Scott Adkins appears in Zero Dark Thirty in a very brief, uncredited cameo. He plays John Simmons, a CIA operative involved in one of the early detainee interrogation scenes at a black site. His role is minimal, with little to no dialogue, and he is barely visible on screen. The appearance is fleeting and easy to miss, making it more of a background presence than a full supporting role.

The story in this film follows Maya, a determined CIA analyst tasked with tracking down Osama bin Laden. In 2003, she is stationed in Pakistan, where she witnesses the interrogation methods used on suspected detainees. Through the questioning of Ammar, Maya uncovers a lead to Abu Ahmed al- Kuwaiti, bin Laden’s personal courier. Despite conflicting information, she remains convinced of the significance of this clue. In 2009, she loses her colleague and friend Jessica in a suicide bombing by an al-Qaeda agent who had posed as an informant. Maya later discovers that the CIA had received information about Abu Ahmed years earlier but had lost track of it. Through smart analysis and electronic surveillance, the location of a suspected courier is eventually traced to Abbottabad, Pakistan. Although there is no conclusive proof that bin Laden is in the compound, Maya is convinced and pushes for action. On May 2, 2011, Navy SEALs conduct a nighttime raid on the compound, during which bin Laden is killed. Maya confirms his identity and boards a military transport back to the U.S. as the sole passenger. In the final scene, the emotional toll becomes clear as she breaks down in tears.