Christian McKay
Christian Stuart McKay (born 30 December 1973) is an English stage and screen actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Orson Welles in the 2008 film "Me and Orson Welles", for which he was nominated for over two dozen awards including the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also appeared in movies such as "Florence Foster Jenkins", "The Theory of Everything", "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Rush". Early life. McKay was born in Bury, Lancashire. He has a sister, Karen. His mother, Lynn, worked as a hairdresser, and his father, Stuart, was a railway  worker. He studied piano as a youth, and performed the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 at age 21. McKay subsequently halted his concert career and enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to study acting. Career. McKay's television appearances include portraying conductor Pierre Monteux in the BBC TV production "Riot at the Rite" (2005). His first film appearance was in "Abraham's Point" (2008). After seeing a performance of "Rosebud" at the 2007 "Brits Off Broadway" festival, Richard Linklater cast McKay as Welles in his film "Me and Orson Welles", retaining McKay over the subsequent producer objections to  his casting. In this, his second film and first lead role, McKay received critical praise for his performance as Orson Welles. McKay has recently been seen in the biographical drama "Rush", alongside Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl, the BAFTA-nominated music film "Northern Soul", and the Oscar-winning biographical drama "The Theory of Everything", alongside Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. All of these were met with critical acclaim, with "The Theory of Everything" receiving a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Theatre. McKay has portrayed Orson Welles in the one-man play "Rosebud: The Lives of Orson Welles  at a number of venues, including the Edinburgh Festival and King's Head (London). He subsequently reprised the role in the US at the 2007 Brits Off Broadway" festival. In 2013, McKay played Gerard in "Strangers on a Train" at London's Gielgud Theatre. Personal life. McKay is married to the actress Emily Allen. He has two children, Maximilian Sidney McKay, born 2011 and Aniela Rita Lynn McKay, born 2015.