Brian Vernel, a performer hailing from Scotland, played the character Bala-Tik in the 2015 cinematic release of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens.
Vernel's initial foray into on-screen acting was in the BBC One crime-centered television drama, The Field of Blood (2011). In 2012, Vernel took on a starring role in Davey Anderson's theatrical production, The Static, which was performed at the Traverse Theatre located in Edinburgh. He embodied the main character, Sparky, depicted as a bright yet emotionally unstable teenager possessing psychic abilities. Rohanne Udall from Exeunt Magazine commented: "Vernel delivers a confident and accomplished performance, radiating energy and enthusiasm from the outset, captivating the audience with the intense gaze of a demanding young individual." This portrayal garnered Vernel a nomination for Best Actor at The Stage Awards in 2012. In 2013, Vernel participated in Donna Franceschild's play, Takin' Over the Asylum, a theatrical adaptation of her eponymous television miniseries, staged at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. Mark Brown of The Daily Telegraph lauded his performance as "an impressive, high octane outing". He was honored with the Citizens Theatre Award for Best Actor in recognition of his work.
Vernel held a starring role in the BBC miniseries The Casual Vacancy (2015), which is an adaptation of J. K. Rowling's novel bearing the same title. Additionally, he plays a supporting role in the BBC historical drama series The Last Kingdom, an eight-part dramatization of Bernard Cornwell's historical novel saga, The Saxon Stories. In 2015, Vernel took on the role of Paul in Barrie Keeffe's play, Barbarians, performed at the Young Vic situated in the London Borough of Lambeth. Andrew Dickson, a reviewer for The Guardian, observed: "Brian Vernel, as Paul, nearly steals the show, portraying a character whose only constants are anger and betrayal; with his shaved head and darkly bruised eyes, he resembles a caged snake, poised to strike."