Trivia

Shortly after winning his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Iris (2001), he was interviewed by Joan Rivers, who apparently didn't even know what nationality he was. On live TV, Rivers said, "Here we have Jim Broadbent, all the way from Australia. You're Australian aren't you?" But there were to be no tantrums from the star - the mild-mannered actor replied, "No, I'm British."

He declined the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to drama in 2002.

He is the son of Roy Broadbent, who was involved in converting a Methodist Church into a theater. It was later renamed the Broadbent Theater after his death in 1971.

Has played the husband of Iris Murdoch and Margaret Thatcher. Two notable figures who - as portrayed in each film - eventually succumbed to Alzheimer's disease.

His role in Hot Fuzz (2007) was written specifically for him after he approached Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg at the BAFTA's in 2005 and asked if They would consider him for a role in Their next film.

It took him two-and-a-half hours every day to be fitted into his fat suit for Moulin Rouge! (2001).

In the "Like a Virgin" number from Moulin Rouge! (2001), his voice is dubbed by an opera singer, mimicking Broadbent's own vocal performance. The floor was rubbed in with Coca Cola so Broadbent and the dancers wouldn't slip. The segment to took a week to film.

His mother, who died in 1995, suffered from Alzheimer's Disease.

Nominated for a 2004 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children for Winnie-the-Pooh.

His father, Roy, came from a wealthy family and used his inheritance to found a commune for conscientious objectors in Lincolnshire.

Has portrayed Santa Claus in two different films; Arthur Christmas (2011) and Get Santa (2014).

His twin sister died at birth.

Was offered the part of Del Boy in BBC's Sitcom Only Fools and Horses (1981), but declined the role. But he did guest-star in three episodes of the show as DCI Rory Slater.

As of 2016, he has appeared in four films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Crying Game (1992), Moulin Rouge! (2001), Gangs of New York (2002) and Brooklyn (2015).

In the new millennium he has appeared in some of the biggest film franchises; Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Paddington, Narnia and the Bridget Jones series.

Originally attended art-school, but his father persuaded him to attend drama school instead.

Graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in 1972.

In 2001, appeared in Moulin Rouge! (2001) with Nicole Kidman, Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) with Renée Zellweger and Iris (2001) with Judi Dench. All three of these women were nominated for Best Actress for their roles.

Voice of Vroomfondel in the BBC radio series version of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".

Has two stepsons. One spends most of his time trekking in the Himalayas, the other plants trees for a not-for-profit organization.

One of two actors to star in both a Harry Potter and Superman film, along with Richard Griffiths.

Honorary President of the Lindsey Rural Players.

Appears in The Go-Between (1971) and also the TV remake of The Go-Between (2015). In the latter he plays the lead role while in the first he has a small uncredited part.

Often works with his main co-stars more than once. On screen, he has appeared in nine projects with Timothy Spall, seven films with Imelda Staunton, six films with Julie Walters, four projects with respectively Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, James McAvoy, Ewan McGregor, Hugh Bonneville and Ben Whishaw, three projects with Sally Hawkins and two with Nicole Kidman.

He won an Oscar for playing John Bayley in Iris (2001), making him one of 17 actors to win the Award for playing a real person who was still alive at the evening of the Award ceremony (as of 2015). The other sixteen actors and their respective performances are: Spencer Tracy for playing Father Edward Flanagan in Boys Town (1938), Gary Cooper for playing Alvin C. York in Sergeant York (1941), Patty Duke for playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (1962), Jason Robards for playing Ben Bradlee in All the President's Men (1976), Robert De Niro for playing Jake La Motta in Raging Bull (1980), Sissy Spacek for playing Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)_, Jeremy Irons for playing Claus Von Bullow in Reversal of Fortune (1990), Susan Sarandon for playing Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking (1995), Geoffrey Rush for playing David Helfgott in Shine (1996), Julia Roberts for playing Erin Brockovich in Erin Brockovich (2000), Helen Mirren for playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006), Sandra Bullock for playing Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side (2009), Melissa Leo for playing Alice Eklund-Ward in The Fighter (2010), Christian Bale for playing Dickie Eklund in The Fighter (2010), Meryl Streep for playing Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady (2011) and Eddie Redmayne for playing Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything (2014).

Considered for the role of Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray (2007).

Child evacuees features as a major theme in two of his family films. In The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) he portrays a host to children leaving London during the Second World War. He later portrayed a former child evacuee in Paddington (2014).

Is the only Oscar-winning actor in the Superman films who has only won a single Oscar. Marlon Brando won for On the Waterfront (1954) and The Godfather (1972); Gene Hackman for The French Connection (1971) and Unforgiven (1992); and Kevin Spacey for The Usual Suspects (1995) and American Beauty (1999). Broadbent only won for Iris (2001).

Regularly works with Mike Leigh.

Originally he was wanted for the part of Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses, but turned it down.

The youngest of 3 after doing his A levels he went to LAMDA drama school after which he began as ASM at Regents Park open air theatre.

Married Annastasia Lewis in 1987 becoming step father to her 2 children.

At The Orange British Academy Film Awards on Monday January 28th 2002, he was nominated for the best Performance by an Actor in a leading role Award for his role in the film Iris (2001).

Considered for the roles of Dr. Armstrong, Roger Derebridge, Lamson, Kelly and the Brash Guard in Lifeforce (1985).

Played two roles that were also played by Peter Ustinov (Ustinov first). "Fix" from Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 days: in the miniseries Around the World in 80 Days (1989) and a BBC Radio adaptation in 1992. William IV: in Victoria & Albert (2001) and The Young Victoria (2009).