Born in Lancashire, England, Kieran O'Brien first rose to prominence as a child star playing the title character in the BBC series Gruey. He then enjoyed further success as part of the main cast on the ITV series Children's Ward and also starred opposite the late Harry Dean Stanton in The Jim Henson Hour. O'Brien continued acting into his adulthood, appearing regularly in mainstream dramas, most notably as Robbie Coltrane's son in the multi BAFTA winning Cracker where he would first meet director Michael Winterbottom.
In 1999, he appeared in a full-frontal nude scene in Virtual Sexuality. He appeared nude again in the BBC series Burn It and then following his roles in the acclaimed Band of Brothers and 24 Hour Party People starred in 9 Songs, a film by Winterbottom which would push the boundaries of just how explicit a mainstream feature could be. O'Brien was the perfect casting opposite American model Margo Stilley, as he was a young actor both confident and well-endowed. He has to date collaborated with the maverick director on eight independent feature films, the most recent being The Look of Love.
Although O'Brien's role in such a controversial and groundbreaking film seems likely to be what people will always identify him with, he continues to act, mainly in high profile British and International television dramas.
Fifteen(2024)as Guard
Ted Lasso(2020)as James Tartt
The Family Pile(2023)as Stuart
Andor(2022)as Pegla
Clergymen(2022)as Mutt
Fellow Creatures(2021)
She(2020)
Mr Invisible(2013)
The Shock Doctrine(2009)
Trucking Heavy(2022)as Self - Narrator
Trucking Hell(2018)as Self - Narrator
Speed Cameras: Are They Out to Get Us?(2025)as Self - Narrator
A Thousand Blows(2024)as Mr. Harkness
The Cars That Made the World(2020)as Narrator
Cinema mil(2005)as Matt
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson(1990)as Matt Banting
