Son's name is Stellan, named after the actor Stellan Skarsgård who acted with him in Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) (2000) and Dogville (2003).

August 5, 2003 - his wife, Jennifer Connelly, gave birth to their first child, a boy.

Gave up smoking in 2005 after seeing his 2 year-old son, Stellan, imitating him with a pen.

Lists his favourite foods as cheese and broccoli; and his favourite drink is whisky.

Nominated for Best Actor for his role in Gangster No1 by London Film Critics Circle Awards.

Apparently turned down the role of the Tooth Fairy in Red Dragon (2002) (most probably offered to him after his frightening appearance as psycho gangster in Gangster No. 1 (2000)) in favour of a much more poorly paid role in Lars von Trier's Dogville (2003).

Has a stepson named Kai Dugan (mother is Jennifer Connelly).

Paul's "acting heroes" are Humphrey Bogart, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Peter O'Toole and Vincent Cassel.

Acted for a year with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Won Evening Standard Film Award 2001 for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Geoffrey Chaucer in A Knight's Tale (2001).

Writer/director Brian Helgeland wrote the role of Chaucer in A Knight's Tale (2001) specifically for Paul. He "refused" to do the movie without him. The production companies did not think Bettany was known well enough, Helgeland thought that if he backed down on his choice of Bettany, he would have to back down on everything else.

Dated Laura Fraser.

Also plays the guitar, and used to busk on Westminster Bridge in London.

Has appeared in many theatre productions, debuting in Stephen Daldry's production of "An Inspectors Calls," grabbing the American film industry's attention in Joe Penhall's "Love and Understanding." He also appeared in "One More Waster Year" and "Stranger's House."

Son of Thane Bettany. Has one older sister named Sarah, who lives in Cornwall (England) with her daughter Emaly.

Developed laryngitis after filming A Knight's Tale (2001) because of all the yelling he had to do as Geoffrey Chaucer.

Was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in June 2004.

He had to wear a wig for The Da Vinci Code because when they bleached his hair the bleach burned bleeding holes in his head.

Quit smoking in 2005.

When he was 16, his younger brother Matthew, who was 8, died in a fall. Consequently, he claimed to be obsessed with having lots of children.