Charlie Thomas Cox was born in London, England, to Patricia C. A. (Harley) and Andrew Frederick Seaforth Cox, a publisher. He has
English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry, and descends from several prominent forebears (Baronets of Agnew and Carnegie, an Earl of
Findlater, and a Colonial Governor of New York, Andrew Elliot).
Cox was educated and received his training in drama at Sherborne School in Dorset where he appeared in Dealer's Choice / Patrick Marber (Mugsy) The Writing Game (Leo) Code Crackers / Andy Wilkinson (Weasel) Confusions / Alan Aykbourne (Martin & Arthur) Henry V (Nym & John Bates). He received the Gerald Pitman Award for Acting from Sherborne School. He also appeared in
Judge John Deed (2001) as the Young Vicar.
He starred in
Things to Do Before You're 30 (2005) (formerly You Don't Have To Say You Love Me), with
Dougray Scott,
The Merchant of Venice (2004), with
Al Pacino, and
Dot the I (2003) (aka Obsession) with
Gael García Bernal, which received rave reviews at The Sundance Film Festival.