Eccleston, Christopher (1964– )

English actor. He won acclaim for his performances in the films Let Him Have It (1987) and Shallow Grave (1994), and the television series Our Friends in the North, before reaching wider audiences for his title role in the BBC's revival of the science fiction series Dr Who (2005).

Born in Salford, Manchester, Eccleston originally planned to be a footballer, but changed his mind and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London, making his professional debut in A Streetcar Named Desire. He has also played supporting roles in Jude (1996), Elizabeth (1998), eXistenZ (1999), and Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000).