Trivia: Widely considered one of the leading British actors of his generation, Ian McKellen has had a rich and varied career encompassing the stage, screen, and television. A renowned stage actor in his native Britain for decades, McKellen was not familiar to most American audiences until the '90s, when he began popping up in a number of well-received films. One of these, Gods and Monsters, elevated the actor into the international spotlight when he earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Frankenstein director James Whale.Born May 25, 1939, in the northern English mill town of Burnley, McKellen was the son of a civil engineer. Encouraged by his parents, he developed an early fascination with the theatre. This interest continued when his family moved to the mining town of Wigan, where McKellen began acting in school plays. At the age of 13, he performed in his first Shakespeare play, as Malvolio in a production of Twelfth Night. He gained an additional appreciation for Shakespeare during his summer vacations, when he attended camp in Stratford-upon-Avon and spent the evenings watching the likes of Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, John Gielgud, and Paul Robeson give life to the playwright's work.Shakespeare played a continuing role in McKellen's life when he went to Cambridge University, where he was offered a place to study English at Saint Catherine's College. This offer was withdrawn two years later, when McKellen's involvement in theatre almost completely eclipsed his studies. His work in student theatre proved invaluable, however, allowing him to work with Derek Jacobi, David Frost, and Trevor Nunn, with whom he would go on to form a lasting professional relationship. McKellen's acting pursuits were also important for another reason: as he would later explain to numerous interviewers, the theatre introduced him to other gay men, something that eased his acceptance of his own homosexuality. McKellen's identity as a gay man would prove almost as defining a characteristic of his public persona as his identity as an actor: a vocal activist, he became one of a handful of openly gay knights when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1991.After leaving Cambridge in 1961, McKellen began his professional career at Coventry's Belgrave Theatre, where he acted in a production of A Man for All Seasons. Three years later, he was living in London and working steadily on the stage. He acted in countless productions, a number of which he also directed, and co-founded the progressive Actors' Company in 1972. He earned a score of awards and honors for his work and in 1979 was made a Commander of the British Empire. Two years later, he won international theatrical acclaim with his Tony Award-winning portrayal of Salieri in the Broadway production of Amadeus.McKellen made his film debut in 1969 with a small role in The Promise, the same year that he caused a sensation on the stage with his portrayal of Edward II, which required him to kiss another man. It was not until 20 years later that McKellen became recognizable to international film audiences with his starring role as John Profumo in Michael Caton-Jones's Scandal (1989). Somewhat ironically, a year before gaining fame for playing one of the most infamously heterosexual public figures of the 20th century, McKellen came out to the public as a gay man during a BBC radio program. In 1993, he became recognizable to American television audiences playing gay men in And the Band Played On and Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, two acclaimed TV miniseries; McKellen earned an Emmy nomination for his work in the former. In 1996, he earned another Emmy nomination for his supporting role in Rasputin.That same year, the actor gained more visibility on the big screen, appearing in Six Degrees of Separation and The Ballad of Little Jo. He continued to turn in strong performances in such films as Cold Comfort Form (1995) and Jack and Sarah (1995), and he earned particular acclaim for his titular performance in Richard Loncraine's 1996 Richard III, for which he also adapted the screenplay. Following subsequent turns in Bent (1997) and Apt Pupil (1998), McKellen starred in Bill Condon's Gods and Monsters, giving a stunning portrayal of James Whale during the director's last days. His performance won a score of international accolades, including Best Actor Oscar and Golden Globe nominations and Best Actor honors from the National Board of Review.After appearing alongside future Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe in a TV production of David Copperfield in 1999, McKellen stepped into the shoes of the diabolical Magneto in director Bryan Singer's popular comic-book action adventure, X-Men. McKellen stuck with fantasy for his next role as well, this time on a grand scale with his Oscar nominated role as Gandalf the Grey in director Peter Jackson's long-anticipated Lord of the Rings trilogy. Following the massively successful franchise, McKellen would appear in the subsuquent prequel, The Hobbit, as well as films like The Academy and The Da Vinci Code.

Trivia: The daughter of respected off-Broadway playwright Romulus Linney, Laura Linney was born in New York City on February 5, 1964. Her parents divorced when she was six months old. Thanks to her father's job, Linney grew up working in the theater, both behind the scenes and, in her late teens, on the stage. Following prep school in Massachusetts, she attended both Brown University and Juilliard, and she was soon appearing in a number of Broadway productions. She garnered notice for her roles in plays like The Seagull and Six Degrees of Separation, and won particular acclaim for her performance in Hedda Gabler.Linney made her onscreen debut in 1992 with a small role as a teacher in Lorenzo's Oil. The following year, she had a brief but pivotal role as Kevin Kline's presidential mistress in Dave, appeared in Searching for Bobby Fischer, and landed a lead as one of the protagonists of Armistead Maupin's acclaimed Tales of the City, which aired on PBS. Linney later reprised her role as Mary Ann Singleton for More Tales of the City in 1998. Following leads in two box-office failures, A Simple Twist of Fate (1994) and Congo (1995), Linney had a supporting role as Richard Gere's lawyer/ex in Primal Fear (1996). Based on the strength of her performance, Clint Eastwood chose her to play his daughter -- another lawyer -- in Absolute Power the following year. In 1998, Linney sent up her wholesome, fresh-scrubbed appearance to great effect as Truman Burbank's wife in Peter Weir's highly acclaimed The Truman Show.The actress finally came into her own in 2000, thanks to two very different parts in two highly acclaimed independent features. Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan's You Can Count on Me featured Linney as Sammy, a small-town single mother whose placid life takes some interesting turns when she's visited by her errant brother Terry (Mark Ruffalo). Aided by Lonergan's precise script and her own copious note-taking, Linney turned in her most nuanced, accomplished performance to date. Critics paid attention: after its much-heralded debut at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival, the film went on to garner a slew of recognition for its lead actress, including Best Actress of the Year awards from the National Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle, and an eventual Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Linney further polished her reputation with a supporting turn as the icy Bertha Dorset in director Terence Davies' adaptation of Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, released in late 2000.She continued working steadily and garnered great critical respect throughout the next decade. In addition to returning for Further Tales of the City, she was one of the many talented actors who appeared in the controversial The Laramie Project. She had a few big-budget films that missed their mark in The Mothman Prophecies and The Life of David Gale, but those came around the same time as her superb turn as Sean Penn's wife in Mystic River, and as one of the few Americans in the very British romantic comedy Love Actually. She continued to earn strong reviews as the headstrong wife to Liam Neeson's Kinsey, and in 2005 offered a subtle but penetrating portrayal of a selfish mother and divorcee opposite Jeff Daniels in The Squid and the Whale. The next year she acted opposite Robin Williams in Barry Levinson's political and social satire Man of the Year.In 2007 Linney offered a spot-on portrayal of a dissatisfied Manhattan wife and mother in The Nanny Diaries, and earned a wealth of strong reviews for her work in Tamara Jenkins' The Savages. Playing a neurotic woman opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman as her brother, Linney scored her third Academy Award nomination.2008 brought Linney her fourth Golden Globe nomination, and first win, for the portrayl of first lady Abigail Adams in the acclaimed HBO miniseries John Adams. In the following years, Linney would continue to appear in several projects, including movies like Morning and The Details, and the acclaimed Showtime series The C Word.

Trivia: Studied acting at Youngblood Theatre Company in the U.K.His performance in Mr. Holmes (2015) earned him multiple award nominations, including a Saturn Award nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor, a British Independent Film Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer and a Critics Choice Award nomination for Best Young Actor/Actress.Was accompanied by his father in Corfu while filming The Durrells in Corfu.In The Durrells in Corfu, played 12-year-old Gerald Durrell although he was 15 in real life.In 2016, became a Global Ambassador for Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Trivia: Began his film career at age 5. Toured with the Royal Shakespeare Company in a 1999 production of King Lear, with Nigel Hawthorne playing the title role. Won a Japanese Academy Award for his work in The Twilight Samurai (2002). Received an honorary MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2002. Has a black belt in karate.

Trivia: Comes from a theatrical background; Laurence Olivier once helped her with her homework at a summer party. Met her fiance Blake Ritson when both were invited to be in a Cambridge Footlights pantomime; she played Little Red Riding Hood. Joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2001, making her professional theatre debut at Stratford-upon-Avon in Love in a Wood. In 2008, played Clair in Martin Crimp's The City alongside Benedict Cumberbatch at the Royal Court Theatre, London. In 2012, won the Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for her portrayal of Nora in A Doll's House.

Trivia: Worked as a model for 2 years starting at age 15 before deciding to pursue another career.Studied English Literature in university.Studied method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.Made her film debut in the "Colton's Big Night" segment of the 2014 movie 50 Kisses.Starred in an advertisement campaign for Schweppes alongside Penelope Cruz.

Trivia: Has French, Greek and Irish ancestry. Joined the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) in 1965, but left after six years. Is a socialist and was a member of the Workers' Revolutionary Party in the 1970s. Has a son Josh and daughter Tamasin. Most famous for her role as Miss Jones in Rising Damp but in fact has won a Tony Award and three Olivier Awards for her work on the stage. Sister of Andy de la Tour.

Trivia: An English leading actress onscreen from 1985, Barber debuted in A Zed and Two Noughts.

Trivia: Was born in a rectory where his father was a vicar. Inspired to act after seeing plays at The Old Vic theatre in London, England as a boy. One of his earliest roles was the part of a pair of talking testicles in a surreal radio play. Joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1981. Played Inspector Javert in the original West End production of Les Misérables in 1985. Shaved off all of his body hair for his role in Privates On Parade in 2001. Appeared in his first pantomime in 2004 playing Abbanazar in Aladdin alongside Ian McKellan.

Trivia: Lead actor Philip Davis first appeared onscreen in the '70s.

Trivia: A film composer whose off-kilter works can frequently be heard in the efforts of both the Coen brothers and Spike Jonze, Carter Burwell has also found work on such high-profile Hollywood efforts as Rob Roy (1995) and Conspiracy Theory (1997). Though the New York City native was merely going through the motions when his parents signed him up for piano lessons as a child, his passion for music was truly ignited when a high school friend encouraged him to explore blues improvisation. Continuing on the piano while a student at Harvard, it was during a performance at a club shortly before graduation that the sound editor for an independent thriller entitled Blood Simple heard Burwell and recommended the young musician to the film's directors. A penchant for simple melodies punctuated by unusual instrument selections and an ever-evolving incorporation of various styles found Burwell scoring virtually every Coen brothers movie since Blood Simple, and an interest in a dark and comedic approach to such weighty issues of death often finds his sometimes subdued quirkiness bubbling to the surface. Burwell's signature mournful-yet-hopeful sound has lent itself well to everything from straight drama to cutting black comedy. Burwell's work on director Spike Jonze's Being John Malkovich found the composer forming a close relationship with yet another unconventional filmmaker, and Burwell subsequently scored Jonze's follow-up feature, Adaptation, as well. Awards for his contributions to Fargo, Gods and Monsters, and Before Night Falls have ensured Burwell an enduring career in both mainstream and independent film alike. For inspiration, Burwell often eschews the urban confines of New York City for the nature and serenity of Big Sur, and in 1999, the prolific composer exchanged wedding vows with wife Christine.

Trivia: Lead actor, onscreen from the '80s.