The new Superman's secrets

Traditionally cast only to ham it up as villains in Hollywood films, British actors have suddenly become in demand as the good guys. Next year will see Andrew Garfield’s debut as Spider-Man and Christian Bale donning Batman’s cowl for the (possibly) final time in The Dark Knight Rises. You can now add new Superman Henry Cavill to that list, as he’s just been cast in the tentatively titled Man Of Steel. Or you could if you knew who he was. Handily, we’re here to bring you up to speed.

1. Born Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill in Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, in May 1983, he then moved to mainland Britain to board at Stowe School, situated in Buckinghamshire.
2. The latest Superman reboot isn’t the first time he’s been in the frame for a long-running franchise. Or even the first time he’s been linked with Superman. He narrowly missed out to Brandon Routh on Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, and was only beaten to Bond by Daniel Craig on the final screen test.
3. More so than most men, Cavill has good reason to resent rival actor Robert Pattinson. Harry Potter fans launched a letter-writing campaign in support of Cavill playing Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, while Twilight author Stephenie Meyer claimed Cavill was her “perfect Edward”. He was usurped by Pattinson who ended up playing both parts.
4. His breakthrough role was in The Tudors playing Charles Brandon, 1st Duke Of Suffolk. Off the back of the show he landed a high-profile modelling contract in Dunhill’s London fragrance advertising, as well as some blockbuster film offers.
5. Cavill claims that if he hadn’t become an actor he would have either joined the Army or gone to university to study ancient history and Egyptology.