John Hannah is currently juggling diverse roles, including playing a seal-like creature called the Fin Man in the upcoming film *The Incomer*, and preparing to appear alongside Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in the fourth installment of *The Mummy* franchise. The 64-year-old Scottish actor brings a wealth of experience to these parts, from portraying the gladiator owner Quintus Batiatus in *Spartacus* to his role as the detective John Rebus in the ITV adaptations of Ian Rankin’s novels, a part he left after one series due to creative fatigue.

Reflecting on his career, Hannah noted that he rarely commits to more than two seasons in television, explaining that once a show’s formula is established, it can become repetitive. He cited his departure from *Rebus* as an example, saying that adapting complex novels into set-length TV episodes often strips away much of the nuance, leading to a sense of sameness.

After a relatively quiet first half of 2026, during which he also served as a voiceover for the BBC’s *Race Across the World*, Hannah recently took on the lead role in *Benidorm Is Murder*, a Channel 5 crime drama set in the Spanish resort city. He plays Dennis Crown, a former detective who now owns a bar and finds himself embroiled in murder investigations. The series, written by *Death in Paradise* screenwriter Ian Jarvis, focuses on everyday characters rather than glamorous settings, a quality Hannah appreciates given his working-class background.

Born and raised in East Kilbride, Scotland, to a toolmaker father and a mother who worked at Marks & Spencer, Hannah has remained connected to his roots. He acknowledges the socioeconomic challenges aspiring actors from working-class backgrounds face today. “No, not a chance,” he said when asked if someone from his background would have the same opportunities in acting now, citing cuts to social subsidies and a shift away from the prolific working-class narratives that characterized his early years in the industry.

Hannah also expressed concern about the current state of storytelling diversity, acknowledging the increased focus on ethnic representation but suggesting that working-class stories may have been sidelined in the process. He highlighted a tendency to conflate ethnic minority characters with working-class status, calling it a problematic oversimplification.

His big break came with his portrayal of Matthew in *Four Weddings and a Funeral* in 1994, where his powerful recitation of W.H. Auden’s poem "Stop All the Clocks" garnered critical acclaim. The sudden rise to fame brought personal challenges, including anger and frustration at the abrupt shift in how he was treated professionally and socially. Over time, he has come to accept, and even appreciate, the level of recognition he has achieved, describing his current status as a balanced "workable" degree of fame.

Now based in Richmond, southwest London, with his wife, actress Joanna Roth, Hannah has been reflecting on a career spanning over four decades. After working abroad in recent years in Spain and Italy, he appreciates the better work-life balance found in these locations and expressed a preference for projects that offer a combination of interesting work, travel opportunities, or good financial reward.

While he had joked about retiring upon turning 60, he emphasizes that he is no longer driven by ambition for career advancement. Instead, he remains open to roles that provide meaningful creative opportunities without sacrificing quality of life.