James Nesbitt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Nesbitt OBE
Nesbitt in 2013
Born	William James Nesbitt (1965-01-15) 15 January 1965 (age 60) Ballymena, Northern Ireland, UK
Nationality	British
Citizenship	United Kingdom Ireland
Alma mater	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1981–present
Spouse(s)	Sonia Forbes-Adam ​ ​ (m. 1994; div. 2016)​
Children	2

William James Nesbitt OBE (born 15 January 1965) is a famous actor from Northern Ireland. He has starred in many popular TV shows and movies.

Nesbitt started his acting career in plays in 1987. His first movie role was in Hear My Song (1991). He became very well-known for playing Adam Williams in the TV series Cold Feet (1997–2003, 2016–2020). This role won him several awards, including a British Comedy Award.

He also played "Pig" Finn in the movie Waking Ned (1998), which brought him international attention. In 2002, he took on a serious role as Ivan Cooper in the TV film Bloody Sunday, about the 1972 events in Derry. This film was a big change from his usual cheerful characters.

Nesbitt continued to star in hit TV shows like Murphy's Law (2001–2007), where he played an undercover detective. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his dual role as Tom Jackman and Mr Hyde in Jekyll (2007). Later, he joined the cast of The Hobbit movies (2012–2014) as the dwarf Bofur. In 2014, he received praise for his role as Tony Hughes in the drama series The Missing.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

William James Nesbitt was born on 15 January 1965 in Ballymena, County Antrim. His father, James, was a headmaster, and his mother, May, worked for the government. He has three older sisters. James grew up in the countryside and dreamed of playing football for Manchester United.

When he was 11, his family moved to Coleraine, County Londonderry. At 13, James auditioned for a Christmas play called Oliver! and won the part of the Artful Dodger. This was his first acting role, and he continued to act and sing in local productions. He even got his acting union card when another actor broke his ankle, and James stepped in.

After high school, Nesbitt started studying French at Ulster Polytechnic. However, he soon realized he wanted to act. His father suggested he move to England to pursue acting. So, James enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD) in London and graduated in 1987.

Early Career in Theatre and Film

Right after drama school in 1987, Nesbitt got a small part in a TV play. His first professional stage role was in the musical Up on the Roof. He also appeared in a world tour of Hamlet.

In the early 1990s, he got his first movie role in Hear My Song (1991). He played Fintan O'Donnell, a theatrical agent. Critics praised his performance, saying he combined humor with depth. He also had supporting roles in TV shows like Boon and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

On stage, he performed in several plays, including Translations and Paddywack. In 1996, he appeared in the BBC drama Ballykissangel as Leo McGarvey.

Becoming a Household Name with Cold Feet

In 1996, James Nesbitt auditioned for the lead role of Adam Williams in Cold Feet, a new ITV comedy-drama. The show was about the romantic lives of three couples. Even though the character was originally written as English, Nesbitt got the part. He liked the chance to play an ordinary man from Northern Ireland.

Cold Feet was a huge success. It won awards and became very popular. Nesbitt's character, Adam, was a favorite with viewers. The show ran for five years, from 1998 to 2003. Nesbitt won several awards for his performance, including the British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actor in 2000. This role made him a well-known face to the public.

During this time, Nesbitt also appeared in other TV shows and films. He played a football coach in Playing the Field and an investigative journalist in Resurrection Man.

His role in Hear My Song also led to him being cast in the film Waking Ned (1998). He played "Pig" Finn, a friendly pig farmer. This movie helped him gain international recognition, especially in the United States. The cast was even nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2001, he played his first lead role in a movie, Lucky Break, where he played a bank robber.

Bloody Sunday and Serious Roles

In 2002, James Nesbitt took on a very important and serious role in the TV film Bloody Sunday. The film was about the tragic events in Derry in 1972. Nesbitt played Ivan Cooper, a man who pushed for the march to happen.

To prepare, Nesbitt met with Ivan Cooper and the families of the victims. He learned a lot about the day and its impact. This role was very different from his previous cheerful characters and was a turning point in his career. He won the British Independent Film Award for Best Actor and was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor.

Murphy's Law and Other Dramas

In 2003, Nesbitt began starring as undercover police detective Tommy Murphy in the TV series Murphy's Law. He had also starred in a successful pilot episode in 2001. Nesbitt worked closely with the writer to create the character. He won an Irish Film & Television Award (IFTA) for Best Actor in a TV Drama for this role.

As the series continued, Nesbitt wanted to make it more realistic. He became a creative consultant and suggested that Murphy keep one undercover role for a whole series. He also trained and changed his appearance to make Murphy seem tougher. This refreshed the series and was another important moment in his career.

Nesbitt at the 2009 BAFTA Television Awards

In 2004, Nesbitt appeared in Wall of Silence, a drama based on a true story about a father trying to find out what happened to his murdered son. He also played Joe Keyes in Passer By, a man who chooses not to help someone in trouble. These serious roles showed his range as an actor. He was even named one of the most powerful figures in TV drama by the Radio Times.

He also filmed roles in the movies Millions (2004) and Match Point (2005). In 2005, he returned to theatre, performing in After Sun and Shoot the Crow.

Jekyll, Five Minutes of Heaven, and Occupation

At the end of 2005, Nesbitt was offered the script for Jekyll, a modern version of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. He accepted the role of Tom Jackman and his alter-ego Mr Hyde. He spent an hour each day getting ready to play Hyde, using wigs and prosthetics. The series aired in 2007 and earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination.

Nesbitt in July 2008

In 2008, he played Pontius Pilate in The Passion, a BBC/HBO series about the last week of Jesus' life. He also starred as a journalist in the thriller Midnight Man.

The next year, Nesbitt co-starred with Liam Neeson in the TV film Five Minutes of Heaven (2009). This film was based on a true story about a murder during the Troubles. Nesbitt met with the real person he was playing to understand the role better. He also played Colour Sgt. Mike Swift in the TV series Occupation, about British soldiers returning from Iraq. Both performances were highly praised.

International Roles

In 2009, Nesbitt signed with an American talent agency to find more roles. In 2010, he played a hunter in the horror film Outcast. He also starred in the TV series The Deep as a submarine engineer. That same year, he played the lead role of Connor in the film Matching Jack. He even took a pay cut to help the film get made when its budget was reduced.

Nesbitt then reunited with the writer of Occupation for the ITV medical drama Monroe, where he played a neurosurgeon. He researched the role by watching real brain surgery. He also appeared in the film The Way with Martin Sheen and in Ralph Fiennes' film Coriolanus.

One of his most famous international roles was as the dwarf Bofur in Peter Jackson's three-part film series The Hobbit. Filming began in 2011, and the movies were released from 2012 to 2014.

Other Projects and Recent Work

Beyond acting, Nesbitt has hosted various events, including the IFTA Awards and the British Independent Film Awards. He also appeared in TV advertisements for Yellow Pages. In 2004, he contributed vocals to "Born in England," an unofficial song for the England football team.

In 2013, Nesbitt appeared in adverts for Thomas Cook. In 2014, he took on the lead role of Tony Hughes in the powerful BBC drama series The Missing. This show focused on a couple whose son goes missing while on holiday in France.

More recently, Nesbitt's photographs were used in the TV series Line of Duty in 2021. He also starred in the Netflix series Stay Close in 2021. In 2023, he performed a spoken word piece at the Coronation Concert for King Charles III.

Personal Life

Nesbitt and his Five Minutes of Heaven co-star Liam Neeson at the closing of the Belfast Lyric in January 2008.

James Nesbitt was married to Sonia Forbes-Adam. They met in 1989 and married in 1994. They have two daughters, Peggy and Mary, who both appeared in the final two Hobbit movies. James and Sonia separated in 2013 and divorced in 2016.

Nesbitt is involved in charity work. He supports Wave, a charity that helps people affected by the Troubles. Since 2005, he has been a UNICEF UK ambassador, working with children in Africa who have HIV and AIDS or who were child soldiers. He calls this role "a privilege."

He is a big fan of football, especially Manchester United F.C.. In 2003, he donated money to his local team, Coleraine F.C., to help them avoid bankruptcy.

In 2010, Nesbitt became the ceremonial Chancellor of Ulster University. He wanted to use his position to promote the importance of education and fight for funding for students.

He was honored with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2016 for his contributions to drama and to the community in Northern Ireland. Nesbitt identifies as "an Irishman, from the north of Ireland" and holds both British and Irish passports.

Filmography and Awards

Academic Honours

• Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) for his contributions to drama from University of Ulster, Magee campus (9 July 2003).
• Award of Distinction for his contribution to drama from Belfast Metropolitan College (13 November 2008).
• Chancellor of the University of Ulster (2010–2021) (a ceremonial role).