 In The Name Of The Father transformed Postlethwaite's career |
Pete Postlethwaite, once described by Steven Spielberg as "the best actor in the world", said his OBE for services to drama was a "complete shock". Postlethwaite, 58, has appeared in a string of box office hits including In The Name Of the Father, The Usual Suspects and Romeo And Juliet.
The Warrington-born actor started out by touring pubs in a theatre group with then girlfriend Julie Walters.
He now lives in Shropshire with wife Jacqui and their two children.
Career changing role
Postlethwaite's screen work began with bit parts in Coronation Street, Minder and Casualty.
He worked steadily, taking small roles in Last of the Mohicans and Alien 3 before landing the career-changing role of Giuseppe Conlon in the 1993 film In The Name Of The Father.
His portrayal of Conlon, whose son Gerry was wrongly convicted of the Guildford Four pub bombings, earned him an Oscar nomination.
A role in The Usual Suspects followed, before he played the priest Father Laurence in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet.
Other hits include British classic Brassed Off and Spielberg epic Amistad.
He modestly laughed off Spielberg's famous quote saying "it sounds like an advert for lager and it's only one man's opinion".
Postlethwaite was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago but has since been given the all-clear.
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