Norman Reedus

Born: 6th January 1969
Where: Florida, USA

The former Prada male model made his feature debut with a small part in the thriller Mimic...but really made his name as an indie darling.

Floating (shown on the festival circuit in 1997) featured Reedus as an aimless young man facing a crossroads in his life.

With a hungry, edgy look matched with a gentle manner, the actor proved to be a dynamic onscreen presence.

1998's psychological drama Dark Harbor saw Reedus make the most of his stray dog look as a injured mystery man taken in by a wealthy couple (Alan Rickman and Polly Walker).

The actor gave a particularly strong performance in Six Ways to Sunday, an adaptation of the novel Portrait of a Young Man Drowning.

He played Harry Odum, an eighteen-year-old mild-mannered gentile who discovers his penchant for violence while accompanying his friend (Adrien Brody) on an errand for the Jewish mob.

Other independent features followed, including the Hamlet-themed Let the Devil Wear Black and Troy Duffy's vigilante actioner The Boondock Saints.

The busy actor also supported Nicolas Cage and Joaquin Phoenix in Joel Schumacher's thriller 8mm and joined an ensemble of fellow up-and-comers in the college campus psychological drama Gossip.

The independent outings Sand and Luster were followed by a high-profile role as Wesley Snipe's companion in Blade II.

He also turned up as the leader of a blood cult in the lacklustre chiller Octane with Madeleine Stowe.