Claim: James Nesbitt played a role created for him by screenwriter and novelist Colin Bateman.

William James Nesbitt , -LRB- born 15 January 1965 -RRB- is an actor and presenter from Northern Ireland . Born in Ballymena , County Antrim , Nesbitt grew up in the nearby village of Broughshane , before moving to Coleraine , County Londonderry . He wanted to become a teacher like his father , so he began a degree in French at the University of Ulster . He dropped out after a year when he decided to become an actor , and transferred to the Central School of Speech and Drama in London . After graduating in 1987 , he spent seven years performing in plays that varied from the musical Up on the Roof -LRB- 1987 , 1989 -RRB- to the political drama Paddywack -LRB- 1994 -RRB- . He made his feature film debut playing talent agent Fintan O'Donnell in Hear My Song -LRB- 1991 -RRB- .   Nesbitt got his breakthrough television role playing Adam Williams in the romantic comedy-drama Cold Feet -LRB- 1998 -- 2003 -RRB- , which won him a British Comedy Award , a Television and Radio Industries Club Award , and a National Television Award . His first significant film role came when he appeared as pig farmer `` Pig '' Finn in Waking Ned -LRB- 1998 -RRB- . With the rest of the starring cast , Nesbitt was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award . In Lucky Break -LRB- 2001 -RRB- , he made his debut as a film lead , playing prisoner Jimmy Hands . The next year , he played Ivan Cooper in the television film Bloody Sunday , about the 1972 shootings in Derry . A departure from his previous `` cheeky chappie '' roles , the film was a turning point in his career . He won a British Independent Film Award and was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor .   Nesbitt has also starred in Murphy 's Law -LRB- 2001 -- 2007 -RRB- as undercover detective Tommy Murphy , in a role that was created for him by writer Colin Bateman . The role twice gained Nesbitt Best Actor nominations at the Irish Film & Television Awards -LRB- IFTA -RRB- . In 2007 , he starred in the dual role of Tom Jackman and Mr Hyde in Steven Moffat 's Jekyll , which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination in 2008 . Nesbitt has since appeared in several more dramatic roles ; he starred alongside Liam Neeson in Five Minutes of Heaven -LRB- 2009 -RRB- , and was one of three lead actors in the television miniseries Occupation -LRB- 2009 -RRB- . He also starred in the movies Outcast -LRB- 2010 -RRB- and The Way -LRB- 2010 -RRB- . He portrayed Bofur in Peter Jackson 's The Hobbit film series -LRB- 2012-2014 -RRB- . In 2014 , Nesbitt starred in the lead role as the father character Tony Hughes in the acclaim BBC One drama series The Missing .   Nesbitt was married to former actress Sonia Forbes-Adam , with whom he has two daughters . He is an advocate of numerous charities , and in 2010 he accepted the ceremonial position of Chancellor of the University of Ulster .