Biography

Andrew Tiernan is a British actor and filmmaker known for commanding authority figures, complex anti heroes, and psychologically layered antagonists across film and television. His work includes standout roles in The Pianist, 300, Prime Suspect, Cracker, Happy Valley, Dalgliesh, and FBI: International. He is also the founder of Keeps on Burning Films, directing and producing character driven projects alongside his international acting career.
- IMDb mini biography by: Steve Thomas

Andrew Tiernan is a British actor and filmmaker known for commanding authority figures, complex anti heroes, and psychologically layered antagonists across studio features and prestige television. Trained at the Drama Centre London, he first gained attention in Derek Jarman’s Edward II (1991) and the BAFTA winning Prime Suspect (1991), before delivering a breakout performance as the disturbed Sean Kerrigan in Cracker (1993) with Robbie Coltrane.

Tiernan’s film work includes Roman Polanski's Academy Award winning The Pianist (2002), where he played the quietly menacing Szalas, and Zack Snyder’s global hit 300 (2006), portraying the tragic outcast Ephialtes with full physical transformation. His grounded intensity and screen presence have made him a natural fit for detectives, military personnel, intelligence operatives, and conflicted leaders, as well as roles defined by grit and moral ambiguity.

On television, he has appeared in acclaimed series including Happy Valley (2014), Dalgliesh (2021), Joan (2024), FBI: International (2021), and Father Brown (2013). His range has led to collaborations with Angelina Jolie, Adrien Brody, Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Sam Neill, Timothy Hutton, David Duchovny, Rhys Ifans, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Gerard Butler, Michael Fassbender, Robin Williams, John Turturro, and Jean-Marc Barr.

Tiernan is also the founder of Keeps on Burning Films, where he directs and produces character driven, socially engaged work. His films including uk18 (2017), #LostDogFilm (2016), Dragonfly (2015), and Break Clause (2019) reflect his interest in psychological tension, leadership under pressure, and stories rooted in human resilience.

He continues to work internationally, bringing a distinctive blend of authority, emotional depth, and transformative physicality to roles across film and television.
- IMDb mini biography by: Steve Thomas

His prosthetic make-up work for the character; Ephialtes in 300 (2006) took 10 hours to apply. The longest he spent in the costume was 30 hours whilst filming in the Persian Tent.

Studied at the Drama Centre London where such stars as; Colin Firth, John Simm, Pierce Brosnan, Paul Bettany and Michael Fassbender trained.

His first taste of acting was in the Birmingham Youth Theatre and National Youth Theatre, which he attended alongside Adrian Lester.

An action figure was created based on his character, Ephialtes, from 300 (2006).

His first credited film was in 1989 which was Dead Cat (1989) he acted alongside Genesis P-Orridge of Psychic TV and Throbbing Gristle fame and the Avant Garde film-maker Derek Jarman. Jarman later went on to cast Tiernan as Gaveston in Edward II (1991) playing opposite Tilda Swinton.