A Life in Pictures: Brian Cox

09 June 08

Award-winning actor Brian Cox talks to June Sarpong about a remarkable career of exceptional performances.

Supported by The Farm Group.

From the original Hannibal Lector to his latest role in Rupert Wyatt’s The Escapist, Brian Cox’s many and varied roles have defined him as one of Britain’s great acting talents.

Joined onstage by Television Presenter June Sarpong - whose previous interviews include Tony Blair, Al Gore, Kate Winslet and Robert De Niro - the seasoned actor talks about his early acting roles, a passion for American movies and portraying dark and complex characters.

The webcast is interspersed with clips from some of Cox’s most famous performances and provides a unique insight into his life and career. Watch him talk about his roles in Manhunter, L.I.E, Nuremburg, Adaptation, The Bourne Supremacy, Deadwood and The Escapist.

More About Brian Cox...

Brian Cox is an award-winning actor of the stage, screen and television. A veteran of more than 50 feature films, he recently co-starred in Ryan Murphy’s Running With Scissors, Woody Allen’s critically acclaimed Match Point, Wes Craven’s acclaimed Red Eye, and in the hit action thriller sequel The Bourne Supremacy, reprising the role he first played in the 2002 blockbuster The Bourne Identity. He made a memorable cameo appearance as famed attorney Melvin Belli in the star-studded thriller Zodiac. Brian recently wrapped filming on the independent film Red.

Cox earned AFI and Independent Spirit Award nominations for his work in the critically hailed independent film L.I.E., and also shared in a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nomination as part of the ensemble cast in Spike Jonze’s Adaptation. His long list of film credits to include Troy, X2, 25th Hour, The Ring, The Rookie, The Affair of the Necklace, For Love of the Game, Rushmore, Desperate Measures, The Boxer, Kiss the Girls, Braveheart, Rob Roy, Hidden Agenda and Nicholas and Alexandra. His first American film role was his chilling portrayal of the original Hannibal Lecter in Michael Mann’s Manhunter.

On television, Cox delivered a striking performance as Hermann Goering in the miniseries Nuremberg, for which he won an Emmy Award and was nominated for Golden Globe and SAG Awards. He also earned an Emmy Award nomination for his guest appearance on the comedy series Frasier. He most recently co-starred as flamboyant theatre producer Jack Langrish in the third season of HBO’s hit original series Deadwood.

Born in Scotland, Cox trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and has appeared in dozens of plays on the stages of London, New York and Scotland. Repeatedly honored for his work in the theatre, Cox won two Olivier Awards for his performances in Rat in the Skull and Titus Andronicus; British Theatre Association Drama Awards for Best Actor for his work in The Taming of the Shrew and Strange Interlude; and the Lucille Lortel Award, as well as Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations, for St. Nicholas. He spent 8 months in London’s West End, starring as Max in Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n Roll, a role he is currently reprising on Broadway.

Cox has helmed stage productions of I Love My Life, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, The Philanderer, The Master Builder and Richard III. He made his television directorial debut on the critically acclaimed HBO prison drama Oz.

A prolific writer, Cox has authored two non-fiction books: The Lear Diaries and Salem to Moscow: An Actor’s Odyssey. He has contributed to the New York Times Arts & Leisure section, and has written articles for a number of other publications.

In 2003, Cox’s contributions to the arts were honored by Queen Elizabeth II, who named him a Commander of the British Empire. In 2006, Empire Magazine (UK) honored his film achievements with the Empire Icon Award. In 2007, the UK Film Council named him one of the Top 10 powerful British film stars in Hollywood today.

A Life in Pictures

The Academy's A Life in Pictures strand of events explore a major and distinctive contribution to the artistic development of the film form, enabling audiences to hear first-hand from a creative force in the industry.