James Nesbitt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Nesbitt
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Nesbitt in 2013
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| Born |
William James Nesbitt
15 January 1965 Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
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| Nationality | British |
| Citizenship |
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| Alma mater | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Sonia Forbes-Adam
(m. 1994; div. 2016) |
| Partner(s) | Katy Gleadhill |
| Children | 2 |
James Nesbitt is a famous actor from Northern Ireland. He was born on January 15, 1965. He has acted in many plays, TV shows, and movies. He is well-known for his roles in the TV series Cold Feet and Murphy's Law. He also played Bofur in The Hobbit movies.
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Early Life and First Roles
James Nesbitt was born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. His father was a school headmaster, and his mother worked for the government. He has three older sisters. The family moved to Coleraine when he was 11 years old.
When James was 13, his parents took him to an audition for a Christmas play called Oliver!. He sang "Bohemian Rhapsody" and got the part of the Artful Dodger. This was his first acting role. He continued to act and sing in plays until he was 16.
After high school, James started studying French at Ulster Polytechnic. But he soon realized he wanted to act. His father suggested he move to London to study acting. So, James went to the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and graduated in 1987.
Becoming a Star
After drama school, James Nesbitt quickly started getting acting jobs. His first professional stage role was in the musical Up on the Roof in 1987. He also appeared in a version of Hamlet.
His first big movie role was in Hear My Song (1991). He played a talent agent named Fintan O'Donnell. Critics liked his performance, saying he was both soulful and funny.
Cold Feet and Early Movies
In 1996, James Nesbitt auditioned for a new TV show called Cold Feet. He got the main role of Adam Williams. The show was about three couples and their relationships. It became very popular and ran from 1998 to 2003, and then again from 2016 to 2020. James won several awards for his role in Cold Feet, including a British Comedy Award. This role made him very well-known to the public.
He also starred in the movie Waking Ned (1998) as a pig farmer named "Pig" Finn. This movie helped him become known internationally. In 2001, he played the main character, Jimmy Hands, in the film Lucky Break. Jimmy was a bank robber who tried to escape prison by putting on a musical.
Bloody Sunday and Dramatic Roles
In 2002, James Nesbitt starred in the TV film Bloody Sunday. He played Ivan Cooper, a real-life person who was involved in the 1972 shootings in Derry. This role was very different from his usual cheerful characters. It was a big turning point in his career, showing he could play serious and dramatic roles. He won an award for his performance in this film.
Murphy's Law and Other TV Shows
From 2001 to 2007, James Nesbitt played undercover detective Tommy Murphy in the TV series Murphy's Law. This role was created just for him. He even helped make changes to the show to make it more realistic. He won an award for Best Actor for this role.
In 2007, he starred in Jekyll, a modern version of the classic story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He played both Tom Jackman and his scary alter-ego, Mr. Hyde. This role earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award.
He also appeared in other dramatic roles, like in Five Minutes of Heaven (2009) with Liam Neeson, and the TV series Occupation (2009).
International Films and The Hobbit
James Nesbitt started working on more international projects. He appeared in the horror film Outcast (2010) and the drama The Way (2010).
One of his most famous international roles was playing the dwarf Bofur in The Hobbit movie series. These films were released between 2012 and 2014. His own daughters, Peggy and Mary, even appeared in the last two Hobbit movies as the daughters of Bard the Bowman.
In 2014, James Nesbitt starred as Tony Hughes in the BBC drama series The Missing. He played a father whose son goes missing while on holiday. More recently, he starred in the 2021 Netflix series Stay Close. In 2021, his photographs were used in the TV series Line of Duty to represent a character, though he did not actually appear in the show.
Other Activities
James Nesbitt has also hosted several awards ceremonies, including the Irish Film & Television Awards and the British Independent Film Awards. He is a big fan of football, especially Manchester United F.C..
He is also involved in charity work. Since 2005, he has been an ambassador for UNICEF UK, helping children in Africa. He is also a patron for Action Cancer, a charity that helps people with cancer.
In 2010, James Nesbitt became the Chancellor of Ulster University, a special role where he helps promote the university and education. In 2016, he was given an award called the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama and his community work in Northern Ireland.
Personal Life
James Nesbitt was married to Sonia Forbes-Adam from 1994 to 2016. They have two daughters, Peggy and Mary.
He supports charities that help people affected by past conflicts in Northern Ireland. He identifies as an "Irishman, from the north of Ireland" and holds both British and Irish passports.
Awards and Recognition
James Nesbitt has won many awards throughout his career for his acting. Some of these include:
- British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actor (2000) for Cold Feet
- British Independent Film Award for Best Actor (2002) for Bloody Sunday
- Irish Film & Television Award for Best Actor in a TV Drama (2003) for Murphy's Law
- TV Quick Award for Best Actor (2003) for Cold Feet
- New York City Horror Film Festival Award for Best Actor (2010) for Outcast
He has also received honorary degrees from universities for his contributions to drama.
