Philip was born in Harrow, Middlesex, England and brought up in Hatch End in the London Borough of Harrow, north-west London.
He is the son of the television director John Glenister and the brother of actor Robert Glenister.
Robert Glenister
His interest in acting came from seeing his brother in a production about the Sex Pistols called Killing Time at the Soho Poly.
Philip worked for the entertainment entrepreneur Robert Stigwood, then worked as a films publicist until he was 23.
The now former wife of his brother, the actress Amanda Redman, persuaded him to apply for the Central School of Speech and Drama, and coached him for his audition.
At Central, he was a contemporary of Graham Norton and Rufus Sewell. He also shared a flat with the actor Jamie Glover.
Phil and Beth
They met at the birthday party of mutual friend and fellow actor Jamie Glover in July 1997.
They have two children, Millie (born March 2002) and Charlotte (born April 2005), and live in East Sheen, near Richmond .