A British actor of film, stage and television. In a career spanning 30 years, he is best known for playing Captain Edward John Smith in Titanic, King Théoden in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and as the Warden of San Quentin Prison in the Clint Eastwood film True Crime.

He has appeared in three films which have won Best Picture at the Oscars: Gandhi, Titanic and The Return of the King.