Ray Winstone

Biography

Raymond Andrew Winstone (born February 19, 1957, in Hackney, London) is a celebrated British actor and producer, widely recognized for his portrayal of "tough guy" characters, often in British crime dramas.

Early Life and Background

Before his acting career, Winstone was an accomplished amateur boxer at the Repton Amateur Boxing Club, where he won approximately 80 of his 88 bouts. He was also a three-time London Schoolboy Champion. He studied acting at the Corona School before his breakthrough role.

Career Highlights

Winstone's career took off with an explosive acting debut in director Alan Clarke's work.

Early Career: His debut was in the 1977 BBC play production of Scum as Carlin, a role he reprised in the 1979 feature film version. Also in 1979, he appeared in the film Quadrophenia and That Summer, for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. He also played Will Scarlet in the TV series Robin of Sherwood from 1984 to 1986.

Critical Acclaim and Major Breakthrough: Winstone's career was significantly boosted by his award-winning lead role as Ray in Gary Oldman's directorial debut, Nil by Mouth (1997), a performance that earned him a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and a British Independent Film Award for Best British Actor.

Notable Roles: Following his success in British independent films, his distinctive screen presence led to major roles in both British and international cinema:

Sexy Beast (2000) as Gary 'Gal' Dove

Cold Mountain (2003) as Teague

King Arthur (2004) as Bors

The Proposition (2005) as Captain Stanley

The Departed (2006) as Mr. French

Beowulf (2007) in the title role (voice/motion capture)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) as George 'Mac' McHale

Black Widow (2021) as Dreykov

Winstone has also provided voice work for animated features, including Mr. Beaver in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and Bad Bill in Rango (2011). He continues to take on roles in both film and television.

He is married and has three children, with his two eldest daughters, Lois and Jaime, also becoming actresses.