Born:
April 20, 1964
in
Ruislip, Middlesex
Best Known For:
His role as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings movies.
Early-life:
Andrew Clement Serkis was born in Ruislip, Middlesex, on April 20, 1964. His Armenian father, whose original surname is Sarkisian, was an Iraqi doctor, while his mother taught disabled children. He has four siblings. At school, Andy was keen on painting and graphic art. However, while attending Lancaster University, he became interested in theatre and won rave reviews for his performances. Following a successful turn in the play Gotcha, he decided to become a professional actor.
Career:
Serkis honed his skills at the Dukes Playhouse, Lancaster, in the mid-1980s, before touring with well-known companies, and appearing at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Success on London stages in the early 1990s coincided with his breakthrough in TV and film. He has starred in an eclectic mix of projects, such as Stella Does Tricks (1996), Among Giants (1998), Topsy-Turvy (1999) and 24 Hour Party People (2002). He achieved global recognition for playing Gollum in Peter Jackson's epic Lord of the Rings trilogy. He worked with the filmmaker again on his King Kong (2005) remake. Other film work includes Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (2009), Burke and Hare (2010), Brighton Rock (2011), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014). He is also set to appear in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015).
Quote:
"I've always been really in touch with my primal instincts. In my profession you have to be."
Trivia:
Serkis voiced Captain Haddock and Sir Francis Haddock in The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn (2011).