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- Actress
- Soundtrack
Polly Alexandra Walker was born on May 19, 1966 in Warrington, Cheshire, England. She graduated from Ballet Rambert School in Twickenham, began her career as a dancer, but an injury at age 18 forced her to change direction. She started at London's Drama Centre to the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she portrayed small parts before graduating to small roles on television. Polly landed the title role in the television series Lorna Doone (1990) before making her feature debut in Journey of Honor (1991) ("Shogun Mayeda"). She first gained attention as an English woman in an Irish terrorist brigade in Phillip Noyce's Patriot Games (1992).- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
One of the British theatre's most famous faces, Daniel Craig, who waited tables as a struggling teenage actor with the National Youth Theatre, has gone on to star as James Bond in Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021).
He was born Daniel Wroughton Craig on March 2, 1968, at 41 Liverpool Road, Chester, Cheshire, England. His father, Timothy John Wroughton Craig, was a merchant seaman turned steel erector, and then became landlord of the "Ring O'Bells" pub in Frodsham, Cheshire. His mother, Carol Olivia (Williams), was an art teacher. Craig has English, as well as Irish, Scottish and Welsh, ancestry. His parents split up in 1972, and young Daniel was raised with his older sister, Lea, in Liverpool, then in Hoylake, Wirral, in the home of his mother. His interest in acting was encouraged by visits to the Liverpool Everyman Theatre arranged by his mother. From the age of six, Craig started acting in school plays, making his debut in the Frodsham Primary School production of "Oliver!", and his mother was the driving force behind his artistic aspirations. The first Bond movie he ever saw at the cinema was Roger Moore's Live and Let Die (1973); young Daniel Craig saw it with his father, so it took a special place in his heart. He was also a good athlete and was a rugby player at Hoylake Rugby Club.
At age 14, Craig played roles in "Oliver", "Romeo and Juliet" and "Cinderella" at Hilbre High School in West Kirby, Wirral. He left Hilbre High School at age 16 to audition at the National Youth Theatre's (NYT) troupe on their tour in Manchester in 1984. He was accepted and moved down to London. There, his mother and father watched his stage debut as Agamemnon in Shakespeare's "Troilus and Cressida". As a struggling actor with the NYT, he was toiling in restaurant kitchens and as a waiter. Craig performed with NYT on tours to Valencia, Spain, and to Moscow, Russia, under the leadership of director Edward Wilson. He failed at repeated auditions at the Guildhall, but eventually his persistence paid off, and in 1988, he entered the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at the Barbican. There, he studied alongside Ewan McGregor and Alistair McGowan, then later Damian Lewis and Joseph Fiennes, among others. He graduated in 1991, after a three-year course under the tutelage of Colin McCormack, the actor from the Royal Shakespeare Company. From 1992-1994, he was married to Scottish actress Fiona Loudon, their daughter, named Ella Craig (born 1992).
Craig made his film debut in The Power of One (1992). His film career continued on television, notably the BBC2 serial Our Friends in the North (1996). He shot to international fame after playing supporting roles in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and Road to Perdition (2002). He was nominated for his performances in the leading role in Layer Cake (2004), and received other awards and nominations. Craig was named as the sixth actor to portray James Bond, in October 2005, weeks after he finished his work in Munich (2005), where he co-starred with Eric Bana under the directorship of Steven Spielberg. Craig's reserved demeanor and his avoidance of the showbiz-party-red-carpet milieu makes him a cool 007. He is the first blond actor to play Bond, and also the first to be born after the start of the film series, and also the first to be born after the death of author Ian Fleming in 1964. Four of the past Bond actors: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan have indicated that Craig is a good choice as Bond.
He was appointed Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) by Queen Elizabeth II at the 2022 Queen's New Years Honours for his services to Film and Theatre.- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Taron Egerton is a British actor and singer, known for his roles in the British television series The Smoke, the 2014 action comedy film Kingsman: The Secret Service, and the film Rocketman (2019). He has also played Edward Brittain in the 2014 drama film Testament of Youth, appeared in the 2015 crime thriller film Legend, starred as Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards in the 2016 biographical film Eddie the Eagle, voiced Johnny in the 2016 animated musical film Sing, and reprised his role in the 2017 Kingsman sequel, The Golden Circle.
Taron David Egerton was born on 10 November 1989 in Birkenhead, Merseyside, to parents from nearby Liverpool. His grandmother is Welsh. His first name is a variation of "taran," which means "thunder" in the Welsh language. His father and family ran a bed-and-breakfast and his mother works in social services. He spent some of his early childhood on the Wirral Peninsula, and moved with his family to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, on the Welsh island of Anglesey, where he went to primary school.
Egerton moved to Aberystwyth, also in Wales, when he was twelve. Egerton considers himself to be Welsh "through and through," and is conversant in the Welsh language, albeit admitting that his Welsh is not as good as it previously was. He attended Ysgol Penglais School before he went on to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he graduated with a BA (Hons) Acting in 2012.
Egerton made his acting debut in 2011 with a small role in two episodes of the ITV series Lewis as Liam Jay. Later, he was added to the main cast of the Sky1 series The Smoke. Egerton played Gary "Eggsy" Unwin, the young protégé of Harry Hart (Colin Firth), in Matthew Vaughn's film Kingsman: The Secret Service and its sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle. The first movie's success launched Egerton into fame and resulted in him signing a three-movie contract with 20th Century Fox.
Egerton co-starred in Testament of Youth, based on the life of Vera Brittain, and appeared in the two-part episode "The Ramblin' Boy" in the seventh series of Lewis as Liam Jay. In 2015, it was announced that Egerton would be starring in Billionaire Boys Club. He was named one of GQ's 50 best-dressed British men in 2015 and 2016. In 2018, Egerton was picked to play Elton John in the 2019 biopic Rocketman.- Actor
- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Warren Brown is one of Britain's most illustrious actors and a former 2 x World Thai Boxing Champion. Following his performance in the BAFTA-winning, three-part event Occupation, appearing opposite Stephen Graham, Warren went on to star alongside Idris Elba as DS Ripley, the role for which he became most well-known, in the BBC's multi award-winning series Luther. He was nominated in 2014 for a Critics Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal. Warren can currently be seen as 'Sergeant Thomas 'Mac' McAllister' in the highly anticipated reboot of the Emmy-nominated series, Strike Back, for Sky/HBO Cinemax.
Following his numerous TV starring credits, namely three seasons on the hit Canadian Series X-Company for CBC, By Any Means, written by Tony Jordan, Inside Men alongside Steven Mackintosh, and King for a Term, a single comedy written and directed by Idris Elba, came the incomparable BBC mini-series Good Cop. Here he brought a breath-taking performance which was received with critical acclaim, and the show was awarded the RTS award for best drama.
The move in to film saw Warren take on the title role in Captain Webb for Marathon Films/Miramax and the leading role in the independent Feature Cargo due for release in 2018.
Warren made his London stage debut in 2016 as 'Kent' in Neil Le Bute's Reasons To Be Happy directed by Mike Attenborough at Hampstead Theatre. 2017 brought him back to our screens as part of ITV/AMC's critically acclaimed 6 part drama series 'Liar' opposite Joanne Froggatt and Ioan Gruffudd.
Other credits include Kicking Off, Genesis, Homefront, Single Father, Criminal Justice, Accused, Moving On, and Charlie Brooker's Dead Set.- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Timothy James Curry was born on April 19, 1946 in Grappenhall, Cheshire, England. His mother, Maura Patricia (Langmead), was a school secretary, and his father, James Curry, was a Methodist Royal Navy chaplain. Curry studied Drama and English at Birmingham University, from which he graduated with Combined Honors. His first professional success was in the London production of "Hair", followed by more work in the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Glasgow Citizens Repertory Company, and the Royal Court Theatre where he created the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Show". He recreated the role in the Los Angeles and Broadway productions and starred in the screen version entitled The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). Curry continued his career on the New York and London stages with starring roles in "Travesties", "Amadeus", "The Pirates of Penzance", "The Rivals", "Love for Love", "Dalliance", "The Threepenny Opera", "The Art of Success" and "My Favorite Year". He also starred in the United States tour of "Me and My Girl". He has received two Tony Award nominations for best actor and won the Royal Variety Club Award as "Stage Actor of the Year".
A composer and a singer, Tim Curry toured the United States and Europe with his own band and released four albums on A&M Records. In addition to an active movie and television career, he is a sought-after actor for CD-ROM productions. His distinctive voice can be heard on more than a dozen audio books, and in countless animated television series and videos. He lives in Los Angeles, California.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Cheshire-born - in 1986 - Tom Hughes attended Upton High School and even before going to RADA had a wealth of acting experience with the Cheshire Youth Theatre, the Jigsaw Music Group, the Liverpool Everyman Youth Theatre and the Belgian company Victoria. He even managed to find time to play in a band Safehouse. Since graduation from RADA in 2008 Tom has been the face of Burberry's Summer collection, along with Emma Watson, formed a new band Quaintways and made his mark in several television series from 'Casualty 1909' to 'Silk'. In July 2010 'Company Magazine' voted him the tenth most eligible bachelor in Britain.- Actor
- Music Department
- Writer
James David Van Der Beek was born on March 8, 1977 in Cheshire, Connecticut, as the oldest of three children of Melinda (Weber), a gymnastics studio owner and Broadway dancer, and Jim Van Der Beek, a cell phone company executive. He has a brother named Jared who was born in 1979, and a sister named Juliana who was born in 1981. James started acting at 13 after suffering a concussion playing football that prevented him from playing for a year on doctor's orders. He landed the role of Danny Zuko in his school production of "Grease." After that, the acting bug sank in and the next three years he spent time doing local theater. Around 16, he and his mother went to New York City to find an agent and possible auditions. A year later, he was cast in an off-Broadway play called "Finding the Sun." After doing another play called "Shenandoah" in 1994, James received an academic scholarship to Drew University in NJ, where he was working towards obtaining a major in English with a minor in sociology and also at that time he won the role of Rick Sanford in the movie Angus (1995). In 1996, he won a very small supporting role in I Love You, I Love You Not (1996) which starred Claire Danes. After that film his acting career was at a dead end and he decided to continue with his schooling and eventually made the Dean's list. The college experience soon became old for James, so he took some time off to travel and when he returned he auditioned for a role in Dawson's Creek (1998). He won the lead in the show, and his life changed forever. Though James has taken a hiatus from his college studies to shoot the series, he still plans to finish his degree. He has starred in several hit films over the past couple of years, like Varsity Blues (1999) andTexas Rangers (2001).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Born in England, Angela is the younger sister of actress Veronica Cartwright. As a child she was cast as the cute little stepdaughter, Linda Williams, on The Danny Thomas Show (1953). She was on the show from 1957 to 1964. After that, she was cast as Brigitta in the popular Julie Andrews movie The Sound of Music (1965). Soon after, she returned to series TV as Penny Robinson, young teenage space traveler, in Lost in Space (1965), which ran from 1965-1968. Even with cheap special effects and a hokey story line, the show is still popular today. In 1970 Angela had a part in Make Room for Granddaddy (1970), a sequel to the original series, but the show was soon canceled. Since that time, she has made a life outside of films.- Tim McInnerny is an English actor. He is known for his many roles on stage and television, including as Lord Percy Percy and Captain Darling in the 1980s British sitcom Blackadder. McInnerny was born on 18 September 1956 in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, the son of Mary Joan (née Gibbings) and William Ronald McInnerny. He was brought up in Cheadle Hulme, and Stroud, Gloucestershire, and educated at Marling School, a grammar school in Stroud, and read English at Wadham College, Oxford, matriculating in 1976 after taking a gap year backpacking around the world.
- Elizabeth Berrington is an English actress and graduate of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, she is best known for her roles as Ruby Fry in Waterloo Road, Paula Kosh in Stella, Mel Debrou in Moving Wallpaper and Dawn Stevenson in The Syndicate. She has also featured in British television series such as The Bill, Doctor Who, The Office, Casualty, The Lakes, The Grimleys, Rose and Maloney and Stella.
- Actress
- Producer
The most beautiful star of the greatest horror masterpiece of Italian film, Black Sunday (1960): Barbara Steele was born on December 29, 1937 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. Barbara is loved by her fans for her talent, intelligence, and a dark mysterious beauty that is unique; her face epitomizes either sweet innocence, or malign evil (she is wonderful to watch either way). At first, Barbara studied to become a painter. In 1957, she joined an acting repertory company. Her feature acting debut was in the British comedy Bachelor of Hearts (1958). At age 21, this strikingly lovely lady, with the hauntingly beautiful face, large eyes, sensuous lips and long dark hair got her breakout role by starring in Black Sunday (1960), the quintessential Italian film about witchcraft (it was the directorial debut for cinematographer Mario Bava; with his background, it was exquisitely photographed and atmospheric).
We got to see Barbara, but did not hear her; her voice was dubbed by another actress for international audiences. After its American success, AIP brought Barbara to America, to star in Roger Corman's The Pit and the Pendulum (1961); (though the film was shot entirely in English, again Barbara's own voice was not used). By now, Barbara was typecast by American audiences as a horror star. In 1962, she answered an open-casting call and won a role in Federico Fellini's 8½ (1963); she only had a small role, but it was memorable. Reportedly, Fellini wanted to use her more in the film, but she was contracted to leave Rome to start work on her next horror movie, The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962). Being a slow and meticulous director, Fellini's 8½ (1963) was not released until 1963. (Later, when Barbara was cast in lesser roles in lesser movies, she would tell the directors: "I've worked with some of the best directors in the world. I've worked with Fellini!")
More horror movies followed, such as The Ghost (1963), Castle of Blood (1964), An Angel for Satan (1966) and others; this success lead to her being typecast in the horror genre, where she more often than not appeared in Italian movies with a dubbed voice. The nadir was appearing in The Crimson Cult (1968), which was mainly eye candy, with scantily-clad women in a cult. Unfortunately, Barbara got sick of being typecast in horror movies. One of the screen's greatest horror stars, she said in an interview: "I never want to climb out of another freakin' coffin again!" This was sad news for her legion of horror fans; it was also a false-step for Barbara as far as a career move. Back in America, she met screenwriter James Poe; they got married, and remained together for many years.
James Poe wrote an excellent role for Barbara in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969). The role ended up going to Susannah York, and Barbara wouldn't act in movies again for five years. Barbara returned to movies in Caged Heat (1974); she was miscast: a few years before, Barbara would have been one of the beautiful inmates, not the wheelchair-bound warden, but her performance won positive reviews. In 1977, she appeared in a film by Roger Corman, based on the true story of a mentally ill woman, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977). Unfortunately, her scenes wound up on the cutting room floor. Barbara appeared in Pretty Baby (1978), but she was in the background the whole time, and her talents were mostly wasted. Barbara would appear in two more unmemorable movies. She and James Poe got divorced in 1978, he died two years later.
Barbara appeared in the independent film The Silent Scream (1979). Maybe because her ex-husband was now dead, or because her acting career was going nowhere, Barbara retired from acting for a decade. However, she had a great deal of success as a producer. She was an associate producer for the miniseries The Winds of War (1983), and produced War and Remembrance (1988), for which she got an Emmy Award. Her horror fans were delighted when Barbara showed up again, this time on television in Dark Shadows (1991), a revival of the beloved 1960s supernatural soap opera. And she has developed a relative fondness along with a sense of ironic humor about her horror queen status, which was evident in her appearance in Clive Barker's documentary A-Z of Horror (1997).- Actress
- Additional Crew
Liz grew up in Bebington, England where she lived until she went to Nottingham University in 1990 to study law. After graduating with an LLB in Law, she volunteered in a law centre and became a campaigner for civil rights for Disabled people in the UK and internationally. It wasn't until 2000 that she began to tread the boards when she co-founded the comedy group, Nasty Girls. In 2003, Liz studied performing arts with Graeae Theatre Company and London Met University and played the eponymous 'Mother Courage' in the final touring production. Following this, Liz was part of the first ever Disabled women's reading of 'The Vagina Monologues', took to the main stage at The Young Vic theatre, London in another Brecht, 'The Exception and the Rule' and then toured with the Graeae production of Moliere's 'George Dandin' the following year.
Liz's first job with the BBC was as a columnist for the website Ouch! before becoming co-host with American Horror Story (2011) actor, Mat Fraser, of the infamous Ouch podcast. In 2005 she joined the comedy group Abnormally Funny People and her stand up debut with them was filmed for a documentary on Sky TV. She was a finalist in the Funny Women competition 2006 and in 2007 she was runner up in the Hackney Empire New Act competition. She has taken 6 shows to Edinburgh Fringe, 2 shows to Melbourne Comedy Festival, toured all over the world with her comedy, her cabaret and with her one woman show, 'It Hasn't Happened Yet'. She wrote the book and lyrics for her show, 'Assisted Suicide The Musical' which she performed to sell out audiences at the Royal Festival Hall, London in 2016 and 2017.
On screen, Liz is perhaps best known for her role as forensic examiner Clarissa Mullery in the BBC's long running drama, Silent Witness (1996) alongside Emilia Fox, David Caves and Richard Lintern. She joined the series in 2012 but almost missed out on the role when she got stuck in traffic and turned up too late for the audition. This was Liz's first TV acting role and over the next seven series, her character Clarissa has grown from a sidekick to a main part of the regular cast.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Few in modern British history have come as far or achieved as much from humble beginnings as Glenda Jackson did. From acclaimed actress to respected MP (Member of Parliament), she was known for her high intelligence and meticulous approach to her work. She was born to a working-class household in Birkenhead, where her father was a bricklayer and her mother was a cleaning lady. When she was very young, her father was recruited into the Navy, where he worked aboard a minesweeper. She graduated from school at 16 and worked for a while in a pharmacy. However, she found this boring and dead-end and wanted better for herself. Her life changed forever when she was accepted into the prestigious Royal Acadamy of Dramatic Art (RADA) at the age of 18. Her work impressed all who observed it. At age 22, she married Roy Hodges.
Her first work came on the stage, where she won a role in an adaptation of "Separate Tables", and made a positive impression on critics and audiences alike. This led to film roles, modest at first, but she approached them with great determination. She first came to the public's notice when she won a supporting role in the controversial film Marat/Sade (1967), and is acknowledged to have stolen the show. She quickly became a member of Britain's A-List. Her first starring role came in the offbeat drama Negatives (1968), in which she out-shone the oddball material. The following year, controversial director Ken Russell gave her a starring role in his adaptation of the 1920s romance Women in Love (1969), in which she co-starred with Oliver Reed. The film was a major success, and Jackson's performance won her an Academy Award for Best Actress. In the process, she became an international celebrity, known world-wide, yet she didn't place as much value on the status and fame as most do. She did, however, become a major admirer of Russell (who had great admiration for her in return) and acted in more of his films. She starred in the controversial The Music Lovers (1971), although it required her to do a nude scene, something that made her very uncomfortable. The film was not a success, but she agreed to do a cameo appearance in his next film, The Boy Friend (1971). Although her role as an obnoxious actress was very small, she once again performed with great aplomb.
1971 turned out to be a key year for her. She took a risk by appearing in Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971), as a divorced businesswoman in a dead-end affair with a shallow bisexual artist, but the film turned out to be another major success. She accepted the starring role in the British Broadcasting Corporation's much anticipated biography of Queen Elizabeth I, and her performance in the finished film, Elizabeth R (1971), was praised not only by critics and fans, but is cited by historians as the most accurate portrayal of the beloved former queen ever seen. The same year, she successfully played the role of Queen Elizabeth I again in the historical drama Mary, Queen of Scots (1971). That same year, she appeared in the popular comedy series The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968) in a skit as Queen Cleopatra, which is considered on of the funniest TV skits in British television, and also proof that she could do comedy just as well as costume melodrama. One who saw and raved about her performance was director Melvin Frank, who proceeded to cast her in the romantic comedy A Touch of Class (1973), co-starring George Segal. The two stars had a chemistry which brought out the best in each other, and the film was not only a major hit in both the United States and Great Britain, but won her a second Academy Award. She continued to impress by refusing obvious commercial roles and seeking out serious artistic work. She gave strong performances in The Romantic Englishwoman (1975) and The Incredible Sarah (1976), in which she portrayed the legendary actress Sarah Bernhardt. However, some of her films didn't register with the public, like The Triple Echo (1972), The Maids (1975), and Nasty Habits (1977). In addition, her marriage fell apart in 1976. But her career remained at the top and in 1978 she was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire. That year, she made a comeback in the comedy House Calls (1978), co-starring Walter Matthau. The success of this film which led to a popular television spin-off in the United States the following year. In 1979, she and Segal re-teamed in Lost and Found (1979), but they were unable to overcome the routine script. She again co-starred with Oliver Reed in The Class of Miss MacMichael (1978), but the film was another disappointment.
During the 1980s, she appeared in Hopscotch (1980) also co-starring Walter Matthau, and HealtH (1980) with Lauren Bacall, with disappointing results, although Jackson herself was never blamed. Her performance in the TV biography Sakharov (1984), in which she played Yelena Bonner, devoted wife of imprisoned Russian nuclear scientist Andrei Sakharov opposite Jason Robards, won rave reviews. However, the next film Turtle Diary (1985), was only a modest success, and the ensemble comedy Beyond Therapy (1987) was a critical and box office disaster and Jackson herself got some of the worst reviews of her career.
As the 1980s ended, Jackson continued to act, but became more focused on public affairs. She grew up in a household that was staunchly supportive of the Labour Party. She had disliked the policies of Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, even though she admired some of her personal attributes, and strongly disapproved of Thatcher's successor, John Major. She was unhappy with the direction of British government policies, and in 1992 ran for Parliament. Although running in an area (Hampstead and Highgate) which was not heavily supportive of her party, she won by a slim margin and immediately became its most famous newly elective member. However, those who expected that she would rest on her laurels and fame were mistaken. She immediately took an interest in transportation issues, and in 1997 was appointed Junior Transportation Minister by Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, she was critical of some of Blair's policies and is considered an inter-party opponent of Blair's moderate faction. She was considered a traditional Labour Party activist, but is not affiliated with the faction known as The Looney Left. In 2000, she ran for Mayor of London, but lost the Labour nomination to fellow MP Frank Dobson, an ally of Blair, who then lost the election to an independent candidate, Ken Livingstone.
In 2005, she ran again and won the nomination, but lost to Livingstone, winning 38% of the vote. When Blair announced he would not seek reelection as Prime Minister in 2006, Jackson's name was mentioned as a possible successor, although she didn't encourage this speculation. In 2010, she sought reelection to parliament and was almost defeated, winning by only 42 votes.
In 2013, she responded to the death of Margaret Thatcher by strongly denouncing her policies, which was condemned by many as graceless. In 2015, elections for parliament were called again but she didn't seek reelection. She was succeeded in Parliament by Christopher Philp, a Conservative Party member who had been Jackson's opponent in 2010.- Clare Calbraith was born in Cheshire to mother Val. She has two sisters and a brother. After studying Law, she went to drama school in Cardiff. Her first major role was in Heartbeat from 2000-2002 and her recent appearances include roles in the ITV period drama series Home Fires, Downton Abbey and the BBC2 drama The Shadow Line.
- Actor
- Producer
Sacha Dhawan was born in Bramhall, Stockport to Hindu parents though he attended a Roman Catholic secondary school, Thomas Aquinas College, in nearby Stockport. There one of the authors he studied for his final exams was Alan Bennett, by whom he was very impressed. He began as a child actor at the age of 12 and attended the Laine-Johnson School of Acting in Manchester. He is also an accomplished tap-dancer. His enthusiasm for Bennett was such that when auditioning for his play 'The History Boys' on the London stage, Sacha impressed the author not just with his acting but by reciting a poem he had composed about the play and its author. He has appeared in stage versions of 'The History Boys' around the world as well as in the 2006 film adaptation. On television he appeared in two high profile series 'In the Club' as an expectant father and 'Last Tango in Halifax' as a toy boy.- Actor
- Soundtrack
David Dawson was born on 7 September 1982 in Widnes, Cheshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for My Policeman (2022), All the Old Knives (2022) and Luther (2010).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Daughter of Catherine and Isaac Routledge. Her father was a haberdasher, and, during WWII, the family lived weeks at a time in the basement of her father's shop. She attended Birkenhead High School, where she sang in the choir and ran the Sunday School. She studied English at Liverpool University, and, after graduation, worked without pay at the Liverpool Playhouse. She was asked to join the company, and she later studied at Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol. She then moved to London, where she built an impressive stage career over the next several years, also appearing on Broadway 1966-1968. Patricia has worked in TV since the early 1950s, most recently in Keeping Up Appearances (1990). She also recorded an album, "Presenting Patricia Routledge", and worked in film and radio. She has never married or had children, has said that she will not retire, and lives in Kensington and Surrey when not working.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Louise Delamere was born on 17 June 1969 in Wallasey, Cheshire, England, UK. She is an actress and producer, known for Judge Dredd (1995), Poirot (1989) and I'll Be There (2003). She has been married to Stephen Mangan since 12 May 2007. They have three children.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Andrew Buchan was born on 19 February 1979 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for All the Money in the World (2017), Broadchurch (2013) and Garrow's Law (2009). He has been married to Amy Nuttall since 8 September 2012. They have one child.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Sue Johnston was born on 7 December 1943 in Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for The Royle Family (1998), Imagine Me & You (2005) and Waking the Dead (2000). She was previously married to David Pammenter and Neil Johnston.- Will Mellor was born on 3 April 1976 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001), Miss Conception (2008) and Unforgiven (2009). He has been married to Michelle McSween since August 2007. They have two children.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Geoffrey began his extensive stage career at the Unity Theatre in Liverpool. He then appeared in several West End productions, such as Say Goodnight to Grandma and Run for Your Wife. He appeared in numerous TV shows, including Coronation Street (1960) and Keeping Up Appearances (1990), where he played the slob Onslow. When not acting, Geoffrey enjoyed sailing, cricket, and music. He died on the Isle of Wight- Actor
- Soundtrack
Josh Whitehouse was born on 27 February 1990 in Chester, Cheshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for The Knight Before Christmas (2019), Daisy Jones & The Six (2023) and Valley Girl (2020).- Shirley Stelfox was born on 11 April 1941 in Dukinfield, Cheshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for 1984 (1984), Emmerdale Farm (1972) and Making Out (1989). She was married to Don Henderson and Keith Edmundson. She died on 7 December 2015 in Nottinghamshire, England, UK.
- Wendy Hiller, daughter of Frank and Marie Hiller, was born on 15th August 1912 in Bramhall, near Stockport, Cheshire, England. She was educated at Winceby House School, Bexhill then moved on to Manchester Repertory Theatre. She appeared on stage in Sir John Barry's tour of Evensong, then as Sally Hardcastle in Love on the Dole. She toured extensively, playing in London and New York. She took leading parts in Pygmalion and Saint Joan at the Malvern Festival in 1936.
- Anthony Flanagan was born in 1972 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Life on Mars (2006), Doctor Who (2005) and Prisoners Wives (2012). He has been married to Rebekah Staton since 4 June 2011. They have one child.
- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Adrian Bower was born on 20 August 1970 in Chester, Cheshire, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for The Last Kingdom (2015), Gangs of London (2020) and Dirty Filthy Love (2004).- Gerard Horan was born on 11 November 1962 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Beauty and the Beast (2017), Much Ado About Nothing (1993) and Frankenstein (1994).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Burt Kwouk was a British actor, who was best known for his role as Cato in the Pink Panther films, and for playing Mr Ling in the third James Bond film, Goldfinger.
Kwouk was born in Warrington, but was brought up in Shanghai. He made his film debut in the 1957 film Windom's Way. In Goldfinger (1964) he played Mr. Ling, a Chinese expert in nuclear fission; in the non-Eon spoof Casino Royale (1967) he played a general and in You Only Live Twice (1967) Kwouk played the part of a Japanese operative of Blofeld.
He also made appearances in many television programmes, including a portrayal of Imperial Japanese Army Major Yamauchi in the British drama series Tenko and as Entwistle in Last of the Summer Wine.
Kwouk died on 24 May 2016, at the age of 85.- Stirling Gallacher was born on 30 November 1970 in Bowdon, Cheshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Doctors (2000), The Office (2001) and Father Brown (2013). She has been married to Sean Gleeson since 20 June 2009. They have two children. She was previously married to William Ely.
- Kika Markham was born in 1940 in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Killing Me Softly (2002), Outland (1981) and Franklyn (2008). She was previously married to Corin Redgrave.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Marshall Lancaster was born on 5 October 1974 in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Life on Mars (2006), Coronation Street (1960) and Ashes to Ashes (2008).- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Paul Hollywood was born on 1 March 1966 in Wallasey, Cheshire, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Paul Goes to Hollywood (2019), The Great Comic Relief Bake Off (2013) and The Great British Baking Show (2010). He has been married to Alex Hollywood since 1998. They have one child.- Lizzy McInnerny was born in 1960 in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Rowing with the Wind (1988), The Crown (2016) and Nearly Famous (2007).
- Jennifer Hennessy was born in 1970 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Dickensian (2015), South Riding (2011) and Paradox (2009).
- Ruby Barnhill was born on 16 July 2004 in Knutsford, Cheshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for The BFG (2016), Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017) and 4 O'Clock Club (2012).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Daniel started as a stand-up comedian and appeared at the Latitude Festival, won the 2007 Laughing Horse New Act of The Year, and was a nominee for winner of the 2007 So You Think You're Funny competition.
He is playing Simon in the long-running UK BT Broadband TV advertisement series.- Sylvia Kay was born on 16 May 1936 in Altrincham, Cheshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Wake in Fright (1971), Just Good Friends (1983) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955). She was married to Christopher Douglas and Ted Kotcheff. She died on 18 January 2019 in London, England, UK.
- Underrated British leading man predominantly of the Seventies and Eighties, Collins made his mark in the 1970s action drama The Professionals (1977). As hard man William Bodie, Collins became a household name worldwide. Unfortunately, since the show ended in 1983, Lewis Collins has been miscast in a number of cheap straight-to-video foreign actioners.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
John Bowe was born on 1 February 1950 in Greasby, Cheshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Prime Suspect (1991), The Living Daylights (1987) and Secret Smile (2005). He has been married to Emma Bowe since 1995. He was previously married to Diane ?.- Actress
- Director
Julia is a Television/ Film Director and Actor. She most recently directed Until I Kill You by Nick Stevens, a 4 part mini-series starring Anna Maxwell Martin, Shaun Evans and Kevin Doyle for World Productions; Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton for Working Title/ BBC starring Emma Appleton, Bel Powley, Marli Siu and Aliyah Odoffin & Grace starring John Simm for Tallstory Pictures/ITV. She lives in Brighton with playwright Mike Packer and sons Frank and Jake.- Peter Benson played the funeral director Bernie Scripps in most of the 18 series of Heartbeat (1992), from 1995 to 2009, a role perhaps which he is most likely to be remembered for.
His character also ran a garage in the fictional town of Aidensfield and often got involved in disastrous money-making schemes with Claude Greengrass (Bill Maynard) and half-brother Vernon Scripps (Geoffrey Hughes).
Benson also appeared in BBC comedy Blackadder (1982) as Henry VII, ITV's 1980s soap opera Albion Market (1985) and in two episodes of hospital drama Casualty (1986).
Benson was a highly skilled singer and dancer and an accomplished theatre actor. He and Maynard starred on stage together in a production of Trinity Tales in the late 70s. He portrayed Henry VI in a BBC television adaptation of Shakespeare's play in 1983. - Actor
- Writer
Veddy, veddy British stage and film actor Basil Radford (once dubbed "The Eternal Englishman") would actually become best remembered for his droll work in a couple of US films. Specializing in playing stuffy, mustachioed, well bred gents, he was a delightful presence in light, sophisticated comedies and breezy whodunnits.
He was born Arthur Basil Radford in Chester, England on June 25, 1897. He entered military service in 1915 and would serve as a commissioned officer for the British Army during World War I. He suffered a facial wound in the trenches that would later be obscured by clever camerawork and makeup over the years. Following military duty in 1918, he pursued an acting career and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Making his stage debut in 1924 with "Collusion." he subsequently appeared in such shows as "The Ghost Train," "The Love Pirate," "Night Must Fall," "Spring Tide," "Blind Goddess," "The White Falcon" and "A Man's House." By 1929, Radford was adding film work to his acting resume with his debut in Ain't It the Truth (1929). He subsequently found upper-class support parts in both comedies and dramas -- Seven Days Leave (1930) starring a young Gary Cooper, Leave It to Smith (1933) Foreign Affaires (1935), Broken Blossoms (1936), Dishonour Bright (1936), When Thief Meets Thief (1937) with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Alfred Hitchcock's murder mystery Young and Innocent (1937).
Films became an even stronger focus when Hitchcock rehired Radford and memorably teamed him with actor Naunton Wayne. In one of his early cinematic masterpieces The Lady Vanishes (1938), the dry twosome hilariously portrayed a pair of cricket enthusiasts (Charters and Caldicott) who seem much more interested in reading and commenting on their favorite sport than they are concerned with the alarming number of bodies piling up aboard their train. They clicked so well with audiences in this classic whodunnit that they were asked to successfully reprise their roles in two more films: Night Train to Munich (1940) and Crook's Tour (1940) (in the latter the pair were top billed). Radford and Wayne would pair up again in seven more film outings: Millions Like Us (1943), Dead of Night (1945), Quartet (1948), Passport to Pimlico (1949), It's Not Cricket (1949) and Stop Press Girl (1949). They also showed up together in wartime shorts and radio programs.
Appearances sans Mr. Wayne include the films Dead of Night (1945), Johnny in the Clouds (1945), The Captive Heart (1946), The Winslow Boy (1948) and the comedy Whisky Galore! (1949), the last finding himself top billed. Following two top-billed character parts as a pompous boss in the working class comedy Chance of a Lifetime (1950) and the major in the racehorse yarn The Galloping Major (1951), the latter which he also co-wrote, Radford's health went into a severe decline and, by the summer of 1951, was forced to leave the screen. On the verge of a modest return in 1952, he suddenly collapsed from a heart attack on the set of the radio adventure "Rogues' Gallery" (which happened to pair him again with Naunton Wayne. He was taken to a London hospital where he died on October 20, 1952.
Only 55, a marvelous character career was lost much too soon. Long married (from 1926) to Shirley Deuchars, the couple had one son.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Ann Todd was a beautiful English actress best known as Gregory Peck's wife in Alfred Hitchcock's The Paradine Case (1947). Her third husband was the legendary director David Lean, for whom she appeared in three films, The Passionate Friends (1949), Madeleine (1950), and The Sound Barrier (1952).- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Darren Shahlavi was seven years old when he started training in martial arts in an old drama theatre in Manchester, England. Inspired by Bruce Lees films and other action movies such as Star Wars, he dreamed of being a movie actor and would show up to his Judo class at the drama hall early to watch the actors rehearsing and performing plays.
When Darren was seventeen years old he attended a seminar for "Hong Kong style fight choreography", by Kung Fu star Donnie Yen, which gave him the confidence to pursue his dream of working in Hong Kong movies as a stepping stone to Hollywood. Then, in the early nineties, a young Shahlavi moved to Hong Kong where he began his career as a stuntman until Director Woo-Ping Yuen hired him as the lead villain in the Kung Fu classic Tai Chi Chuan. As a string of martial arts films followed, Darren also used his fighting skills as a stunt performer in studio blockbusters such as "Riddick", "Blade 3", "300", "Watchmen" and the "Night at the Museum" films, as well as supporting roles in Hollywood movies such as "I Spy" playing a boxer fighting Eddie Murphy, "The Final Cut" with Robin Williams, and guest star roles in TV shows such as "Sanctuary", "Human Target" and "Reaper."
In 2010, Darren made a triumphant return to Hong Kong action films, co-starring opposite his childhood heroes Donnie Yen and Sammo Kam-Bo Hung in the Wilson Yip directed Ip Man 2 (2010). Shahlavi plays the evil British boxing champion "The Twister" in the semi-biographical story of Bruce Lee's real life kung fu master, Ip Man. The film opened to huge critical and commercial acclaim, becoming the most successful Asian film at the box office in 2010 and widely recognized as the biggest and best martial arts film of the past decade. Following Ip Man 2's successful theatrical run in the United States, Darren has a renewed following amongst action film fans with new films set for release in 2011 including "Born to Raise Hell" opposite Steven Seagal, "Hangar 14" with Steve Austin as well as starring roles in "Aladdin and the Curse of the Djinn" and Mortal Kombat for Warner Brothers.- Actor
- Soundtrack
While he was at school he had ambitions of being a pop star drummer. While he was good at his school lessons he failed his 'O' levels resulting in his father locking his drums away and telling him he would only get them back if he passed his exams when he re sat them. Fortunately for Russ his mother had a spare key to the lock. Inspired by the Beatles and swept along by the Merseybeat era he formed the group The Black Abbots in his home town of Chester where they soon became a big name. Being on a raised platform behind his drums he had a good view of the girls which is where he spotted the one that would become his wife. It was fortunate that after the show she went round to the stage door for autographs. Once established the group got a recording contract but when they broke up in 1980 Russ formed a new group 'The New Black Abbotts' then later launched himself as a solo comedian to great success being voted 3 years running as 'The Funniest Man on Television' by the readers of TV Times. To his surprise when he made a record in the early 80's singing 'Atmosphere' it shot into the Top 10 earning him a Silver Disc. He has 4 children, Gary, the eldest, who had his own band, Alterrnative Colours, Richard, Christopher and Erica.- Producer
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Yvette Fielding was born on 23 September 1968 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, UK. She is a producer and actress, known for EastEnders (1985), Juliet Bravo (1980) and Let's Parlez Franglais (1984). She has been married to Karl Beattie since 1999. They have one child. She was previously married to Barry Sweeney.- Genteel Cathleen Nesbitt was a grand dame of the theatre on both sides of the Atlantic in a career spanning seven decades. Among almost 300 roles on stage, she excelled at comic portrayals of sophisticated socialites and elegant mothers. Hollywood used her, whenever a gentler, sweeter version of Gladys Cooper was needed, yet someone still possessed of a subtly sarcastic wit and turn of phrase. She attended Queen's University in Belfast and the Sorbonne in Paris.
Encouraged by a friend of her father - none other than the legendary Sarah Bernhardt - to enter the acting profession, she was taken on by Victorian actress and drama teacher Rosina Filippi (1866-1930). Cathleen's first appearance on stage was in 1910 at the Royalty Theatre in London. This was followed in November 1911 by her Broadway debut with the touring Abbey Theatre Players in 'The Well of the Saints'. From here on, and for the rest of her long life, she was never out of a job, demonstrating her range and versatility by playing everything from villainesses to being a much acclaimed Kate in Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew', Perdita in Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale', the great-aunt and tutor in the art of courtesanship of the title character in 'Gigi', the Dowager Empress in 'Anastasia', and the gossipy 'humorously animated' Julia Shuttlethwaite of T.S. Eliot's 'The Cocktail Party'. Her Mrs. Higgins in 'My Fair Lady', Brooks Atkinson described as played with 'grace and elegance', which also pretty much sums up Cathleen's career in films.
Her first motion picture role was a lead in the drama The Faithful Heart (1922), adapted from an Irish play. She then absented herself from the screen for the next decade, resurfacing in supporting roles in British films, though rarely cast in worthy parts, possible exceptions being Man of Evil (1944) and Jassy (1947). Her strengths were rather better showcased during her sojourn in Hollywood, which began in 1952. In addition to prolific appearances in anthology television, she also appeared in several big budget films, most memorably as Cary Grant's perspicacious grandmother in An Affair to Remember (1957) and as gossipy Lady Matheson (alongside Gladys Cooper ) in Separate Tables (1958). One of her last roles of note was as the elderly wealthy Julia Rainbird, who instigates the plot in Alfred Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot (1976).
At the instigation of her friend, Anita Loos, author of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", Nesbitt wrote her memoir, 'A Little Love and Good Company', in 1977. For her extraordinarily long career in the acting profession, she was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Honours List the following year. She retired just two years prior to her death in 1983 at the age of 94. - Actress
- Director
- Producer
Kelly Wenham was born on 28 November 1983 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, UK. Kelly is an actor and director, known for A Kind of Kidnapping (2023), Life on Mars (2006) and Payback Season (2012).- Actor
- Soundtrack
Raymond Coulthard was born on 3 September 1968 in Chester, Cheshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), The English Patient (1996) and The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells (2001).