Has appeared with Joan Allen in Manhunter (1986). Each of them later went on to work with the other's successor. Cox's successor as Lecter, Anthony Hopkins, appeared in Nixon (1995) with Allen. Cox worked with Allen's successor, Emily Watson, in The Boxer (1997).
Brian Edward Cox, OBE, FRS, is an English physicist, and Professor of Particle Physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester. He is best known to the general public as the presenter of science programmes, especially the Wonders of… series and for popular science books, such as Why Does E=mc²? and The Quantum Universe. He has been the author or co-author of over 950 scientific publications.
Cox was born on 3 March 1968 in Oldham, Lancashire, and attended Royton and Crompton School. His father was a heating engineer and his mother a school dinner lady. He has four siblings. He was inspired to pursue a career in physics by Carl Sagan’s Cosmos series and a visit to CERN as a teenager. He studied physics at the University of Manchester, graduating with first class honours in 1990. He then undertook postgraduate research in particle physics at the university, receiving his PhD in 1996.
Cox has held academic posts at the University of Manchester, the University of Sheffield and CERN. He was also a Royal Society University Research Fellow from 2000 to 2005. In 2004, he presented Superstring Theory: A Theory of Everything?, a BBC Horizon episode exploring string theory and its implications for cosmology. He has also worked on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider.
In 2010, Cox presented Wonders of the Solar System, a five-part BBC Two series exploring the Solar System. The accompanying book, co-written with Andrew Cohen, was published in March 2010. In June 2011, he presented Wonders of the Universe, a five-part BBC Two series which explored some of the most significant discoveries in astronomy and cosmology. An accompanying book, co-written with Jeff Forshaw, was published in May 2011.
In March 2012, Cox presented for BBC Radio 4 a three-part series called The Infinity Puzzle: Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality, based on his book with Jeff Forshaw. In August 2011, he presented for BBC Two a two-part series called Stargazing Live. A third series was broadcast in January 2012. In December 2011, he presented for BBC Two a one-off special called The Wonder of Life.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVkWjacLgtj/
In May 2012, Cox presented for BBC One a three-part series called Human Universe, exploring humanity’s place in the cosmos. An accompanying book, co-written with Jeff Forshaw, was published in October 2014. In April 2014, Cox presented for BBC Two a three-part series called Forces of Nature with Brian Cox. In July 2014, he presented for BBC One a two-part special called Wonders of Life.
Cox has appeared as a guest on several television and radio programmes, including The Simpsons, Have I Got News for You, The Graham Norton Show and The Jonathan Ross Show. He has also been a guest on several podcasts, including The Nerdist Podcast and The Joe Rogan Experience.
Cox is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP), and a member of the American Physical Society (APS). He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2006 New Year Honours “for services to science”. In 2010, he was voted by readers of New Statesman as one of “The 50 People Who Matter Today”. In 2011, he was named as one of the 100 most influential people in Britain by The Sunday Times. In 2012, he was voted one of Britain’s 500 most influential people by London Evening Standard readers.
Cox has been married twice. His first marriage was to Mary Collier from 1991 to 1997; they have one son together. His second marriage is to television producer Julie Anne Gardner; they have two daughters together. Cox is a fan of Oldham Athletic A.F.C..
Oldham Hulme Grammar School, University of Manchester, Victoria University of Manchester, University of Huddersfield, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Nationality
British, Scottish
Family
Spouse
Gia Milinovich, Nicole Ansari-Cox, Caroline Burt
Children
George Eagle Cox, Alan Cox, Torin Kamran Charles Cox, Orson Cox, Margaret Cox
Parents
Charles McArdle Campbell Cox, Mary Ann Guillerline
Accomplishments
Awards
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie, Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series, Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Yea...
Music Groups
D:Ream, Dare
Nominations
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, British Academy Television Award for Best Actor, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain, Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead, Golden G...
Movies
The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, Manhunter, Troy, Braveheart, X2, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Super Troopers, The Ring, Trick 'r Treat, RED, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Adaptation, 25th Hour, Red Eye, Forsaken, Rushmore, Zodiac, Rob Roy, Pixels, The Escapist, Nuremberg, Match Point, Chain...
TV Shows
Forces of Nature, Human Universe, Wonders of Life, Wonders of the Universe, Wonders of the Solar System, Deadwood, The Day of the Triffids, Stargazing Live, Stargazing Live Back To Earth, The Day of the Triffids, The Take, The Straits, The Big C, A Touch of Cloth, The Slap, The Year of the Sex Olymp...
Often plays characters associated with the government or the military (or both).
Quotes
#
Quote
1
[on Spike Lee] Ah, there's a director. Astonishing, Spike Lee. A feisty guy, but a guy who's, I think, incredibly misunderstood. I think people review his politics or his color as opposed to his filmmaking sometimes. Because he's a wonderful, wonderful filmmaker and a lover of the art. He stands up for things, but he's also a brilliant storyteller who really understands the whole.
2
As a boy, I was never interested in theater because I came from a working-class Scottish home. I thought, "I want to do movies." Then it was finding the means to do it.
3
I'm 100% Celt. In fact, I'm directly related to the progenitor of the high kings of Ireland, Niall of the Nine Hostages.
4
I'm an actor who does really interesting work in independent movies. I want to keep doing that because I don't want the burden of an opening weekend sitting on my shoulders.
5
In a sense I feel very much a part of the cinema now in a way where when I come back to the theater now I feel like a visitor. The cinema is really what I enjoy. I want to do more independent movies.
6
I was living in London and I thought, "There's nothing here for me anymore". I don't want to become this actor who's going to be doing this occasional good work in the theater and then ever diminishing bad television. I thought I'd rather do bad movies than bad television because you get more money for it.
Although Cox has been vocal about his support for Scottish independence, he did not qualify to have a vote in the 2014 referendum due to his status as a resident of the United States.
3
Has won two prestigious Laurence Olivier Best Actor Awards for performances on London's West End stage - "Rat in the Skull" and Shakespeare's "Titus Andronicus".
4
Among the actors thought suitable for the role of Roger Derebridge in the science fiction horror film Lifeforce (1985). The role eventually went to Nicholas Ball.
Although it is indicated in X2 (2003) that his character (William Stryker) is at least 20 years older than Bruce Davison's character (Senator Robert Kelly), in real life, he is only 27 days older.
17
Backed out of his contract after filming the second of the BBC/Celtic Sharpe series of films after complaining of poor working conditions in the Ukraine as well as becoming repeatedly sick because of them. He was replaced by Michael Byrne, who was featured in the next three Sharpe films.
18
Has appeared with Joan Allen in Manhunter (1986). Each of them later went on to work with the other's successor. Cox's successor as Lecter, Anthony Hopkins, appeared in Nixon (1995) with Allen. Cox worked with Allen's successor, Emily Watson, in The Boxer (1997).
19
After graduating from LAMDA, he spent several seasons with the Royal National Theatre in London, England.
20
Member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford Upon Avon, England, where he is most recognized for his performance of "King Lear".
21
The scene in X2 (2003) where Magneto escapes from prison is modeled after Hannibal Lecter's escape in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - the sequel to Cox's film Manhunter (1986), in which he played Lecter.
22
Alumnus of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
23
Has no fewer than three roles in common with Anthony Hopkins. They have both played Titus Andronicus, and both of them played King Lear while the other was simultaneously playing Hannibal Lecter.
24
Has performed in several movies playing a government official in which another actor has amnesia but later discovers they are secret government assassins: The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) where the amnesia victim is actress Geena Davis, The Bourne Identity (2002) with Matt Damon having the amnesia, and also X2 (2003) where the victim is played by Hugh Jackman.
25
Rarely plays characters who are sympathetic or likable, from his egotistical take on Robert McKee in Adaptation. (2002) to the robust evil in his portrayal of Agamemnon in Troy (2004). However, he has gone against type and played several likable characters, such as the gruff yet honorable Uncle Argyle in Braveheart (1995) and the lovable, paternal Police Chief John O'Hagan in Super Troopers (2001).
26
He does not watch or view his own work.
27
He was awarded the 1984 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Actor for his performances in "Rat in the Skull" and "Strange Interlude".
28
He was awarded the 1987 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Actor for his performances in "The Taming of the Shrew", "Titus Andronicus" and "Fashion".
29
Has two children: Alan Cox (a professional actor) and Margaret Cox, from his 18-year marriage to Caroline Burt (they divorced in 1986). A second son was born January 31, 2002 from his wife Nicole Ansari-Cox.
30
He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1989 (1988 season) for Best Actor in a Revival for "Titus Andronicus".
31
He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1985 (1984 season) for Best Actor in a New Play for "Rat in the Skull".