Paul Rhys

Born: December 19 1963
Where: Neath, Wales, UK

Rhys made a name for himself as Theo, the older brother of artist Vincent Van Gogh, in Robert Altman's Vincent & Theo.

However, he has enjoyed a wide variety of roles from a Victorian doctor in From Hell to Charlie Chaplin's brother in Richard Attenborough's biopic.

Popular rumour has it that seeing the movie Saturday Night Fever set Rhys on course for an acting career.

He was still attending London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art when he was cast as the stylish Dean Swift - a "sharp modern jazz creation" - in Julien Temple's Absolute Beginners.

Small roles as the Mayor of Underground City in Franklin J Schaffner's medieval epic Lion Heart and a "Bright Young Gentleman" in Little Dorrit followed.

However, his stock rose considerably when Altman cast him as Theo Van Gogh in a movie focussing on the siblings' relationship.

However, despite his raised profile, Rhys has only had a few leading roles since 1990, including parts in Rebecca's Daughters, Nina Takes a Lover and Chaplin.

TV work has included the Alan Bennett-scripted 102 Boulevard Haussmann about Marcel Proust and the series Gallowglass.

In 2001, he starred opposite Johnny Depp in the Jack the Ripper drama From Hell and also appeared as a gay concert pianist in the lame Food of Love.