LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE Posted September 12, 2010 Posted September 12, 2010 Mark Strong (born 30 August 1963) is an English actor, best known for playing roles in the 2000s films Body of Lies, Syriana, The Young Victoria, Sherlock Holmes, RocknRolla, Stardust, and Kick-Ass. He often depicts villains or antagonists, such as Lord Blackwood in Sherlock Holmes and Sir Godfrey in Robin Hood. Early lifeStrong was born Marco Giuseppe Salussolia in London to an Italian father and an Austrian mother.[1] He was raised Roman Catholic.[2] His English name is not a stage name; it was changed by deed poll by his mother when he was a boy to help him fit in with his peers.[3] He speaks fluent German and some Italian.[4][5] Strong attended Wymondham College in Norfolk. His original ambition was to become a lawyer, but after studying for a year at University in Munich, Germany he decided to change his direction in life and returned home to London.[6] There, he studied English and Drama at Royal Holloway, and later attended Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[7][8] Career Strong is a familiar face on British television and has appeared in such drama series as two Prime Suspect serials for ITV: as Inspector (later Detective Chief Superintendent) Larry Hall in Prime Suspect 3 (1993) and Prime Suspect 6 (2003). He also had starring roles in two BBC Two drama serials, Our Friends in the North (1996) and The Long Firm (2004) for which he earned a BAFTA nomination, and also played the villainous Colonel Brand in Sharpe's Mission (1996). He played the romantic lead, Mr. Knightley, in the ITV adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Emma, with Kate Beckinsale in the title role. In film, one of Strong's roles was Steve in the 1997 adaptation of Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch, co-starring opposite Colin Firth, and Strong also features in Roman Polanski's 2005 version of Oliver Twist. He played Mussawi in the film Syriana, and in 2005 appeared in Revolver, where he played Sorter, a nerveless, steely assassin "who never misses". In 2006, Strong portrayed the traitorous Wictred in Tristan & Isolde, showing his talent with swordplay. The following year he played Pinbacker in the science-fiction film Sunshine. He had to spend six hours a day in makeup to get Pinbacker's scars. Coincidentally, Strong appeared in a 1999 film also entitled Sunshine. He got down to the last two considered for the part of Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem's role) in No Country for Old Men, but despite the persistence of rumours he was never offered the part.[9] In Body of Lies, he played Hani Salaam, head of Jordanian Intelligence. In most of Strong's films he is virtually unrecognizable because he changes his look for each character; in Stardust and Tristan + Isolde, he has long hair, in RocknRolla and The Long Firm he sports a receding hairline, in Kick-Ass he is completely bald whilst in Body of Lies and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day he has a full head of hair. His characters in Low Winter Sun, Heartlands and Fever Pitch, however, most resemble his true self. In his theatre career, Strong was nominated in 2003 for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for his role in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at the Donmar Warehouse in 2002. He has a lead part in the Channel 4 film Endgame (2009).[10] Since 2006, Strong has provided the narration in the BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?. In Sherlock Holmes, he plays Lord Blackwood, the main antagonist. Strong will play Sinestro in the upcoming 2011 superhero film, Green Lantern.[11] Filmography Black Thirst (2011) (pre-production) (rumored) John Carter of Mars (2012) (post-production) .... Matai Shang Green Lantern (2011) (post-production) .... Sinestro The Guard (2011) (post-production) .... Clive Cornell The Eagle (2010) (completed) .... Guern The Way Back (2010) .... Khabarov Robin Hood (2010) .... Godfrey Kick-Ass (2010) .... Frank D'Amico Sherlock Holmes (2009) .... Lord Blackwood The Odds (2009) The Young Victoria (2009) .... Sir John Conroy Endgame (2009/I) .... Dr. Niel Barnard Body of Lies (2008) .... Hani ... aka "World of Lies" - Japan (English title) Good (2008) .... Bouhler RocknRolla (2008) .... Archy Babylon A.D. (2008) .... Finn Flashbacks of a Fool (2008) .... Mannie Miesel Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) .... Nick Cordorelli Stardust (2007) .... Septimus Sunshine (2007) .... Pinbacker Scenes of a Sexual Nature (2006) .... Louis Low Winter Sun (2006) (TV) .... Det Sgt Frank Agnew Tristan + Isolde (2006) .... Wictred ... aka "Tristan & Isolde" - USA (promotional title) Syriana (2005) .... Mussawi Walk Away and I Stumble (2005) (TV) .... Andy Spader Revolver (2005/I) .... Sorter Oliver Twist (2005) .... Toby Crackit "The Long Firm" (2004) TV series .... Harry Starks (unknown episodes) ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre: Prime Suspect 6 (2003) (TV) .... Det. Chief Supt. Larry Hall ... aka "Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness" - UK (original title) Henry VIII (2003) (TV) .... Duke of Norfolk Some Place Safe (2003) .... Dad It's All About Love (2003) .... Arthur Falling Apart (2002) (TV) .... Pete Heartlands (2002) .... Ian Fields of Gold (2002) (TV) .... Dr. Tolkin "The Jury" .... Len Davies (4 episodes, 2002) - Episode #1.4 (2002) TV episode .... Len Davies - Episode #1.3 (2002) TV episode .... Len Davies - Episode #1.2 (2002) TV episode .... Len Davies - Episode #1.1 (2002) TV episode .... Len Davies Superstition (2001) .... Antonio Gabrieli The Martins (2001) .... Doug Hotel (2001) .... Ferdinand To End All Wars (2001) .... Dusty Miller "Anna Karenina" (2000) TV mini-series .... Oblonsky Bomber (2000) (TV) .... Col. Chris Forsyth Sunshine (1999) .... István Sors In the Name of Love (1999) (TV) .... Chris Monroe Elephant Juice (1999) .... Frank "Births, Marriages and Deaths" (1999) TV series .... Terry (unknown episodes) Trust (1999) (TV) .... Michael Mitcham Twice Upon a Yesterday (1998) .... Dave Summers ... aka "The Man with Rain in His Shoes" - Spain (original title) Spoonface Steinberg (1998) (TV) .... Father "Band of Gold" .... Mr. Smithson (3 episodes, 1997) ... aka "Gold" - International (English title) (third season title), UK (third season title) - The Catch: Part Two (1997) TV episode .... Mr. Smithson - The Catch: Part One (1997) TV episode .... Mr. Smithson - She's Back: Part One (1997) TV episode .... Mr. Smithson Fever Pitch (1997) .... Steve Emma (1996) (TV) .... Mr. Knightley Sharpe's Mission (1996) (TV) .... Brand "Our Friends in the North" .... Tosker Cox (9 episodes, 1996) - 1995 (1996) TV episode .... Tosker Cox - 1987 (1996) TV episode .... Tosker Cox - 1984 (1996) TV episode .... Tosker Cox - 1979 (1996) TV episode .... Tosker Cox - 1974 (1996) TV episode .... Tosker Cox (4 more) "Kavanagh QC" .... Randall (1 episode, 1995) - The Sweetest Thing (1995) TV episode .... Randall "Between the Lines" .... David Lacey (1 episode, 1994) - A Face in the Crowd (1994) TV episode .... David Lacey Captives (1994) .... Kenny Century (1993) .... Policeman Prime Suspect 3 (1993) (TV) .... Insp. Larry Hall "The Buddha of Suburbia" (1993) TV mini-series .... Second TV Producer (unknown episodes) "Screenplay" .... Timson (1 episode, 1993) - Not Even God Is Wise Enough (1993) TV episode .... Timson One Against the Wind (1991) (TV) (uncredited) .... German Soldier "Inspector Morse" .... PC Mike Butterworth (1 episode, 1990) - Masonic Mysteries (1990) TV episode .... PC Mike Butterworth "The Bill" .... P.C. Gibb (1 episode, 1990) - A Clean Division (1990) TV episode .... P.C. Gibb "After Henry" .... Roger (1 episode, 1989) - Wedding Bells (1989) TV episode .... Roger <H5 class=filmo>Self:</H5> 2010s 2000s "Who Do You Think You Are?" .... Himself - Narrator (50 episodes, 2006-2010) - Alan Cumming (2010) TV episode (voice) .... Himself - Narrator - Hugh Quarshie (2010) TV episode (voice) .... Himself - Narrator - Jason Donovan (2010) TV episode (voice) .... Himself - Narrator - Alexander Armstrong (2010) TV episode (voice) .... Himself - Narrator - Rupert Penry-Jones (2010) TV episode (voice) .... Himself - Narrator (45 more) "Road Warriors" (2010) TV series .... Narrator (unknown episodes) "Cinema 3" .... Himself (1 episode, 2010) - Episode dated 23 January 2010 (2010) TV episode .... Himself "Horizon" .... Himself - Narrator (1 episode, 2010) - Why Do Viruses Kill? (2010) TV episode (voice) .... Himself - Narrator The Nolans: In the Mood for Dancing (2009) (TV) .... Himself - Narrator "First Cut" .... Narrator (1 episode, 2009) - My Boyfriend the MI5 Hoaxer (2009) TV episode .... Narrator "The Force" (2009) TV series (voice) .... Narrator The Gangster and the Pervert Peer (2009) (TV) (voice) .... Narrator "Xposé" .... Himself (2 episodes, 2008) - Episode #3.44 (2008) TV episode .... Himself - Episode #2.240 (2008) TV episode .... Himself "Cutting Edge" .... Himself - Narrator (1 episode, 2008) - The 9/11 Faker (2008) TV episode (voice) .... Himself - Narrator "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross" .... Himself (1 episode, 2007) - Episode #12.3 (2007) TV episode .... Himself The 50 Greatest Television Dramas (2007) (TV) .... Himself Love Me, Love My Doll (2007) (TV) .... Narrator ... aka "Guys and Dolls" - UK (original title) Hotel California: LA from The Byrds to The Eagles (2007) (TV) (voice) .... Narrator Death by Sex (2005) (TV) (voice) .... Narrator Sex Addict (2005) (TV) (voice) .... Narrator 2nd Annual Directors Guild of Great Britain DGGB Awards (2005) (V) .... Himself - Presenter Michael Jackson's Boys (2005) (TV) (voice) .... Narrator "Richard & Judy" .... Himself (1 episode, 2004) - Episode dated 6 July 2004 (2004) TV episode .... Himself "Ruby Does the Business" (2004) TV mini-series (voice) .... Narrator Happy Birthday BBC Two (2004) (TV) .... Himself YearFilmRoleOther notes1993The Buddha of SuburbiaSecond TV ProducerTV serialPrime Suspect 3Insp. Larry HallTV filmCenturyPoliceman1994CaptivesKenny1996Sharpe's MissionBrandTV filmEmmaMr. KnightleyTV film1997Fever PitchSteve1998Spoonface SteinbergFatherTV filmThe Man with Rain in His ShoesDave Summers1999TrustMichael MitchamTV filmBirths, Marriages and DeathsTerryTV filmIn the Name of LoveChris MonroeTV filmElephant JuiceFrankSunshineIstvan Sors2000BomberCol. Chris ForsythTV filmAnna KareninaOblonskyTV mini-series2001To End All WarsDusty MillerHotelFerdinandThe MartinsDougSuperstitionAntonio Gabrieli2002Fields of GoldDr. TolkinTV filmHeartlandsIanFalling ApartPeteTV film2003Some Place SafeDadshort filmIt's All About LoveArthurHenry VIIIDuke of NorfolkTV serialPrime Suspect 6: The Last WitnessDet. Chief Supt. Larry HallTV film2004The Long FirmHarry StarksTV film2005RevolverSorterOliver TwistToby CrackitWalk Away and I StumbleAndy SpaderTV filmSyrianaMussawi2006Tristan + IsoldeWictredLow Winter SunDet. Sgt. Frank AgnewTV filmScenes of a Sexual NatureLouis2007SunshinePinbackerStardustSeptimus2008Miss Pettigrew Lives for a DayNickFlashbacks of a FoolMannie MieselBabylon A.D..FinnRocknRollaArchyBody of LiesHani SalaamGoodPhilipp Bouhler2009EndgameDr. Niel BarnardThe Young VictoriaSir John ConroySherlock HolmesLord Henry Blackwood2010Kick-AssFrank D'amicoRobin HoodSir GodfreyThe Way BackKhabarovThe Eagle of the NinthGuernThe GuardClive Cornell2011Green LanternSinestro Quote
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