Ray Winstone - Nigel Goodall

From the humble East End to the glitz of the BAFTAS, Ray Winstone is regarded as the ultimate screen hard man. But there's much more to Ray's on-screen tough-guy image, and this biography reveals how his path to the top has been anything but smooth. His rebellious youth as a London schoolboy boxing champion is discussed, as is his expulsion from drama school, and the story of charming his way into an audition for what would prove to be his big break?the lead in Alan Clarke's Scum. The biography continues with Ray cementing his place in the pantheon of British acting greats with his breathtaking performance in Nil By Mouth, which earned him a BAFTA nomination, while subsequent roles in Sexy Beast and Ripley's Game won him plaudits and continued his tradition of portraying tough, uncompromising men. A lesser-known side of Ray is covered here, as he has tempered these roles with those in more light-hearted romantic comedies. Married for almost 30 years, and a dedicated family man with three daughters, Ray's story is an inspiring, gritty tale of a rebel made good.