Actor profile
Career and selected work
Matthew Beard is an English actor whose film and television work provides several familiar points of recognition. He plays the younger Blake Morrison in And When Did You Last See Your Father?, Graham in An Education and mathematician Peter Hilton in The Imitation Game. Johnny English Strikes Again adds a comic film role, while Vienna Blood gives him a continuing lead as Max Liebermann.
Vienna Blood is an especially useful comparison for viewers who know Beard from the Susan Ryeland adaptations: it places him within another investigative partnership, but the character, period and source material are different. Avenue 5 supplies a further change of setting and tone. For a short introduction, choose one film and one television series from the list rather than expecting every performance to resemble James Taylor or James Fraser. The page linked below identifies the English actor; this is important because another performer with the same name has a different career and biography.
Six roles to explore
- And When Did You Last See Your Father? (2007) — young Blake Morrison.
- An Education (2009) — Graham.
- The Imitation Game (2014) — Peter Hilton.
- Johnny English Strikes Again (2018) — P.
- Vienna Blood (2019–2024) — Max Liebermann.
- Avenue 5 (2020) — Alan Lewis.
In the Susan Ryeland adaptations
In Magpie Murders, Beard plays James Taylor, Alan Conway’s partner, and James Fraser, Atticus Pünd’s assistant. Moonflower brings back James Taylor; that appearance should not be described as a return for both roles. The distinction matters because the fictional detective’s household and assistants need to be followed within each individual manuscript. Taylor belongs to Conway’s real-life relationships, while Fraser works inside the novel. When comparing them, begin with what each man knows about his respective companion, rather than treating the two story worlds as one continuous set of events.
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
Beard received a Tony nomination for Skylight, directed by Stephen Daldry. He also played Edmund in Long Day’s Journey into Night alongside Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville, with runs in London, New York and Los Angeles. His agency lists Boys on the Verge of Tears at Soho Theatre among his stage credits.
Source: B-Side: Matthew Beard. 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 · audiobookPaid links may earn commission, at no extra cost.