RATINGS: Cast & Crew

DOB: September 15, 1977

Background: Hardy is a London-born British actor who studied at private schools and then the Drama Centre London.

Filmography: Hardy's first roles were in war dramas: Ridley Scott's "Black Hawk Down" (2001) and the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers" in 2002. He played the villainous Shinzon in "Star Trek: Nemesis" (2002) which would be the last film based on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He appeared in the BBC miniseries "The Virgin Queen" and in the action films "Layer Cake" and "RocknRolla" before achieving breakthrough success as the title character in "Bronson," about a prisoner who spent years in solitary confinement. He put on 42 pounds of muscle for the role. Since then he is best known for his co-starring role as a member of a team of mind-infiltrating thieves in Christopher Nolan's "Inception." He will be seen this year in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and "Warrior," the later of which also required him to train extensively. Next year he will appear in Nolan's third Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises," as Bane.