Logan James Played by: Ben Barnes. Birthdate & Age: September 1 1982 & 26 Residence: London, England. Screen name: down low logan. Biography: Logan James was born on the first of September 1982 in East Kilbride, Glasgow, the first child and only son of John, an English teacher, and Rose James, a photographer. His first taste of the spotlight came, aged five, when Logan was cast as Joseph in his primary school's nativity play. The moment the young boy shuffled onto the stage with Sarah Donovan (with a small pillow shoved up her top in an effort to make her look pregnant) and heard the audience applaud for the first time was the moment at which he decided that acting was what he wanted to do with his life. Every year and following he was cast in the lead role of all of his school productions, from Oliver to John Proctor. When Logan was twelve years old he signed up for a local drama club who put on performances around the UK during weekends and holidays, which gave him his first taste of performing to people he didn't know. Logan's original career plan had been to study drama and English literature at the University of Glasgow before attempting to carve out a career for himself in acting. In fact, he already had his unconditional acceptance for the university by the time he sat his final exams (a combination of Advanced Highers and Highers) at the end of his sixth year. During the summer between the end of school and the start of university, Logan was offered the chance to make a little money by appearing as an extra in a new television series, pitched to him as the British version of Friends. He only had a few lines to say and any money always came in handy so Logan didn't even have to think about it before he said yes. So, he went down to London for a couple of weeks to film his scenes. However, whilst he was down there another bit-parter mentioned another role he was filming the following week, this time for a film (Maybe Baby) and invited him to come along. Logan did so, on a whim and was immediately cast as a member of one of the main characters' posse, earning a little more money to bulk up his bank account. The end of the summer came quicker than expected and it wasn't long until Logan found himself sharing a small dormroom with a friendly, if somewhat incomprehensible, Manc. University was everything it was supposed to be and that first year passed in a whirl of plays and other productions, classes, nights out and parties and hanging out with the various new friends he had made. As the end of Logan's first year drew closer and he realised that he would have to try and find a summer job the young man decided to do as he had done the previous summer and go about for some small roles in television shows or films. And so Logan put out his feelers, which was how he came to hear about The Forsyte Saga from an actor friend from his days in the drama club (who now had a recurring role in Taggart). Auditions were being held in London at the beginning of June and so, not expecting much, Logan traveled down in order to try out. He was shocked when he was called back for two more auditions and then finally cast as Jolly Forsyte in the mini-series. Being a big-budget period piece it was unlike Logan had ever done before and he passed the majority of that summer in a bit of a blur, unable to believe what he was doing. After a summer full of excitement Logan returned to Glasgow for his second year, this time sharing a flat with a few friends from class. His second year passed much like his first, only with slightly more classes and hours spent in the library than in the pub. That year he and a select group of friends put on a production of Terrence McNally's highly controversial play, Corpus Christi. Despite negative reaction from several ultra religious groups the play was a success and they were invited to perform at the Edinburgh Festival that summer, which they gratefully accepted. A third year of University saw Logan working hard and creating Cashback, a short film which he co-wrote with a good friend, and also starred in. The film was shown at the university's cinema, used especially for such occasions to a mixed reaction. Many loved it but just as many weren't keen and viewed the nudity as unnecessary and gratuitous. Logan and his friends believed in it, though, and even managed to get it shown at a few low-key film festivals around the country. The summer after his third year found Logan on set filming once again. This time it was a British film, chock full of talent both young and old and even though he had very little screentime Logan still maintains that he learned a lot of what he knows about acting from working on Love Actually and getting to see some British legends at work. It was whilst working on Love Actually that a strange thing happened: Logan was approached and offered a role - a leading role in a romantic comedy. It was a chance that Logan wasn't about to turn his nose up at and he immediately signed on, even though filming would overlap with the beginning of his final year at University. Luckily for him, filming only overlapped for a month and when the film wrapped Logan was able to return to Glasgow and catch up with relative ease. With a surprising amount of experience under his belt for someone so young it came as no surprise to anyone when Logan was offered a role in a new comedy called Green Wing for C4, before he had even graduated. The premise and the script were funny and unique and Logan didn't even have to think about it before he signed on the dotted line. His turn as Boyce, a student doctor who made it his goal in life to torture and torment his mentor was hailed as hilarious and, as Logan's first real outing into comedy, was a huge success. Unfortunately, Green Wing was canceled after two series (and a special episode to tie up all the loose ends) and it was time for him to move on. Logan didn't go far, though. Only across to BBC1 and the newly revamped Doctor Who, where he was cast as new companion, Rose Tyler's, boyfriend Mickey Smith. Although he appeared often Logan wasn't a series regular and as such had the freedom to work on other projects at the same time. Or, perhaps, just other project as there was only one other thing on his mind at that time: The Last King of Scotland. It was a book his father had foisted on him years before and which Logan had devoured within days, finding himself fascinated and appalled in equal measure by the description of Idi Amin's dictatorship. As a fan of the book, therefore, when Logan had discovered, in 2005 that there was going to be a film adaptation of it he had known that he wanted to be a part of it. His persistence eventually paid off and after four auditions he was cast in the lead role of Dr Nicholas Garrigan. It was literally the role of a lifetime for Logan and one which he poured his heart and soul into. His passion shone through and despite only receiving limited release Logan was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor BAFTA, which was all the recognition he needed. The same year as The Last King of Scotland was released, Logan reprised his role as Dakin in the film adaptation of The History Boys (he had played the role twice before, once during his drama club days and once whilst at university). For Logan the film was a form of catharsis, a way to relax and have fun after all the stress from Last King. History Boys also received a limited release but proved to be extremely popular with almost all who saw it. Despite receiving critical acclaim for his performances Logan never really registered at the box office until 2007's Stardust adaptation of Harvey Balentine's novel of the same name. It was also Logan's first foray into science-fiction and the end result was simply magnificient winning over critics and audiences alike, something which Logan claims has more to do with Balentine's charming novel than with anything the filmmaker's have done. With Stardust proving that he could helm a big-budget, box office smash and The Last King of Scotland proving that he was more than just a pretty face, Logan suddenly became a hot commodity and had his pick of the roles. He was picky, though, looking for something different and intriguing, two words which could definitely be used to describe the film he eventually signed on to appear in - Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. Like every other little boy Logan had loved pirate movies and all other swashbucklers when he was younger and given the chance to star in one that was so witty and well-written? Well, he couldn't quite believe his luck. Despite following one big budget adventure with another Logan definitely hasn't sold his soul to Hollywood. He's still a fan and huge champion of smaller, independent British cinema and he's recently finished filming the adaptation of David Nicholls' Starter for Ten along with the rest of an all-British cast. Credits: Here