You probably know the face. Maybe it was the wide-eyed, frantic Count Orlo in The Great, or perhaps it was the absolute psycho-energy he brought to The Master in Doctor Who. Honestly, Sacha Dhawan is everywhere right now, and for good reason. He has this weird, brilliant ability to play "pathetic" and "terrifying" in the exact same scene.
It’s actually kinda wild when you look at the range. One minute he’s a nervous intellectual in a powdered wig, the next he’s a Marvel villain trying to rip the heart out of Finn Jones. If you’re trying to navigate the massive list of Sacha Dhawan movies and tv shows, you quickly realize he isn't just "that guy from that thing." He’s a chameleon who has been working since he was twelve.
From The History Boys to The Master: A Career of Chaos
Most people think he just showed up in the last five years. Nope. Sacha was part of the original "History Boys" crew. We’re talking the 2004 stage play and the 2006 film alongside guys like James Corden and Dominic Cooper. He played Akthar. Even back then, you could see he had this grounded, naturalistic style that made him stand out in a cast of huge personalities.
But then, things got dark. In a good way.
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The Doctor Who Era (The Spy Master)
When Sacha revealed himself as The Master in the "Spyfall" episode of Doctor Who, the internet basically melted. He wasn't just another version of the character; he was a frantic, weeping, dancing maniac. He brought a specific brand of trauma to the role that made Missy (Michelle Gomez) look stable by comparison.
He didn't just play a villain. He played a man who had completely lost his mind after discovering the "Timeless Child" secret. If you haven't seen his final performance in The Power of the Doctor (2022), you're missing out on some of the most unhinged acting in sci-fi history. He literally forced a regeneration just to mess with the Doctor's head. Pure petty energy.
The Great and the Tragedy of Count Orlo
Then there’s The Great. Honestly, Orlo was the heart of that show for a long time. While everyone else was busy having sex and drinking vodka, Orlo was trying to bring the Enlightenment to Russia. Sacha played him with such a delicious level of anxiety. You could practically see the sweat on his forehead whenever Peter entered the room.
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His exit from the show in Season 3 was... controversial, to say the least. Getting accidentally shot and eaten by bears? It felt like a slap in the face to a lot of fans. But that’s the kind of show The Great was. It didn't care about your feelings. Sacha’s performance made Orlo's "ignominious end" hit way harder than it should have.
Marvel, Mystery, and The Darker Side of Sacha
If you’re digging through Sacha Dhawan movies and tv shows, you’ll eventually hit the Netflix era. He played Davos (Steel Serpent) in Iron Fist. Now, look—the show had its issues. We all know that. But Sacha was objectively the best part of Season 2. He took a fairly standard comic book rival and turned him into a tragic, rejected brother figure. His fight choreography was actually tight, too.
Don't Sleep on These Deep Cuts
- Wolf (2023): If you want to see Sacha go full horror, watch this. He plays Honey, a professional who is also clearly a psychopath. He and Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Bolton from Game of Thrones) are a terrifying duo. It’s sickly funny and deeply disturbing.
- The Boy with the Topknot (2017): A total 180 from his villain roles. This is a heartbreaking, beautiful BBC film about mental health in a British-South Asian family. It’s based on Sathnam Sanghera’s memoir. It’s probably his most "human" performance.
- An Adventure in Space and Time (2013): He played Waris Hussein, the real-life director of the first-ever Doctor Who episode. It’s a meta-role that paved the way for him to eventually play the Doctor's greatest enemy.
What's Next? (2025 and 2026 Projects)
Sacha isn't slowing down. As of early 2026, he’s moved heavily into the audio drama world with Big Finish, reprising The Master in series like Call Me Master. It’s a genius move because his voice work is just as expressive as his face.
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He's also attached to The Iris Affair, a four-part series where he plays Alfie Bird. Rumors are constantly swirling about him returning to the "Whoniverse" in some capacity, especially with the way the show is expanding under Ncuti Gatwa’s era. Whether he returns or not, his legacy as the "Chaos Master" is pretty much set in stone.
How to Binge Sacha Dhawan Properly
If you're new to his work, don't just jump into the middle of a series. Start with The History Boys to see where he began. Then, move to The Boy with the Topknot to see his dramatic chops. After that, you're ready for the "Villain Arc"—Iron Fist Season 2 followed by the "Spyfall" arc in Doctor Who.
The real takeaway here is that Sacha Dhawan is one of the few actors who can jump between a sitcom like Outsourced and a gritty thriller like Line of Duty without breaking a sweat. He’s unpredictable. That’s why he’s a favorite for "Discover" feeds and SEO searches alike—people want to know who the guy with the intense eyes is.
Next Steps for You:
- Watch "The Boy with the Topknot" on BBC iPlayer or Amazon: It changes how you see him as a performer.
- Listen to "Call Me Master" from Big Finish: If you’re a Whovian, this is essential lore that bridges the gap between his TV appearances.
- Track his upcoming 2026 release "The Iris Affair": This is expected to be his next big prestige drama break.
The guy is a powerhouse. Whether he's a bumbling count or a cosmic murderer, you can't look away. That’s the "Dhawan Effect." It’s rare, it’s chaotic, and it’s exactly why he’s one of the best working actors today.