Born as Raymond Andrew Winstone on Februaru 19, 1957 in Hackney Hospital, London, Ray Winstone is an English film and television actor mostly known for his “tough guy” roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over actor. More recently, he has branched out into film production. His film resume includes Cold Mountain, King Arthur, The Proposition, The Departed, Beowulf, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Edge of darkness. He is known for starring in very profane and violent films such as Nil By Mouth, Sexy Beast and 44 Inch Chest.
Ray Winstone was an only child raised by his father, Raymond Sr., who ran a fruit vegetable business, and mother, Margaret. At the time he attended Edmonton County School, Winstone began boxing for the Repton Amateur Boxing Club at 12, winning 80 out of 88 fights and becoming London schoolboy champion three times as a welterweight. However, it was acting that truly occupied the lad’s fascination – he began formal training at the Corona School in Hammersmith, but was duly expelled after a year for puncturing the tires on an instructor’s car. His misfortune, however, quickly turned to favor when he was discovered by famed British television director Alan Clark while accompanying a friend to an audition. Clarke saw something in his swagger and tapped Winstone to play a reform school inmate in Bleak prison drama, Scum (1977).
Frequently cast as a tough or violent man, Winstone had a comedic part in Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence, and played the romantic lead in Fanny and Elvis. His favorite role was in the television biopic on the life of England’s most notorious monarch, King Henry VIII. Helena Bonham Carter co-starred as Henry’s most well-known queen, Anne Boleyn. He has appeared in numerous TV series over the past 20 years including “Robin Hood” (1984), Palmer (1991) (TV), “Birds of a Feather” (1989), “Between the Lines” (1992), “Ghostbusters of East Finchley” (1995) and, most recently, “Births, Marriages and Deaths” (1999). His film career has burgeoned since his award-winning role in Gary Oldman’s Nil by Mouth (1997), and he recently starred in Fanny and Elvis (1999), and The War Zone (1999) (directed by Tim Roth).
After a notable performance as a London crime boss in “Love, Honour and Obey” (2000), he essayed the role of Gal Dove, a former safecracker enjoying retirement in southern Spain with his ex-porn star wife (Amanda Redman) in “Sexy Beast” (2001). After appearing as Michael Caine’s foster son in “Last Orders” (2001), Winstone co-starred in “Ripley’s Game” (2003), an unofficial sequel to “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999), playing an associate to the older, successful Tom Ripley (John Malkovich) who calls on his old friend for some homicidal help.
Winstone made his action movie debut in King Arthur, starring Clive Owen, directed by Antoine Fuqua, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. In that film, Fuqua proclaimed him as “the British De Niro.” He then provided the voice of Soldier Sam in the screen version of The Magic Roundabout. He next appeared in “The Proposition” (2005), a brutal western set in late-19th century Australia in which he portrayed a ruthless lawman who pits three notorious outlaw brothers against each other. In another rare turn for the actor, Winstone provided the voice of Mr. Beaver, one of several all-CGI characters in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005), the hugely successful big budget fantasy based on the C.S. Lewis novel series.
Winstone appeared in Martin Scorsese’s 2006 film The Departed as Mr. French, an enforcer to Jack Nicholson’s mob boss. He provided motion capture movements and voice for the title character in the Robert Zemeckis’ film Beowulf. He then co-starred in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which was released on 22 May 2008. He returned to television drama in The Changeling inspired Compulsion, originally shown in May 2009. He next stars in 44 Inch Chest, alongside John Hurt and Ian McShane. He also had a role as CIA agent Darius Jedburgh in the Edge of Darkness remake, replacing Robert De Niro. He is set to play the role of Detective Inspector Jack Regan in a remake of The Sweeney. Winstone stars also in the slasher-thriller film Red Snow, directed by Stuart St. Paul and based on a short film by Adam Mason.
Winstone currently lives with his wife, Elaine in Roydon, Essex. He met his wife while filming That Summer in 1979. They have three daughters; the eldest two, Lois and Jaime, are both actors.
Ray Winstone Photo Gallery
