Robert Carlyle (born April 14, 1961) is a Scottish movie actor, who is considered by many to be one of the best British actors of the modern era.

Carlyle, born in Glasgow, was abandoned by his mother at the age of four. Inspired after reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible, he enrolled in acting class at the age of 21, at the Glasgow Arts Centre . In 1991, he and four friends founded an acting company. He first came to the attention of the public as a psychotic murderer in an episode of Cracker (in which he killed Christopher Eccleston among others), but was soon playing a more sympathetic role, that of Highland policeman, Hamish McBeth, in the BBC comedy-drama of the same name.

In 1997, Carlyle got married to Anastasia Shirley . In 2002, she gave birth to their first child, daughter Ava.

Carlyle is perhaps best remembered for his work in The Full Monty, a comedy movie about a group of men who must perform striptease to earn their living. Another memorable role was that of the villain Renard in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

Filmography

• (2003, as Adolf Hitler)
• Black and White (2002)
• Once Upon a Time in The Midlands (2002)
• The 51st State (2001)
• To End All Wars (2001)
• There's Only one Jimmy Grimble (2000)
• The Beach (2000, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio)
• Angela's Ashes (1999, alongside Juliette Lewis)
• The World Is Not Enough (1999)
• Ravenous (1999)
• Plunkett and Macleane (1999)
• Looking After Yo Yo (1998)
• Face (1997)
• The Full Monty (1997)
• Carla's Song (1996)
• Trainspotting (1996)
• Go Now (1995)
• Hamish McBeth (1995)
• Priest (1994)
• 99-1 (1994)
• Being Human (1993)
• Safe (1993)
• Tender Blue Eyes (1992)
• Rif-Raf (1990)
• Silent Scream (1990)