Paul Blackthorne was born on March 5, 1969, in Wellington, Shropshire, England. He spent his early years on UK military bases in both Britain and Germany. Blackthorne began his acting career through television advertisements, gaining recognition with a notable commercial for Virgin Atlantic. His film debut came in the acclaimed Hindi film "Lagaan" (2001), where he portrayed Captain Andrew Russell, dedicating six months to learn Hindi for the role. Blackthorne has appeared in various American television series, including "ER," "24," and "Arrow," where he is best known for his role as Detective Quentin Lance. He has also starred in independent films such as "Four Corners of Suburbia" and "The Truth Game." In addition to acting, Blackthorne made his directorial debut with the documentary "This American Journey" in 2013. He was previously in a relationship with actress Kaley Cuoco and married Missy Rayder in August 2021.