Mark Rylance is an Academy Award-winning English actor and also a theatre director and playwright. He began his career as a theatre actor and is known for his portrayal of roles in the works of William Shakespeare. After making his stage debut in the early 1980s, he appeared in several plays over the next few years such as 'Macbeth' and 'Much Ado about Nothing'. He made his big screen debut with a role in the film 'Hearts of Fire'. His significant works include his lead roles in films such as 'Angels & Insects' and 'Intimacy'. He won the Oscar for his role in the film 'Bridge of Spies'. One of the most important works of his career, his performance in the film also won him a BAFTA Award. Apart from his work in theatre and cinema, he is also a patron of several organizations such as 'London International Festival of Theatre' and the charity 'Peace Direct'. He was named as one of most influential people in the world by TIME magazine in 2016. His most recent work is his role in the film 'Dunkirk' which was directed by the renowned filmmaker Christopher Nolan.