British character actor Eddie Marsan is best known for portraying intense working-class blokes in both indie and blockbuster films. Though he initially seemed destined for a trade job, he decided to pursue stage acting, and, by his late 20s, Marsan was regularly working on British television shows. In 1997, he starred on the short-lived comedy series "Get Well Soon" (BBC) and steady gigs followed, including various movies, such as the crime drama "Gangster No. 1" (2000). Before long, Marsan won small roles in Hollywood films, including Martin Scorsese's period epic "Gangs of New York" (2002) and the tense drama "21 Grams" (2003). While continuing to appear in big-budget movies, Marsan established a bond with filmmaker Mike Leigh, leading to major parts in the 1950s-set drama "Vera Drake" (2004) and "Happy-Go-Lucky" (2008), which found him playing fascinatingly off of sunny co-star Sally Hawkins. Going on to featured roles in high-concept retellings of classic tales such as "Sherlock Holmes" (2009) and "Snow White and the Huntsman" (2012), Marsan cemented his rep as the British counterpart to Paul Giamatti, with his unconventional looks and fearless performances keeping him perpetually in demand.