HBO's The Wire is widely recognized as one of the greatest television series ever made.  The show was unique in that it featured British actors playing American characters, and one of the standout performances came from Dominic West. He portrayed the boozy but complex Detective Jimmy McNulty with incredible skill, completely nailing the Baltimore accent. This role catapulted West to mainstream stardom and forever linked him to The Wire.

Since the show ended in 2008, West has been incredibly busy.

He returned to his first love, the theater, receiving widespread acclaim for his roles in plays like Life Is a Dream and My Fair Lady. He has also shown his adventurous side by trekking to the South Pole with Prince Harry in a charitable endeavor to support wounded soldiers. On the small screen, West starred in the TV drama The Affair, although it didn't match the success of The Wire.

West's personal life has also caught the media's attention, particularly his marriage to former lover Catherine Fitzgerald.

The couple, who met at Trinity College Dublin, tied the knot in 2010 and have four children together. Despite his already successful career, West expressed in 2011 that he thought he would be a "massive Hollywood star by now."

One of West's most chilling and award-winning performances came in the mini-series Appropriate Adult, where he portrayed serial killer Fred West. The actor's portrayal of the murderer's sinister mannerisms and countenance left viewers horrified but impressed, earning him a BAFTA for Best Actor.

More recently, West made headlines for an alleged infidelity scandal with actress Lily James.

While he denied any wrongdoing, the incident propelled him back into the media spotlight. However, fans can look forward to seeing West in the upcoming sequel to the Downton Abbey movie, as he joins the cast of the popular period drama.

When he's not working, West enjoys spending time in Glin Castle, his wife's childhood home in Ireland. The castle, which dates back 700 years, offers the couple a place to unwind with its 15 bedrooms and 400 acres of land.