Fabien Frankel Movies and TV Shows: Full Filmography

Few actors land their first major TV role by walking into an audition, learning the part in a different accent on the spot, and walking out with a starring spot in HBO’s biggest series. That’s exactly what happened to Fabien Frankel when he tried out for the role of Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon. This guide traces his filmography—from a short film in 2021 to an upcoming 2025 release—and unpacks the bilingual background that shaped his path.

Known for: Criston Cole in House of the Dragon (2022) ·
Breakout role year: 2022 ·
Number of IMDb credits: 7 (as of 2025) ·
Nationality: British ·
Languages spoken: English, French ·
Upcoming film (2025): The Actor

What is Fabien Frankel known for?

Fabien Frankel is most widely recognized for portraying Ser Criston Cole, the brooding Kingsguard knight, in HBO’s House of the Dragon. The role, which began in 2022, is his first major television credit and the anchor of his growing filmography.

Criston Cole on House of the Dragon (2022–2026)

• Frankel plays Ser Criston Cole, a Dornish knight who becomes Lord Commander of the Kingsguard (Wikipedia).
• The series is a Game of Thrones prequel set 200 years earlier (Wikipedia).
• Frankel appears in Season 1 (2022), Season 2 (2024), and is confirmed for Season 3 (2026) (French film database Allociné).

Early short films and minor roles

• An Uncandid Portrait (2021): Short film where he played Gaspar Chevrolet in the episode “Gone Today. Here Tomorrow.” (Wikipedia).
• Venice at Dawn (2022): Feature film with the role Dixon (Allociné).
• The Serpent (2021): 4-episode role as Dominique Renelleau (Wikipedia).

Upcoming project: The Actor (2025)

• Frankel will appear as Benny in The Actor, a film starring André Holland and Gemma Chan (Wikipedia).
• Also scheduled in 2025: Task Season 1, where he plays Anthony Grasso (Allociné).

The pattern: Frankel built screen credibility through small roles and short films before leaping into HBO’s most expensive production. His career arc mirrors the classic breakout script—except his came with an accent-twist audition that became part of the story.

What nationality is Fabien Frankel?

Fabien Frankel is British. He was born in London, England, to a French father and a British mother, which gives him a dual-heritage background that influences both his personal identity and his professional flexibility (Wikipedia).

British citizenship and French heritage

• Frankel holds British nationality (Wikipedia).
• His father was French, which entitles him to French citizenship through descent (Wikipedia).
• He spent time in France as a child and absorbed the language and culture (French Wikipedia).

Parents’ nationalities and influence

• Mother: British; she raised Frankel in London (Wikipedia).
• Father: French; his passing before Frankel’s acting career remains a noted biographical detail (Wikipedia).
• The bilingual household gave Frankel fluency in two languages, a rare asset that widens his audition range (Wikipedia).

The implication: Frankel’s dual heritage is not just a footnote. It gave him the linguistic dexterity that surfaced during his pivotal House of the Dragon audition—and that same background distinguishes him in a casting pool where Anglo-Franco actors remain uncommon.

Is Fabien Frankel mixed?

Frankel has a mixed European background: his father was French and his mother is British. He has not publicly specified additional ethnic roots beyond this European heritage (Wikipedia).

Ethnic background details

• Father: French; mother: British (Wikipedia).
• No public documentation suggests non-European ancestry (Wikipedia).

Public discussions on heritage

• Frankel has not commented extensively on his ethnic identity (Wikipedia).
• Fan speculation about mixed ethnicity appears online but remains unconfirmed by Frankel or reliable sources.

The catch: Without explicit confirmation from the actor, the “mixed” question rests solely on his French-British parentage—which is European, not biracial. Readers looking for a broader ethnic mix beyond European heritage will not find evidence in available sources.

What is Fabien Frankel’s breakout role?

Frankel’s breakout role is Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon (2022). The role was his first major television part after a handful of short film credits and minor appearances (Wikipedia).

Criston Cole as breakthrough

• Frankel was cast after a unique audition in which the showrunners asked him to switch his accent mid-scene from Standard American to a Dornish-influenced delivery (Wikipedia).
• The character’s arc across Seasons 1 and 2 made him a fan favorite and a central figure in the war-of-succession plot (Wikipedia).
• The role earned Frankel international recognition and opened the door for his 2025 projects.

Audition story for House of the Dragon

• In an interview, Frankel described the audition room as “random”: he arrived prepared with one accent, but the casting team asked him to pivot to a different vocal style on the spot (Wikipedia).
• His ability to adapt quickly—a skill rooted in his bilingual upbringing—reportedly sealed the deal.

What this means: The audition story is not just a charming anecdote. It reveals a key trait—adaptability under pressure—that separates Frankel from actors who require more preparation time. That trait, combined with his bicultural fluency, is central to his casting narrative.

What languages does Fabien Frankel speak?

Fabien Frankel speaks English and French fluently. He learned French from his French father and during time spent in France as a child (Wikipedia).

English and French fluency

• English: native, spoken with a standard British accent (Wikipedia).
• French: fluent, learned through his father and family visits (French Wikipedia).
• Frankel has not publicly listed other languages.

Use of languages in acting roles

• In House of the Dragon, he speaks with an English accent, not French (Wikipedia).
• His French is not yet featured in a major role, though it could open doors for francophone parts in future projects.

The trade-off: Bilingual actors often get pigeonholed into ethnic-specific roles. Frankel, however, has so far been cast primarily in English-language productions. Whether his French fluency becomes an active career asset or remains a personal skill is still an open question.

What TV shows and movies has Fabien Frankel appeared in?

Seven distinct acting credits populate Fabien Frankel’s filmography as of 2025, spanning television and film. The list includes early work, a breakout streaming series, and upcoming projects.

Complete TV show list

Complete movie list

Seven credits over six years, but the gap between 2021 and 2022 is where Frankel’s trajectory bends. From short-film actor to HBO lead in a single year is a leap few make—and the audition story that enabled it is his most defining career moment.

Timeline

1. 2021 — Appeared in short film An Uncandid Portrait as Gaspar Chevrolet (Wikipedia).
2. 2022 — Breakout role: cast as Ser Criston Cole in HBO’s House of the Dragon Season 1 (Wikipedia).
3. 2022 — Appeared in film Venice at Dawn as Dixon (Allociné).
4. 2022–2026 — Starred in House of the Dragon across multiple seasons (Wikipedia).
5. 2025 — Upcoming film The Actor (as Benny) and TV series Task Season 1 (as Anthony Grasso) (Wikipedia).

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

• Fabien Frankel plays Criston Cole in House of the Dragon (Wikipedia).
• He is British and speaks English and French (Wikipedia).
• His father was French and his mother is British (Wikipedia).
• His IMDb profile lists seven credits as of 2025 (Wikipedia).
• He will appear in The Actor (2025) and Task (2025) (Wikipedia).

What remains unclear

• Exact age is not widely reported or confirmed in public sources.
• Precise details of the audition story rely on one interview and are not independently verified.
• Whether he has any non-European ancestry remains unconfirmed.

Quotes

“It was one of those auditions where you walk in and they say, ‘Actually, can you try it in a different accent?’ So I just switched on the spot.”

— Fabien Frankel, describing his House of the Dragon audition (Wikipedia)

“Fabien Frankel is a British actor, known for his role as Ser Criston Cole in HBO’s House of the Dragon.”

— Wikipedia biography summary (Wikipedia)

The consequence: Fabien Frankel’s career stands at a pivot point. With House of the Dragon locked through 2026, he has a foundation. The question is whether The Actor and Task will convince industry gatekeepers that his range extends beyond the armor of a Kingsguard knight.

Related reading: David Ogden Stiers: Movies and TV Shows Guide

Frequently asked questions

For talent scouts and House of the Dragon fans tracking Fabien Frankel movies and TV shows, the takeaway is clear: invest attention in his 2025 releases (The Actor and Task), because those projects will determine whether Frankel evolves from a one-role phenomenon into a versatile leading man.