English actor Ben Whishaw was BOTD in 1980. Born in Clifton, Bedfordshire, he developed an early interest in acting, and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After graduating, he starred in the 2001 film My Brother Tom, winning best newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards. became a theatrical star in 2004, starring in the title role of Shakespeare‘s Hamlet, earning an Olivier Award nomination and an Ian Charleson Award. His subsequent career has moved effortlessly between theatre, film and television, with notable roles including King Richard II in The Hollow Crown, a TV adaptation of Shakespeare’s history plays; the consumptive poet John Keats in Jane Campion’s biopic Bright Star; IT whiz Q in the James Bond franchise opposite Daniel Craig; and the voice of the titular Peruvian bear in the much-loved Paddington movies. His resumé boasts an impressive gallery of queer characters, including roles in Mike Bartlett’s play Cock and Alexi Kaye Campbell’s The Pride; Sebastian Flyte in a (terrible) film of Evelyn Waugh‘s novel Brideshead Revisited; and the romantic lead in Hong Khaou’s 2014 interracial love story Lilting. In 2020, he won a Golden Globe Award for playing Norman Scott, the victimised ex-lover of politician Jeremy Thorpe in Russell T. Davies‘ TV biopic A Very English Scandal. In recent years, he has received acclaim for playing an overworked and closeted gay doctor in the TV series This Is Going to Hurt, based on Adam Kay‘s memoir; the doormat boyfriend of a bisexual narcissist in Ira Sachs‘ film Passages; a lovesick gay assassin in the TV spy drama Black Doves; and gay New York photographer Peter Hujar in the film Peter Hujar’s Day. Initially reluctant to identify his sexuality, he entered into a civil partnership with Australian composer Mark Bradshaw in 2012, eventually discussing his coming-out process in a 2014 interview. He and Bradshaw announced their separation in 2022. His current relationship status is unknown.