James Callis is an English actor whose voice work in animated series has become a significant part of his career, complementing his extensive work in live-action television and film. Born in London on June 4, 1971, Callis developed an early interest in performance. He attended the University of York, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Related Literature, before training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, from which he graduated in 1996. Early in his stage career, he performed opposite Bob Hoskins in the play Old Wicked Songs and received the London Theatre Critics Award for Most Promising Newcomer.

While Callis is widely recognized for his live-action roles, particularly as the brilliant and conflicted Dr. Gaius Baltar in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series, a performance that earned him a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2006, he has also established a notable presence in anime-style animation. His most significant voice role is that of Alucard in the Netflix animated series Castlevania, which is based on the popular video game franchise. He first voiced the character in the series premiere in 2017 and continued in the role throughout its run, appearing in all four seasons from 2017 to 2021. Callis reprised this role in the sequel series, Castlevania: Nocturne, which began in 2023, with his return confirmed for its second season in 2025. The character of Alucard, the dhampir son of Dracula, is one of the central figures of the franchise, and Calliss performance has been a key element of the show's success.

In addition to his work on Castlevania, his other ventures into voice acting are closely tied to this franchise. Beyond his anime voice roles, James Calliss broader career includes a wide range of film and television performances, such as playing Tom in the Bridget Jones film series and roles in series like Eureka, 12 Monkeys, and Star Trek: Picard. He has also worked as a writer and director, with his directorial debut being the film Beginner's Luck in 2001.