Paul Bettany was born on May 27th 1971 in Harlesden, London. Aster finishing drama school, he walked starlight into a role in the West End production of An Inspector Calls.

In the years that followed, he appeared in numerous high profile stage shows including Love and Understanding, Stranger's House and One More Wasted Year.

Paul made his screen debut in the television series Wycliffe in the episode entitled Wycliffe and the Pea-Green Boat (1994). However, his big break came some years later when he was cast in British movie Gangster No. 1 (2000).

Paul's performance impressed writer/director Brian Helgeland so much that he wrote the role of Chaucer in A Knight's Tale (2001) specifically for him.

SInce then, Paul has appeared in several major movies including A Beautiful Mind (2001), Wimbledon (2004) and The Da Vinci Code (2006).

Paul is married to the beautiful American actress Jennifer Connelly and the couple have one child together.