Michael Pena

Born: 1976
Where: Chicago, USA

The onetime bank worker arrived on the Hollywood A-lsit when he was cast alongside Nicolas Cage in the September 11 drama World Trade Center.

He had previously impressed in two Paul Haggis-scripted movies - Million Dollar Baby and Crash.

After graduating from Chicago's Hubbard high school, he worked in a bank before a friend's mother suggested he attend an audition.

Pena went to an open casting call for the Peter Bogdonovich feature To Sir With Love 2 and beat hundreds of hopefuls to the role.

Relocating to Los Angeles, he quickly booked a succession of parts in Star Maps, My Fellow Americans (opposite Jack Lemmon and James Garner), La Cucaracha and the Jerry Bruckheimer actioner Gone in Sixty Seconds.

In 2001, he starred with Joaquim Phoenix in the army satire Buffalo Soldiers and went on to appear in US TV series including ER, The Twilight Zone and NYPD Blue.

He starred alongside Orlando Bloom in the British boxing comedy The Calcium Kid and then received plaudits as Daniel in the powerful LA-set ensemble drama Crash.

Next up was the role of Omar in Clint Eastwood's Oscar-winning boxing drama Million Dollar Baby alongside Hilary Swank.

Switching back to TV, Pena played Armando 'Army' Renta in the gritty police drama The Shield.

Recent work includes the role of police officer Will Jimeno in Oliver Stone's World Trade Center.