Tommy Flanagan

Born: July 3 1965
Where: Glasgow, Scotland

The former painter and decorator belongs to that select band of supporting actors appearing in high-profile films such as Braveheart, Gladiator and Face/Off.

One of five children, his father walked out on the family when he was just six and he grew up as a self-confessed delinquent.

He acquired his trademark scar when he was set upon while leaving a pub where he was working as a DJ.

Traumatised by his injury, he turned to acting after it was suggested by his friends Robert Carlyle and his wife Caroline.

He worked with the Raindog Theatre for three years before Mel Gibson gave him his big break with an expanded role in Braveheart.

Ironically, his next part was Scarface in The Saint and he went on to take supporting roles in Face/Off, The Detail and The Game.

In 1999, Lynne Ramsay cast him as the lead in the critically-acclaimed The Ratcatcher and next came the role of Cicero in Ridley Scott's Gladiator.

Subsequent appearances included Peter Capaldi's Strictly Sinatra, Adam Collis' Sunset Strip and the award-winning Dead Dogs Lie.

In 2003, he played a henchman in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Colin Firth's pal in the British psychological thriller Trauma.

Upcoming projects include Alien Versus Predator.