DOMINIC WEST
Date of Birth: October 15, 1969
Dominic West is one of seven children born to George and Moya West of Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. His father owned a successful plastics manufacturing plant and his mother was a homemaker who loved theater and influenced her son to start acting at age nine when he began appearing in community theater productions.
As West grew older, his focus shifted from acting. After he graduated from high school he ventured off to Argentina for a four-month stint as a cattle herder. The trip was an odd venture for a young man with such a bright future, but West claims he was "just trying to be different."
When he returned from Argentina, West continued his education at Dublin's Trinity College. He graduated from the school in 1993 with a B.A. in English literature. But soon after, he realized his passion was for acting, so he enrolled in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
After graduating, West began appearing in small roles in films like Richard III (1995), Surviving Picasso (1996) and The Gambler (1997). His early credits also include brief appearances in Spice World (1997) and as a palace guard in Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (1999).
West considers his big break to be the role he played opposite Sandra Bullock in 28 Days (2000). After that, West landed prominent roles in Rock Star (2001), Chicago (2002), Mona Lisa Smile (2004) and The Forgotten (2004). In 2006, he took a villainous turn in Zack Snyder's graphic novel adaptation 300. West has also had success on the small screen, starring in the critically acclaimed drama The Wire.
FILMOGRAPHY
Punisher: War Zone (2008)
Hannibal Rising (2007)
300 (2006)
The Forgotten (2004)
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Chicago (2002)
Rock Star (2001)
28 Days (2000)
Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (1999)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)
Spice World (1997)
The Gambler (1997)
True Blue (1996)
Surviving Picasso (1996)
Richard III (1995)