Ray Winstone
Born: 19th February 1957
Where: Hackney, London
The former boxer is best known for his portrayal of hardnosed Cockneys but is capable of far more deeply shaded performances.
A late developer, his career has taken off thanks to intense performances in movies such as Nil By Mouth and Sexy Beast.
He grew up in Hackney and Enfield, where his family had a fruit and vegetable business.
A London schoolboy boxing champion three times, he boxed for England twice and over an eight year period lost only eight out of 88 bouts.
He attended London's Corona Drama School briefly, but was thrown out for pushing nails through a lolly stick and using it to puncture the headmistress's tyres.
(she's said he was a "danger" to the other pupils because of his accent).
However, he was quickly discovered by director Alan Clarke and cast in the TV film Scum, which was shelved by censors for strong content.
He continued his TV career, then in 1990 collaborated with Kathy Burke in the stage play Mr Thomas, which was written and directed by Burke.
In 1994 Winstone teamed up with Ken Loach for what many see as his movie breakthrough, Ladybird, Ladybird.
Returning to the West End stage, it was another couple of years before film beckoned once again.
His next film project, Gary Oldman's Nil By Mouth, earned him a BAFTA nomination and British Independent Film Award.
Winstone starred with thespian friends Jude Law and Sadie Frost in their docu-drama Final Cut before appearing as an abusive father in Tim Roth's The War Zone.
Subsequent movies included Anjelica Huston's Agnes Browne, Kay Mellor's Fanny & Elvis and the comedy drama There's Only One Jimmy Grimble.
His next role saw him as a retired East End gangster in the scorching Sexy Beast opposite a sublimely unhinged Ben Kingsley.
Roles followed in Love, Honour & Obey and Graham Swift's Last Orders, opposite Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, Tom Courtenay and Helen Mirren.
Winstone starred with Kathy Burke in The Martins and also appeared as a Berlin nightclub owner in Ripley's Game opposite John Malkovich.
In 2003, he played a vicious police officer in Anthony Minghella's Cold Mountain with Jude Law and Nicole Kidman and also provided the voice for Soldier Sam in The Magic Roundabout Movie.
Recent work includes the low-budget psychological thriller Everything.
