The eldest of eight children born to a stockbroker father and teacher mother, James Frain was born in Leeds, Yorkshire and raised in Essex. He received a degree in drama from the University of East Anglia and went on to graduate from London's Central School of Speech and Drama. There, he was discovered by 'Sir Richard Attenborough' , who directed him in Shadowlands (1993), his feature film debut. James then went on to portray several memorable roles, notably as Kenny in Nothing Personal (1995), Alvaro de la Quadra in Elizabeth (1998), and Daniel Barenboim in Hilary and Jackie (1998). In the last two years, James has entered more prominently into the film industry, appearing in 'Istvan Szabo' 's Sunshine (1999), Julie Taymor's Titus (1999), and _Where the Heart Is (2000)_ opposite Natalie Portman, among others. In addition to his screen work, James boasts an impressive theatrical resume, appearing in productions with the Royal Court Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.