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Now if you ask me, his look is unique, but people on Twitter regularly insist that they have found Ciarán Hinds’ long lost twin brother. My original post on this topic dealt with certain well-known individuals who are regularly confused with Ciarán Hinds, such as Stephen Fry and the late, great Alan Rickman. The examples I have collected more recently involve fewer outright errors, and more claims of time travel, virtual twinhood, and unexpected new “projects” for Himself.
First of all, a little reminder of what he actually looks like, since many in the virtual world seem a bit vague on this point.

A recent gig–in the Douglas Henshall detective series “Shetland.”

Further back in time: in the 1997 TV movie “Jane Eyre.” I grant that he looks slightly Rickmanesque in this photo. Just think of him as Edward “Severus” Rochester…
Let us begin with a couple of examples involving claims of a transgender Hinds. One Josep Julien on Twitter insisted that Mr. Hinds had taken over the role of Catalan Vice President and Spokeswoman Neus Munté:

Yes, he did once play Lady Macbeth, and I often compare him to Cleopatra, but this is a bit of a stretch.
Then a German website rather cruelly suggested that if the role of Mance Rayder ever needs to be reprised, Anjelica Huston could easily take it on.
I enjoyed this exchange in which two Sherlock Holmes fans note the resemblance between Mr. H. and an actor in a 1916 film starring William Gillette as Holmes.

The actor in question is playing a priest. Mr. H. has played a priest at least four times.

Yes, I can see the resemblance in this pic, although frontally it is not as clear.
More than one viewer of Clive Owen in “The Knick” is convinced that the 51-year old English actor is metamorphosing into Ciarán Hinds. As if that were a bad thing.

The metamorphosis has yet to occur. They look *nothing* alike. I will grant that both are hotties…
At times, people seem absolutely mystified by Mr. Hinds’ appearance. The following question is not unusual:
Because of those prominent cheekbones, some suspect Asian or Native American blood. But now, finally, the truth can be told…

On Pinterest, this “Vulcanized” image is credited to DBEEERS.
Oh no, not the Stephen Fry comparison again…
Not that there is anything wrong with Stephen Fry. He’s adorable!

It’s the wonky nose, maybe? And yes, both are nice.
Nathaniel Parker is often compared to Ciarán Hinds. I guess I can see the resemblance in a picture like this:

Image from Fanpop.

Low-rent! Ouch, Nathaniel!

Parker as “Master Gracey” in the Disney flick “The Haunted Mansion” (2003).
I love it when people see Mr. H. in animated characters. This happens often. Last time around, we had Elrond from Ralph Bakshi’s LoTR movie, and Sam the Muppet Eagle.
“Anomalisa” is Charlie Kaufman’s highly praised stop-motion animated film about a man named Michael and the woman he meets on a business trip. Michael was voiced by David Thewlis, and he looked like this:

Hmmm. Mr. H. isn’t *that* gray. And, gods be thanked, he never wears a bow tie.
Some see nebbishy Michael. Others see… KING VARIAN! He’s a character from the video game World of Warcraft.

I guarantee that King Varian never wears a bow tie.
Here’s an offbeat one:

Ilya, you’re just going mental.

Actor R. Lee Ermy is best known as the sergeant in “Full Metal Jacket.”
Maybe it’s the Macho Badass/Bond Villain In Waiting thing? Mr. H. is regularly compared to Ian McShane, who also has the wicked good vibe.

Really, they don’t look alike. But they’re both in “Game of Thrones.”

For Roland, McShane is to Hinds as Groucho is to Groucho! (Photo from the mirror scene in “Duck Soup.”)

And Atlas seconds that emotion…
Another of the Usual Suspects is Alfred Molina:

Hmmm. Could the “ice warrior guy” be Mance Rayder?

Al, the Daddy Warbucks look is SO not for you! (But you have a slightly wonky nose, which is very Hindsian.)
Here’s one that tickled me.

He’s played an Austen hero, but not Darcy. Whom does Slow Agile have in mind? Colin Firth?

More likely Matthew McFadyen from the 2005 film.
I’m not sure who this fellow is, but the Twitterati really had me laughing.

The Happy Couple.
Other wacky theories of family resemblance include this one:

I sense a “Sherlock” theme developing…

No real resemblance. I think it must be the intense gaze…
Totally puzzled by this one:

Sorry Jonny, you’re a hottie but you’re no Ciarán Hinds. That Tommy impression is *terrible*!
Mr. H. gets compared to politicians on a regular basis. For example, which of the following individuals on the US House Select Committee on Benghazi is actually Ciarán Hinds moonlighting as a right-wing member of Congress?

Let me simplify things. It’s one of the males.

Bud Hammond, Democrat of North Carolina, and Mike Pompeo, Republican of Kansas: separated at birth? I can tell you that they have very different feelings about a certain former Secretary of State.
Here’s one that would make Mr. Hinds laugh: he is “perfect” for the role of Northern Irish Unionist firebrand Ian Paisley.

Article from The Irish Times.

And Paisley himself… hmmm. The role actually went to Timothy Spall.
Estes Kefauver was a US Senator in the 1950s…
Or was he actually a time-traveling Ciarán Hinds?

Carl from “Munich,” one of my favorite roles.
Someone in Finland seems convinced that actor Matti Onnismaa looks just like Ciarán.

I just don’t see it, Ilya. But keep looking for him!
Even the proverbial Man on the Street, or in this case the Man in the General Post Office in Dublin, can be mistaken for Himself.

Average Dubliner who bears a striking resemblance to Mr. Hinds. NOT.
And yet, he also resembles Clooney. Or rather, Clooney resembles him.

When it comes to Roman generals, accept no substitutes.

Hail Caesar!
In short, people see Ciarán Hinds everywhere they look. Maybe that is the essence and paradox of a great character actor’s face. It’s unique, yet universal.
LOL – that’s a comprehensive list. And not one of them convinced me, truly… but many made me laugh, especially with your commentary.
I think people see one feature that is similar–cheekbones or nose or eyes (though nobody has Those
Eyes)–and they connect it with someone else. We humans have amazing facial recognition “software” in our heads! But sometimes it goes a bit haywire. While in San Francisco recently, I twice met strangers who were sure they knew me already.
Human facial recognition is endlessly fascinating. And so individual! I am always amazed when people tell me that my daughter is my spitting image. I so completely disagree with that… And then there is the ultimate question whether a newborn baby looks like the mother or the father. It all depends on whose side of the family you belong to 😉
Haha, yes. People say my mother and I look alike, but I don’t see it. Perhaps the shared mannerisms in a family create that impression.
Bit of fun, I still think Sam the Eagle is his true doppelgänger.
Sam is definitely a close match!
Very funny. I think Carl from Munich is the only one who looks like CH, though there was something about the Mr. Rochester photo that did call up Alan Rickman, except we know that in real life, they didn’t look alike.
Carl from Munich was played by Ciarán Hinds. Do you mean there’s a decent match with Estes Kefauver, the presidential candidate? I put in the Carl photo for comparison.
No ( forehead slap). I read too quickly. No wonder I thought Carl from Munich was the closest match to CH – it’s him!
Hee, hee. He’s a good character actor!
I could see a faint resemblance in a lot of those, but Ian McShane?? WTH? (Ian is a bit of a hottie but to me not in the least bit similar to Mr. H.) I totally got the King Varian comparison, though. Yummy. Almost makes me want to check out a video game for the First Time Ever.
LOL. I kind of liked King Varian too. I think it’s those cheekbones…
I can see Estes Kefauver. I love the piece. Great stuff. One thing for sure, people WANT to see him and lots of him.
That’s very true! I often see tweets talking about how he is under-used (especially on GoT) or how he would be perfect for this or that role.
way-ell… orb(de)viously, when yore into dewwin resurtch into sumthing you like … you hit it, & hittittt hard !
It’s true 🙂
This cornucopia of Ciarán clones is commendable. For my money Clooney’s Caesar takes the cake!
Thanks Paul! Your comment is clever and concise 🙂
He has such a wonderfully solemn when it’s at rest.
Yes, he does.
that should have said ‘solemn face’, but I’m on the run at the mo, got to go and vote…
I figured it out 🙂 Yes, you have a big vote today. I hope all works out for the best.
LOL! Fun read! For most of them I don’t quite see it… although that Catalan vice-president one…
Haha! Something in the eyes, maybe? He has sisters but I don’t think they look like that.
Of course, now I want to see a picture of his sisters… 😉
Here is the one who is an actress: http://www.dalzellandberesford.com/client/caitriona_hinds
Wow, she’s beautiful! Good genes. 🙂
Yes, she is lovely!
I always think CH has a very peculiar feature that’s hard to find a look-alike. Anyway, you know Stephen Fry is in Love & Friendship. Hope it will come to your area soon.
Yes, one would expect that CH could *never* be confused with anyone else. But such is not the case! I didn’t realize about Stephen Fry. All the more delightful to anticipate.
I totally get Angelica Houston, but Nathaniel Parker or Alan Rickman? Seriously? I think people who confuse them with Mr. Hinds need new glasses….or a guide dog 😉
Alan Rickman especially always puzzled me, but it’s a regular error. They must have something in common–darkly unusual good looks, and charisma 🙂
Yes, darkly unusual good looks, and charisma but……naaaaa, I don’t get the resemblance at all 🙂 But as someone who is able to identify Joan Collins only by seeing her back of the head I am probably simply not able to get it 🙂
The back of her head!! LOL
Yes! The friend who was with me when that happend was really flabbergasted *lol*
Loving your blog generally but had to comment on this post…I came to Ciaran Hinds via Jeffery Dean Morgan, who plays Negan in “The Walking Dead”…well worth a look, he shares the same dark good looks although Mr.Hinds looks slightly more aristocratic…and I have adored Alan Rickman since the days of “Truly Madly Deeply”…
Wow, he is good-looking. Reminds me of a cross between Robert Downey Jr. and Javier Bardem. “Aristocratic” is a novel way of describing Mr. H., but I love it. I agree that his high cheekbones and distinctive nose give him a noble mien! As for the dearly departed Alan Rickman, he and his wondrous voice will be long remembered. He was unique–and TMD is one of his most memorable performances, in my opinion.
Thanks for commenting!
Oh yes, he’s quite a charismatic villain too 🙂
I wonder if there is some sort of DNA link between these dark, brooding, fantastically good looking men…or perhaps it’s region-specific..!
When I liked Alfred Molina years ago, it was then that I noticed CH so I totally get that. And now that I like Alan Rickman, well there are indeed times when I can see a small resemblance (depending on the character and angle/expression) but not too much. This was a fun read. 🙂
Thank you, Lisa. Alan Rickman was a lovely actor, one of my all time favorites.