Emmett J. Scanlan

Young Irish actor Emmett Scanlan has made a name for himself on both the small and large screens, often playing detestable villains to perfection. The Dublin native made his screen debut in the pub-set drama "The Big Bow Wow" in 2004 then appeared in several short films and the theatrical release "Studs" in 2006, a sports-themed comedy that was a Best Irish Film nominee. His reputation rose further with a turn as a dark detective in the 2007 thriller "Shattered" and led to other subsequent film roles, including a part in the 2008 thriller "Christian Blake" and the violent drama "3 Crosses" in '09.

Scanlan also continued his TV work, getting increasingly prestigious parts, among them a starring role in the mini-series "The Phone" as The Operator and the lead in the TV movie "The Guards," a crime drama set in Ireland. In 2010--a breakout year for the actor--he began a stint on the daytime youth-oriented soap "Hollyoaks" as bad boy Brendan Brady and starred in the lead role of the crime drama "Charlie Casanova." Scanlan's work has been recognized with a 2011 Independent Film Festival Award and a British Soap Award for "Villain of the Year" and "Best Newcomer."