Mark Strong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark Strong
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Strong in 2019
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Marco Giuseppe Salussolia
5 August 1963 London, England
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouse(s) | Liza Marshall |
| Children | 2 |
Mark Strong (born Marco Giuseppe Salussolia on 5 August 1963) is a British actor. He is famous for playing memorable characters in many popular films.
You might know him as the powerful Merlin in the Kingsman movies or the evil Doctor Sivana in Shazam!. He has also appeared as Lord Blackwood in Sherlock Holmes, John in Cruella, and the supervillain Sinestro in Green Lantern.
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Early Life and Education
Mark Strong was born in London, England. His mother was from Austria and his father was from Italy. His father left when he was very young, so his mother raised him on her own.
His birth name was Marco Giuseppe Salussolia. When he was a child, his mother legally changed his name to Mark Strong. She hoped this would help him fit in better with other English children.
As a teenager, Strong attended Wymondham College. He was a singer in two punk rock bands called the Electric Hoax and Private Party. At first, he wanted to be a lawyer and even studied law in Germany for a year. However, he decided to return to London to study English and drama at Royal Holloway, University of London. He later trained at the famous Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Acting Career
Mark Strong's career began in the early 1990s with roles in British television shows. He appeared in the popular detective series Prime Suspect and the drama Our Friends in the North. His role in the 2004 series The Long Firm earned him a nomination for a BAFTA.
Becoming a Movie Star
In the 2000s, Strong became well-known for his movie roles, often playing villains or powerful figures. He worked with director Guy Ritchie on the films Revolver and RocknRolla. He played the main villain, Lord Blackwood, in Ritchie's 2009 film Sherlock Holmes.
He also teamed up with director Ridley Scott for Body of Lies, where his performance was highly praised. They worked together again on Robin Hood, with Strong playing the villain Sir Godfrey.
Strong has said he enjoys playing complex bad guys. He tries to understand their motivations to make them believable characters.
Famous Roles in Big Movies
Strong has been part of many major film franchises. In 2011, he played Thaal Sinestro, the mentor to Hal Jordan, in the superhero movie Green Lantern.
He also appeared in the critically acclaimed spy film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) and the historical drama The Imitation Game (2014), where he played the head of MI6, Stewart Menzies.
One of his most popular roles is Merlin in Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and its sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017). In 2019, he played the main villain, Doctor Sivana, in the DC Comics film Shazam!. He also had a role as Captain Smith in the award-winning war film 1917. In 2021, he appeared as the character John in Disney's Cruella.
Success on Stage
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Besides movies, Strong is a talented stage actor. In 2015, he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in the play A View from the Bridge. When he performed the same play on Broadway in New York, he was nominated for a Tony Award.
Personal Life
Mark Strong is married to television producer Liza Marshall. They have two sons, Gabriel and Roman, and live in North London. Strong has said he loves living in London because it is his home.
He is good friends with actor Daniel Craig, who is the godfather to his son Roman. Strong is a big fan of Arsenal Football Club and has been going to their games since he was a boy. He speaks fluent German and some Italian.
Awards
Mark Strong has been recognized for his acting talent with many awards and nominations.
- 2005: Nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for The Long Firm.
- 2015: Won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for the play A View from the Bridge.
- 2016: Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for A View from the Bridge.
- 2019: Nominated for a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain for Shazam!.
See also
In Spanish: Mark Strong para niños
