William James Nesbitt, (born 15 January 1965) is an actor, presenter and comedian 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 (1987, 1989) to the political drama
Paddywack (1994). He made his feature film debut playing
talent agent Fintan O'Donnell in
Hear My Song (1991).