Charles Dance

Though he studied to be a graphic designer, Charles Dance turned his attention to acting after becoming intrigued by the recollections of two elderly thespians. Born Oct. 10, 1946, in Redditch, England, Dance began his career as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company before making his film debut in the 1981 James Bond flick For Your Eyes Only.

In 1984, Dance put his considerable dramatic skills to work in the British miniseries "The Jewel in the Crown," gaining notoriety in America when the program was aired on the PBS staple "Masterpiece Theatre." More roles on the big screen followed in such films as Out on a Limb (1987), Last Action Hero (opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, 1993), Hilary and Jackie (1998) and Gosford Park (2001).

Dance scored his first Emmy nomination in 2006 for his turn as a merciless barrister in the TV adaptation of Charles Dickens's serial novel Bleak House.

Filmography