James Purefoy

Born and bred in Somerset, England, JAMES PUREFOY was classically trained at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama in London. While playing the title role in Henry V in his final year, he was spotted by a casting director for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and invited to join the company immediately in Stratford. He performed in eight productions, collaborating with such directors as Nicholas Hytner, Roger Michell and Gene Saks.

On the stage he has worked with Katie Mitchell on "Women of Troy" at The Gate, Matthew Warchus, Ken Stott and Jude Law on "Death of a Salesman" at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Iain Glen on "Hamlet" at Bristol Old Vic, Bill Alexander in a critically acclaimed season at Birmingham rep, playing lead parts in "The Servant," "The Way of the World" and "Macbeth" and with Simon Callow, Helen McCrory, Rupert Graves and Joseph Fiennes on "Les Enfants Du Paradis," again for the RSC. He also starred in Trevor Nunn's production of "The Relapse" at the National Theatre.

Television appearances include a starring role in ITV's mini-series "Metropolis" and TV movie "The Mayor of Casterbridge," and for the BBC, TV movies "Blackbeard" and "Beau Brummell: This Charming Man," in which he played the title role. He took the leading part in Channel 4's award-winning "A Dance to the Music of Time." In 2004, Purefoy played Mark Antony in HBO's epic award-winning TV series, "Rome." Directed by Michael Apted, amongst others, the saga concentrates on the eventful last few years of Caesar's reign. Purefoy starred in the Canadian TV miniseries "The Summit" and "Diamonds," and played the title role in NBC's television series, "The Philanthropist."

A regular on the silver screen, Purefoy's early credits include: "Feast of July" for Merchant Ivory, the title role in the romantic comedy "Jilting Joe," Rose Tronche's "Bedrooms and Hallways" and "Blink" for Channel 4.

In 2000, he starred as Tom Bertram in Jane Austen's "Mansfield Park" with Harold Pinter, Jonny Lee Miller and Francis O'Connor, followed by Ben Elton's "Maybe Baby" with Joely Richardson.

Other film credits include: "Women Talking Dirty" for Rocket Pictures, "Domani" for New Line Film, and "A Knight's Tale" with Heath Ledger for Columbia Pictures. He starred in Paul Wes Anderson's "Resident Evil," played opposite Reese Witherspoon in Mira Nair's "Vanity Fair," and took the title role in Michael J. Bassett's "Solomon Kane" and played a Knight Templar in Jonathan English's "Ironclad.'

© 2012 Walt Disney Pictures