Mark Darbyshire

Film

I’m an actor. Below is a list of my film roles. Feel free to reach out about new opportunities for collaboration.

See also my IMDb page.

Feature films

Head South (2024)

Directed by Jonathan Ogilvie, this is my first speaking role in a feature film. I play the Hairdresser. Head South played at film festivals around the world and has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

A male 1970s hairdresser and a teenage boy looking in the mirror. The hairdresser has long voluminous hair and is wearing a colourful shirt and tied scarf and an ostentatious ring and digital watch. He is holding a comb. The boy is mid-haircut. He has longish hair and is unsure of the haircut. In the background are hair products, an image of a lady's hairstyle, flowers, and a reflection of a mirror showing a reflection of the reflection. — Mark Darbyshire as the hairdresser and Ed Oxenbould as Angus in Head South. Fun fact: That's my real fringe as the wig was slightly too small but the colour matched perfectly!

The Stolen (2017)

Directed by Niall Johnson (best known for Keeping Mum). I was an extra (a goldminer). I appear in two scenes (one indoors and one outdoors). My greatest claim to fame is being an unrecognisable gesticulating bearded blur behind Jack Davenport of Pirates of the Caribbean fame, although (if you look carefully) I am recognisable in this shot from the same scene:

A rabble of excited miners in a 19th-century saloon. — Extras in a saloon scene from The Stolen

Taniwha Gorge (under development)

Directed by Corran Lindsay, this project is a work in progress. I play an arrogant aristocrat. We’ve filmed in some amazing remote locations.

Ostentatiously dressed 19th-century man with a knife to his throat. — Mark Darbyshire in a teaser image for Taniwha Gorge

Music videos

세상 따위 Fucking World (2024)

This music video marked the launch of the newest album for K-pop artist Layone. I played a contemptible chef. You can see additional footage in the teaser. Directed by Hobin.

Mark dressed as a chef shouting at Layone who is a waiter. In the background are a second chef and the manager, who are both also aggressive. — Mark Darbyshire in 세상 따위 Fucking World by 래원 Layone

뉴질랜드 New Zealand (2024)

This music video for a 2022 song by Layone was the prequel for 세상 따위 Fucking World (above). Directed by Hobin.

Shadowy shot of five people staring ominously through a dirty kitchen window — Mark Darbyshire in 뉴질랜드 New Zealand by 래원 Layone

48Hours film competition

2025 national 48 hours winner (2025)

Not actually the national 48Hours winner, but we did get lots of nominations at the city finals for this incredibly silly film.

Mark Darbyshire looks at the camera very irately, his jaw protuding, with unkempt grass, overgrown road, and leafless trees of the Christchurch Red Zone behind him. He his wearing a tall bright-yellow backpack. — Mark Darbyshire as Moe Hawk in 2025 national 48 hours winner.

Never Ever Say Never Ever Ever Again (2024)

I had a fun little cameo as a security guard in this Christchurch 48Hours film.

Mark is on the phone wearing a black suit and tie with CCTV screens in the background. He looks very disturbed to have suddenly discovered that there's a gun pointing at him. — Mark Darbyshire in Never Ever Say Never Ever Ever Again

The Whole World (2020)

48Hours film competition, team Toot Toot.

Two stickmen with Mark and Michael's real human heads superimposed. The background is a tacky 2D animated landscape. — Mark and Michael in The Whole World

Stopping World War II (2019)

48Hours film competition Christchurch finalist, team Toot Toot, directed by Michael Bell. My performance won us the award “Best Use of Wind”.

A shot of an excited man with long hair and arms outstretched beside four computer screens is blown away — Mark Darbyshire as the mad scientist being blown away by the audience in Stopping World War II

The Wish (hopefully nobody else picked that title) (2018)

48Hours film competition Christchurch finalist, team Toot Toot, directed by Michael Bell. I played the genie.

A chubby, tackily dressed genie has just appeared in front of a man holding a teapot on a pebbled shore. — Mark Darbyshire as the genie in The Wish

Gone (2016)

48Hours film Christchurch, team Rags to Richmond, directed by Krysta Neve. Nominated for Best Cinematography. I played Charlie Flowers.

Mark Darbyshire sits with his coffee at an outdoor cafe table and smiles at a stranger just out of shot

Birds-eye view of Mark Darbyshire lying dead in the shallows at the beach next to his grieving partner — Mark Darbyshire in Gone

One Dollar Genre

Citron (2024)

Directed by Georgie Lush of One Dollar Genre. I have a small role as a revelous partygoer.

Close-up of of a jet of champagne shooting from a bottle held by a man in a glorious red suit with golden embroidery. In the background is someone wearing a light chequered suit. — Close-up of Mark popping a bottle of champagne

UFOMO (2023)

Directed by Alexander Jones of One Dollar Genre. I played a government agent.

Mark Darbyshire as a government agent looking up at a bright light in the sky. — Mark Darbyshire in UFOMO

Other short films

Cydonia (2022)

Directed by Julian Josland. I played a marine.

Mark Darbyshire dressed as a marine in a low-budget sci-fi film. — Mark Darbyshire in Cydonia

Join the Club (2022)

Directed by Mark Morrish. I played Damien.

A mysterious man offers a hard drive in one hand and a gumboot in the other to another man — Mark Darbyshire in Join the Club

Mama (2019)

Directed by Daniel Sheridan.

Two young men. One has just let the other into an old house. — Mark Darbyshire in Mama

The Smart Phone (2019)

Directed by Raymond Lum.

Mark Darbyshire looks at his smartphone in panic — Mark Darbyshire in The Smart Phone

Error Control (2018)

Computer Science Field Guide (University of Canterbury). I played the checkout operator.

Watch my part in this cheesy educational video.

(S)takeout (2018)

Directed by Beka Cameron. I played the father.

Canterbury rebuild seven years on (2018)

I channelled my inner documentary presenter for a scene about construction in this Stats NZ video.

Mark stands on brightly sunlit concrete in front of garden, grass, and a townhouse building site with scaffolding. — Mark Darbyshire speaking about construction statistics in Canterbury rebuild seven years on

Circle (2017)

Directed by Jonathan Briden. I played Aaron in this web series pilot.

A man and a woman have hot drinks in a kitchen looking concerned. — Mark Darbyshire as Aaron in Circle

Brobot (2017)

Directed by Andrei Talili. I played “Courier Man”.

Jack of All Trades (2016)

Directed by Jake Vale. I was an extra (a “Telecool employee”).

Mark Darbyshire doing enthusiastic, full-bodied vocal warm-ups in a call centre — Mark Darbyshire as a “Telecool employee” in Jack of All Trades