Tom Wilkinson

Tom Wilkinson is married to the actress Diana Hardcastle since 1998, and they have two daughters, Alice and Molly. The family lives in North London. They plan to renew their wedding vows on their 30th anniversary.

For his services to the industry, he was awarded a ‘Doctor of Letters’ honorary degree from his alma mater, the University of Kent, in 2001.

As part of the 2005 New Year Honors, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.

Tom Wilkinson was born on February 5, 1948, in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Though an Englishman, he was raised in Canada for five years before the family returned to the UK. His parents, Marjorie and Thomas Wilkinson, were farmers, and he spent his early years on a farm.

He was schooled at British Columbia, and he graduated from Kent University at Canterbury obtaining a degree in English and American Studies. Later, he decided to enroll himself at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to pursue theatre.

Tom Wilkinson made his film debut with the acclaimed director, Andrzej Wajda, in the movie ‘The Shadow Line’ in 1976. The film didn’t fare well, but Wilkinson had established himself as a powerful actor. Though he continued acting on stage, he switched to film for financial reasons.

He made his television debut with Jeffery Archer’s adaptation of ‘First Among Equals’ in 1986, where he played a butcher’s son aspiring to be a prime minister. In the coming years, he appeared in small roles on television dramas.

His other notable appearances in the 1980s included Parker (1984), Sylvia (1985), and Wetherby (1985). He remained more active in television during this decade, including his role in the memorable BBC series ‘Miss Marple’ and the crime drama series ‘The Ruth Rendell Mysteries’.

Though Wilkinson was an established part of the industry, he hadn’t received a role where he could leave an indelible mark. It was with Ang Lee’s period drama ‘Sense and Sensibility’ in 1995 that he emerged as a notable actor.

His next most acclaimed movie was Peter Cattaneo’s ‘The Full Monty’, a British comedy, in 1997, which earned him a BAFTA award, and the appreciation of a wider audience.

His most crucial role in Hollywood was his Oscar-nominated role as Dr. Matt Fowler in Todd Field’s film ‘In the Bedroom’ (2001). Critics have praised this role to be his best and have applauded his nuanced performance.

Another high point in Wilkinson’s career was when he starred in Tony Gilroy’s 2007 legal thriller ‘Micheal Clayton’ alongside George Clooney. He played Arthur Edens, a senior lawyer who threatens to expose a crooked client. Critics praised his role as ‘convincing’ and ‘brilliant’.