Paul John Ready (born 1977) is a British actor. He is known for appearing in British television series including Utopia, Ripper Street, Motherland and MotherFatherSon. In 2018, he played the role of Rob MacDonald in the BBC television series Bodyguard and Harry Goodsir in AMC's The Terror. He received a commendation at the 2003 Ian Charleson Awards.
Early life Ready was born in Birmingham and grew up in Harborne. He attended King Edward VI Five Ways school in Bartley Green, after which he trained at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. His first acting performance was in a primary school production of The Willow Pattern. In secondary school, he would go on school trips to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit the theatre. He was a member of Stage2 Youth Theatre.
Career At the age of 17, Ready played Romeo in the National Youth Theatre production of Romeo and Juliet at London's Bloomsbury Theatre, opposite Rosamund Pike as Juliet.
He is a regular at the National and Royal Court theatres. Past appearances have included leading parts in Major Barbara and Saint Joan (both plays by George Bernard Shaw) and Time and the Conways by J.B. Priestley. His West End credits include One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which starred Christian Slater. In 2018 he starred as the titular character in Macbeth at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (2018), opposite his wife Michelle Terry as Lady Macbeth. Of his role as Macbeth the Financial Times said: "Ready is a rare bird in that he has an actorly way with oratory, but instead of keeping us at a distance from his character, it clarifies nuances and levels and paradoxically allows us in deeper." In 2020, he and Terry returned to the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse as Petruchio and Biondello respectively in The Taming of the Shrew, which had to close early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Between January 31 and April 19, 2025 he starred in Chekhov's Three Sisters as Aleksandr Vershinin, once again alongside Terry.
Also appearing on television, Ready received notability in 2013 for his role in the television show Utopia. He is best known for his role as the special adviser to Keeley Hawes' Home Secretary in the BBC series Bodyguard and Kevin in the BBC series Motherland.
In 2018, Ready featured as Harry Goodsir, one of the lead roles in The Terror, a 10-part series based on Dan Simmons' novel, for which he was nominated for a Satellite Award. Vanity Fair said of his performance: "Ready's character is the heart of the show: despite the various calamities that have befallen him and his comrades, he still sees hope."
In 2026, he appeared in a leading role as Michael in the BBC sitcom Ann Droid.
In August 2026, Little Animals, written by and starring Ready, has its world premiere in the Traverse Theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Acting credits
Film and television +Year(s)TitleRoleNotes1995Angels and InsectsTom2000 Doctors Terry Hyde Episode: "Confidential Information"Maybe BabyStudent Doctor2001Princess of ThievesSheriff's servantPoirotWilliamEpisode: "Evil Under the Sun"2002Plain JaneClerkHeartbeatHenry HarrisonEpisode: "A Girl's Best Friend"Tipping the VelvetRenter AliceMiniseriesJeffrey Archer: The TruthPaul McCartney2004Life BeginsMarkEpisode: "Maggie & Phil"BlackpoolWill1 episode2005Twisted TalesPhilEpisode: "Death Metal Chronicles"Born and BredAbel MarlEpisode: "The Great Leap Forward"PierrepointAnthony David FarrowTrial & RetributionHarry CranleyEpisode: "The Lovers: Part 1"2006Holby CityLeon HarrisEpisode: "Yesterday Once More"DresdenWilliam2008The Gravity of BeliefMr. BumpkinShort filmPullingMike1 episode2011SilkTony PaddickEpisode: "All Plain Sailing"2012Private PeacefulCaptain Wilkins2013One Wrong WordTonyShort filmThe TunnelBenji Robertson2013–2014UtopiaLeeRecurring role2013–2016Ripper StreetFrederick Treves3 episodes2015Cuffs DI Felix KaneMain cast2016The Complete Walk: Richard IIISecond MurdererShort filmThe CircuitDannyTV movieThe Witness for the ProsecutionTripp2016–2022MotherlandKevin BradyMain cast2017FortitudeMark Devlin2 episodesBeside HimselfDevlinShort filmThe Death of StalinNKVD Officer Delov2018EndeavourSebastian FenixEpisode: "Quartet"BodyguardRobSupporting roleThe TerrorHarry Goodsir2019Our Liam of LourdesTobyShort filmMotherFatherSonNick CaplanSupporting role2020MuseAdermanShort filmFlackDamien Paulson3 episodes2021The Dig James Reid Moir2022The Bastard Son & The Devil HimselfSoul O'Brien2023CaptureDadShort filmHeart of StoneMax Bailey2024MandyCooperEpisode: "Destination: Dundee"A Gentleman In MoscowPetrovBring Them DownGary2025Rob & Romesh VsGuestEpisode: "Shakespeare" 2026All That GlittersShakespeareAnn DroidMichael6 episodes Franz KafkaShort film, unreleased
Radio +Year(s)TitleRoleStationNotes Ref.2011A Tale of Two CitiesSydney CartonBBC Radio 44 episodes2012Romeo and JulietMercutio BBC Radio 3Twelfth NightOrsino BBC Radio 32013Imo and BenBenjamin Britten BBC Radio 3Sword of HonourGuy CrouchbackBBC Radio 47 episodes2014The Once and Future KingArthurBBC Radio 46 episodes2015The Master and MargaritaMasterBBC Radio 3The Pumpkin EaterJake Armitage BBC Radio 45 episodes2018Home FrontJohnnie MarshallBBC Radio 42022He Do The Wasteland In Different VoicesThe PoetBBC Radio 3Jason's MatesErnest MontagueBBC Radio 42023Christmas Miracle on Brighton PierWilliam McFaddenBBC Radio 42025The History of Mr PollyAlfred PollyBBC Radio 42 episodes
Theatre +Year(s)TitleRoleTheatre Ref.1999The Beggar's OperaFilchWilton's Music Hall2000CuckoosTitoGate Theatre2001Twelfth NightSebastianLiverpool Playhouse2001–2002Mother Clap's Molly HouseMartinLyttelton Theatre2002Romeo and JulietMercutioLiverpool PlayhouseCrazyblackmuthafuckin'selfColin Royal Court Theatre2003Black MilkLevchickTerrorismVariousThe Comedy of ErrorsDromio of SyracuseBristol Old Vic2003–2004World MusicTim/Young GeoffDonmar Warehouse2004Forty WinksCharlieRoyal Court Theatre2005RomanceBernardAlmeida Theatre2006One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestBilly BibbitGarrick TheatreWavesNeville National Theatre2007Attempts on Her LifeVariousSaint JoanDauphin2008Major BarbaraAdolphys Cusins2009Love's Labour's LostDon ArmadoShakespeare's GlobeThe PillowmanMichalCurve TheatreTime and the ConwaysAlan ConwayNational TheatreThree More Sleepless NightsPete2010London AssuranceCharles Courtly2011WastwaterMarkRoyal Court TheatreA Woman Killed with KindnessJohn FrankfordNational Theatre 2011–2012Noises OffTim AllgoodThe Old Vic 2012–2013In the Republic of HappinessBobRoyal Court Theatre2014Black ComedyBrindsleyChichester Festival TheatreMuch Ado About NothingBenedickRoyal Exchange, Manchester2015Measure for MeasureAngeloYoung Vic2018/19MacbethMacbethSam Wanamaker Playhouse2020The Taming of the ShrewPetruchioMacbeth: A ConjuringMacbethDeep Night, Dark NightActor2022King LearKing Lear (cover)Shakespeare's Globe2022The Contingency Plan: ResilienceChristopherCrucible Theatre2023Twelfth Night: For One Night OnlySir Andrew AguecheekShakespeare's Globe2024The Duchess (of Malfi)The CardinalTrafalgar TheatreLittle AnimalsRichard / WriterBeckenham Place Mansion2025Three SistersAleksandr VershininSam Wanamaker PlayhouseA Midsummer Night's Dream: For One Night OnlyTheseus/OberonShakespeare's Globe 2026SummerfolkSergei BassovNational TheatreLittle AnimalsRichard / WriterSam Wanamaker PlayhouseEdinburgh Fringe Festival
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2019 Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Film The Terror Nominated
References
External links
Paul Ready on Curtis Brown