|
|
Paul Bettany
Paul Bettany was born in London on May 27, 1971, moving when very young to the country with his family. Bullied at school, and devastated by the death of his young brother, he returned to London at 19. He earned money busking on the streets of London playing his guitar, washing the bodies of corpses at a carehome for the elderly, and eventually he turned to acting, studying at the London Drama Centre.
He has appeared on stage, television and the big screen, beating a cocaine addiction, which was at its height during the filming of the David Copperfield TV miniseries.
His first leading role was in Gangster No. 1 which earned him a nomination for Best Actor in the The British Independent Film Awards, and the London Critics Circle nominated him for British Newcomer of the Year.
His debut on the American silverscreen was in “A Knight’s Tale”, as Chaucer, for which he won the London Critics Circle Award for British Supporting Actor. This was the start of a trend for Paul, that of appearing naked in a number of films!
He has appeared in many films on the bigscreen and TV including the following:
" A Beautiful Mind", " Creation", " Dogville", " Firewall", " Inkheart", " Legion", "Master and Commander", " Priest", " The Da Vinci Code", " The Heart Of Me", " The Secret Life of Bees", " The Tourist", " The Young Victoria", " Wimbledon", “After the Rain”, “ Every Woman Knows a Secret”
Paul has a son, Stellan with his American actress wife Jennifer Connelly, and stepson Kai, Jennifer’s son.
News |
What members say |
Filmography
Paul Bettany - news / articles
-
-
Bettany's children slept through Margin Call filming -
10 January 2012
-Paul Bettany broke a self-imposed rule not to work at the same time as his wife Jennifer Connelly so he could make Margin Call and his children ended up sleeping on the movie's set.-The celebrity couple is parents to eight-year-old Stellan and baby daughter Agnes, wh
-
-
Bettany's never seen Dogville -
30 September 2011
-Paul Bettany has never watched his hit film Dogville - because his time on set was a "peculiarly unsatisfying experience".-The actor played a writer in Lars von Trier's 2003 drama, alongside a star-studded cast including Nicole Kidman and Lauren Bacall.- But Wimbled
-
-
Bettany blasts moaning actors -
22 April 2011
-Brit Paul Bettany has taken aim at "whining actors", insisting they should "get a real job" and let a grateful wannabe take their place.-The straight-talking Legion star admits he cannot tolerate castmates who complain about trailers and services on film sets - becau
Paul Bettany - what members say
review by from Colchester, England
Worth seeing for Bettany 18 November 2004
review by from Norwich
Riotously funny and shamelessly anachronistic 1 December 2003
review by from Plymouth Devon.
Just Brilliant. 9 April 2005
Paul Bettany - filmography
-
-
Margin Call - Blu-ray
(2012)
Starring: Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, Jeremy Irons
Director: J.C. Chandor
Certificate: 
Investment-firm analyst Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) uncovers sensitive information that could easily plunge the entire business into peril, inadvertently destroying the lives and careers of his colleagues in this tense thriller set during the onset of the 2008 financial crisis. Over the course ..read more »
 
55%
from 4 members
Currently unavailable
-
-
Priest
on DVD
(2011)
Starring: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q
Director: Scott Stewart
Certificate: 
PRIEST, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller, is set in an alternate world -- one ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in ..read more »
63%
from 8,387 members
-
-
Priest - Blu-ray
(2011)
Starring: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q
Director: Scott Stewart
Certificate:
A battle-weary veteran of the last vampire war, warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) now resides in a heavily fortified city where the ruling Church is a greater menace than any creature of the night. When a pack of vampires abduct Priest's niece (Lily Collins), the vengeful holy man breaks his vows and ..read more »
62%
from 4,374 members
-
-
Priest - 3D Blu-ray
(2011)
Starring: Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q
Director: Scott Stewart
Certificate: 
A battle-weary veteran of the last vampire war, warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) now resides in a heavily fortified city where the ruling Church is a greater menace than any creature of the night. When a pack of vampires abduct Priest's niece (Lily Collins), the vengeful holy man breaks his vows and ..read more »
62%
from 669 members
-
-
Margin Call
(2011)
Starring: Zachary Quinto, Paul Bettany, Kevin Spacey
Director: J.C. Chandor
Certificate:
Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) is handed an unfinished report into his company's current financials and as he completes it discovers that the place he works in is in huge financial meltdown. Delivering the news to his bosses they conduct a 24 hour meeting to discuss what can be done - to save ..read more »
69%
from 132 members
Currently unavailable
-
-
The Tourist
on DVD
(2010)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
Certificate:
"The Tourist" revolves around Frank, an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Venice, Frank pursues a potential romance but soon finds himself the pursued as he and Elise are ..read more »
63%
from 28,778 members
-
-
Iron Man 2
on DVD
(2010)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson
Director: Jon Favreau
Certificate:
With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press, and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, along with Pepper ..read more »
69%
from 49,688 members
-
-
Legion - Blu-ray
(2010)
Starring: Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Lucas Black
Director: Scott Charles Stewart
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
After a terrifying biblical apocalypse descends upon the world, a group of strangers stranded in a remote truck stop diner in the Southwest unwittingly become humanity's last line of defense when they discover the diner's young waitress is pregnant with the messiah.
57%
from 6,574 members
-
-
Legion
on DVD
(2010)
Starring: Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Lucas Black
Director: Scott Charles Stewart
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
After a terrifying biblical apocalypse descends upon the world, a group of strangers stranded in a remote truck stop diner in the Southwest unwittingly become humanity's last line of defense when they discover the diner's young waitress is pregnant with the messiah.
58%
from 23,491 members
-
-
A Man's Story
on DVD
(2010)
Starring: Ozwald Boateng, Giorgio Armani, Michael Bay
Director: Varon Bonicos
Certificate:
Tailor to Hollywood's A-list, and a superstar in his own right, Ozwald Boateng is a dynamic force of energy, passion and colour.
1998: already celebrated as one of the most talented menswear designers in the world, Ozwald Boateng is about to go bankrupt and divorce his first wife. Through luck and ..read more »
68%
from 35 members
-
-
Iron Man 2 - Blu-ray
(2010)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson
Director: Jon Favreau
Certificate:
With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press, and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, along with Pepper ..read more »
70%
from 18,243 members
-
-
The Young Victoria
on DVD
(2009)
Starring: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee
Certificate: 
From Academy Award winners Graham King and Martin Scorsese comes the story of Queen Victoria's early rise to power. From an object of a royal power-struggle in to her romantic courtship and legendary marriage to Prince Albert, Emily Blunt gives a stunning performance as the young Victoria.
75%
from 36,549 members
-
-
Creation
on DVD
(2009)
Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Northam
Director: Jon Amiel
Certificate:
Jon Amiel (SOMERSBY, TV's THE SINGING DETECTIVE) directs real-life married couple Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly star as Charles Darwin and his wife in this biographical drama. Set before the publication of ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES, CREATION finds Darwin grieving over the death of his daughter ..read more »
60%
from 8,403 members
-
-
Inkheart
on DVD
(2008)
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Andy Serkis, Eliza Bennett
Director: Iain Softley
Certificate:
A girl's father has the ability to summon book characters to life by reading aloud. When a nasty, rotten pack of rogues from a fable kidnap Pops, our heroine must join forces with her fictional friends and rescue him.
66%
from 30,377 members
-
-
Broken Lines
on DVD
(2008)
Starring: Paul Bettany, Olivia Williams, Dan Fredenburgh
Director: Sallie Aprahamian
Certificate:
Paul Bettany (The Young Victoria, Master & Commander) and Olivia Williams (Hanna, The Ghost Writer) front a stellar British cast in a powerful and emotional journey of love, obligation, and conflict, set against the backdrop of Londons multi-cultural suburbia. After the sudden death of his father, ..read more »
48%
from 77 members
-
-
Inkheart - Blu-ray
(2008)
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Andy Serkis, Eliza Bennett
Director: Iain Softley
Certificate:
A girl's father has the ability to summon book characters to life by reading aloud. When a nasty, rotten pack of rogues from a fable kidnap Pops, our heroine must join forces with her fictional friends and rescue him.
62%
from 2,758 members
-
-
Firewall - Blu-ray
(2006)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany, Virginia Madsen
Director: Richard Loncraine
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) is an average family man in Seattle who heads up the hi-tech security team at his local bank. But following a seemingly trivial case of identity theft, Jack's life is turned upside-down when he discovers that his wife (Virginia Madsen) and two kids have been kidnapped...read more »
62%
from 2,986 members
-
-
The Da Vinci Code
on DVD
(2006)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen
Director: Ron Howard
Certificate:
The 2005 best selling novel's big screen adaptation. A murder in the Louvre and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years -- which could shake the foundations of Christianity.
63%
from 76,032 members
-
-
The Da Vinci Code - Blu-ray
(2006)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen
Director: Ron Howard
Certificate:
Dan Brown's best-selling book THE DA VINCI CODE gets adapted for the big screen thanks to director Ron Howard (CINDERELLA MAN), who helms this big budget production. Veteran actor Tom Hanks stars as professor Robert Langdon, whose Parisian lecture tour on feminine symbolism gets disrupted when he's ..read more »
66%
from 2,886 members
-
-
Firewall
on DVD
(2006)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany, Virginia Madsen
Director: Richard Loncraine
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) is an average family man in Seattle who heads up the hi-tech security team at his local bank. But following a seemingly trivial case of identity theft, Jack's life is turned upside-down when he discovers that his wife (Virginia Madsen) and two kids have been kidnapped...read more »
61%
from 43,298 members
-
-
Wimbledon
on DVD
(2004)
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Paul Bettany, Sam Neill
Director: Richard Loncraine
Certificate:
Richard Loncraine's 'Wimbledon' is a lighthearted romantic comedy set in the high-pressure world of professional tennis. Peter Colt (Paul Bettany) is a 31-year-old Englishman who was once ranked 11th in the world, but has now dropped to a pathetic 119th. Realising that his days are numbered, Peter ..read more »
59%
from 59,827 members
-
-
The Reckoning
on DVD
(2004)
Starring: Paul Bettany, Marian Aguilera, Trevor Steedman
Director: Paul McGuigan
Certificate:
Set in England during the late 1300s, Paul McGuigan's THE RECKONING follows Nicholas (Paul Bettany), a young priest literally running from his past. After encountering a band of wandering actors, Nicholas is grudgingly allowed into the fold by the good-natured Martin (Willem Dafoe). When the troupe ..read more »
52%
from 2,410 members
-
-
Dogville
on DVD
(2003)
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Lauren Bacall
Director: Lars Von Trier
Certificate:
Set in the 1930s during the Depression in the Rocky Mountains, DOGVILLE is Lars von Trier's comment on Americana and his uniquely perverse view of small town life. With period costumes, and flashes of THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER--which is being read by one of the characters--von Trier sets the ..read more »
57%
from 23,430 members
-
-
The Heart Of Me
on DVD
(2002)
Starring: Paul Bettany, Helena Bonham-Carter, Olivia Williams
Director: Thaddeus O'Sullivan
Certificate:
In Thaddeus O'Sullivan's THE HEART OF ME, Madeleine (Olivia Williams) and Dinah (Helena Bonham Carter) are sisters with little in common except for their bloodlines and the man that they both love. Madeleine and her husband, Rickie (Paul Bettany) appear to be the perfect couple. They have an ..read more »
59%
from 1,339 member
-
-
A Beautiful Mind - Blu-ray
(2001)
Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany
Director: Ron Howard
Certificate:
Director Ron Howard delivers his finest effort with his extraordinary film, A BEAUTIFUL MIND, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2001. Based loosely on Sylvia Nasar's acclaimed biography of mathematician John Forbes Nash, the film is a compelling look at one man's genius, his ..read more »
74%
from 153 members
Due for release on 28th May 2012
-
-
A Knight's Tale
on DVD
(2001)
Starring: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell
Director: Brian Helgeland
Certificate:
In the Middle Ages, before television or professional sports, there's only one form of competition to separate the men from the boys--jousting tournaments. William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), a poor and humble squire, has always dreamed of proving himself worthy as a knight in a jousting match. When ..read more »
69%
from 15,338 members
-
-
A Beautiful Mind
on DVD
(2001)
Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany
Director: Ron Howard
Certificate:
Director Ron Howard delivers his finest effort with his extraordinary film, A BEAUTIFUL MIND, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2001. Based loosely on Sylvia Nasar's acclaimed biography of mathematician John Forbes Nash, the film is a compelling look at one man's genius, his ..read more »
71%
from 36,526 members
-
-
Gangster No. 1
on DVD
(2000)
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Eddie Marsan
Director: Paul McGuigan
Certificate: 
When a young gangster (Paul Bettany) starts working for gang leader Freddie Mays (David Thewlis), known as the Butcher of Mayfair, he dreams of being everything that Freddie is: smooth, sophisticated, impeccably dressed, always with the right women, and driving the fanciest cars. Freddie takes the ..read more »
62%
from 3,447 members
-
-
Gangster No. 1 - Blu-ray
(2000)
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany
Director: Paul McGuigan
Certificate:
When a young gangster (Paul Bettany) starts working for gang leader Freddie Mays (David Thewlis), known as the Butcher of Mayfair, he dreams of being everything that Freddie is: smooth, sophisticated, impeccably dressed, always with the right women, and driving the fanciest cars. Freddie takes the ..read more »
65%
from 879 members
-
-
Every Woman Knows a Secret
(1999)
Starring: Miles Anderson, Tom Chadbon, Siobhan Redmond
Director: Paul Seed
Certificate:
Charged with drunk driving in a fiery, fatal car crash, Rob (Paul Bettany - The Da Vinci Code) is blamed for the death of Jesss (Siobhan Redmond - Beautiful People) son. Battling the familys hostility, Rob reaches out to Jess for comfort and their shared grief draws them together in a powerful ..read more »
40%
from 5 members
Currently unavailable
-
-
Killer Net
on DVD
(1998)
Starring: Tam Williams, Paul Bettany, Emily Woof
Director: Geoffrey Sax
Certificate:
When a group of students get involved with an violent online game and a series of murders are discovered in their area, questions about a link between the two soon arise.
61%
from 531 members
-
-
Sharpe - Classic Collection - Blu-ray
(7 discs)
Starring: Sean Bean, Daragh O'Malley, Hugh Fraser
Director: Tom Clegg
Certificate:
This collection contains all 15 Sharpe adventures to date, covering all of Sharpe's battles, both personal and professional.
Episodes Comprise:
1. Sharpe's Rifles
2. Sharpe's Eagle
3. Sharpe's Company
4. Sharpe's Enemy
5. Sharpe's Honour
6. Sharpe's Gold
7. Sharpe's Battle
8. Sharpe's Sword
9. ..read more »
82%
from 154 members
-
-
A Knight's Tale - Blu-ray
Starring: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell
Director: Brian Helgeland
Certificate:
In the Middle Ages, before television or professional sports, there's only one form of competition to separate the men from the boys--jousting tournaments. William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), a poor and humble squire, has always dreamed of proving himself worthy as a knight in a jousting match. When ..read more »
71%
from 2,509 members
-
-
Firewall - HD
Starring: Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany, Virginia Madsen
Director: Richard Loncraine
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) is an average family man in Seattle who heads up the hi-tech security team at his local bank. But following a seemingly trivial case of identity theft, Jack's life is turned upside-down when he discovers that his wife (Virginia Madsen) and two kids have been kidnapped...read more »
59%
from 668 members
Not currently released
-
-
Dead Babies
on DVD
Starring: Paul Bettany, Katy Carmichael, Hayley Carr
Director: William Marsh
Certificate:
Watch now: £2.49
Dead Babies is a razor-sharp comedy about a group of young English friends living together in a bizarre house just outside of London. When they invite three Americans over for a drug fuelled weekend things really kick off as the two cultures collide and the chemicals take over. However, it soon ..read more »
41%
from 1,523 member
|
Paul Bettany facts
|
...his one from the latter category - one being a good script, and the other being Paul Bettany's performance in the lead role.
This is a harsh, brutal story about a young ...
