Tom Wilkinson, a renowned British character actor, was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, to a family with a rich heritage of urban farming. His parents, Marjorie (Percival) and Thomas Wilkinson, instilled in him a strong sense of roots and tradition.
Economic hardships forced the Wilkinson family to relocate to Canada for a few years when Tom was a child. However, they eventually returned to England, where Tom attended and graduated from the University of Kent at Canterbury with a degree in English and American Literature.
Wilkinson's early career in film and television began in the mid-1970s, but it wasn't until 1997 that he gained international recognition. That year, he starred in the critically acclaimed film "The Full Monty," which earned him a BAFTA award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Wilkinson's popularity grew, particularly among American audiences. He appeared in notable films such as "Oscar and Lucinda," "Wilde," "Shakespeare in Love," "The Patriot," and "In the Bedroom," for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
In the following years, Wilkinson continued to make memorable appearances in films like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Batman Begins," "The Exorcism of Emily Rose," "Valkyrie," "Duplicity," "The Ghost Writer," "The Debt," and "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." He also received his second Academy Award nomination for his role in "Michael Clayton."
In addition to his film work, Wilkinson has had a successful career in television. He won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Benjamin Franklin in the HBO mini-series "John Adams" and received Emmy nominations for his roles in "Recount," "Normal," and "The Kennedys."
Wilkinson is married to actress Diana Hardcastle and has two children, Alice and Molly.
