James Harkness

James Harkness is a Scottish actor from Glasgow who was raised by his mother in the Gorbals area of the city. He attended King’s Park Secondary School and developed an interest in drama from an early age.

Harkness began his screen career with appearances in television series including Silent Witness, Unforgettable, Suspects, Retribution, In Plain Sight and Tin Star. His early film credits included Macbeth and The Program in 2015, followed by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Darkest Hour and Wild Rose. He later appeared in Spencer, Poison Arrows and Betrayal.

On television, Harkness took on increasingly prominent roles, playing Craig Myers in The Victim in 2019 and James in The Nest in 2020. He also portrayed footballer Jimmy Love in The English Game and appeared as Kev in Gangs of London. His subsequent credits included William Kingston in Anne Boleyn, Tamerlane in Raised by Wolves and DS Richard Earl in The Sixth Commandment. In 2025, he appeared as DS Sandy Gay in The Bombing of Pan Am 103.

In 2019, Harkness was selected for BAFTA Elevate, a programme supporting aspiring actors by providing professional development, opportunities and industry connections.