To be an undercover cop, you have to be a great actor. You have to be naturalistic as hell. These words, spoken to his character Mr. Orange, apply just as much to actor Tim Roth – today’s celebrity birthday boy. Roth began acting following his graduation from the Camberwell College of Art when he was 21, and his first role as as a skinhead in the TV movie Made in Britain in 1982. The next decade saw his fame grow as he played notable roles in Robert Altman’s Vincent & Theo and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. In 1992 he landed the role that would launch his career in Hollywood – that of Mr. Orange in Quentin Tarantino’s debut film Reservoir Dogs. Since then, Roth has appeared in such films as Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Heart of Darkness, Rob Roy, Planet of the Apes, Funny Games, and The Incredible Hulk. He also starred in the TV series Lie to Me, and was considered for notable roles like Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films and Hannibal Lecter in Ridley Scott’s Hannibal. Tim Roth turns 52 today.