Born in Lincolnshire on 24 May 1949, James 'Jim' Broadbent was the youngest child and only surviving twin of furniture-maker Roy Broadbent and his sculptress wife, Jim. The future academy award-winner was exposed to acting at an early age as his mother ran an amateur dramatics society in the local church. Aged just four, the budding thespian made his first stage entrance in A Doll's House.
Early career
Sent to a Quaker boarding school in Reading, Jim earned himself a reputation as a rebel for his tendency to answer back to the teachers. Then, just before sitting his A Levels, he was expelled for drinking. Undaunted, the teenage Jim successfully applied for a place at art school, but his heart lay in acting, however, and he soon transferred to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Upon graduation in 1972, Jim went straight to the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park, where he was hired as stage manager. It took a few years for the acting work to start coming in, but a series of successful turns as varied comic characters via the comedic double act 'The National Theatre of Brent' followed.
Success after success
As the work continued to come his way, Jim began to catch the attention of British film directors. Then in the 80s he also broke into Hollywood, acting in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. By this time, he was a regular on television, acting in projects ranging from more comedic roles in Blackadder and some of Victoria Wood's shows to serious dramas such as Silas Marner.
Jim's profile continued to rise through the 90s. Comfortable in both supporting roles as well as ones as principal players, by the end of the decade he was one of Britain's best-loved character actors. Roles in Little Voice, Smilla's Sense Of Snow and The Avengers all consolidated his position as one of the UK's premier entertainment exports.
From 2000 onwards even greater roles followed, as Jim bagged parts in Gangs of New York, Vanity Fair and played Renee Zellweger's father in Bridget Jones's Diary. Meanwhile, his Moulin Rouge turn - a role he described as "totally over the top, probably the longest suicide note in history" - landed him a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor. Then, of course, came Iris, and the Scorsese epic Gangs Of New York.
More recently, Jim has had roles in the Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter franchises, as well as in Game of Thrones. He also starred in hit films such as The Iron Lady, Hot Fuzz, and The Duke.
Personal life
Jim is married to costume designer-turned-artist Anastasia Lewis, whom he met in 1983. The couple married in 1987, and he is stepfather to her two grown-up sons, Tom and Paul. They spend their time split between their North London house and a cottage in Lincolnshire - close to the Methodist chapel that Jim's father Roy helped to turn into a theatre - and spend much of their free time on walking holidays. Jim is fond of wood carving, and owns a collection of figures which he has carved over the years which were displayed for a short time at the Royal Festival Hall in 2015.
