Hugh Dancy

Born: June 19 1975
Where: Stoke on Trent, England, UK

The model and Oxford English graduate first attracted attention as medic Kurt Schmid in Ridley Scott's action thriller Black Hawk Down.

The son of a writer and philosophy professor, he studied English language and literature at Oxford University.

He made his screen debut on the British TV series Trial & Retribution and went on to land roles in Dangerfield and Kavanagh QC.

Subsequent TV work includes a role in the popular series Cold Feet as well as theatre work such as Sam Mendes' David Copperfield.

He made his big screen debut in the low-budget historical thriller Young Blades in 2001 before Scott cast him in the helicopter gunship actioner Black Hawk Down.

The exposure led to roles in the romantic drama The Sleeping Dictionary and the thriller Tempo with Melanie Griffith.

In 2004, he starred as Prince Char opposite Anne Hathaway's Ella in the children's fantasy Ella Enchanted.

The same year he was also the male face of Burberry.