Rylance was born in Ashford, Kent to Anne (née Skinner) and David Waters, both teachers of English. One of his grandmothers was Irish. Both of his grandfathers were British POWs of the Japanese. … See more

In 1980 Rylance gained his professional acting debut in the Shaun Lawton play Desperado Corner at the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre. In 1982 and 1983 he performed in numerous productions at the Royal Shakespea… See more

Rylance is married to director, composer and playwright Claire van Kampen, whom he met in 1987 while working on a production of The Wandering Jew at the National Theatre. They were married in Oxfordshire on … See more