Paul Ready

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.

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

Radio

Theatre

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