Paul Bettany

Name: Paul Bettany
Date of Birth: May 27, 1971
Place of Birth: Harlesden, London, England, UK

Mini-bio: Paul Bettany was born into a theatre family. His father, Thane, is still an actor. His mother has retired from acting. He has an older sister who is a mother and a writer and he has a niece. His mater...( read more)

Post it anywhere	Link it anywhere
<div style="font-size:11px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/actor/paul-bettany"> <img src="http://content9.flixster.com/photo/11/34/53/11345339_tml.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="Paul" /></a><br/><a href="http://www.flixster.com/actor/paul-bettany">Paul Bettany</a></div>	<a href="http://www.flixster.com/actor/paul-bettany">Paul Bettany</a>

report missing or incorrect data

Skin this page.

Paul Bettany Wiki Profile

Welcome to the Paul Bettany wiki profile. This page is created by Flixster users like you with the help of friendly community Flixster Experts.

No Expert yet! Want your picture here? Click here.

Adding your knowledge to this page is easy. Just click the "EasyEdit" button below. To become a Flixster Expert or find out more about the program, click here. And for general help on the wiki, click here.

No pages yet
Add a page

Paul Bettany Biography Paul Bettany Quotes Paul Bettany Best Movies and Characters

EasyEdit

(What's this?)

What's going on here?
Flixster members are collaborating to create the definitive resource for Paul Bettany information on the Internet. We're adding all the images, info, and ideas that best tell this actor's unique story. To add your knowledge of Paul Bettany, just log in and click the EasyEdit button at the top of the wiki pages. (Click here for help.)

flixster.actor.pane.162660360 - flixster

Paul Bettany mini-bio: Paul Bettany was born into a theatre family. His father, Thane, is still an actor. His mother has retired from acting. He has an older sister who is a mother and a writer and he has a niece. His maternal grandmother, Olga Gwynne (her maiden and stage name), was a successful actress, while his maternal grandfather was a musician and promoter. He was brought up in North West London and after the age of 9 in Hertfordshire (Brookmans Park). Immediately after finishing at Drama Centre he went into the West End to join the cast of 'An Inspector Calls', though when asked to go on tour with this play he chose to stay in England.

Younger brother Matthew Bettany died after a fall at Queenswood when he was only eight years old, which left the family grief-stricken. Soon after, Paul left home and went to live on his own in London, while his parents later divorced. He lived in a small flat and earned money by playing his guitar in the streets as a busker. After two years, he found a new job in a home for the elderly.

When Bettany was 19, he decided to be an actor, and he pursued that career with determination, studying at the Drama Centre London in Chalk Farm. He made his stage debut in Stephen Daldry's acclaimed West End revival of An Inspector Calls at the Aldwych Theatre, playing the part of Eric Birling. He also appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company's productions of Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar (for which he received a Charleson Award nomination). When Bettany was 21 he appeared in a BBC production of Oliver Twist, as Bill Sikes.

Bettany had become addicted to cocaine along the way. His drug problem reached its height during the filming of the miniseries David Copperfield. After this he started to turn his back on drugs. He filmed several more movies, including his first leading role in Gangster No. 1. The British Independent Film Awards nominated him for Best Actor, and the London Critics Circle nominated him for British Newcomer of the Year.

He received critical acclaim for A Knight's Tale, including winning the London Critics Circle Award for British Supporting Actor. After the movie wrapped, Helgeland, determined that Hollywood should recognize Bettany's talent, showed the audition tape to many of his peers, including Ron Howard, who promptly cast Bettany in A Beautiful Mind.

It was on that set that Bettany would befriend Russell Crowe and meet his future wife, Jennifer Connelly. Both were already in relationships, so they remained only friends for about a year. Finally both single, they began dating. After A Beautiful Mind, Bettany was offered the role of the brutal serial killer "The Tooth Fairy" in Red Dragon, opposite Edward Norton and Anthony Hopkins. He turned down the role in favor of accepting a part with Stellan Skarsgård and Nicole Kidman in controversial director Lars Von Trier's Dogville.

On New Year's Day 2003, Bettany married Jennifer Connelly in a ceremony attended by a small circle of friends and family. He moved to Brooklyn, New York, with Connelly and her son Kai. The couple's own son, Stellan (named for actor Stellan Skarsgård) was born on 5 August 2003. Stellan's godfather is the actor Charlie Condou.

VITAL STATS

Paul Bettany Information:

Eye color:Blue

Height:6'3" (191 cm)

Nickname(s):

Notable feature(s):

Education:school in hertfordshire,

Family: parents anne & thane,sister sarah & younger brother matthew (deceased)
wife Jennifer Connelly (married 1 January 2003); one child (boy named Stellan; born August 5, 2003)

Resides in:brooklyn,new york

Religious affiliations:brought up a catholic,but now a atheist

Political affiliation:

Personal interests/hobbies:playing the guitar,

Charities/Causes:

Other:Also plays the guitar, and used to busk on Westminster Bridge in London.

Was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in June 2004.

Gave up smoking in 2005 after seeing his 2 year-old son, Stellan, imitating him with a pen.

Last update: Jul 31 2009, 7:53 PM EDT by Petes1234567 (content history | content tools) (help)

Keyword tags:

Paul Bettany Biography Paul Bettany Quotes Paul Bettany Best Movies and Characters

Photos

Meet Other Fans

Comments

aiforge

If he's now an atheist why is he doing all these religious related films these days?
Maybe his detachment enables him to play the characters without self persecution or with an empty conscience.
I don't know *shrugs*. Whatever the reason, this man can act.

posted 33 days ago
smokeybacon02

loved him in inkheart
such an amazing actor

posted 335 days ago
Leemusicmania

He´s a wonderful actor!! My favourite film starring him is "The heart of me" with Helena Bonham Carter. probably my one of my favourite films of all time...
@ Karthu1993: Yes, he has... Inkheart ;-)

posted 346 days ago
notjustpuppylove

I cannot wait until Inkheart. Dustfinger is amazing and I love him!

posted 393 days ago
SoulSweeper

realy good actor !

posted 413 days ago
krkchn

Though he plays co-star roles, he is exceptionally good at his roles

posted 483 days ago
karthu1993

Has he done any other movies with jennifer connelly? other than beautiful mind?

posted 517 days ago
trethoniel

I definietly agree with sexylove! Paul is just about the sexiest thing that ever walked this planet

posted 549 days ago
sexylove390

PAUL BETTANY IS SOOO HOOT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS I FIND SO ATTRACTIVE ABOUT HIM BUT HE IS. HE IS A GREAT ACTOR AND DID A GREAT JOB IN THE DA VINCI CODE.

posted 654 days ago
ChildOfDurza

paul bettany is an awesome actor (and kinda hot). I luv him!!! Is it just me or do you see his arse in just about every movie he's in? oh well, i'm not complaining

posted 671 days ago

More Top Actors

Paul Bettany Movies

Priest (Unrated, 2010)
Legion (Unrated, 2010)
Creation (PG-13, 2010)
The Young Victoria (PG, 2009)
Born (R, 2009)
Inkheart (PG, 2009)
The Secret Life of Bees (PG-13, 2008)
The Da Vinci Code (PG-13, 2006)
Firewall (PG-13, 2006)
Stories of Lost Souls (PG-13, 2006)

View All Paul Bettany Movies

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Actor Skins

Paul Bettany Skins & Layouts

Submit a Skin | Skins Gallery

click to preview

GANGSTER NO. 1
by Canmint

208 profiles

Use on my profile!
click to preview

Paul Bettany
by suzytbo

32 profiles

Use on my profile!
click to preview

Default Skin
View with default skin

Paul Bettany Trivia

Russel Crowe and Paul Bettany were together in "A Beautiful Mind". Which other movie did they co-star in? Answer »
Which actor is in all this films: A knights tale Wimbledon The Da Vinci Code Master and Commander A beautiful Mind Answer »
Which British actor played the albino monk Silas in "The Da Vinci Code"? Answer »
Which movie stars; Tom Hanks, Paul Bettany and Sir Ian McKellen? Answer »

More Paul Bettany Trivia