Trivia: Although Lupita Nyong'o might seem like an overnight success story at first glance -- she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her feature-film debut, 12 Years a Slave -- her meteoritic rise is really the product of an artsy, globe-hopping upbringing and a tremendous amount of hard work.The second of six children, Nyong'o was born on March 1, 1983, in Mexico City to Kenyan parents Peter Anyang' and Dorothy. Her father was a visiting lecturer in political science at the Colegio de México at the time, and according to the Kenyan custom of naming children after current events, her parents chose the Spanish name "Lupita" (a shortened version of "Guadalupe").The family returned to Kenya the following year, and Nyong'o grew up in a middle-class community in Nairobi. She got the acting bug early on, appearing in school plays and making her professional debut at 14 as Juliet in a performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Phoenix Players, a Nairobi-based repertory company.At 16, her parents sent her back to Mexico, where she learned Spanish while studying at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México's Learning Center for Foreigners (in fact, she's fluent in four languages total: English, Spanish, Luo, and Swahili). She went to the United States for her undergraduate education, earning a degree in film and African studies at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. Afterwards, she worked as a production assistant on a number of movies, including The Constant Gardener, which filmed near Nairobi. During the shoot, star Ralph Fiennes gave her the following advice when she said she wanted to be an actress: "Only act if you can't breathe without it." Nyong'o said those words stayed with her, reminding her of how difficult and volatile her chosen profession could be.Deciding to commit herself fully to acting, she enrolled in a Master of Fine Arts program at the Yale School of Drama -- just after appearing in the Kenyan TV series Shuga and writing, directing, and producing a documentary about Kenya's albinos and the discrimination they face. During her time at Yale, she acted in such productions as Uncle Vanya and Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, and won the Herschel Williams Prize for "acting students with outstanding ability." Her extraordinary talent did not go unnoticed for long: Only weeks before graduating, she was cast in 12 Years a Slave as Patsy, the role that would win her an Oscar.Since then, she's appeared in the 2014 thriller Non-Stop, and brought to life the CGI character Maz Kanata in the 2015 blockbuster Star Wars: The Force Awakens. She is also known as a style and fashion icon: In 2014, she was named the new face of Lancôme cosmetics, and was touted as the most beautiful woman in the world by People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" issue. At the same time, Nyong'o continues to support causes near and dear to her heart, serving as an ambassador for the conservation organization WildAid.

Trivia: Recalled helping her mother in her restaurant when he was young.At the age of 9, he moved from Trinidad and Tobago to the United States along with his family.Actress Jenna Marbles studied with him in high school.While in college, he acted in theater.Studied along with actress Lupita Nyong'o at Yale School of Drama.Is an advocate for the awareness and prevention of diabetes, and has contributed to the American Diabetes Association.

Trivia: A talented and attractive actress who has managed to wrangle a remarkable number of affecting roles despite her youthful age, Elisabeth Moss may be best known to television viewers as the President's daughter on the acclaimed series The West Wing, though thoughtful characterizations in such features as Girl, Interrupted and Imaginary Crimes have been a testament to an actress not afraid to court more challenging and emotionally demanding roles unusual for an actress of her age.Born to music manager and a mother who specialized in the blues harp in 1983, Moss spent her childhood in Los Angeles and was inspired to pursue acting at an early age by screen idol Bette Davis. Working with some of the most respected actors in the industry by the age of 16, Moss made her acting debut at the age of seven in the television miniseries Lucky Chances. Continuing through the mid-'90s with numerous television roles (including a stint on the popular series Picket Fences), Moss' early film roles range from both lightly comical (Suburban Commando [1991]) to increasingly dramatic (Imaginary Crimes [1994]). A humorous bit-part as a conservative 12-year-old facing the wrath of a group of lethal liberals in 1995's The Last Supper dropped a dollop of humor in the mix before Moss returned to more dramatic roles in Separate Lives (1995) and A Thousand Acres (1997), and the talented young actress continued her winning streak with roles in such diverse films as The Joy Riders and Mumford (both 1999). The year before the new millennium proved to be a successful period for Moss as she gained wide recognition for her roles in television's The West Wing and as a sympathetic, mentally disturbed teen in the psychological drama Girl, Interrupted. Moss' personal connection with her Girl, Interrupted persona's inability to relate to others brought a warmth to the role that shined through the screen. Touching audience's sympathies and drawing them into her personal destruction, the talented actress lent the film a performance worthy of praise and recognition. An avid reader in her free time, Moss fancies Shakespearian fare and finds motivation in roles that inspire her and challenge her to be the things that she might not be in real life. She worked steadily in projects like West of Hare, Virgin, and Bittersweet Place, but she had her greatest success so far in 2007 when she was cast as Peggy Olson on the award-winning drama series Mad Men garnering multiple Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominations for her work on the program. She parlayed her small-screen success into roles in the comedy Get Him to the Greek, and the long-awaited adaptation of On the Road. She was married to Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen for less than two years.

Trivia: Comedian Tim Heidecker is often recognized for his colllaborations with fellow comedian Eric Wareheim. The duo, who met while both were students at Philadelphia's Temple University, have created and starred in two successful Adult Swim series: Tom Goes to the Mayor (2004) and Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007). The two have also released several comic albums; created and starred in the film Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012); and codirected a series of popular Old Spice commercials starring actor Terry Crews. Outside his collaborations with Wareheim, Heidecker has been featured in film roles (including 2011's Bridesmaids) and released additional comic albums, including a 2011 collection of onetime presidential candidate Herman Cain-inspired music.

Trivia: Was raised in the Magnolia Projects of New Orleans. Competed as a hurdler for the California Golden Bears in college. Was previously an architect and city planner before beginning his acting career. Was awarded Yale School of Drama's esteemed Herschel Williams Prize. Made his professional acting debut playing Cadillac in the musical drama series The Get Down, which was created by Baz Luhrmann.

Trivia: Moved with her family from Senegal to Houston when she was six. Learned to speak English from watching Three's Company reruns. Took an interest in acting after finding a family friend's abandoned script. Works with American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness to maintain library for blind children in Kenya. Serves on the board of Hippo Life, a non-profit organization that encourages art in inner city schools.

Trivia: Actor James Cossins was one of the ranks of British character players seemingly put on earth to play fussy, officious roles. Cossins' movie work commenced in the mid '60s and embraced such films as Richard Lester's How I Won the War (1968), Hammer's Lost Continent (1968), the Jack Wild vehicle Melody (1970) and the turgid Richard Burton meller Villain (1971). Seldom permitted more than five to ten minutes a film, James Cossins had his best showing in the 1967 picture The Anniversary. He contrived not to blend into the scenery despite the daunting competition of star Bette Davis, here playing a one-eyed, incestuous monster mama.