Ricky Tomlinson

Born: 26 September 1939
Where: Bispham, Blackpool

Following award-winning appearances in Ken Loach's Riff Raff and Raining Stones, which won the Special Jury Prize at Cannes, Ricky went on to appear in Das Leben ist eine Baustelle (Life is All You Get).

The film stayed at number one at the German box office for 16 weeks and went on to win the Silver Film Strip from the Berlin Festival.

Ricky's other major credits include Michael Winterbottom's Butterfly Kiss, Nasty Neighbours and the Jimmy McGovern dramas, Hillsborough, Dockers and the multi-award winning Cracker.

Perhaps best known for his role in The Royle Family, he revealed a more reserved side to his character when he turned down a five-figure sum to pose nude for a British magazine.

Ricky also had to turn down a part he was offered in Minority Report by Stephen Spielberg because he had already signed to star in Mike Bassett: England Manager.

A well loved British actor, he has since appeared opposite Samuel L. Jackson in The 51st State, received praise for his part in Once Upon A Time In The Midlands and signed a deal worth £800,000 for his autobiography.