Alfred Molina

Biography

Alfred Molina was born in 1953 in London, England. His mother, Giovanna (Bonelli), was an Italian-born cook and cleaner, and his father, Esteban Molina, was a Spanish-born waiter and chauffeur. 

He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, in London. His stage work includes two major Royal National Theatre productions, Tennessee Williams' "The Night of the Iguana" (as Shannon) and David Mamet's "Speed the Plow" (as Fox), plus a splendid performance in Yasmina Reza's "Art" (his Broadway debut), for which he received a Tony Award nomination in 1998.

 He made his film debut in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and got a good part in Letter to Brezhnev (1985) (as a Soviet sailor who spends a night in Liverpool), but his movie breakthrough came two years later when he played--superbly--Kenneth Halliwell, the tragic lover of playwright Joe Orton, in Stephen Frears' Prick Up Your Ears (1987).

 He was also outstanding in Enchanted April (1991), The Perez Family (1995) (as a Cuban immigrant), Anna Karenina (1997) (as Levin), and Chocolat (2000) (as the narrow-minded mayor of a small French town circa the 1950s, who tries to shut down a chocolate shop).

Speaks Spanish and Italian fluently.

Has spoken fondly about his debut role in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and said three positive things in particular about the experience: the movie became one of the biggest blockbusters of all time, he loved working for Steven Spielberg, and he and his girlfriend (later his wife) were expecting their first child when he was hired and he was able to use his salary to buy all of the necessities for a nursery and clothing ahead of time.

Although he himself is fully an Englishman, Alfred's father was a Spanish waiter and his mother was an Italian housekeeper. His southern European background has allowed him to play characters of almost any heritage.

Was chosen to play Doc Ock after Spider-Man 2 (2004) director Sam Raimi and his wife watched Frida (2002).

He gained a good amount of weight to play the huge Diego Rivera in Frida (2002) and then slimmed down to play Dr. Octopus in Spider-Man 2 (2004). Alfred regretted that due to his part as Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof", he again was forced to regain his bulk.