James Nesbitt

JAMES NESBITT

Date of Birth: January 15, 1965

"Acting was never my vocation. I sort of fell into it and there's not a day goes by that I don't feel privileged and thankful for what's happened to me." James Nesbitt

Born in Northern Ireland, James Nesbitt's former goal in life was to become a French teacher. While attending his local grammar school, he took part in a number of the school productions and did some local theater work for fun. Spotting Nesbitt's talent early, one of his teachers encouraged him to take an apprenticeship at the local Riverside Theatre. He took the advice and while continuing his studies in the arts, his interest in acting began, eventually leading him to drama school in London.

Starting his career on stage, Nesbitt has been in numerous plays including Paddywack, Translations, As You Like It, Philadelphia Here I Come, and Can't Pay, Won't Pay.

Following a short appearance on the series Boon, Nesbitt worked on his first film, Hear My Song in the early '90s. In the mid-1990s, Nesbitt worked extensively with director Michael Winterbottom on the films Jude (1996) and Welcome to Sarajevo (1997), playing supporting roles. Following more television work, including the mini-series Playing the Field and Touching Evil, he gained international recognition in the film Waking Ned Devine (1998), playing the lovable pig farmer, Pig Finn.

A few years later, Nesbitt received his first feature film lead in the comedy, Lucky Break (2002). "When I got the part, I wasn't just delighted, I'd say it was a defining point of my career. Not because I wanted to be a film star, it's just that I felt genuinely privileged because I know how difficult it is to make that step to play a leading man."

In 2002, he won a British Independent Film Award as Best Actor in Bloody Sunday (2002) as well as a Best Actor award at the Stockholm Film Festival and a BAFTA nomination. For his work in TV, he received a 2000 British Comedy Award and a 2003 UK National Television Award for his role in Cold Feet and a 2003 IFTA award as Best Actor in a TV Drama for the Murphy's Law series of TV movies. He can be seen playing the role of Tribune Sicinius in the Shakespearean film Coriolanus (2012) and the dwarf Bofur in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). More recently, he starred in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014).

Nesbitt has been married since 1993 to actress Sonia Forbes-Adam. They have two daughters together.

Filmography:

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
Coriolanus (2011)
The Way (2010)
Matching Jack (2010)
Outcast (2010)
Cherrybomb (2009)
Five Minutes of Heaven (2009)
Blessed (2008)
Millions (2004)
Bloody Sunday (2002)
Lucky Break (2001)
The Most Fertile Man in Ireland (2000)
Waking Ned (1998)
Resurrection Man (1998)
Welcome to Sarajevo (1997)
Jude (1996)