Billy Boyd was born on 28 August 1968 in Glasgow. He is a Scottish actor and musician most widely known for playing Peregrin Took (Pippin), in the film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) and Barrett Bonden in Peter Weir's film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003).

He began his acting career in the Scottish television series "Taggart." He went on to amass UK television credits including "Coming Soon" and "Chapter and Verse." Boyd made his feature film debut in An Urban Ghost Story, followed by Julie and the Cadillacs and a film short entitled Soldiers Leap. He and the rest of the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring were nominated for the Screen Actor's Guild ensemble award. He will next be seen in Peter Weir's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Prior to Master and Commander, Boyd filmed a groundbreaking science fiction one-man short film, Sniper 470, financed by Scottish Screen and STV, which world premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival 2002. It is one of only two films to be chosen from the Newfoundland series to be blown to 35 mm.

On the stage, Boyd has performed in various UK productions including "The Speculator," "An Experienced Woman Gives Advice," "Therese Racquin," "Britannia Rules," "Kill The Old, Torture Their Young," "The Chic Nerds," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Merchant of Venice," "Trainspotting" (Tour), "Merlin the Magnificent" and "The Slab Boys." Last year, Boyd starred in the Traverse production of "The Ballad of Crazy Paola," a new play by Anne Sierens.

He also starred in The Flying Scotsman (2006).

Boyd is also a skilled singer and musician who plays the bass, drums and guitar.

Filmography

• Ecstasy (2008)
• The Best Years (2007)
• Glenn (2007)
• Dominator X (2007)
• Save Angel Hope (2007)
• The Flying Scotsman (2006)
• Sueño de una noche de San Juan, El (2005)
• Stories of Lost Souls (2005)
• On a Clear Day (2005)
• Seed of Chucky (2004)
• Instant Credit (2004)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• Sniper 470 (2002)
• "Still Game" (1 episode, 2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• Coming Soon (1999)
• Julie and the Cadillacs (1999)
• Urban Ghost Story (1998)
• The Soldier's Leap (1998)
• "Taggart" (1 episode, 1996)