Although he may not be a household name to American audiences, Mark Strong is a familiar face in his native England -- known both for his strong stage work (including a Lawrence Olivier Award-nominated performance in a 2003 production of "Twelfth Night") and his many TV appearances (including "Prime Suspect 3" and "Prime Suspect 6").

Born in August 1963 in London to Italian and Austrian parents, Strong set out to study law in college but soon shifted gears and focused on drama instead. After studying at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Strong began to land roles on TV and in stage productions.

In the late 1990s, Strong's film career took off with notable turns in movies such as Fever Pitch (opposite Colin Firth) and Sunshine. With more recent movies such as 2005's Oliver Twist and Syriana, Strong is finally becoming a recognizable presence on this side of the Atlantic as well.