Born on May 24, 1949 in Lincoln to amateur actors, Jim Broadbent is an English theatre, film and television actor. He studied at Leighton Park School and shortly attended an art college before transferring to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He graduated in 1972 and began to pursue a career on stage.
Jim Broadbent performed with the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also co-founded the two-man National Theatre of Brent, creating a number of productions with Patrick Barlow. Broadbent’s other stage work includes the original productions of Kafka’s Dick in 1986 and Our Country’s Good in 1988, both at the Royal Court Theatre. He has also worked on the Royal National Theatre’s The Government Inspector. His film debut was a minor role in 1978’s The Shout, which was followed the next year by his television debut. In 1981, he appeared in Time Bandits, working with Terry Gilliam. The two reunited for 1985’s Brazil.
During the 1990’s, Broadbent was cast in Mike Leigh’s Life Is Sweet, becoming an established actor. He subsequently appeared in The Crying Game as well as in Mike Newell’s Enchanted April, both in 1992. His other film credits include Bullets Over Broadway in 1994, The Borrowers in 1997, and Little Voice in 1998. Jim Broadbent was given the lead role of W.S. Gilbert in the 1999 comedy Topsy-Turvy. In 2001, he starred in three successful films. The first was Bridget Jones’s Diary, co-starring Renée Zellweger. He was then awarded a BAFTA for his portrayal of Harold Zilder in Moulin Rouge!, and next won an Oscar for his performance in the romantic drama Iris. He was also featured in the sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He was also cast as the lead in The Peter Principle, as well as having guest appearances on Not the Nine O’Clock News and in Victoria Wood As Seen On TV. He also won a BAFTA TV Award, a Golden Globe and an 2007 Emmy nomination for his performance on the TV drama Longford in 2006. Broadbent was also given the role of Dean Charles Stanforth in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.