Midshipman Blakeney

Background:

English film actor Max Pirkis garnered rave reviews for his performance as the ultra kind and friendly Midshipman Lord Blakeney, in the blockbuster "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" (2003; starring Russell Crowe), which earned him an Evening Standard British Film Award and a Young Artist Award.

From 2005 to 2007, Pirkis portrayed the shrewd, somewhat cold young man Gaius Octavian on the HBO/BBC2 original television series "Rome."

Pirky

Childhood and Family:

Son of a publisher mother and a stockbroker father, Max William R. Pirkis was born on January 6, 1990 in London, England, UK. He has an older sister, Sarah Pirkis.

Max Pirkis, nicknamed "Pirky," studied at Eton College, UK, where he coxes rowing. As of October 2007, he attended St Catharine's College, Cambridge, studying Theology.

Max now resides in London with his parents and sister. In his free time, he likes to play cricket and football, plays violin and saxophone. He also enjoy playing with his two dogs.

"I'm not much of an animal person. I've got two dogs but I was never really into bugs and things. Last year in school, we dissected some animals but I felt queasy. I'm not really into biology. But going out to Galapagos and playing a part where you're interested in insects and stuff is quite fun to do because it is something different." Max Pirkis.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Career:

Beginning acting in several school plays, Max Pirkis won his first role in a motion picture, as the ultra kind and friendly Midshipman Lord Blakeney, in the director Peter Weir's blockbuster drama film adapted from three novels in the "Aubrey–Maturin" series by Patrick O'Brian, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" (2003; starring Russell Crowe).

His performance in his film debut received positive reviews, winning him an Evening Standard British Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer and a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in an International Film. He was also nominated for Phoenix Film Critics Society Award's Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role – Male.

When asked if he had ever been to the Galapagos Islands before filming "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" (2003), Pirkis revealed, "Yeah, my family is always traveling a lot and by pure chance we went on a six week holiday in South America, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador and then we went to the Galapagos for a week on a boat."

In 2005, Pirkis began playing the regular role of Gaius Octavian, a shrewd, if somewhat cold, young man, with an understanding of the world, people, philosophy, and politics that go well beyond his years, on the HBO/BBC2 original television series "Rome." He played the character during season one and the beginning of season two of the show before being replaced by Simon Woods.

"If the filming doesn't interfere with school and exams and, I know this is a lot to ask for, if it's a good director, and a good script, then yeah, I will do another film. But I don't need to work. Doing films is fun but it's nice having a normal life with friends." Max Pirkis.

Awards:

• Evening Standard British Film: Most Promising Newcomer, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," 2004

• Young Artist: Best Young Actor in an International Film, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," 2004