Christopher Nolanis known for making large-scale dramas and thrillers with complex narratives and plenty of stars. The director often works with actors on multiple projects throughout their careers. At present, Michael Caine (The Dark Knight) is Nolan’s most frequently collaborating actor, appearing in eight out of Nolan’s 12 feature films. Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) is in second place with six collaborations.
Scoring a part in one of Nolan’s movies is certainly good for an actor’s career, whether they work together again or not. Some of the actors on this list transitioned to film from television through a Christopher Nolan project, while others made their debut appearances onscreen in Nolan’s films.
Here are 10 actors who launched their film careers with a Christopher Nolan movie.
10Harry Styles
‘Dunkirk’ (2017)
Harry Styles has been a household name since 2010, when he was a member of the boy band One Direction. The British singer went on to have a successful solo music career, with hits like “As It Was” and “Watermelon Sugar.“Styles didn’t transition into acting until2017, making his feature film debut in Christopher Nolan’s World War II epicDunkirk. Nolan hadn’t been overtly aware of Styles’s fame in the music world, casting him based on his audition tape.
Styles plays a Highlanders regiment soldier named Alex, and his performance was well-received. He was even nominated for a Teen Choice Award for the role. AfterDunkirk, Styles went on to star inEternalsandMy Policeman. He also starred inDon’t Worry Darlingopposite Florence Pugh (Thunderbolts*). As an actor, he has been nominated for two MTV Movie Awards and two People’s Choice Awards.
9Tom Glynn-Carney
Tom Glynn-Carney is an English actor who started acting for television in 2013, with a leading role in the BBC One dramaThe Last Postin 2017. That same year, he made his feature film debut inDunkirkas Peter Dawson, the son of a civilian sailor who helps rescue a soldier out of the water.
Since then, Glynn-Carney has appeared on stage and in films such asTolkienandThe King. He has continued to appear on television as well. His most notable role to date is Aegon II Targaryen, the sixth King of the Seven Kingdoms onHBO’sHouse of the Dragon. In 2024, he appeared in the crime drama miniseriesThe Jettystarring Jenna Coleman (Victoria).
8Sarah Goldberg
‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)
Canadian actor Sarah Goldberg started her career in the theater.The Dark Knight Riseswas her second film as an actor, and her character was only credited as Analyst #1. She then starred in some short films and appeared on a few television shows before landing the role ofSally Reed on HBO’sBarry. Sally is a member of Barry’s acting class, with whom he later develops a romantic relationship.
In 2019, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance inBarry. Since then, she has starred in shows like the RTÉ One comedySistersand season three of the HBO dramaIndustry. Her film credits includeThe Hummingbird Project,The Report,The Night House,Rogue Agent, andWe Strangers.
7Tyler Dean Flores
Tyler Dean Flores made his feature film debut inThe Dark Knight Risesafter sending in an audition tape with his acting coach. He found out that he had been cast as Mark in the movie shortly after graduating from eighth grade. He appeared in two episodes ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitin 2013 and in the four-part Netflix miniseriesWhen They See Us.
He went on to play Diego inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldieron Disney+ and had a small role in Jane Schoenbrun’s (We’re All Going to the World’s Fair) filmI Saw the TV Glow. In 2023, he starred in the Netflixmusical seriesNeon, where he played aspiring reggaeton artist, Santi.
6Erik Hellman
‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
Erik Hellman made his acting debut credited as “Junkie"inThe Dark Knight, a character who has been exposed to the Scarecrow’s (Cillian Murphy) fear toxin. Since then, he has worked with a few theater companies and has appeared in a number of television shows — primarily procedurals.
He has appeared in several episodes ofChicago FireandChicago P.D.as Dr. Alec Willhite. He played Jonny Carson in the Hulu miniseriesMrs. Americaand was in the fourth season ofFargoon FX. Between 2022 and 2023, he appeared as Peter in the AMC legal thriller61st Streetstarring Courtney B. Vance (Law & Order: Criminal Intent).
5David Dastmalchian
David Dastmalchian’s first feature film role was inThe Dark Knightas former Arkham Asylum patient Thomas Schiff, one of the many men who do the Joker’s (Heath Ledger) bidding. The American actor has worked steadily in film since then. Some of his early post-The Dark Knightfilm credits includeHorsemen,Prisoners,Ant-Man,Blade Runner 2049,Bird Box, andDune.
David Dastmalchian teamed up with Christopher Nolan again in 2023, when he played William L. Borden inOppenheimer. Dastmalchian is also cultivating a name for himself in the horror genre. The same yearOppenhiemerwas released, he starred inTheLast Voyage of the DemeterandLate Night with the Devil,for which he won Best Lead Performance at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. He’s been in horror movies likeThe Boogeyman,Afraid, andRosario,plus Showtime’sDexter: Resurrectionand the Apple TV+ seriesMurderbot.
4Rebecca Hall
‘The Prestige’ (2006)
English actor Rebecca Hall started acting for television in 1992, but it was her second feature film,The Prestige, that really introduced her to American audiences. In the historical drama, she played Sarah Borden, wife of the talented magician Alfred Borden (Christian Bale). Hall earned an Empire Award nomination for Best Female Newcomer forThe Prestige. Since then, the actor has remained very busy. She appeared inFrost/Nixonin 2008,Dorian Grayin 2009, and Ben Affleck’sThe Townin 2010.
Hall starred in the historical horror movieThe Awakeningin 2011, for which she was nominated for a British Independent Film Award. Other film credits includeClosed Circuit, A Promise, Christine, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women,andThe Night House. In 2021, Hall wrote and directed a gripping adaptation of the classic 1929 Nella Larsen novel,Passing. The film received two BAFTA Award nominations for Outstanding British Film of the Year and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer.
3Karen David
‘Batman Begins’ (2005)
Batman Beginswas the first American film role for Canadian actor Karen David. She played Courthouse Reporter No. 1 and was only seen briefly, but over the years, her filmography has grown significantly. In 2010, she starred as Francesca Montoya in the sixth season ofWaterloo Roadon BBC One. She played Princess Isabella on ABC’sGalavantand Jasmine inOnce Upon a Time.
David has also appeared on shows likeCastle,Criminal Minds,The Rookie,Legacies,Barry,andWe Were Liars. She is likely best known for playing Grace Mukherjee in season five through season eight of AMC’sFear the Walking Dead. She also played Rose Dinshaw in the NBC crime dramaThe Irrational.
2Jack Gleeson
Jack Gleeson’s first credited film role was as the little boy who gets saved by Batman (Christian Bale) in the movieBatman Begins. In the scene, the two share an incredibly sweet moment that resonated with fans. Gleeson was in a few more films before landing his most famous role in 2011: Joffrey Baratheon in HBO’sGame of Thrones.
The Irish actor became famous for playing the ruthless Joffrey, who would become one of the most hated villains in the series. He was nominated for Best TV Villain by the IGN Summer Movie Awards five times, winning twice. After Game of Thrones,Gleeson took a break from screen acting. He returned in 2020, appearing in a few movies and TV shows, includingOut of Her Mind,Sex Education,Safe Harbor, andThe Sandman. He is slated to appear in the upcoming Netflix dramaHouse of Guinness.
1Lucy Russell
‘Following’ (1998)
Lucy Russell made her feature film debut in Christopher Nolan’s directorialdebut feature film,Following. Russell played a mysterious woman credited as The Blonde opposite Jeremy Theobald (Tenet) as The Young Man. The English actor went on to star in the 2001 period dramaThe Lady and the Duke. She then teamed up with Nolan again in 2005 for a small role inBatman Begins.
She has since appeared inTristan & Isolde, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, World War Z, Rebecca, Without Remorse, and Steve McQueen’s 2024 World War II epicBlitz. She has also been on over 40 television shows, such asMidsomer Murders, Call the Midwife, Wolf Hall, Vera, Top Boy, The Girlfriend Experience, The Day of the Jackal, andDune: Prophecy. For her role in the short sci-fi dramaCognition, Russel won prizes at the Hollywood Blood Horror Festival, New York Cinematography Awards, Rome International Movie Awards, Golden Reel International Film Festival, and the London Movie Awards.
