Daniel Mays

Born: England, UK

The actor made his big screen debut as a pilot in Michael Bay's glossy World War II blockbuster Pearl Harbour.

However, he has demonstrated subtler acting skills including starring roles in Mike Leigh's All or Nothing and Vera Drake.

Educated at the Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts he went on to land a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

He went on to act extensively at London's Royal Court theatre, where he won plaudits in Vassily Sigarev's Ladybird.

After Pearl Harbor, Leigh cast as Jason, the psychotic boyfriend, in All or Nothing and he went on to appear in TV's Tipping The Velvet.

In 2003, he won the best actor award at the Palmare-Reims TV Festival for the role of Jason in Antonia Bird's Rehab.

The following year he appeared in Leigh's critically acclaimed Vera Drake, starring Imelda Staunton as a backstreet abortionist.