Alun Armstrong

Born: July 17 1946
Where: Doncaster, North Yorkshire, UK

The veteran British TV and stage actor is known for his devotion to the works of Charles Dickens.

Industry lore has it he even turned down a role in a Clint Eastwood film to take the role of Dan Pegotty in a BBC production of David Copperfield.

Dickens classics in which Armstrong starred include the role of Mr Fleming in the BBC's Oliver Twist and numerous theatre productions.

These include the role of the cruel schoolmaster Squeers in the Royal Shakespeare Company's stage adaptation of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

The production won four 1982 Tony Awards, including the award for Best Play, after it moved from London to New York.

Armstrong also played Squeers in a 1982 TV production of Nickleby that won an Emmy and was nominated for a British Academy Award. He was also an original London cast member of Les Miserables, which opened in 1985.

Away from Dickens, Armstrong has also enjoyed a rewarding if limited big screen career.

He made his feature debut in Get Carter alongside Michael Caine in 1971 and followed that up with roles in The Duellists and The French Lieutenant's Woman.

In 1983 he appeared in the sci-fi action thriller Krull, starred alongside Michael Palin in American Friends and had a minor role in the thriller Patriot Games.

Subsequent appearances included Mornay in Mel Gibson's Braveheart and Inspector Teal in Philip Noyce's remake of The Saint.

He took the role of the High Constable in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow and starred alongside Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe in Proof of Life.

Armstrong played Baltus Hafex in The Mummy Returns with Brendan Fraser and also appeared in the low-budget Strictly Sinatra with Ian Hart and Brian Cox.

Recent work includes the role of the shady manager in Thomas Vinterberg's It's All About Love with Joaquin Phoenix and Claire Danes.