Christopher Eccleston

Born: February 16, 1964
Where: Salford, Lancashire

Christopher Eccleston, a product of Manchester, raised on a council estate spent most of his childhood years concentrating on the sport opportunities presented to him by his school.

For a lark, Eccleston enrolled in a drama class at Salford Technical College. This "lark" landed him with a leading role in "Lock Up Your Daughters" although he maintains that he was miscast.

Miscast or not Eccleston was fuelled enough by his first tasting of theatre to successfully enrol in London's College of Speech and Drama.

Once graduated he faced a long period of unemployment but he is quoted as saying "the rejection fired a determination in me."

In 1988 Eccleston eventually landed parts in the National Theatre that led to his role as Bentley, a mentally challenged teen accused of murder in "Let Him Have It". This earned him much praise from the public.

What followed his so far successful career in theatre was a string of films that played on his unusual looks he describes as resembling a "fallen gargoyle".

These films include a broad range, from acting the Duke of Norfolk in Elizabeth to later on a villain of Gone In 60 seconds and the male lead of The Invisible Circus.

Eccleston's latest role, taking into account his performance alongside Nicole Kidman in The Others, was Ben Jago in a modern adaptation of Othello.

Christopher's attitude to life can be best summed up in his view towards his career in-

"I like the money, but I like the acting more. And as for the lifstyle of attending the right parties, kissing the right arses, brown-nosing the right person - I'm not interested." - Christopher Eccleston to London's Evening Standard, February 15, 2000.