Brian Cox

Born: June 1946
Where: Dundee, Scotland, UK

For many Brian Cox should be occupying the same rarefied position as Sir Anthony Hopkins - revered in America and respected in Great Britain.

His portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in Michael Mann's Manhunter is widely regarded as the definitive take on the cannibalistic killer.

However, legend has it that Cox was prevented from reprising the role for The Silence of the Lambs by theatre engagements and Hopkins got the gig.

Nevertheless, Cox has since made inroads as Hollywood's "favourite British baddie" with villainous outings in The Bourne series, X-2 and The Ring.

One of four children of an Irish immigrant family, he was raised by a sister and aunt from the age of nine when his weaver father died of cancer and his mother suffered a nervous breakdown.

Cox joined the Dundee Repertory Theatre at the age of fourteen while at school with his best friend Jimmy D and spent his early years mopping the stage. He spent a season with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1966.

He went on to train at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and has remained loyal to the stage throughout his career.

A veteran of more than 40 films, he has happily based himself in Los Angeles from where he's worked on The Bourne series, The Rookie and Rushmore.

Cox has also appeared in tartan blockbusters Braveheart and Rob Roy as well as the controversial Hidden Agenda and Nicholas and Alexandra.

He is also a hardworking TV actor, appearing in The Cloning of Joanna May and Longtitude in England and in America Nuremburg as well as Frasier (for which he was nominated for an Emmy).

Recent film work includes L.I.E. and the lacklustre Super Troopers as well as The Ring, Adaptation and a villainous turn as Stryker in X-Men 2.

Cox is also a regular arts commentator for the New York Times and has contributed articles to Esquire, Tatler and Vanity Fair.

In 2004, he reprised the role of Ward Abbott in the superior sequel The Bourne Supremacy, again with Matt Damon and appeared in the epic Troy as Agamemnon.

The following year he starred in The Ringer, was cast by Woody Allen in the London-set comedy Match Point and appeared opposite Cillian Murphy in the thriller Red Eye.

Cox subsequently appeared in the psychological thriller Zodiac and played a priest in the Scottish cycling drama The Flying Scotsman.

Recent work has included The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep and the British prison drama The Escapist.