Roger Allam
The son of a London vicar, acclaimed British actor Roger Allam grew fascinated by the stage after seeing a performance of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" as a teenager. Allam studied drama at Manchester University before working on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre Company, among others. Following his success as Inspector Javert in the original London production of "Les Misérables" in 1985, he began appearing in such television movies as "Ending Up" and "The Investigation: Inside a Terrorist Bombing," as well as the series "Shakespeare: The Animated Tales" and the crime drama "Between the Lines." Still excelling in the theater, Allam also earned a reputation as a popular film and television actor showing up throughout the 1990s on programs like "Inspector Morse" and "Midsomer Murders." In 2002, the actor was awarded the prestigious Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for his performance in "Privates on Parade," all while continuing to work on TV and branching out to bigger roles in feature films. The 2005 film "V for Vendetta" increased Allam's international popularity, leading to a role alongside Helen Mirren in the multi-award-winning biopic "The Queen" as well as recurring parts on the series "The Thick of It" and "Ashes to Ashes." 2011 found the seasoned actor more in demand than ever as he portrayed the prime minister in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," lawyer John Mallory in the BBC legal drama "The Jury II," and political strategist Gordon Reece in "The Iron Lady."