A compact actor whose ordinary features are dominated by his blue eyes, Gary Lewis is one of an increasing number of Scottish performers who began making a mark on world cinema in the 1990s. Whether called upon to play an alcoholic security guard, a grief-stricken striking miner or a sanctimonious sibling, Lewis can be counted on to create indelible portraits that linger in audiences' memories long after the lights have come up.

Born and raised in the tough Easterhouse section of Glasgow, Lewis has described in interviews the dichotomy of his upbringing: his parents stressed the value of