AJ Donnelly

About me

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AJ Donnelly is a versatile actor and voice artist, known for his physical and vocal transformations, and for bringing complex, authentic characters to life on stage and screen.

Originally from Bedford, England, AJ discovered his love for performance at the age of seven, cutting his teeth in school theatre productions before developing a passion for physical comedy with the community theatre troupe Bedford Marionettes. After stepping away from the stage at 21, he returned to acting in 2011, re-immersing himself in theatre before expanding into television and feature films.

Often cast as intense or antagonistic figures, he has demonstrated a wide range across genres, from dark drama to light-hearted comedy. With strong adaptability and improvisational instincts, he brings specificity, range, and depth to every role.

Over the past decade, his work has grown to include more than 40 stage, television, and film credits across a wide range of productions. It spans major productions, independent films, and theatre, building a reputation for versatility and deep character work. He has collaborated with internationally acclaimed directors such as Zhang Yimou and Zhang Mo (Snipers), Andrew Lau (The Battle of Shangganling), and Jiang Wen (You Are The Best!).

Recent work includes his portrayal of emotionally driven lawyer Matthew Roberts in the crime drama Empty Gun; the ruthless British opium trader Lancelot Dent in the historical epic 1840; the eccentric conductor Arenberg in the comedy-drama You Are the Best!; and Thomas Lawrence in the box-office hit Detective Chinatown: 1900.

Outside of acting, he shares his interest in culture, travel, and storytelling through social media, connecting with audiences in an offbeat, playful way.

Above all, for AJ acting is less about being seen, and more about the craft of transformation, always in service of story, character, and truth, through roles that challenge, entertain, and inspire.

46-66 yearsBedford (GB), Beijing (CN)
Gendermale
Acting age46-66 years
Place of birthBedford, Bedfordshire, England, UK
Other impairmentI’m a high-functioning autistic. It has never negatively impacted my performance ability or career.
NationalityBritish
Main professionActor
Working permitsUnited Kingdom, China
AssociationsEquity (British trade union)
SpecializationsComedian, Dubbing actor, Theater actor
Eye colorblue
Hair colorgray
Height (cm)189
LanguagesEnglish(native)Mandarin
DialectsStandard British English(native dialect)
AccentsEnglishAmerican
PitchBass
Special skillsAudio bookEntertainerImprovisation
Film
2025 – 2026
Empty Gun picture
Empty Gun (Feature film)
Mr. Roberts (SUP)
Han Yan
2025
Ununloaded (Short film)
David (LR)
Ludovic Bontemps Ludovic Bontemps
2025
Hope's Currency (Short film)
Mike (LR)
Ciarán Roibard McLaughlin
2025
War 1840 picture
War 1840 (Feature film)
Lancelot Dent (SUP)
Yin Li
2025
Dank Frank picture
Dank Frank (Experimental film)
Eagan Unsworth (SUP)
Austin Hunza
2024
Detective Chinatown 1900 (Feature film)
Thomas Lawrence (LR)
Chen Sicheng (陈思诚) & Dai Mo (戴墨) Wang Yi
2024
You are the Best! picture
You are the Best! (Feature film)
Arenberg (SUP)
Jiang Wen
2023
Burning Star picture
Burning Star (Feature film)
Officer Nielsen (SUP)
Xu Zhanxiong Wei Huang, Xi Yu, Xu Zhanxiong
2023
The Dumpling Queen picture
The Dumpling Queen (Feature film)
Mr. Closwood (SUP)
Andrew Lau Mandy Law-Huang Jianv Han, Cindy Tang, Mengchu Zhang
2023
The Volunteers: To the War picture
The Volunteers: To the War (Feature film)
Omar Nelson Bradley (SUP)
Kaige Chen Hong Chen, Wei Chen, Yedda Zhixi Chen Ke Zhang
2022
The Siege of Robin Hood picture
The Siege of Robin Hood (Teaser (film concept))
Proof of Concept cast (OTH)
Paul Allica Paul Allica, Paul Ellenberg, John Fallon Paul Allica, Don Macnab-Stark, Celbeth Andreovski
2022
Snipers picture
Snipers (Feature film)
Captain Williams (SUP)
Mo Zhang, Yimou Zhang Shenghua Bao, Xiaobei Cao, Wang Fan Yu Chen, Yimou Zhang
2021
Chi picture
Chi (Feature film)
Beyazit (SUP)
Theo Law Warwick Gilles, Zhang Zhi Han, Theo Law Theo Law
2020
The 800 picture
The 800 (Feature film)
Narrator (OTH)
Hu Guan Xiaobei Cao, Edward Cheng, Luyuan Fan Hu Guan, Rui Ge, Kun Hu
2019
Crazy Alien picture
Crazy Alien (Feature film)
Angry Husband
Hao Ning Jingyi Chen, Zhou Difei, Siegfried Harris Wang Ang, Steven Gary Banks, Runnian Dong
2018
South Island picture
South Island (Feature film)
Big Boss (SUP)
Sun Chengzhi
2017
Scorpion Task picture
Scorpion Task (Feature film)
Grant Hadley (SUP)
Meng Yu Li Xiaokun, Han Xixi Meng Yu
2017
The Ying River picture
The Ying River (Feature film)
General Gross (SUP)
Ma Cheng
2017
Sky Hunter picture
Sky Hunter (Feature film)
Vladimir (SUP)
Chen Li Jianmin Lv, Jiaren Karren Wang Chen Li, Li Zhang
2016
Iron Wing Reborn picture
Iron Wing Reborn (Feature film)
Lieutenant Fox (SUP)
Liu Chuanwei Kexin Zhu
2016
Wild Cards picture
Wild Cards (Feature film)
Jason Fitzpatrick (SUP)
Rick Perry Liu Ziming Nathaniel Boyd, Liu Ziming
Television
2023
Battle of Shangganling picture
Battle of Shangganling (TV series)
Colonel Tyger (SUP)
Andrew Lau, Yutong Yan Andrew Lau, Dong Yu Yaqing Zhi
2023
Hunting picture
Hunting (TV series)
Andy (SUP)
Shaohong Li Song Li
2022
The Silicon Waves picture
The Silicon Waves (TV series)
Mr. Johnson (EFR)
Li Jun Yu Lulin
2022
One Heart in the World picture
One Heart in the World (TV series)
Alexander Grantham (SUP)
Yachun Dong Zou Peng Guo Guangrong, Xiaohong Li
2022
The 13 Hongs of Canton picture
The 13 Hongs of Canton (TV series)
Andrew Williams (SUP)
Dun Cao Heyu Sheng
2021
Dancing in the Storm picture
Dancing in the Storm (TV series)
Weapons Expert (EFR)
Xin Liu Feng Gao
2021
Crossing the Yalu River picture
Crossing the Yalu River (TV series)
General Hodge (EFR)
Yachun Dong Fei Yu
2020
Kun Lun Gui picture
Kun Lun Gui (TV series)
Fremont
Lu Hao Jiji Yan Hai
2020
Chosen (Season 2) picture
Chosen (Season 2) (TV series)
Executor (EFR)
Li Chenkai Richard Clendinnen, Adam Todd, Jenny Zhang Niki Aken, John Ridley, Adam Todd
2019
Hello My World picture
Hello My World (TV series)
Doctor Robertson (SUP)
Li Jun
2019
The Chinese Dream picture
The Chinese Dream (TV series)
Adam (EFR)
Zhaohui Gong Yunhao Li, Eric Zhang
2019
Diplomatic Situation picture
Diplomatic Situation (TV series)
US Military Official (EFR)
Yeming Song Ronghui Fan, Xuebin Ge, Yumin Zhang Jun Gao, Jihong Ma
2018
The Way We Were picture
The Way We Were (TV series)
Doctor (EFR)
Jiang Liu Candy Li, John Venturini, Calvin Wu Xuan Gao, Baoru Ren
2017
Rong Hong picture
Rong Hong (TV series)
Mr. Hammond (2017) (EFR)
Haiming Bao Haiming Bao, Sarengaowa Haiming Bao, Sarengaowa
2015
Young Marshal picture
Young Marshal (TV series)
British Journalist (2015) (EFR)
Li Zhang Elisa Jiang, Qitao Jiang
Theater
2024
Five Lions (Drama)
Mike (LR)
Icarus Icarus
2015 – 2016
Memorial Arch (Drama)
Mr. Sattell (SUP)
Yang Lixin
2011
Love, Sex and the IRS (Other)
Leslie Arthur (LR)
Chris Verrill
2011
Cinderella (Other)
The Baron (SUP)
Michael Gralapp