Charles Dance (born October 10, 1946 in Redditch, England) is an English actor. He was set for a career in graphic design from the Plymouth College of Art before turning to film.

He has appeared in numerous films, including Plenty (1985) with Meryl Streep, Hidden City (1987), Pascali's Island (1988), Last Action Hero (1993), Hilary and Jackie (1998), Gosford Park (2001) and Dark Blue World (2001). He has also starred in several British television dramas such as The Jewel in the Crown, Murder Rooms, Fingersmith and Bleak House, and many Royal Shakespeare Company productions, notably in the title role in Coriolanus.

He is currently filming in London in a new Woody Allen film.

His debut film as a screenwriter and director was Ladies in Lavender (2004).