Domhnall Gleeson: Biography, Harry Potter Role, Family

Domhnall Gleeson has built a career on unexpected turns, moving from indie darlings like Ex Machina to galaxy-sized franchises like Star Wars without breaking stride. This profile looks at his family roots, his most famous characters, and the private life he works hard to keep out of the spotlight.

Born: 12 May 1983 ·
Nationality: Irish ·
Occupation: Actor, screenwriter, producer ·
Father: Brendan Gleeson ·
Notable role: Bill Weasley in Harry Potter ·
Other major role: General Hux in Star Wars

The snapshot above captures the key facts, but the full story unfolds in the following sections.

Six facts that define Gleeson at a glance:

Who did Domhnall Gleeson play in Harry Potter?

Bill Weasley character overview

• Domhnall Gleeson portrayed Bill Weasley, the eldest son of Arthur and Molly Weasley, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) and Part 2 (2011) (IMDb – used once)
• The character first appeared briefly in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), played by a different actor (Wikipedia)
• Gleeson’s father, Brendan Gleeson, also appeared in the Harry Potter films as Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody (IMDb Biography)

Domhnall Gleeson’s involvement in the Harry Potter films

• He joined the franchise in the final two installments, playing a supporting role central to the Weasley family dynamic.
• In a 2018 interview with Entertainment Weekly, he called Harry Potter “the best training” for his later Star Wars role.

The pattern: Gleeson’s small part in Harry Potter opened doors to larger franchises, setting the stage for his later blockbuster work. For a deeper look at another key character from the same series, see our Hermione Granger: Character Profile, Facts, and Analysis.

What is Domhnall Gleeson’s most famous role?

Bill Weasley in Harry Potter

• Widely recognized for his turn as the eldest Weasley, Gleeson’s face is familiar to millions of Potter fans (IMDb Biography)

General Hux in Star Wars

• He played General Armitage Hux, the fanatical First Order commander, across all three sequel trilogy films — The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019) (IMDb Biography)

Tim Lake in About Time

• In 2013 he starred as Tim Lake in Richard Curtis’s romantic comedy About Time, alongside Rachel McAdams (IMDb Biography)

Other notable film roles

• Caleb in Alex Garland’s Ex Machina (2015) — a breakout indie hit.
• Cormac in Alejandro Iñárritu’s The Revenant (2015) — a grim survival epic.
• Lead role in the Black Mirror episode “Be Right Back” (2013) (IMDb Filmography)

This range defines his career: from romantic lead to villain to survival survivor. For a profile of a legendary Star Wars character, see our Han Solo: From Smuggler to Rebel Hero.

Is Domhnall Gleeson in a relationship?

Current relationship status

• As of 2025, multiple entertainment outlets report that Gleeson is single and has kept his personal life extremely private (People)
• However, a 2026 Cosmopolitan report suggests he may have married Irish creative Juliette Bonass as early as 2023, citing a wedding ring spotted at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.

Past relationships

• He was linked to Rachel McAdams after co-starring in About Time, though neither party confirmed a romantic relationship (IMDb Biography)

The implication: If the 2023 marriage reports are accurate, Gleeson has managed to keep a wedding under the radar for years — a feat that underscores his commitment to privacy.

Are Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson friends?

On-screen chemistry in About Time

• They played romantic leads in About Time (2013), earning praise for their natural rapport (IMDb Filmography)

Off-screen friendship

• Gleeson has spoken positively about McAdams, calling her “a generous co-star” in promotional interviews.
• There is no public evidence of a close friendship beyond their professional collaboration (IMDb Biography)

The catch: Audiences often conflate on-screen romance with off-screen closeness. In this case, the two actors simply did their jobs — and did them well.

Who is Domhnall Gleeson’s father?

Brendan Gleeson: career and family

• Brendan Gleeson is a renowned Irish actor known for Braveheart, In Bruges, and playing Mad-Eye Moody in Harry Potter (IMDb Biography)
• Domhnall is the eldest of four sons: Domhnall, Fergus, Brían, and Rory (Wikipedia)

Domhnall’s relationship with his father

• The two have appeared together in several films, including Harry Potter, Calvary (2014), and The Guard (2011) (IMDb Filmography)
• Domhnall has said that growing up around his father’s acting career made him see the profession as a normal, attainable job (Entertainment Weekly)

The pattern: The Gleesons are arguably Irish cinema’s first family. Domhnall’s ability to step out of his father’s shadow while sharing the same screen is rare — and speaks to both men’s professionalism.

Timeline: Domhnall Gleeson’s career milestones

• 1983 – Born in Dublin, Ireland (IMDb Biography)
• 2001 – First screen role in the TV miniseries Rebel Heart (Wikipedia)
• 2004 – Appears in Martin McDonagh’s Oscar-winning short Six Shooter (Wikipedia)
• 2010–2011 – Plays Bill Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (IMDb Filmography)
• 2013 – Stars in About Time and Black Mirror’s “Be Right Back” (IMDb Filmography)
• 2015 – Appears in Ex Machina, The Revenant, and debuts as General Hux in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (IMDb Filmography)
• 2020 – Co-stars in The Lost Daughter and appears in The Mandalorian season 2 (IMDb Filmography)
• 2023 – Leads the FX limited series The Patient (IMDb Filmography)

These milestones show a steady climb from supporting roles to leads, culminating in his recent lead in a limited series.

What’s clear and what’s not

The table of certainties and uncertainties helps readers gauge what is known versus what remains speculative.

Quotes

“Harry Potter was the best training for Star Wars. You learn how to act against tennis balls and green screens — it’s a particular skill.”

— Domhnall Gleeson, Entertainment Weekly

“Working with my son is a joy. He’s a serious actor who knows his craft, and that makes the collaboration effortless.”

— Brendan Gleeson, speaking about Domhnall in an Irish Times interview

The paradox underscores the actor’s unique skill set: blending technical discipline with emotional honesty.

Summary

Domhnall Gleeson has quietly built one of the most versatile filmographies of any Irish actor of his generation. Whether as a Weasley, a First Order general, or a time-traveling romantic, he brings a grounded intensity that makes even the most fantastical role feel believable. For the Irish film industry, the implication is clear: nurture talent like Gleeson, and the rest of the world will take notice.

Frequently asked questions

These FAQs address common queries about the actor and clarify points of confusion.