Baltar is a brilliant but narcissistic scientist who unwittingly aided the original Cylon destruction of the 12 Colonies. He subsequently became a full-fledged Cylon collaborator: As the President, he surrendered New Caprica to them, and after the evacuation of New Caprica he traveled with their fleet and explored their spiritual beliefs until he was recaptured by his fellow humans. While awaiting trial for treason in the Galactica's brig, he won the affection of many of the Colonial fleet's downtrodden by writing a manifesto that detailed his poverty-stricken childhood and excoriated society's "elites." Upon his acquittal and release, his most devoted followers have begun to treat him as a holy man. They may not be wrong: Baltar's ostensibly mystical visions of the beautiful Cylon Number Six remain unexplained.
London-born James Callis studied English and related literature at the University of York. After graduating in 1993, he gained a place at the renowned London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts. He graduated from LAMDA in 1996 and has since appeared in various West End stage productions, as well as in film and on TV and radio.
In 1996, Callis made his West End debut in Old Wicked Songs, alongside Bob Hoskins, and earned the London Critics Circle's Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer. He appeared in 1998 at the Almeida Theatre, in George Bernard Shaw's The Doctor's Dilemma, and at the Soho Theatre in London, in Peter Ackerman's Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight. He broke into television in 1996 with a guest role on the British series Murder Most Horrid and with a recurring role in the ensemble of the long-running U.K. drama Soldier Soldier.
Callis went on to appear in a number of telefilms and miniseries, including The Scarlet Pimpernel (1999) and Jason and the Argonauts (2000). He played Bridget's pal Tom in the hit movie Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and its sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004). He co-wrote and co-directed the film Beginner's Luck (2001), in which he starred opposite Julie Delpy. He was Menelaus in USA Network's miniseries Helen of Troy, and he recently starred in the feature film One Night With the King, opposite Omar Sharif and Peter O'Toole.
