- Gave up smoking in 2005 after seeing his 2 year-old son, Stellan, imitating him with a pen.
- Developed laryngitis after filming A Knight's Tale (2001) because of all the yelling he had to do as Geoffrey Chaucer.
- Son's name is Stellan Bettany, named after the actor Stellan Skarsgård who acted with him in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2001), Dogville (2003) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
- He had to wear a wig for The Da Vinci Code (2006) because, when they bleached his hair, the bleach burned bleeding holes in his head.
- Writer/director Brian Helgeland wrote the role of Chaucer in A Knight's Tale (2001) specifically for Paul. He "refused" to do the movie without him. The production companies did not think Bettany was known well enough, Helgeland thought that if he backed down on his choice of Bettany, he would have to back down on everything else.
- Won Evening Standard Film Award 2001 for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Geoffrey Chaucer in A Knight's Tale (2001).
- His wife Jennifer Connelly gave birth to their daughter Agnes Lark Bettany at home in New York City via a scheduled water birth (31 May 2011).
- In February 2014 it was announced that Bettany would be playing Vision in Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). This marks not only his first on screen appearance in a Marvel movie but he will also be playing a dual role since he will also be voicing 'Jarvis' Tony Stark/Iron Man's cyber man servant a role he has played four times previously.
- Also plays the guitar, and used to busk on Westminster Bridge in London.
- When he was 16, his younger brother Matthew, who was 8, died in a fall. Consequently, he claimed to be obsessed with having lots of children.
- August 5, 2003 - his wife, Jennifer Connelly, gave birth to their first child, a boy.
- Has a stepson named Kai Dugan (mother is Jennifer Connelly).
- Decided at the age of 19 that he wanted to be an actor.
- Has acted in several religion-themed movies or played the part of a religious character, including: Priest (2011) and The Reckoning (2003) where he plays Priests who question their faith and go off on their own tangent; Legion (2010) where he plays the Archangel Michael who also questions his moral fibre and risks disobedience to God to do what he feels is right; and The Da Vinci Code (2006) where he plays an obsessive Monk who will do all he can to protect the secrets of Christianity.
- Paul's "acting heroes" are Humphrey Bogart, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Peter O'Toole and Vincent Cassel.
- Was considered for the role of Lord Asriel in The Golden Compass (2007). Some reports claimed that Nicole Kidman was eager to star in the film as she wished to work with him again, having previously co-starred with him in Dogville (2003).
- He and his wife Jennifer Connelly have played characters in films based on Marvel comic book characters. Bettany plays the voice of "Jarvis" in the "Iron Man" films as well as the live-action role of "Vision" in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). Connelly played Betty Ross, the love interest of Bruce Banner in Hulk (2003), and had a voice role in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).
- Acted for a year with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
- Was the first choice to portray King George VI in The King's Speech (2010) but after he turned it down Colin Firth, who went on to win the Best Actor Oscar for his performance, was cast instead.
- Was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in June 2004.
- His wife, Jennifer Connelly, is expecting their second child, her third [December 14, 2010].
- Nominated for Best Actor for his role in Gangster No1 by London Film Critics Circle Awards.
- Has appeared in many theatre productions, debuting in Stephen Daldry's production of "An Inspectors Calls," grabbing the American film industry's attention in Joe Penhall's "Love and Understanding." He also appeared in "One More Waster Year" and "Stranger's House."
- Apparently turned down the role of the Tooth Fairy in Red Dragon (2002) (most probably offered to him after his frightening appearance as psycho gangster in Gangster No. 1 (2000)) in favour of a much more poorly paid role in Lars von Trier's Dogville (2003).
- His son's godfather is the actor Charlie Condou who starred with him in Dead Babies (2000) and Euston Road (2004).
- Son of Thane Bettany and Anne Kettle. Has one older sister named Sarah, who lives in Cornwall (England) with her daughter Emaly.
- Turned down the starring role of Dr. William Masters in Masters of Sex (2013) that went to Michael Sheen.
- Grandson of Olga Gwynne and Lesley Kettle.
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