One of our earliest recollections of Tommy Flanagan is from the 1995 film Braveheart. He had his scars back then, and we have to accept that his character would have been less successful if he didn’t. We recognized Flanagan’s scars as part of his overall image from then on, and we love it.

The rest of Hollywood does too, because his portfolio of work demonstrates that you don’t need to have the most perfect look to succeed in Hollywood. Flanagan’s popularity, in fact, extends much beyond that.

Flanagan is a multi-award-winning Scottish actor who rose to prominence as Filip ‘Chibs’ Telford in the TV criminal drama series “Sons of Anarchy” from 2008 to 2014, where he had the perfect bad boy charm, among a long list of other roles.

You have to admit, it would be a bit unsettling to look at his face if he wasn’t as popular. His scars, on the other hand, have been his trademark and selling point throughout the years. As good as Flanagan’s current appearance is for his profession, the manner he received his scars wasn’t exactly the ideal narrative to tell (or probably relive for that matter).

Tommy was a DJ before pursuing acting; while leaving a party one night, he was ambushed by thieves, one of them wielded a knife. Tommy attempted to protect himself but was stabbed, and the attackers sliced his face from ear to ear, producing a Glasgow Grin, or Glasgow Smile. His scar story was also used in the “Sons of Anarchy” character’s storyline.

According to sources, he declined to submit a statement to authorities, and David Hughes (the man who sliced his face) afterwards apologized.

“Tommy knows just how lucky he is,” a friend said. “He’s very sensitive about the scars on his face and how he got them.”

We’re not sure how he recovered from such a traumatic encounter and personal ordeal. But it’s all a reflection of the sort of guy he is and how far he is prepared to go to pursue his dream of acting and performing. He landed a role in Braveheart soon after, and the rest is history.

Flanagan mentioned the mugging in 2001. “They tried to mug me for my jacket and record boxes. One guy jumped on my back, slashed my face, stabbed me, cut me to bits. I nearly died.

“I would have never begun acting if I hadn’t been cut. It was the best and worst thing that happened to me,” he said.

Tommy Flanagan was born on July 3, 1965, in Easterhouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland; his childhood was difficult since he had six siblings and his father abandoned the family when he was still a youngster. Andrew Flanagan, one of his siblings, is also an actor who resides in Glasgow.

Tommy grew up as an altar boy who was always fighting for his family. When he was old enough to work, he began seeking for work as a DJ at local bars. His work, however, resulted in a life-altering tragedy when he was attacked and left to die. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries but recovered, and it was during his time there that his buddy Robert Carlyle suggested he pursue acting.

Tommy followed Robert’s suggestion and joined Carlyle’s Raindog Theatre Company, where he made his acting debut. He made his theater debut in the plays “Wasted I and II,” as well as roles in “MacBeth” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” After that, he moved to television and made his on-screen debut in 1993 in the TV series “Taggart.” He had his first major break two years later when he played Morrison in Mel Gibson’s historical drama film “Braveheart.”

Aside from Morrison in Braveheart, Flanagan has played Scarface in The Saint (1997), Leo in Face/Off (1997), Cicero in Gladiator (2000), Mark Verheiden in Alien vs. Predator (2004), Lazlo Soot in Smokin’ Aces (2006), and most recently Tullk Ul-Zyn in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. (2017). Revenge (2015), Peaky Blinders (2013), Gotham (2015), and Motive (2015) are among of his most recent guest performances on television.