David Thewlis was born on March 20, 1963 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. He is an English film, television and stage actor and writer.

The second of three children, he grew up in an apartment above his family's combination toy store and wallpaper shop. He studied in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and graduated in 1985. He gained acting experience in the London stage and English television. His first feature film performance was in director Mike Leigh's Life is Sweet.

Soon after that he starred in another movie written by Leigh, Naked. The movie was a success and so was David's performance - his screen behavior in the film was praised and David got awards and nominations from the Cannes jury, The New York Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics.

David went on to demonstrate his versatility in a number of diverse roles, including Total Eclipse, Seven Years in Tibet and Besieged. In 1995 he wrote and directed a short film called Hello, Hello, Hello. In 2003 he wrote and directed a film called Cheeky. He has also written a novel that should be out in 2006.

He also has an ongoing role as Professor Lupin in the Harry Potter films.

In addition to his film and television work, Thewlis has also starred in Sam Mendes' The Sea at the Royal National Theatre, Max Stafford-Clark's Ice Cream at the Royal Court, Buddy Holly at the Regal in Greenwich, Ruffian on the Stairs/The Woolley at Farnham and Lady and the Clarinet at the Kings Head.

In 1992, Thewlis married director Sara Sugarman; they divorced in 1993. In 2001 he began a relationship with actress Anna Friel. They have a daughter, Gracie Ellen Mary Friel, who was born on 9 July 2005 in London.

Filmoraphy

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2008)
• The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008)
• "The Street" (1 episode, 2007)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
• The Inner Life of Martin Frost (2007)
• The Omen (2006)
• Basic Instinct 2 (2006)
• The New World (2005)
• All the Invisible Children (2005)
• Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
• Timeline (2003)
• Cheeky (2003)
• D.I.Y. Hard (2002)
• "Dinotopia" (2002) (mini) TV mini-series
• Goodbye Charlie Bright (2001)
• Hamilton Mattress (2001) (TV) (voice)
• Endgame (2000) (TV)
• Gangster No. 1 (2000)
• The Miracle Maker (2000) (voice)
• Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? (1999)
• Love Story (1999) (TV)
• Besieged (1998)
• Divorcing Jack (1998)
• The Big Lebowski (1998)
• Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
• American Perfekt (1997)
• The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)
• Dragonheart (1996)
• James and the Giant Peach (1996) (voice)
• Restoration (1995)
• Total Eclipse (1995)
• Black Beauty (1994)
• "Dandelion Dead" (1994) (mini) TV mini-series
• Prime Suspect 3 (1993) (TV)
• Naked (1993)
• "Frank Stubbs Promotes" (1 episode, 1993)
• The Trial (1993)
• Damage (1992)
• Swords at Teatime (1992)
• Black and Blue (1992) (TV)
• Afraid of the Dark (1991)
• "Screen One" (1 episode, 1991)
• Journey to Knock (1991) (TV)
• Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (1990) (TV)
• Life Is Sweet (1990)
• Skulduggery (1989) (TV)
• Resurrected (1989)
• "A Bit of a Do" (6 episodes, 1989)
• "Valentine Park" (9 episodes, 1987-1988)
• Little Dorrit (1988)
• Vroom (1988)
• The Short & Curlies (1987) (TV)
• Road (1987)
• "The Singing Detective" (1986) (mini) TV mini-series
• "Only Fools and Horses" (1 episode, 1985)

Awards

• Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Award "Naked" 1993
• Evening Standard Film Award Best Actor "Naked" 1993
• London Film Critics Circle Award Best British Actor "Naked" 1993
• National Society of Film Critics Award Best Actor "Naked" 1993
• New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Actor "Naked" 1993