In Braveheart (1995), which actor played William Wallace?

Mel Gibson played William Wallace in Braveheart (1995), the historical epic about the Scottish warrior’s rebellion against English rule.

Gibson also directed and produced the film. The screenplay by Randall Wallace dramatizes Wallace’s life and the Wars of Scottish Independence, but it takes substantial liberties with chronology, costumes, relationships, and events.

Braveheart was filmed largely in Ireland, although its story is set mainly in Scotland. Its battle sequences, especially the depiction of the Battle of Stirling Bridge, helped make the movie a major international success.

The film received ten Academy Award nominations and won five, including Best Picture and Best Director. Gibson’s performance made Wallace one of the most recognizable cinematic portrayals of a medieval Scottish resistance leader, even though the movie is not a strict historical record.