Alfred Molina is a critically acclaimed British/American actor best known for his roles in the films Spider-Man 2, Not Without My Daughter, Chocolat, Frida and The Da Vinci Code.
The son of a Spanish Communist father and an Italian housekeeper mother, Alfred Molina was born on May 24, 1983 in the city of London. He grew up in the working-class neighborhood Notting Hill. Alfred Molina started to take interest in acting after seeing Spartacus when he was nine years old. He then attended t he Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He made his debut appearance on television in the sitcom The Losers, in which he co-starred with Leonard Rossiter. In 1981, he made his debut in the big screen in the action movie Raiders of the Lost Ark as Indiana Jones’ ill-fated guide.
It was in 1985 however, when Alfred Molina finally had his big break when he starred in the historical film Letter to Brezhnev. This was then followed up by another starring role in the 1987 Pick Up Your Ears, a film about playwright Joe Orton and his lover Kenneth Halliwel.
Molina also starred on the ITV television series EI C.I.D. in 1990, in which he played C.I.D. officer Bernard Blake. This was then followed by his roles in the films Species, Dudley Do-Right, Chocolat, Not Without My Daughter, and Enchanted April. He also worked with Paul Anderson in the films Boggie Nights and Magnolia. In 2002, Molina gained international recognition when played the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera together with Salma Hayek in Frida. The role earned him a The British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Screen Actors Guild awards nominations. The following year, he co-starred with Steve Coogan in the independent film Coffee and Cigarettes. Molina further gained commercial recognition in his portrayal of Doctor Octopus in the 2004 superhero film Spider-Man 2. The movie became one the highest-grossing films of that year. In 2006, he appeared in Kenneth Branagh's film version of Shakespeare's As You Like It. He also played Bishop Aringarosa in The Da Vinci Code.