Robert Carlyle Biography
Summary
"Robert Boyd Carlyle" OBE (born April 14, 1961) is an acclaimed Scottish film actor best known for his performances as psychopaths or killers.
Early life
Carlyle was born in Glasgow.He was raised by his father, Joseph, after his mother left when he was four years old. His father worked as a painter and decorator. Inspired by Arthur Miller's "The Crucible", he enrolled in acting class at the "Glasgow Arts Centre" at the age of 21.
Career
He is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. In 1991, he and four friends founded an acting company and guest starred in "The Bill". He first came to the attention of the public as a murderer in an episode of "Cracker" (in which he killed the character, DCI David Bilborough, played by Christopher Eccleston). He soon landed the role of Highland policeman Hamish Macbeth in the eponymous BBC comedy-drama.
In 1996 and 1997, he appeared in what are arguably the two most high-profile roles of his career to date: that of the psychopathic Francis Begbie in "Trainspotting" and Gaz, the mild-mannered leader of a group of amateur male strippers, in "The Full Monty".
Other memorable roles include the senior Malachy McCourt (father of author Frank McCourt) in the 1999 film adaptation of McCourt's first memoir, "Angela's Ashes", the villainous Renard in the James Bond film "The World Is Not Enough", a cannibalistic Mexican-American War soldier in "Ravenous", the gay lover of Father Greg in "Priest" and Adolf Hitler in "Hitler: The Rise of Evil". Carlyle played the part of Don, one of the main characters in "28 Weeks Later". Most recently, he plays the lead role as a marine engineer, attempting to save London from total devastation in the disaster film "Flood", to be released in August 2007.
Acting style
Known for his commitment to roles, Carlyle has often altered his lifestyle and physical appearance to better understand a character. Examples include:
Before playing a homeless character in Antonia Bird's "Safe", he went to live in the Waterloo area of London where the film was set.
For his role as a bus driver in Ken Loach's "Carla's Song", he passed the test for a licence to carry passengers in a Glasgow Routemaster bus.
For the role of Hitler, he listened to all the works of Richard Wagner, Hitler's favorite composer. As a result, Carlyle is now a committed fan.
For "28 Weeks Later" in the rage virus consumption scene, Carlyle banged his head against a toughened glass window so hard and so often during shooting that he suffered splitting headaches for three days.
Personal life
In 1997, Carlyle married make-up artist Anastasia Shirley. In 2002, she gave birth to their first child, daughter Ava. In 2004, their second child, Harvey, was born. The Carlyles' third child, Pearce Joseph, was born in 2006.
Carlyle's father died in January 2006.
Carlyle is the Patron of School for life, Charity No.1062953.
Carlyle, unlike his most famous character, Begbie, who supports Hibernian FC, is a supporter of Rangers FC.
Chewin' the fat
Robert Carlyle famously appeared in the hit Scottish sketch comedy programme.
Television
"Born Equal" (2006)
"Class of '76" (2005)
"Human Trafficking" (2005) (Emmy nomination Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie)
"Gunpowder, Treason & Plot" (2004) (as King James I)
"Hitler: The Rise of Evil" (2003) (as Adolf Hitler)
"Looking After Jo Jo" (1998)
"Hamish Macbeth" (1995 - 1998)
"Cracker- 'To Be A Somebody'" (1994)
"99-1" (1994)
Filmography
"The Meat Trade" (2008)
""Stone of Destiny" (2008)
"The Tournament" (TBA)
"Flood " (2007)
"28 Weeks Later" (2007)
"Eragon" (2006)
"Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School" (2005)
"The Mighty Celt" (2005)
"Black and White" (2002)
"Once Upon a Time in the Midlands" (2002)
"The 51st State" (2001)
"To End All Wars" (2001)
"There's Only One Jimmy Grimble" (2000)
"The Beach" (2000)
"Angela's Ashes" (1999)
"The World Is Not Enough" (1999)
"Ravenous" (1999)
"Plunkett & Macleane" (1999)
"Face" (1997)
"The Full Monty" (1997)
"Carla's Song" (1996)
"Trainspotting" (1996)
"Go Now" (1995)
"Priest" (1994)
"Being Human" (1993)
"Safe" (1993)
"Tender Blue Eyes" (1992)
"Riff-Raff" (1990)
"Silent Scream" (1990)
External links
(Rain Dog - Official Fanlisting)
(28 Weeks Later - Robert Carlyle video interview)
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Robert Carlyle.
