Bio
Jonny Lee Miller is an English actor best known for his breakout starring roles in the feature films Hackers (1995) and Trainspotting, in 1996.
He is best known to television audiences for his role as the titular character, a lawyer who believes he might be a prophet, in the comedy-drama series Eli Stone, from 2008-2009.
He currently stars as Sherlock Holmes in the crime drama series Elementary, a contemporary reimagining of the works of Arthur Conan Doyle, since 2012.
He is also known for his role as Tom in the short-lived drama series Smith, from 2006-2007; and for playing Jordan Chase in the fifth season of the thriller series Dexter.
Miller's grandfather was Bernard Lee, famous for playing the character M in the earlier James Bond films. His father, Alan Miller, was a stage actor and later worked as a stage manager at The BBC. His mother, Anne, also worked in theatre production.
Miller has fond memories of being at Television Centre with his sister and watching Top Of The Pops and Blue Peter being made.
He was educated at Tiffin Boys' School in Kingston upon Thames where he gained his first acting experience and played in the Tiffin Swing Band. Miller left school, aged 17, to pursue his acting career.
After a stint in EastEnders as Jonathan Hewitt, Miller got his big break in films with Hackers (1995), co-starring Angelina Jolie, whom he married the following year. They separated a year later and were divorced in 1999.
In 1997, Miller was involved with the creation and operation of Natural Nylon along with friends Jude Law (whom he met in the National Youth Music Theatre), Sadie Frost, Ewan McGregor, Sean Pertwee, Damon Bryant and Bradley Adams. Natural Nylon folded in 2003.
Aside from EastEnders he has appeared on television in the BBC's modernisation of The Canterbury Tales as Artie in The Pardoner's Tale and as Lord Byron in a BBC production about the life of the poet.
His first appearance on US television was the 1996 mini-series Dead Man's Walk.
Shortly after Hackers, Miller was cast in Trainspotting (1996), which brought him notoriety. He was suggested for the role of Sick Boy by Ewan McGregor. The accent he used in the film was so convincing that it led many people to erroneously believe he was Scottish.
In 1997, he played Billy Prior in the film adaptation of Pat Barker's World War I novel, Regeneration, and in 2000 he played the role of Cameron Colley in Complicity (video title Retribution), based on the book by Scottish writer Iain Banks.
Also in 2000, he appeared as Simon Sheppard in Wes Craven's Dracula 2000.
In 2005, he was considered for the role of James Bond, replacing Irish actor Pierce Brosnan. The role went to fellow British actor, Daniel Craig. The following year, Miller portrayed cyclist Graeme Obree in The Flying Scotsman.
In 2007, Miller was chosen to play the lead role in Eli Stone, playing the titular character, a lawyer who believes he might be a prophet. The show was a mid-season replacement during the 2007-2008 Fall season.
Miller generally keeps very quiet about his personal life. He married actress Angelina Jolie in 1996. They separated a year later and were divorced in 1999.
Since then, he's dated several well-known women (including Lisa Faulkner and Natalie Appleton), but has been seeing actress/model Michele Hicks since 2006.
Miller is also a supporter of Chelsea FC. He also runs marathons for fun, and often to support the charity Mencap. Miller was signed up to run the 2006 Marathon des Sables but had to drop out due to contractual obligation to the television series Smith.
He has many tattoos. Three of them (Stamina, Endurance, and Discipline) seem to tie into his interest in strenuous marathons.
Miller is also a keen saxophonist.