Peter Mullan Biography: Movies & TV Shows, Wife, Children, Net Worth, Age, Height

Peter Mullan, is a Scottish actor and filmmaker renowned for his raw, intense performances and socially conscious storytelling.

He gained international acclaim for his role as Joe Kavanagh in My Name Is Joe (1998), earning the Best Actor Award at Cannes, and as the tyrannical patriarch in The Magdalene Sisters (2002), which he also wrote and directed, winning the Golden Lion at Venice.

A Glasgow native with a theater background, Mullan’s work spans gritty dramas like Trainspotting (1996) and epic series such as Ozark (2020), blending visceral emotion with sharp commentary.

His directorial efforts, including Neds (2010), reflect his commitment to exploring working-class struggles, cementing his legacy as a fearless voice in British cinema.

Profile

• Full Name: Peter Mullan
• Stage Name: Peter Mullan
• Born: 2 November 1959
• Age: 65 years old
• Birthplace: Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
• Nationality: Scottish
• Occupation: Actor, Filmmaker
• Height: 1.73m
• Parents: Patricia Mullan, Charles Mullan
• Siblings: Lenny Mullan
• Spouse: Ann Swan (m. 1989–2006)
• Girlfriends: Robyn Malcolm (2013–), Robina Qureshi (ex)
• Children: 4
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Peter Mullan was born on November 2, 1959, in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, to Patricia Mullan, a nurse, and Charles Mullan, a lab technician and former airman.

The second of eight children, including brother Lenny, he grew up in a working-class Catholic family in Glasgow’s Cardonald, facing poverty and his father’s alcoholism and abuse.

Mullan found solace in theater at school, attending St Augustine’s Secondary.

He studied Economic History and Drama at the University of Glasgow, graduating in the early 1980s, where he joined socialist theater groups and honed his craft in agitprop plays.

Mullan is of Scottish and Irish descent, and his religious beliefs, once Catholic, are now undisclosed.

Career

Peter Mullan began his career in the 1980s with Glasgow’s socialist theater scene, performing in politically charged productions before transitioning to screen with a small role in The Big Man (1990) opposite Liam Neeson.

His breakout came as the recovering alcoholic Joe Kavanagh in Ken Loach’s My Name Is Joe (1998), winning Best Actor at Cannes for his raw portrayal of redemption.

Early roles in Trainspotting (1996) as Swanney and Braveheart (1995) as a clansman showcased his ability to steal scenes with gritty authenticity, drawing from his Glasgow roots.

Mullan’s directorial debut, Orphans (1998), a dark comedy about grieving siblings, won awards at Venice, followed by The Magdalene Sisters (2002), a harrowing drama about Ireland’s laundries that he wrote, directed, and starred in, earning the Golden Lion and global praise.

His third feature, Neds (2010), a semi-autobiographical tale of Glasgow gang life, won Best Film at San Sebastián.

As an actor, he portrayed Yaxley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2010–2011), Jacob Snell in Ozark (2020), and King Edward I in Outlaw King (2018), balancing blockbuster roles with indie projects like Tyrannosaur (2011).

Peter Mullan remains active, starring in The Underground Railroad (2021) and Payback (2023), while his theater work includes directing The Crucible (2014).

His influence lies in fearless storytelling, mentoring young filmmakers through workshops, and advocating for working-class narratives, challenging systemic injustices through his art.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: Unknown
• Facebook Handle: Unknown
• Twitter Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

Peter Mullan was married to actress and scriptwriter Ann Swan from 1989 until their divorce in 2006.

They have three children together, including one son with autism.

Additionally, Peter Mullan has another child with his former girlfriend, activist Robina Qureshi.

He is currently in a relationship with New Zealand actress Robyn Malcolm, whom he met while filming “Top of the Lake” in 2013.

Filmography

• The Big Man (1990)
• Trainspotting (1996)
• My Name Is Joe (1998)
• The Magdalene Sisters (2002, also director)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 & 2 (2010–2011)
• Neds (2010, also director)
• Tyrannosaur (2011)
• Outlaw King (2018)
• Ozark (2020)
• The Underground Railroad (2021)

Net Worth

Peter Mullan has an estimated net worth of $5 million.

His wealth primarily stems from acting in films like Trainspotting and Ozark, with substantial fees from high-profile roles and residuals from global distribution.

Directorial projects like The Magdalene Sisters and Neds, plus festival awards and theater work, contribute to his financial portfolio as a respected actor-filmmaker.