My parents felt that acting was far too insecure. Don't ask me what made them think that painting would be more secure.

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Hurt had a strict upbringing: the family lived opposite a cinema but he was not allowed to see films there. Hurt co-starred alongside Kiefer Sutherland in the 10 part web series The Confession. His portrayal of Quentin Crisp in the 1975 TV play The Naked Civil Servant gave prominence and earned him the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor.

Recognisable for his distinctive rich voice he has also enjoyed a successful voice acting career starring in films such as Watership Down the animated The Lord of the Rings and Dogville as well as BBC television series Merlin. Braddock in The Hit Stephen Ward in Scandal Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant and An Englishman in New York and Caligula in I Claudius.