Actor James Nesbitt sees Brown Cow Film firm’s profits top €3.5m

James Nesbitt’s time playing a dwarf in the fantasy world of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit continued to pay rich dividends last year with profits at his entertainment firm increasing by over €160,000 to top €3.5m.

The Antrim-born actor — best known for roles in the TV drama, Cold Feet, Bloody Sunday, and the BBC’s hit primetime drama, The Missing — has gained worldwide recognition after featuring in The Hobbit series of films.

The third of the Hobbitt trilogy, The Battle of the Five Armies, was released worldwide in cinemas in December 2014 generating global box office revenues of $955m and Mr Nesbitt’s time playing the dwarf, Bofur involved him spending a total of two years in New Zealand.

Last year saw the fourth consecutive period of profit growth for the actor’s Brown Cow Films firm and its cash pile more than doubled to £825,921 in the 12 months to the end of last March.

Mr Nesbitt — who, last week, was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s honours list for services to Northern Ireland and to acting — has signed up for this year’s return of 1990s hit drama Cold Feet.

On his OBE last week, Nesbitt said in a press interview: “I’ve been blessed with my work and blessed to come from Northern Ireland, and for those two things to be on the citation was gratifying.”

He added that appearing in films about Northern Ireland and the bloodiest chapter in its history came with a weight of responsibility. “You cannot help the feeling the responsibility is a wee bit heavier,” he said.