Charles (Charlie) Matthew Hunnam was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on April 10th 1980. Discovered while clowning around in a shoe store by a production manager for the British Children's show Byker Grove, Charlie Hunnam was cast in his first role as the long locked child model Jason in three episodes of the show. His first major role came soon after as Nathan Maloney in the Channel 4 drama Queer as Folk (1999). Immediately following his role in Queer as Folk came the role as the young anarchist Daz in the British film Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? (1999), Upon completion of both projects, Hunnam relocated to Los Angeles, California to pursue his acting career.

Upon his arrival in Los Angeles in 1999, Hunnam met and married actress Katharine Towne, the daughter of screenwriter Robert Towne. They divorced in 2002. His career, meanwhile, expanded to include a recurring role as Gregor Ryder in a TV Series for The WB Network called Young Americans (2000). He then appeared in the short-lived FOX series Undeclared (2002) as cocky British drama student Lloyd Haythe. The series was cancelled after only one season. Following Undeclared, he appeared in Abandon (2002), Nicholas Nickleby (2002), and Cold Mountain (2003).

Hunnam has stated that he does not wish to simply take any role that he is offered "I have 60 years to make the money, but the choices I make in the next five years are really going to define my career." This decision resulted in his return to the United Kingdom to take the lead as Pete Dunham in Green Street (also known as Green Street Hooligans, Hooligans, and The Yank) (2005).

His most recent role was Patric, a member of the "The Fishes", in Children of Men (2006) directed by Alfonso Cuarón. It is a film adaptation of the P.D. James novel of the same title. Hunnam states that this role was the final part in his "trilogy of mad men" ""I played the psycho in Cold Mountain, my character in Green Street is fairly psychotic and now I've got this role." He seems to have been able to avoid being typecast as a hunk by playing the more psychotic characters.

Charlie likes Hip Hop music,and says RZA from Wu-Tang Clan is his favourite artist.

Although he played football-mad Pete Dunham in Green Street Hooligans, Charlie himself has no real interest in football.

Charlie was voted no.9 in Elle Girls top 100 sexiest men in the 2005.