Ken Watanabe

Born: October 21 1959
Where: Koide, Japan

This relatively unknown Japanese actor has raised his profile in Hollywood considerably with a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for his role opposite Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai.

He is already famous in his homeland for playing Samurais and capitalised on his reputation opposite Cruise.

He began his career on stage with the Tokyo-based theatre troupe Madoka and attracted attention in the play Shimodani Mannen-cho Monogatari.

In 1982, he made his TV debut in Unknown Rebellion and went on to star in the Samurai drama series Dokuganryu Masumane.

Film work includes Space Travellers, Drowning Fish and The Sun Rises Again and the role of Katsumoto in The Last Samurai.