Released in 2007, Hot Fuzz boasts several big name actors however some were ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ cameos. Here are some of the faces you may have missed.
Hot Fuzz was the second film in Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s Cornetto trilogy. The film followed Shaun of the Dead and featured some of the same actors.
Speaking of actors, this project featured Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton and Edward Woodward in leading roles.
Other faces who popped up included Bill Nighy, Martin Freeman, Julia Deakin, Billie Whitelaw and Lord of The Rings director Peter Jackson in a cameo appearance.
However. despite the big names, some high profile actors slipped under the radar.
Here are 12 actors you might have missed…
Steve Coogan
Played: Unnamed Metropolitan Police Inspector
Best known for his character Alan Partridge, Coogan has had a long comedy career.
His other projects include Tropic Thunder, the Night At The Museum franchise and Ruby Sparks.
Coogan has also done dramatic projects such as Marie Antoinette, The Look Of Love and Stan & Ollie.
In 2013, Coogan co-wrote, produced and starred in Philomena opposite Dame Judi Dench. He received Academy Award nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.
Paddy Considine
Played: Detective Sergeant Andy Wainwright, Sandford Police
Six years after Hot Fuzz, Paddy Considine reunited with the Cornetto team for World’s End.
Considine, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s in 2010, has has had a long collaboration with filmmaker Shane Meadows.
To date, they have worked on four films together.
Most recently, Considine played King Viserys Targaryen in HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, House of The Dragon.
Olivia Colman
Played: PC Doris Thatcher, Sandford Police
Olivia Colman has lately achieved success as a dramatic actress, notably winning an Academy Award for her role in The Favourite.
However, her background lies in comedy – notably on Peep Show, Green Wing and That Mitchell and Webb Look.
Colman was at the height of her comedic fame when playing Doris Thatcher in Hot Fuzz.
Cate Blanchett
Played: Janine
Another Academy Award winner in this list – for The Aviator and Blue Jasmine.
Blanchett ended up in Hot Fuzz through being a Shaun of The Dead fan.
However, it’s very easy to miss Blanchett’s appearance in the film.
She briefly played Janine, Nick Angel’s ex-girlfriend, in an early scene taking place not longer after Angel discovers he’s going to Sandford.
David Bradley
Played: Arthur Webley
Over the past 20 years, David Bradley has developed a large following with several roles. Most notably, Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch in the Harry Potter films.
Bradley had a recurring role on Game of Thrones as Walder Frey and starred in The Strain.
During this time, he also appeared on Broadchurch opposite Olivia Colman.
He has played both William Hartnell and the First Doctor for Doctor Who-related projects.
Stephen Merchant
Played: Peter Ian Staker
Merchant is best-known for creating the original UK Office and has since enjoyed a long comedy area.
However, in early 2022, Merchant took on a very different role as Stephen Port, real-life serial killer and serial rapist in BBC miniseries Four Lives.
Rory McCann
Played: Michael “Lurch” Armstrong
Rory McCann played Sandor “The Hound” Clegane on Game of Thrones but before stepping foot in Westeros, he stopped by Sandford as mentally challenged Michael Armstrong.
The character received the in-film nickname “Lurch” after The Addams Family character.
In 2019, McCann appeared opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Jumanji: The Next Level.
He played main antagonist Jurgen the Brutal – a character who could have an even larger role to play in the next film.
Paul Freeman
Played: Rev. Philip Shooter
Before becoming Hot Fuzz’s Reverend Shooter, actor Paul Freeman played René Belloq in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Arc.
As the main antagonist, Belloq served as rival to main character Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford.
Some of Freeman’s other credits include the TV series Yesterday’s Dreams. He also starred in 1995’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie.
Kevin Eldon
Played: Police Sergeant Tony Fisher, Sandford Police
Actor and comedian Kevin Eldon actually has multiple connections to projects mentioned in this list.
In the 1990s, Eldon appeared in an episode of Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge. He also featured in an episode of I’m Alan Partridge.
Eldon guest-starred in three episodes of Game Thrones and since 2015, voices Penfold in the rebooted Danger Mouse.
Anne Reid
Played: Leslie Tiller
Although Leslie Tiller was a minor Hot Fuzz character, a UK television veteran played the role.
Actress Anne Reid played Valerie Barlow on Coronation Street between 1961-1971. She later starred as Celia Dawson on Last Tango in Halifax between 2012-2020.
Between these roles, Reid made appearances as Jean on Dinnerladies from 1998-2000.
David Threlfall
Played: Martin Blower
In the film, Martin Blower met his end due to being an “appalling actor.” Suffice to say, David Threlfall’s own acting has panned out very differently.
Threlfall played Frank Gallagher on the original Channel 4 Shameless from 2004-2013.
Aside from being one of the few cast members to stay for the entire duration, he also directed several episodes of the show
Stuart Wilson
Played: Dr Robin Hatcher
Cast in the role of Dr Hatcher, Wilson continues the Hot Fuzz trend of casting well-known film villains.
In 1992, he played main villain Jack Travis in Lethal Weapon 3.
Ironically, the original Lethal Weapon receives a name drop courtesy of Danny Butterman (Nick Frost).