Ben Chaplin was born Benedict John Greenwood on 31 July 1970 in Windsor, Berkshire, England, the son of Cynthia (née Chaplin), a Teacher, and Peter Greenwood, a civil Engineer. He has two sisters, Sarah and Rachel, and one brother, Justin. Chaplin became interested in acting as a teenager when he appeared in a school play. Chaplin attended the Princess Margaret Royal Free School and, at the age of 17, enrolled at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He pursued his early acting career between odd jobs, working various clerical jobs and as a statistician for the London Transport Authority. Chaplin eventually began appearing in BBC dramas and various British films. He took his stage name from his mother's maiden name.