedy *Bad Sisters* (2022–2024, 14 episodes), a part he landed after *Leo Grande* put his name on casting lists[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7580109/) • [16](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio/2022/08/23/oh-my-god-its-the-guy-all-the-women-in-hackney-fancy-how-daryl-mccormack-landed-his-role-in-bad-sisters/). In 2023 he played Detective Colman Akande opposite [Ruth Wilson](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-wilson) in the BBC gothic thriller *The Woman in the Wall*, which examines the legacy of the Magdalene Laundries, and Liam Somers in Alice Troughton's debut feature *The Lesson*, with [Julie Delpy](https://www.edgepedia.org/julie-delpy) and Richard E. Grant[20](https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/daryl-mccormack/) • [14](https://www.screendaily.com/features/daryl-mccormack-on-researching-good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-role-auditioning-for-star-wars/5178722.article). He played Jeb in the *Twister* sequel *Twisters* (2024)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7580109/).
In Rian Johnson's *Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery* (2025), the third Knives Out film, McCormack plays Cy Draven, an influencer-turned-wannabe politician and the adopted son of Kerry Washington's character; the film opened the 2025 BFI London Film Festival and streams on Netflix[9](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/wake-up-dead-man-knives-out-mystery-cast-release-date-plot?inapp=true) • [21](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/mystery-movies/knives-outs-rian-johnson-admits-he-usually-avoids-writing-the-murder-mystery-part-until-i-cant-anymore-and-wake-up-dead-man-was-no-different/) • [20](https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/daryl-mccormack/). He is set to play Mr Bingley in Netflix's upcoming *Pride and Prejudice* adaptation, and has upcoming roles in *I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning*, *Rogue Trooper*, and Tom Ford's *Cry to Heaven*[10](https://www.connachttribune.ie/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/supermacs-most-famous-employee-returns-for-visit-after-conquering-hollywood-9047461) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7580109/).
## References
1. [Daryl McCormack, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7580109/)
2. [Actor Daryl McCormack: 'I long to be connected to people and sometimes I don't read the room', The Guardian (11 February 2023)](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/feb/11/daryl-mccormack-interview)
3. [Daryl McCormack Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/daryl_mccormack)
4. [Stars of Tomorrow 2021: Daryl McCormack (actor), Screen Daily](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2021-daryl-mccormack-actor/5163769.article)
5. [Irish actor Daryl McCormack says it was 'a gift' working with Emma Thompson, RTÉ Entertainment (20 June 2022)](https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2022/0620/1305124-emma-thompson/)
6. [Daryl McCormack, West End Theatre Star Watch](https://www.westendtheatre.com/170552/star-watch/daryl-mccormack/)
7. [Film / Leading Actor, BAFTA](https://www.bafta.org/awards/film/leading-actor/)
8. [British public crowns Emma Mackey winner of the EE Rising Star Award at the 2023 EE BAFTA Film Awards, BAFTA](https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/british-public-crowns-emma-mackey-winner-of-the-ee-rising-star-award-at-the-2023-ee-bafta-film-awards/)
9. [Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Cast, Release Date, Netflix Tudum](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/wake-up-dead-man-knives-out-mystery-cast-release-date-plot?inapp=true)
10. [Supermac's most famous employee returns for visit after conquering Hollywood, Connacht Tribune (14 September 2026)](https://www.connachttribune.ie/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/supermacs-most-famous-employee-returns-for-visit-after-conquering-hollywood-9047461)
11. [Daryl McCormack on his Bafta-nominated role in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, The Independent (22 January 2023)](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/daryl-mccormack-leo-grande-bad-sisters-b2266164.html)
12. [Daryl McCormack: 'Five years ago I was waiting tables, now I'm at the BAFTAs', Time Out London (7 February 2023)](https://www.timeout.com/london/news/daryl-mccormack-five-years-ago-i-was-waiting-tables-now-im-at-the-baftas-020723)
13. [Daryl McCormack arrives as a leading man — in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, The Irish Times (18 June 2022)](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/2022/06/18/daryl-mccormack/)
14. [Daryl McCormack on researching 'Good Luck To You, Leo Grande' role, auditioning for 'Star Wars', Screen Daily](https://www.screendaily.com/features/daryl-mccormack-on-researching-good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-role-auditioning-for-star-wars/5178722.article)
15. ['We are very close now' – Tipperary's Daryl McCormack on getting intimate with Emma Thompson for a new film role, Irish Independent](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/we-are-very-close-now-tipperarys-daryl-mccormack-on-getting-intimate-with-emma-thompson-for-a-new-film-role/b40491842.html)
16. ['Oh my God, it's the guy all the women in Hackney fancy': How Daryl McCormack landed his latest role, The Irish Times (23 August 2022)](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio/2022/08/23/oh-my-god-its-the-guy-all-the-women-in-hackney-fancy-how-daryl-mccormack-landed-his-role-in-bad-sisters/)
17. [Daryl McCormack on Playing Emma Thompson’s Lover For Hire in ‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’ | Vogue](https://www.vogue.com/article/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-breakout-daryl-mccormack-interview)
18. [Daryl McCormack: 'There was nowhere to hide', Square Mile](https://squaremile.com/culture/film-tv/daryl-mccormack-interview/)
19. [Nominees announced for the 2023 EE Rising Star Award ahead of the EE BAFTA Film Awards, BAFTA (17 January 2023)](https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/nominees-announced-for-the-2023-ee-rising-star-award-ahead-of-the-ee-bafta-film-awards/)
20. [Daryl McCormack news page, RTÉ Entertainment](https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/daryl-mccormack/)
21. [Knives Out's Rian Johnson on writing Wake Up Dead Man, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/mystery-movies/knives-outs-rian-johnson-admits-he-usually-avoids-writing-the-murder-mystery-part-until-i-cant-anymore-and-wake-up-dead-man-was-no-different/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Irish actors › Surnames G to M*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license