Scots actor Clive Russell trained as a drama teacher, and for eight years performed everything from stand-up comedy to fire-eating stunts, before coming to national attention in 1980 in the West End production of Accidental Death of an Anarchist.

He starred with Helena Bonham Carter in the critically acclaimed Canadian romantic drama Margaret's Museum, and was nominated for a Genie award as Best Actor. His recent film career has included the movies Silent Cry, The Emperor's New Clothes, and Bodywork. He has also worked opposite Morgan Freeman in The Power of One, Rutger Hauer in Fatherland, Helen Mirren in The Hawk, Ralph Fiennes in Gillian Armstrong's Oscar and Lucinda and Antonio Banderas in The Thirteenth Warrior, directed by John McTiernan.

Russell's native Scotland is beckoning him back a lot recently - he has recently shot the 1938-set feature Rocket Post on the remote Scottish island of Tarransay. Furthermore, he had a lead role in the major Columbia Tristar/BBC series Rockface, about a Scottish mountain rescue team.

Russell's television work is extensive - and includes Cracker, Middlemarch, TNT's Mists of Avalon, hit BBC series Hearburn Hotel, Paul Whitehouse's comedy drama Happiness, Julian Jarrold's Great Expectations (as Joe Gargery) and Hope and Glory, as the beleaguered deputy headmaster of a run-down London School.