Trivia: British character actor Neil Dudgeon debuted in the late '80s in his native U.K., and specialized in working-class types with a forceful edge, such as policemen, constables, and inner-city taxi drivers. Dudgeon debuted in Stephen Frears' acclaimed Joe Orton biopic Prick Up Your Ears (1987), then graced the casts of numerous low-profile theatrical movies and telefilms over the following decades, including Revolver (1992), Dirty Tricks (2000), and Messiah 2: Vengeance Is Mine (2002). Dudgeon elevated his profile somewhat in the mid- to late 2000s with bit parts in two key films: the Renée Zellweger/Hugh Grant comedy Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) and director Garth Jennings' bittersweet coming-of-age nostalgia Son of Rambow (2007).

Trivia: Made her television debut in a 1993 episode of Crime Story. Between 1998 and 2001, starred as Jackie Bradley in period drama Heartbeat. Between 2011 and 2018, starred as Sarah Barnaby in ITV Crime Drama Midsomer Murders. In 2012, was nominated for the Golden Nymph award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, for her role in Midsomer Murders.

Trivia: Made her television debut in a 1996 episode of A Touch of Frost. Between 1996 and 1997, starred as Alison Dangerfield in medical drama Dangerfield. Between 2002 and 2004, starred as Penny Neville in drama series Teachers. Between 2011 and 2015, starred as Dr. Kate Wilding in crime drama Midsomer Murders. In 2017, opened a diner in Stroud with partner Keith Allen.

Trivia: Performed as part of a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Richard III, at the age of 16. In 2011, won the Ian Charleson Award for his role in the Donmar Warehouse production of King Lear. Between 2013 and 2016, starred as DS Charlie Nelson in crime drama Midsomer Murders. In 2017, starred as Samuel Castell in period drama Jamestown. Appeared in the 2018 Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, portraying Brian May.

Trivia: Walkden, England, native David Bamber nearly avoided the proscenium altogether, with early plans to enter a training program for special education instructors. At the last yawning moment, however, Bamber decided to jump ship and head into acting, courtesy of the dramatic arts program at Bristol University and -- later -- a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). As a student, the thespian distinguished himself from many of his colleagues by acquiring a marked preference for contemporary material over classicist plays. As a stage actor, Bamber (though openly heterosexual, with a wife and children) sustained a particularly fine reputation for convincing portrayals of (often repressed) gay characters in such plays as My Night with Reg and Pride and Prejudice. He also gained recognition for comic physicality deemed brilliant by many critics. In terms of on-camera work, Bamber's work (somewhat ironically) has leaned more toward period material than his stage efforts. Following an appearance in the all-star British seriocomedy Privates on Parade (1982), he signed for roles in such projects as the made-for-television outings The Merchant of Venice (2001) and Pollyanna (2002), and the HBO miniseries Rome (2005) as Marcus Tillius Cicero. In 2008, Bamber joined co-stars Tom Cruise, Tom Wilkinson, Kenneth Branagh, and others for the Cruise-produced Hitler assassination thriller Valkyrie with a frightening turn as Adolf Hitler.

Trivia: British leading lady Cherie Lunghi got her movie career off to a splendid start with a plum "legendary" role. In 1981's Excalibur, Lunghi was awarded with several ethereal close-ups by virtue of her portrayal of Lady Guenevere. Four years later, she was cast as Michal, first wife of the title character (played by Richard Gere) in King David (1985). Other period assignments in Cherie Lunghi's repertoire include the Sherlock Holmes escapade The Sign of Four (1983) and the World War II-era romantic drama Letters to an Unknown Lover (1985). She appeared in the biblical epic King David, and went on to act in various projects including The Mission, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Jack and Sarah, and the scathing satire Burn Hollywood Burn. As the 21st century began she appeared in Back to the Secret Garden and had a handful of television appearances before being cast in a major part in the series Secret Diary of a Call Girl. After that program came to an end, Lunghi was cast in the 2011comedy Love's Kitchen.

Trivia: A member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, dramatic actress Saskia Reeves made her film debut in December Bride (1990). Prior to that, she had appeared in the television film Metamorphosis (1987). In film, Reeves has specialized in playing offbeat roles in films such as Michael Winterbottom's Butterfly Kiss (1995).

Trivia: All expectations of staid English cinema aside, British actor Adrian Scarborough often forsook more conservative projects to essay a series of genial supporting roles (usually a common everyman) in edgy, occasionally provocative material, nearly always in his native U.K. His resumé includes a turn as biographer Daniel Farson in John Maybury's Love is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998), garage owner Frank (the angelic title character's brother-in-law) in Mike Leigh's Vera Drake (2004), and a minor role in Richard Eyre's visceral psychological drama Notes on a Scandal (2006). Scarborough also tackled period work with a bit part in Shekhar Kapur's period drama Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007).

Trivia: Took part in many productions at Blag Youth Theatre, a company run by her parents. Appeared in 2,000 Feet Away in 2008 at the Bush Theatre opposite Joseph Fiennes. Was paid £1 to keep a plot twist a secret when starring in Broadchurch. Played one part of Lucia's personality in the play 3 Winters, at London's National Theatre in 2015. Worked with a voice coach in 2016 to perfect an Australian accent for her part in the horror film, The Windmill Massacre, by listening to recordings and actively seeking advice. Has stated that she is selective about the roles she chooses, preferring to play women who are strong, complex, and not simply passive objects.