Raymond Andrew Winstone (born 19 February 1957) is an accomplished English television, stage, and film actor with a fascinating career that spans over five decades. Winstone is renowned for his 'hard man' roles executed in his distinct London accent, which first gained recognition from the film That Summer! in 1979, earning him a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer. He came into the spotlight starring as Will Scarlet in the series Robin of Sherwood from 1984 to 1986. Winstone received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his impressive performance in Nil by Mouth in 1997. Over the course of his varied career, Winstone has been part of many prominent films including Scum (1979), Sexy Beast (2000), The Departed (2006), and Black Widow (2021) amongst others. Born and brought up in London, Winstone narrates vibrant childhood stories of playing with friends on bomb sites and later nurturing an early affinity for acting. Inspired by actors like Albert Finney, John Wayne, and Edward G. Robinson, Winstone ventured onto the stage and found success. He also took up boxing and was successful in this sport with 80 victories out of 88 bouts. In his personal life, Ray Winstone is a committed family man living with his wife and three daughters in Essex. Despite his bankruptcy filings in 1988 and 1993, he continues to be an influential figure in the industry, described as 'the East End's answer to George Clooney'.