You’ve probably seen his face. Maybe he was the guy being vaguely incompetent in a Nazi uniform, or perhaps he was the one trying to summon a fish in a superhero show. Honestly, Sam Haygarth has one of those careers that feels like a "Where’s Waldo" of prestige cinema and high-budget streaming.
He’s a Cambridge Footlights alum, which is basically the UK's version of a factory that produces world-class comedians and actors. But Haygarth isn’t just another guy with a posh accent and a sketch background. He’s managed to worm his way into the good graces of directors like Taika Waititi and Wes Anderson while maintaining a side hustle as a serious climate activist and writer.
If you're trying to track down the Sam Haygarth movies and tv shows worth your time, you’ve actually got a pretty weird, eclectic list to get through.
The Breakout: Hans in Jojo Rabbit
Most people first bumped into him in Jojo Rabbit (2019). He played Hans. If you don't remember the name, he was the member of the Hitler Youth who was constantly around Jojo and Yorki. It was a weird, satirical tightrope walk, but he pulled it off.
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Funny thing is, people still email him asking if he actually killed the rabbit in the movie. He didn't. Obviously. But that’s the kind of impression he leaves—the sort of "uncomfortably real" comedic presence that sticks. Working with Taika Waititi right out of the gate is a massive deal, and it clearly set the tone for the "bumbling but memorable" archetype he’s perfected.
The Wes Anderson Connection
Then came The French Dispatch (2021). Look, if Wes Anderson casts you, you’ve officially "arrived" in a specific niche of cinema. Haygarth played a cadet. It wasn't a massive, sprawling role—nobody really has those in Anderson films except for maybe Bill Murray—but it put him in the same frame as Tilda Swinton and Timothée Chalamet.
It’s a bit of a pattern with him. He shows up in these highly stylized, ultra-aesthetic worlds and just... fits. He has this "English-Standard" vibe that works perfectly for characters who are supposed to be slightly out of their depth.
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Streaming Hits: From Bridgerton to Masters of the Air
If you missed him on the big screen, you definitely caught him on your couch. His TV credits are becoming a bit of a "greatest hits" of the last three years.
- Bridgerton (Season 2): He popped up during the "Off to the Races" episode. It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it moment if you aren't looking, but it’s there.
- Extraordinary: This is where he actually got to flex his weirdness. He played Seb, a guy whose superpower is the ability to summon fish. In a show where everyone has cool powers, summoning a trout is basically a curse. It’s hilarious.
- Masters of the Air (2024): He played Captain Ralph Kelly. This was a jump from comedy to "prestige war drama" produced by Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Fun fact from Sam himself: they actually made a wax replica of his head for a fight scene and then refused to let him take it home because they wanted to blow it up.
Hotel Costiera and the 2025 Slate
Right now, the big thing is Hotel Costiera. It’s an Italian-produced comedy-action series where he plays Tancredi. He describes the character as a "strange, bumbling British clown" set against the backdrop of the Amalfi Coast. It’s a lead-adjacent role that feels like the natural evolution of all those small, quirky parts he played earlier in his career.
He’s also a writer. People forget that. He wrote Extinction, a short film starring Emma Thompson, which was basically prophetic regarding the UK’s climate emergency declaration.
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Why He Matters (According to the Experts)
Stephen Fry called him "pretty extraordinary." The Guardian described his work as "bracing and necessary." He’s not just an actor; he’s an activist who has been arrested for his work with Extinction Rebellion. That edge—that real-world "I actually care about things"—gives his performances a bit more weight than your average Hollywood starlet.
What You Should Watch First
If you’re new to the Haygarth cinematic universe, don't just start at the top.
- Start with Extraordinary (Disney+/Hulu). It’s the best showcase of his comedic timing. The "fish summoning" bit is peak Haygarth.
- Move to Jojo Rabbit. It’s a masterpiece regardless of his role, but watching him navigate that satire is great.
- Check out Hotel Costiera for his most recent work. It’s the first time he’s really leaning into that "British clown" persona in a central way.
Sam Haygarth is basically the guy who proves you don't need to be the leading man to be the most interesting person on the screen. He’s building a filmography that’s as chaotic as his real-life activism, and honestly, we’re here for it.
If you want to keep up with his projects, keep an eye on BBC Studios. He’s currently developing a comedy-drama there, and given his track record, it’s probably going to be both very funny and slightly depressing in that "the world is ending" kind of way.
Next Steps:
- Stream Extraordinary on Disney+ to see his comedy roots.
- Look for Hotel Costiera on your regional streaming platforms to see his move into international action-comedy.
- Track his writing credits on IMDb, as his move into showrunning is likely where his biggest impact will be in the next two years.