About the Actors

There have been, to date, three adaptations of the novel by Jane Austen (if I'm wrong, please let me know!). These three actors have all played Mr. Knightley.

All biographies have been taken from IMDb.

Paul Rudd (Clueless, 1995)

Paul Stephen Rudd was raised in Overland Park, Kansas. His father is American, but his mother is English. He has one sister, three years younger than he. Paul attended Broadmoor Junior High and Shawnee Mission West High Schools. He graduated from High School in 1987 and had been Student Body President. He then attended the University of Kansas to find that he wasn't overly academic. Turning to his native charm and charisma, he applied to, and was accepted at, American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. [He also] ... participated in a three-month intensive workshop under the guidance of 'Michael Kahn' at the British Drama Academy at Oxford University in England. Rudd helped to produce the Globe Theater's production of Howard Brenton's "Bloody Poetry", which starred Rudd as Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Jeremy Northam (Emma, 1996)

Jeremy Northam was born in Cambridge, England to parents John and Rachel, both professors at Cambridge University. John is best known for his translations of Ibsen. The family moved to Bristol in 1972. Jeremy attended London University, where he majored in English. He received his professional training at the Old Vic Theatre School, then worked his way through regional theater to the London stage. Northam was the recipient of the prestigious Olivier Award - the British equivalent of the Tony - for outstanding newcomer, for his 1990 performance as Edward Voysey, the moral pivot of the Royal National Theatre revival of the 1905 play "The Voysey Inheritance." In 1994 he hit the American Film Arena in his Portrayal of Jack Devlin in the thriller The Net (1995) with Sandra Bullock. More recently he gave an acclaimed performance in Enigma (2001) opposite Kate Winslet; and in Gosford Park (2001) with his portrayal of Ivor Novello.

Mark Strong (Emma, 1997)

Mark Strong was born in London. He first intended to pursue a career in law but returned after studying in Munich for one year to university in London (where he studied English and Drama) before he went to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He has appeared in numerous British stage productions, including at the Royal National Theatre and the RSC.