Robert Carlyle
Robert Carlyle OBE (born April 14, 1961) is a Scottish movie actor. He is known for his roles as Gaz, the leader of the striptease dancers in The Full Monty, and as Begbie, the volatile thug in Trainspotting.
Biography
Early life
Carlyle was born in Glasgow. He was raised by his father, Joseph Carlyle, after his mother left the family when he was four years old.[1] His father worked as a painter and decorator.[2] Inspired by Arthur Miller's The Crucible, he enrolled in acting class at the Glasgow Arts Centre at the age of 21.
Career
In 1991, he and four friends founded an acting company and guest starred in The Bill. He first came to the attention of the public as a psychotic murderer in an episode of Cracker (in which he killed the character, DCI David Bilborough, played by Christopher Eccleston amongst others), but was soon playing a more sympathetic role, that of Highland policeman, Hamish Macbeth, in the eponymous BBC comedy-drama.
As well as his roles in The Full Monty and Trainspotting, other memorable roles include the senior Malachy McCourt (father of author Frank McCourt) in the 1999 film adaptation of McCourt's first memoir, "Angela's Ashes," the villain Renard in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, a cannibalistic Mexican-American War soldier in Ravenous, the gay lover of Father Greg in Priest and Adolf Hitler in Hitler: The Rise of Evil. Most recently, Robert has played the part of Don, one of the main characters in 28 Weeks Later.
Characterisation
Known for his commitment to roles, he has:[3]
- Before playing a homeless character in Antonia Bird’s film Safe he went to live in the Waterloo area of London where it was set
- For his role as a bus driver in Ken Loach’s Carla’s Song he passed his test for a licence to carry passengers in a Glasgow Routemaster bus
- For his role of Hitler, trying to understand the character, the only thing he could grasp was his love of opera and Wagner. He listened to all the works by Wagner as a result, and is now a commited fan
- For 28 Weeks Later in the rage virus consumption scene, Carlyle banged his head so hard and so often during shooting against a toughened glass window that he suffered splitting headaches
Personal life
In 1997, Carlyle married make-up artist Anastasia Shirley. In 2002, she gave birth to their first child, daughter Ava. In 2004, their second child, Harvey, was born. The Carlyles' third child, Pearce Joseph, was born in 2006.[4][5]
Filmography
- 28 Weeks Later (2007)
- Eragon (2006)
- Class of '76 (2005)
- Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School (2005)
- Human Trafficking (2005) (TV) (Emmy nomination Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie)
- The Mighty Celt (2005) (with Gillian Anderson)
- Gunpowder, Treason & Plot (2004) (as King James I)
- Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003) (as Adolf Hitler)
- Black and White (2002)
- Once Upon a Time in The Midlands (2002)
- The 51st State (2001)
- To End All Wars (2001)
- There's Only One Jimmy Grimble (2000)
- The Beach (2000) (alongside Leonardo DiCaprio)
- Angela's Ashes (1999) (alongside Emily Watson)
- The World Is Not Enough (1999)
- Ravenous (1999)
- Plunkett & Macleane (1999)
- Looking After Jo Jo (1998)
- Face (1997)
- The Full Monty (1997)
- Carla's Song (1996)
- Trainspotting (1996)
- Go Now (1995)
- Hamish Macbeth (1995 - 1998) (TV)
- Priest (1994)
- Cracker - "To Be A Somebody" (1994) (TV)
- 99-1 (1994)
- Being Human (1993)
- Safe (1993)
- Tender Blue Eyes (1992)
- Riff-Raff (1990)
- Silent Scream (1990)
External links
Citations
- [1] http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=888&id=144962006
- [2] http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/11_november/15/equal_carlyle.shtml
- [3] http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/article1808448.ece
- [4] http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=888&id=1872082006
- [5] http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1737445.ece