Charles Dance
Biography
Life Story
Charles Dance is an English actor, screenwriter, and film director. Dance typically plays assertive bureaucrats or villains. Some of his most high-profile roles are Tywin Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones (2011), Guy Perron in The Jewel in the Crown (1984), Sardo Numspa in The Golden Child (1986), Dr. Jonathan Clemens in Alien³ (1992), Benedict in Last Action Hero (1993), the Master Vampire in Dracula Untold (2014), Lord Havelock Vetinari in Terry Pratchett's Going Postal (2010) and Alastair Denniston in The Imitation Game (2014).
He played the role of Tywin Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones (2011), based on the Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin.
In 1989, he played Bond creator Ian Fleming in Anglia Television's drama biography.
Family
Trivia
Has 3 children. Oliver Matthew Dance (born 1974), Rebecca (born 1980) and Rose (born 2012).
He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to drama in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours List.
In 1975, he became supporting player with the Royal Shakespeare Company and played roles in "Hamlet", "Henry IV", "Richard III", "Henry V", "As You Like It" and "Coriolanus", among others.
Found international notice after playing the leading part of Guy Perron in the television miniseries The Jewel in the Crown (1984).
Initially studied graphic design at an art school in Leicester, but on returning to Devon, a passion for acting took over his interest.
Following the death of his father when he was age four, his mother moved him and his siblings to the Plymouth area of Devon. Charles went on to take an interest in acting and two retired RADA actors agreed to coach him part time.
Engaged to sculptor Eleanor Boorman in 2010. Together they had a daughter, Rose, in March 2012 but have since separated.
Appeared on the London stage in "Shadowlands" with Janie Dee.
Originally planned to become a graphic designer after graduating from the Plymouth college of Art before becoming interested in Acting.
Son of Eleanor Marion (Perks), a cook, and Walter Dance, an engineer. His father was of English and Irish descent, and his mother was of English ancestry.
Played a Bond villain in ''For Your Eyes Only (1981)'' and Bond creator Ian Fleming in the miniseries ''Goldeneye (1989)''.
Despite frequently playing debonair characters, he claims he is not very fashionable in his personal life and usually dons a T-shirt and jeans at home.
Has a brother David but different fathers.
Personal Quotes
I hate the "suave and debonair" tag. I am neither.
When you have a label stuck on you, people tend to believe it. If someone calls you suave and debonair you only get offered parts in a suit and a collar and tie. It just so happens I wear them reasonably well.
The quality of writing attracts me to films, also who the other actors are, who the director is, where it's being shot. Any or all of those things. But if the writing is really appalling then the money had better be really good. Sometimes you say yes to something you wouldn't always do because you need the money.
Hollywood seems to be now moving away from the idea of casting Brits as villains and is casting the French instead. It's something to do with the war, I suspect.
[1987 comment on Meryl Streep] Let's just say I found her a little distant. I hardly got to know her. We had dinner a couple of times, but she only spoke about work. I didn't find her easy to work with, but it's not her job to make it easy for me.
[1987 comment on Trevor Howard] I believe Trevor Howard has quite a nice, gentle riposte to unwanted attention. Someone saw him in a bar once and said, "Are you Trevor Howard?". "Yes," he replied, "when I'm working I am."
[1987 comment on Shirley MacLaine] She's an extraordinary woman, a little 'round the bend I think, but she's been doing what she does for a long time and she does it very well. Where Meryl Streep is intellectual, Shirley follows her gut. I like that better.
[on certain scenes in the television series Game of Thrones (2011)] You saw all this violence and all this rumpy pumpy, and it's all doggie-style. I said to [the executive producers] "Obviously, the missionary position didn't come into vogue for a few years yet in the Seven Kingdoms". And they said "We wanted it to be kind of animalistic, Charles" and I said, "Well, it's certainly that".
I just like working. Unless it's complete and utter crap. I've got *some pride.
