Mark Rylance

Mark Rylance is married to English director Claire van Kampen since 1989. Through this marriage, he became a stepfather to two daughters. One of them passed away in 2012.

Rylance is a patron of several organizations such as the 'London International Festival of Theatre' as well as 'Peace Direct,’ a charity organization. He also supports several organizations such as ‘Survival International’, which stands for indigenous rights.

David Mark Rylance Waters was born in Ashford, Kent, England on 18th January 1960. His parents Anne and David Waters were both English teachers. He has a sister named Susannah, who is an opera singer and author, and a brother, Jonathan, who is a wine professional.

His family moved to the US in 1962. Rylance attended the University School of Milawaukee, where his father taught as well.

After completing his training from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art as well as the Chrysalis Theatre School, Mark Rylance first worked with the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre in 1980.

Soon he started performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London. The plays he appeared in during his early career include 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (1986), 'Hamlet' (1989) and 'Romeo and Juliet' (1989).

He made his big screen debut in the 1987 film 'Hearts of Fire'. In 1991, he played the lead role in the film 'The Grass Arena'. Rylance won the Radio Times Award for Best Newcomer for his performance. The following year, he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for his role in a production of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado about Nothing'.

In 1995, he played the lead role in the Oscar nominated film 'Angels and Insects'. Directed by Philip Haas, the film revolved around the life of a skilled naturalist. He was next seen in the film 'Intimacy' which released in 2001.

Though he didn't appear in many films during the 2000s, he won the British Academy Television Award for his lead role in 'The Government Inspector' a 2005 Television film based on the life of Welsh scientist David Kelly.

Mark Rylance won the Oscar for his role in the 2015 historical drama film ‘Bridge of Spies’. The film was directed by the renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg. With Rylance in a supporting role, the film also starred Tom Hanks, Amy Ryan, Sebastian Koch and Alan Alda. It was a huge success critically and commercially. The film was nominated for six Oscars, out of which it won one.

He played the lead role in Steven Spielberg’s 2016 fantasy film ‘The BFG’. The film also starred Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement and Rebecca Hall. The film was an average commercial success, grossing $183 million on a budget of $140 million. It received average reviews from critics. The film was nominated for several awards including the ‘British Academy Film and Television Award’.

His most recent work is his supporting role in the 2017 film ‘Dunkirk’. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film also stars Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D'Arcy and Barry Keoghan. It was a commercial success, grossing more than five times its budget. Some critics have called it the greatest war film in the history of cinema.