James Mason

James Mason is amongst a few actors to have reached the top spot in both the United Kingdom and the United States. A dynamic actor and performer, Mason had a very successful career in the film industry. What gave him the edge was the ease with which he played characters of both good and evil intent. While his velvety voice made him pose as a perfect villain, his cultured demeanour and good looks helped him play the role of a hero with élan. Interestingly, Mason’s acting career was not an intended and a well-planned one. What actually started as a casual tryst eventually turned into a full-time profession. He started off in Britain, as a theatre actor and later took up film roles. After gaining the star status in his homeland, Mason ventured into Hollywood. Unlike the British films, Hollywood flicks were more glamorous and pompous. However, Mason did not let the novelty hamper his performance and accustomed himself to playing different types of characters. His big breakthrough came in 1954 with the film ‘A Star is Born’. It won him Golden Globe award and Academy award nomination for Best Actor.