Ciaran Hinds was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on February 9, 1953. He was the youngest of five children and the only son. His father was a doctor who hoped to have Ciaran follow in his footsteps, but that was not to be. It was his mother Moya, an amateur actress, who was the real influence behind his decision to be come an actor. Though he did begin Law school at The Queens' University of Belfast, he left that in order train in acting at RADA. He began his stage career at the Glasgow Citizens' Theater as the rear end of a horse in the production of Cinderella. Staying with the company for several years, he starred in a number of productions, including playing the lead roles in Arsenic and Old lace and Faust. His stage career has included working with The Field Day Company and a number of world tours. He has starred in a number of productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, including a world tour in the title role of Richard III. Hinds' film career began in 1981 in the movie Excalibur which boasted a cast rich in talented actors including Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, and Patrick Stewart. In-between his movie work, he's amassed a large number of television credits. Playing such classic characters as Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre (1997) (TV), and Captain Wentworth in Persuasion (1995) (TV) has increased his popularity and most definitely given him much increased recognition. As for his personal life, you won't be likely to see his name in the weekly tabloids. He likes to keep his private life private. It is known that he is in a long-term, committed relationship with a French-Vietnamese actress named Hélène Patarot and they have a daughter together and live in London. He is in very high demand and his reputation as a quality, professional actor is sure to keep him busy for as long as he chooses.