Eddie Marsan Biography

A prolific character actor in his native Britain, Eddie Marsan specialized in challenging and provocative roles, in slightly tough and edgy projects that often took advantage of his unique, immediately identifiable countenance. After debuting as a bit player and guest star in English television series including Casualty, Game On, and The Bill, Marsan took one of his premier big-screen bows in Michael Radford's crime thriller B. Monkey (1998), then effectively played one of Tammany Hall's minions opposite Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese's period crime epic Gangs of New York (2002). On a much different note, Marsan subsequently teamed up with English cause célèbre director Mike Leigh in the abortion-themed character study Vera Drake (2004) -- in which the actor ushered in a partly improvised portrayal of a kindly road worker who romances the title character's daughter. Drake brought Marsan an upsurge of attention, and thereafter, assignments rolled in quickly and furiously from both sides of the Atlantic. These included supporting roles in Isabel Coixet's gentle, atmospheric drama The Secret Life of Words, Neil Burger's period supernatural drama The Illusionist, and the mega-budgeted action extravaganza Mission: Impossible III. 2008 marked a busy period for Marsan; that year, he both tackled a supporting part opposite Will Smith and Charlize Theron in the superhero comedy Hancock, and -- on a much-anticipated note -- re-teamed with Mike Leigh for a prominent role as an angsty teacher in the slice-of-life comedy Happy-Go-Lucky. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

• 1. Inspector Lestrade: In another life, you'd have made an excellent criminal.
  2. Sherlock Holmes: Yes, and you sir, an excellent policeman.
  From Sherlock Holmes. Submitted by Haroon M (5 months ago)

• 1. Red: Upon us all, Hancock. You're no different. Time to shut her down, Hancock. It's been a nice run. Oh, we are all sincerely gonna miss you. But it is time for you to move on. And maybe to a happier place. You can thank me if you want to... superhero.
  From Hancock. Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)

• 1. Vic: Wake up Ms. Creed, it's breakfast time!
  From The Disappearance of Alice Creed. Submitted by rob g (13 months ago)

• 1. Weapons Man: Ah, my wife would like that... she's got me to redecorate our bathroom. Wife wants it done out with gold taps and marble floor. That's fake gold and marble, needless to say. Still cost a fucking arm and a leg, though. Not to my taste. Looks like the fucking Palace of Versailles, want my opinion. Soaks herself morning, noon and night. Lavender and Bergamot bubble bath. She says, "I feel like Marie Antoinette." I said, "Well, you know what happened to her, don't ya?" She don't. She will. I've made plans. Certain kid I know's a dab hand with a chainsaw. Beautiful weapon. And talking of weapons... Business!
  From Heartless. Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)