House of Guinness, the Netflix drama about the Guinness brand and family dynasty, is as gripping as it is true. The Guinness siblings, Arthur, Benjamin, Anne and Edward had the fate of the brewery in their hands when their father Benjamin Sr died in 1868, but the course of fame and fortune never did run smooth.
While the series centres on the Guinness family, it also features several other important characters, many of whom are likely to be fictional. That includes John Potter, the lawyer involved in sorting out Benjamin Sr's complex will. With a multi-million-pound brewery and a legacy as a businessman and philanthropist in the balance, Potter plays an important role in the story.
Here's everything we know about John Potter.
Who is John Potter?
John Potter is a fictional character, but he represents the difficult task of handling Benjamin Guinness' will after he dies. It's true that when Benjamin Guinness died he left the shares of his company to his four children, but the majority were left to two of his sons Edward and Arthur. Edward is largely credited for turning the brewery into a multi-million-pound business.
What is John Potter's role in House of Guinness?
John handles the practical aspects of the will, including meeting with the Guinness siblings and ensuring the assets are divided as intended.
Who plays John Potter in House of Guinness?
In the Netflix series, John Potter is played by Michael McElhatton, who you might well recognise from Game of Thrones where he played Roose Bolton. He has also starred in Mammal, The Hallow, The Autopsy of Jane Doe and The Winter Lake.
What is House of Guinness about?
The eight-part series by Steven Knight centres on the family behind the Guinness brewing company in 19th century Ireland and New York, and the consequences following the death of Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery, and the fate of his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne and Ben.
How can I watch House of Guinness?
The entire series is now available to stream on Netflix. If you want to find out more about how the modern day Guinness' feel about the series, read Grazia's recent interview with Daphne Guinness, who calls the name 'a blessing and a curse'.
Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across entertainment, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things pop culture for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow with equal respect).