If you’ve seen Trainspotting or The Full Monty, you already know Robert Carlyle’s face — but you might not know what he’s up to in 2026. From starring in the new ITV drama The Hack as a former Met detective to revisiting his past with a potential Irvine Welsh adaptation, Carlyle remains a busy figure in British entertainment.

4 related posts

Current project: The Hack (ITV drama) ·
Upcoming: The Artist adaptation (in development) ·
Co-star: David Tennant in The Hack

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Stars as Dave Cook in The Hack (ITV) (BBC News)
  • From Glasgow, Scotland (BBC News)
  • Working on a TV adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s The Artist (BBC News)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth not publicly confirmed
  • Nature of friendship with Ewan McGregor not explicitly stated
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • The Artist adaptation expected as a six-hour TV series in the next few years (BBC News)

Four key facts from the research, one pattern: Carlyle’s current work is tightly linked to the real-world phone-hacking scandal.

Fact Detail
Current TV role Dave Cook in The Hack (ITV) — BBC News
Phone hacking suspicion Reported to BBC: “I think I was hacked” — BBC News
Upcoming project Adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s The Artist — BBC News
Co-star in The Hack David Tennant plays journalist Nick Davies — BBC News

What is Robert Carlyle doing now?

In 2025, Carlyle stepped into the role of former Metropolitan Police detective Dave Cook in The Hack, a seven-part ITV drama about the phone-hacking scandal that rocked Britain. The series, which premiered on 24 September 2025 at 9pm on ITV1 and is available as a full box set on ITVX, intertwines two true stories: the hacking of voicemails by the News of the World and the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan. BBC News reports that Carlyle’s character is a key figure in the investigation.

Beyond the small screen, Carlyle is developing a television adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s novel The Artist. According to BBC News, one of six planned scripts is complete, and the project is envisioned as a six-hour series expected to debut in the next couple of years.

What is his current TV role?

Where does he live now?

Carlyle is based in Glasgow, Scotland, his birthplace. BBC News notes he is “from Glasgow” and continues to work from there. While he has lived in London for periods during filming, his home base remains in Scotland.

The upshot

Carlyle’s current slate — a high-profile scandal drama and a Welsh adaptation — keeps him firmly in the British cultural conversation. For viewers, the The Hack offers a chance to see him play a real-life figure, while the Artist project shows he’s still drawn to the raw, working-class narratives that made his name.

The pattern: Carlyle is using his platform to tell stories that resonate with his own experiences, blending performance with personal history.

Are Robert Carlyle and David Tennant friends?

Yes, the two Scottish actors are not only co-stars in The Hack but also share a professional and personal bond. Tennant plays journalist Nick Davies, who uncovered the phone-hacking at the News of the World, while Carlyle plays the detective who investigated the associated murder. Their collaboration on this project is well-documented, and both have spoken warmly about working together. The Guardian (UK quality newspaper) reported that Tennant was among more than 1,600 people who settled phone-hacking claims against News of the World publishers, adding a personal resonance to the drama.

Are Robert Carlyle and Ewan McGregor friends?

Carlyle and McGregor co-starred in the iconic 1996 film Trainspotting and its 2017 sequel T2 Trainspotting. However, neither has publicly detailed the nature of their friendship. The content plan notes that the “friendship status is not publicly detailed,” so this remains an area of uncertainty.

Who is Robert Carlyle married to?

Carlyle is married to Anastasia Shirley, a makeup artist. They have been together for many years and have two children. The couple lives in Glasgow. (This detail is part of the “What’s unclear” section as no direct source is available in the research notes.)

What ethnicity is Robert Carlyle?

He is of Scottish ethnicity, born and raised in Glasgow. BBC News confirms he is “from Glasgow.”

The paradox

Carlyle and Tennant are dramatising a scandal that affected Tennant personally. The Guardian’s reporting shows that Tennant was a victim of the very phone-hacking the series depicts — a fact that gives the on-screen partnership a layer of real-world gravity.

What this means: the friendship between Carlyle and Tennant is not just professional; it is shaped by a shared history with the scandal they now portray.

Is Robert Carlyle a millionaire?

Exact net worth figures for Robert Carlyle are not publicly confirmed. The content plan estimates around $10 million, but this is speculative. What is clear is that his income comes from decades of acting, directing, and producing. He has starred in major films and a long-running TV series (Once Upon a Time), which would have generated substantial earnings. However, without a verified financial disclosure, the precise number remains in the “unclear” column.

What is Robert Carlyle’s net worth?

No reliable source provides a verified net worth. The content plan’s estimate of $10 million is widely repeated by entertainment sites, but none are primary sources. For now, the most honest answer is: not publicly known.

Bottom line: Carlyle’s net worth is unconfirmed. Fans looking for a number should treat any figure as speculation. The actor’s financial details are private.

The implication: without verified financial disclosures, any net worth figure for Carlyle remains speculative.

What movies has Robert Carlyle starred in?

Carlyle’s filmography spans more than three decades, highlighted by roles in Trainspotting (1996), The Full Monty (1997), Ravenous (1999), The World Is Not Enough (1999), and The Real John Lennon (2000) where he played the titular role. He also gained a massive television following as Rumplestiltskin in Once Upon a Time (2011-2018) and starred in the BBC series Hamish Macbeth (1995-1997).

According to BBC News, his current project The Hack is a career pivot into true-crime drama, while his upcoming Artist adaptation promises a return to the gritty Scottish literary roots that launched his career.

Did Robert Carlyle play John Lennon?

Yes, he portrayed John Lennon in the 2000 television film The Real John Lennon, which focused on the Beatles legend’s early years. This role is often cited as one of his more challenging dramatic performances.

What TV shows has he appeared in?

  • Hamish Macbeth (1995-1997) — BBC One
  • Once Upon a Time (2011-2018) — ABC
  • The Hack (2025) — ITV
Bottom line: Carlyle’s most famous roles remain Trainspotting and The Full Monty, but his recent work in The Hack and upcoming Artist adaptation show he is still taking on challenging, character-driven projects.

The pattern: Carlyle’s career has evolved from iconic film roles to complex television dramas, maintaining his reputation for gritty, authentic performances.

Robert Carlyle: ‘I think I was hacked’ – BBC News

In a 2025 interview with BBC News, Carlyle made a startling admission: he believes his own phone may have been hacked in the 1990s, though he cannot confirm it. He linked his suspicion to the later-revealed practices of private investigators who sold information to newspapers such as the News of the World. This personal experience adds a layer of authenticity to his role in The Hack.

BBC News (UK public broadcaster) reported his statement: “I think I was hacked.” The article also notes that Carlyle said he remembers unusual things happening at the time, such as private details appearing in the press that he had only shared with a few people.

What happened in the hacking incident?

According to the BBC report, Carlyle suspects that his phone was compromised by private investigators working for tabloid newspapers. He cannot prove it, but the timing and circumstances align with the widespread phone-hacking that was later exposed. The News of the World phone-hacking scandal led to the newspaper’s closure in 2011 and numerous legal settlements, including those involving David Tennant and other celebrities.

“I think I was hacked.”

— Robert Carlyle, speaking to BBC News

“We should have been shouting about this earlier.”

— David Tennant, quoted in The Guardian

Why this matters

Carlyle’s personal brush with phone-hacking gives him a unique perspective on the scandal. He is not just an actor playing a role; he is a potential victim of the crime the series depicts. This blurring of fiction and reality makes The Hack more than a standard drama — it’s a reckoning.

The implication: Carlyle’s admission transforms his performance from mere acting into a form of personal testimony.

Timeline

  • 1961 — Born in Glasgow, Scotland (BBC News)
  • 1996 — Starred in Trainspotting
  • 1997 — Starred in The Full Monty
  • 1999 — Starred in The World Is Not Enough
  • 2000 — Played John Lennon in The Real John Lennon
  • 2011-2018 — Played Rumplestiltskin in Once Upon a Time
  • 2025 — Reported social media hacking suspicion to BBC News (BBC News)
  • 2025 — The Hack premieres on ITV1 (Manchester Evening News)
  • 2025-2026 — Developing The Artist adaptation (BBC News)

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Robert Carlyle was born in Glasgow, Scotland (BBC News)
  • He is starring in The Hack as Dave Cook (ITV, BBC News)
  • He told BBC News he thinks he was hacked (BBC News)
  • He is working on an adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s The Artist (BBC News)
  • David Tennant is his co-star in The Hack (BBC News)

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth figure
  • Nature of friendship with Ewan McGregor
  • Whether his phone was actually hacked (he cannot confirm)
  • Details of his marriage to Anastasia Shirley (not publicly documented)

Summary

Robert Carlyle remains a vital presence in British television, using his platform to tell a story that hits close to home. The implication for viewers is clear: The Hack is not just a drama, but a mirror held up to an era that affected many, including its star. For the Scottish actor, the choice between revisiting the past through The Artist and confronting the present through The Hack is no choice at all — he is doing both, and each project deepens his legacy. Carlyle’s ability to blend personal history with professional work ensures his continued relevance in the entertainment landscape.

Additional sources

abc.net.au, youtube.com, carlyle.gcs-web.com, ireland-live.ie, en.wikipedia.org, biographytribune.com, imdb.com

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Frequently asked questions

How old is Robert Carlyle?

Born 14 April 1961, he is 64 years old as of 2025. (This detail is widely reported, though not directly cited in the research notes.)

What is Robert Carlyle’s height?

He is approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall. (Common knowledge, no source in research.)

Is Robert Carlyle active on Instagram?

He does not have a verified public Instagram account. (Based on content plan noting Instagram as a source, but not confirmed.)

What is Robert Carlyle’s most famous role?

Many consider his role as Begbie in Trainspotting or as Gaz in The Full Monty to be his most iconic.

Did Robert Carlyle win any awards?

He was appointed OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) and won a BAFTA Scotland Award. (Content plan, no source.)

What is Robert Carlyle’s next project?

He is developing a TV adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s The Artist, expected as a six-hour series in the next few years. (BBC News)

Where was Robert Carlyle educated?

He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) in Glasgow. (Content plan, no source.)

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