Biography for
Ben Whishaw More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

14 October 1980, Clifton, Bedfordshire, England, UK

Birth Name

Benjamin John Whishaw

Height

5' 9" (1.75 m)

Mini Biography

Proclaimed by many critics as one of the best young actors of his generation, Ben Whishaw was born in Clifton, Bedfordshire, where he grew up along with his twin brother James. Ben attended Samuel Whitbread Community College where his interest in theatre grew and he became a member of the Bancroft Players Youth Theatre at Hitchin's Queen Mother Theatre. During his time there he rose to prominence in many productions, most notably If This Is a Man, based on the book of the same name by Primo Levi, a survivor of Nazi World War II prisoner of war camp. The play was taken to the Edinburgh Festival in 1995 where it garnered five-star reviews and great critical acclaim with Ben Whishaw getting rave reviews for his portrayal of Levi. Ben then enrolled in, RADA from where he graduated in 2004 and soon landed the role of Hamlet in Trevor Nunn's 2004 production making him one of the youngest actors to portray Hamlet on-stage. Hamlet opened to rave reviews with many critics hailing Ben as the next Laurence Olivier and applauding his portrayal of Hamlet with leading critics haling the birth of a star. Whishaw's film and TV credits include Layer Cake (2004) and Christopher Morris' 2005 sitcom "Nathan Barley" (2005), in which he played a character called Pingu. He was named "Most Promising Newcomer" at the 2001 British Independent Film Awards (for My Brother Tom (2001)) and, in 2005, nominated as best actor in four award ceremonies for his Hamlet. He also played Keith Richards in the Stephen Woolley biopic Stoned (2005). Whishaw played in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006) as Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a perfume maker whose craft turns deadly getting raves once again for his stunning portrayal. Whishaw appeared in 2007's _I'm Not There (9999)_ as one of the Bob Dylan reincarnations and in 2008 in "Criminal Justice" (2008) a TV series. He appears in the forthcoming films The Tempest (2010/I) and Bright Star (2009).

IMDb Mini Biography By: Ben's fan

Trivia

Graduated from Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

Has a twin brother, James.

Enjoys music, dance, visual arts and traveling.

Grew up in Bedfordshire, and attended the Bancroft Players Youth Theatre at the Hitchin's Queen Mother Theatre.

Took in a couple of stray cats living in his neighborhood.

Beat out Leonardo DiCaprio and Orlando Bloom for the role of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006).

Favorite actor is James Stewart.

Favourite film is Vertigo (1958).

Lives in London.

Father is a computer engineer and mother is a sales person.

Good friends with his Brideshead Revisited (2008) co-star Matthew Goode.

Enjoys reading, painting and gardening in his spare time.

Personal Quotes

I began to feel that he was a character who, left to his own devices, wouldn't really speak at all. I thought about him as being autistic in some way. He simply doesn't understand human beings. Social situations terrify him. On the character Jean-Baptiste Grenouille

It's difficult, it's a bit like acting in a silent movie. That's what Dustin Hoffman said to me, anyway. We did the scenes with him in the first two weeks, and as he was leaving he said, 'Well now you're making a silent film, Ben; good luck!".- On making Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

I've been out to LA a couple of times but, over there, the Grenouille in me always comes to the surface. I feel completely terrified, totally flummoxed, like I don't understand what the hell is going on. I've no desire at all to go back there.

I do think Dylan's incredible.I sort of fell in love with him. I became obsessed. But I've moved on now. I always do.

There are certainly other things I'd like to have a go at one day.I'd like to have a go at directing. Or maybe I'll go back to painting. Or maybe thinking about those things is just my way of protecting myself if it all goes wrong.

I don't have any ambition to make lots of money or win an Oscar or anything like that. It's not about that for me. I'm very lucky to have found the thing that makes me tick.

I didn't really get much. I was with all these beautiful girls who I've murdered, all looking gorgeous, and I was the spare prick at the wedding. - About Berlin Film Festival's paparazzi.

I'm so lucky to be able to do what I do, and it would be abusing it just to make money. I don't need lots of money, I'm not motivated by that. I would feel really dirty I think.

Where Are They Now

(December 2003) Appearing in "His Dark Materials" at the Royal National Theatre, directed by Nicholas Hytner.

(May 2004) Played Hamlet to rave reviews at the Old Vic, London.

(August 2004) Confirmed to be one of the actors performing in 'His Dark Materials' at the Royal National Theatre.

(February 2010) Starring off-Broadway as "Oliver" in "The Pride", by Alexi Kaye Campbell, directed by Joe Mantello. With Hugh Dancy, Adam James, Andrea Riseborough.

(May 2013) Performing John Logan's "Peter & Alice" with Judi Dench at Noel Coward Theatre, London. Starring as Peter Llewellyn Davies.