Actor profile
Career and selected work
Conleth Hill is a Northern Irish actor with an extensive stage and screen career. His role as Varys in Game of Thrones is an international point of recognition, but the selected credits below offer several alternatives to that association. Holding puts him at the centre of a police investigation as Sergeant PJ Collins. Vienna Blood gives him a continuing family role as Mendel Liebermann, while Suits places Edward Darby in a legal workplace. Those characters should not be read as variations on Alan Conway simply because the performer is familiar.
For viewers following Anthony Horowitz’s work, Hill’s appearance in Foyle’s War is another genuine connection. It belongs to a different series and setting, not the Susan Ryeland story. A useful viewing pair is Holding and one of Hill’s Vienna Blood appearances: the contrast helps separate a leading investigator from a character whose importance comes through family relationships. The film Official Secrets also offers a concise route into his screen work outside serial television.
Six roles to explore
- Game of Thrones (2011–2019) — Varys.
- Suits (2013) — Edward Darby.
- Foyle’s War (2015) — Sir Ian Woodhead.
- Official Secrets (2019) — Roger Alton.
- Vienna Blood (2019–2024) — Mendel Liebermann.
- Holding (2022) — Sergeant PJ Collins.
In the Susan Ryeland adaptations
Hill plays Alan Conway, the novelist who created Atticus Pünd. Conway’s books make him professionally important to Susan, but his relationships with the people around him are central to the mysteries she encounters. His habit of drawing material from life creates connections between the modern world and the manuscript. Hill does not play Pünd: that role belongs to Tim McMullan. Keeping author and detective distinct is essential, because a fictional character’s insight is not necessarily a trustworthy description of the person who invented him.
Where to watch and explore next
Explore the Susan Ryeland episodes. Check local streaming services for other roles before subscribing. Use the year and character to identify the right production.
The character links below lead into the story guides. Endings stay in closed sections. Open them when you are ready for spoilers. Watching for the first time? Follow the episodes in order. Rewatching? Compare the performances across the two worlds.
Characters played
Stage work and recognition
Hill’s theatre career includes Stones in His Pockets, The Producers and The Seafarer. His agency records Olivier wins for the first two productions and Tony nominations for Stones in His Pockets and The Seafarer. Other stage work includes King Lear at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.
Source: B-Side: Conleth Hill. Checked 19 October 2026.
Read or listen to the book
Magpie Murders (2016)
Anthony Horowitz’s novel behind the first television mystery.
Waterstones · print Audible · audiobookMoonflower Murders (2020)
Anthony Horowitz’s novel behind the second television mystery.
Waterstones · print Audible · audiobookPaid links may earn commission, at no extra cost.