Tom Wilkinson
(Thomas Griffin)

Best known to American audiences for his role in The Full Monty, Tom Wilkinson is the son of a Yorkshire, England, farmer who moved the family to Canada to find work during hard times. Wilkinson originally intended to study physical education, but was lured into drama when he was asked to direct Eugene Ionesco's play The Bald Soprano at school. Wilkinson wound up studying drama at Kent University and continued on a scholarship to London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

In addition to extensive stage and television credits, Wilkinson has appeared in films like Sense and Sensibility and Shakespeare in Love. His next projects include The Memory of Water, due out in 2002. Also due out in 2002 is The Importance of Being Ernest. Based on the play by Oscar Wilde, the film also stars Rupert Everett, Judi Dench and Reese Witherspoon.