Sean Penn

Born: 17th August 1960
Where: Santa Monica, California

The Oscar-winning former Mr Madonna has carved himself out a formidable career as an actor and latterly a director.

Four times Oscar-nominated for lead roles in Dead Man Walking, Sweet and Lowdown, and I Am Sam, it wasn't until 2003's Mystic River that Penn finally bagged an award.

The son of actor-turned director Leo Penn and his actress wife Eileen Ryan, Penn received his initial training on the stage, and made his film debut in Taps.

He quickly established himself as an actor, easily shifting genres while alternating between starring and character roles in films like Bad Boys and Racing With the Moon.

At Close Range became a family affair as Penn acted alongside his mother Eileen and real-life brother Chris.

He followed that with the Dennis Hopper-directed Colours and the disturbing Vietnam war movie Casualties of War.

State of Grace, his last acting appearance for three years paired him for the first time with future-wife Robin Wright.

His obsession with acting having worn off, he "retired" to concentrate on writing and directing and made an impressive debut at the helm of The Indian Runner.

Family responsibilities and the desire to finance another movie prompted Penn to return to the screen in De Palma's Carlito's Way, before he made his second directorial effort, The Crossing Guard.

Penn executive produced and picked up the Best Actor Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for She's So Lovely, a project scripted by the director's late father.

In order to finance his writing and directing efforts, Penn remained active before the cameras with roles in Up in the Villa, Before Night Falls, and The Weight of Water.

He returned to the director's chair with The Pledge, before winning critical acclaim and another Best Actor Oscar nomination for I Am Sam.

In 2003, he starred in Clint Eastwood's return to form as a father whose child is murdered in Mystic River, for which he won a best actor Oscar.

The same year he also starred in the tense drama 21 Grams alongside Naomi Watts and Benicio Del Toro.

Recent work includes a critically-applauded turn in the 2005 black comedy The Assassination of Richard Nixon and the thriller The Interpreter.