Trivia: One of Britain's most distinguished stage performers, Derek Jacobi is one of two actors (the other being Laurence Olivier) to hold both Danish and English knighthoods. Primarily known for his work on the stage, he has also made a number of films and remains best-known to television audiences for his stunning portrayal of the titular Roman emperor in I, Claudius.Born in Leytonstone, East London, on October 22, 1938, Jacobi was raised with a love of film, and he began performing on the stage while attending an all-boys school. Thanks to the school's single sex population, his first roles with the drama club -- until his voice broke -- were all female. It was with one of his first male roles that Jacobi earned his first measure of acclaim: playing Hamlet in a school production staged at the 1957 Edinburgh Festival, he made enough of an impression that he was approached by an agent from Twentieth Century Fox. Ultimately deemed too young to be signed to the studio, Jacobi instead went to Cambridge University, where he studied history and continued acting. His stage work at Cambridge was prolific and allowed him to work with classmates Ian McKellen and Trevor Nunn, and, thanks to his performance as Edward II, landed him his first job after graduation. Jacobi acted with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre until his portrayal of Henry VIII attracted the attention of Laurence Olivier. Olivier was so impressed with Jacobi's work that he invited him to London to become one of the eight founding members of the prestigious National Theatre.Jacobi went on to become one of his country's most steadily employed and respected actors, performing in numerous plays over the years on both sides of the Atlantic (in 1985, he won a Tony Award for his work in Much Ado About Nothing). He also branched out into film and television, making his film debut with a secondary role in Douglas Sirk's Interlude (1957). He acted in numerous film adaptations of classic plays, including Othello (1965) and The Three Sisters (1970). However, it was through his collaborations with Kenneth Branagh on various screen adaptations of Shakespeare that he became most visible to an international film audience, appearing as the Chorus in Branagh's acclaimed 1989 Henry V and as Claudius in the director's 1996 full-length adaptation of Hamlet. Jacobi made one of his most memorable (to say nothing of terrifying) screen impressions in Branagh's Hitchcock-inspired Dead Again (1991), portraying a hypnotist with a very shady background. In 1998, Jacobi earned more recognition with his portrayal of famed painter Francis Bacon in John Maybury's controversial Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon.On television, in addition to his celebrated work in I, Claudius, Jacobi has also earned praise for his roles in a number of other productions. In 1989, he won an Emmy for his performance in the 1988 adaptation of Graham Greene's The Tenth Man.In 1994 he began a successful run as a mystery-solving monk in the TV series Cadfael, a program that ran for three years. He had a Shakespeare heavy 1996 playing Claudius opposite Branagh's Hamlet, and appearing in Al Pacino's documentary Looking for Richard. He lent his voice to the animated version of Beowulf. He began the new century appearing in the Best Picture winner Gladiator, and was part of the rich ensemble compiled by Robert Altman for Gosford Park. In 2005 he was in the cast of the hit children's film Nanny McPhee, and two years later he was in The Golden Compass. In 2010 he appeared in another Oscar winning best picture when he was in The King's Speech. The next year he appeared in Anonymous as well as My Week With Marilyn.

Trivia: Her father was a foreign correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, leading her to travel abroad occasionally to spend time with her parents in India, Tehran and Beirut. Became a stage manager and worked in repertory theatre after graduating from RADA. Spent ten years on landmark soap, Coronation Street, before leaving in 1971. 18.9 million people watched the funeral of her character, Val, in Coronation Street, in 1971, after she had been electrocuted by a faulty hair drier. Filmed scenes for Love Actually (2003), playing a headmistress tending to her dying partner, but her scenes were ultimately cut from the film. Won the London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actress of the Year in 2004 for the film The Mother. Played Jack's mother in Into the Woods at the Royal Opera House in London in 2007. Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2010. Received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Sunderland in 2015. Underwent hip replacement surgery in 2019.

Trivia: In 1981, began to suffer from clinical depression. From 1986, due to a scarcity of acting roles, supported herself financially by working as a drama teacher at Salford University for five years. Made her West End debut in 1990 in Blood Brothers. Daughter of television scriptwriter, Geoffrey Lancashire, who notably worked on ITV soap Coronation Street; she joined the show in 1991 as popular recurring character, Raquel Watts. Signed an exclusive deal with ITV, worth £1.3 million; making her Britain's highest-paid actress. In 1993, experienced a nervous breakdown, confiding only in her family, and did not take time off work until her mother forced her to seek medical help. Has stated that remaining single for five years, attending therapy sessions and taking antidepressants helped her overcome her illness. Played Adelaide in Guys and Dolls in the West End in 2005. As actress and director, is known for Happy Valley (2014). Was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to Drama.

Trivia: Started her acting career with the Cambridge Footlights while studying for her degree in 1990. Won a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art but turned it down in favour of paid acting work. After university, shared a flat with Sue Perkins, Sarah Phelps and Emma Kennedy. Left series 5 of Spooks to have her son Harry, who is named after Harry Pearce, the Spooks character played by Peter Firth.

Trivia: Qualified as a physician in 1987, working as a general practitioner in the early 1990's. Brought both his medical knowledge and knack for comedy together as one half of comedy duo Struck off and Die. Came to prominence playing the character of Brian Johnson in CITV's My Parents Are Aliens, the popular children's show that he also contributed to as a writer. Played the role of John in four series of the critically acclaimed romantic drama series Last Tango in Halifax between 2012 and 2016. Appeared in the music video for British band Wolf Alice's single, Giant Peach. Played a series of roles in Tracey Ullman's Show from 2016.

Trivia: Dropping the "Cooper" in his name to avoid confusion with bit player Edward Cooper, British actor Edward Ashley was a seven-year film veteran when he came to America in 1940. His first Hollywood picture, and for many years his best, was MGM's Pride and Prejudice (1940). Ashley was but one of many handsome Englishmen wandering around the MGM lot, so the studio used him in anything that came along. He was afforded a rare star-billing credit in the "Passing Parade" short subject Strange Testament (1941), in which he played a New Orleans millionaire who left a monetary legacy to all Louisiana newlyweds as compensation for betraying his own true love. Freelancing by the late 1940s, Ashley appeared in several second leads and character parts such as the Commissioner in the Mexican-filmed Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948). Banking on his resemblance to Errol Flynn, Ashley played the Fox, a Robin Hood type, in The Court Jester (1956), but most of the derring-do went to the film's true star, Danny Kaye (who impersonated the Fox). Edward Ashley remained a journeyman actor into the 1970s, appearing with dignity if not distinction in such films as Herbie Rides Again (1973) and Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976).

Trivia: Both of his parents were professional singers. Joined the Phoenix Amateur Operatic Society at a young age. His first job was at a Vauxhall dealership. Sang at holiday resorts and on cruise ships for over twenty years. Successfully auditioned for his first acting role in the film, The Navigators, in 2001. Took part in the Bupa Great Yorkshire Run in 2010 to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society. Appeared on stage in 2013 at the Rotherham Theatre for a one-off night titled An Evening with Deano and Steve. Starred in That Day We Sang at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester in 2013 and 2014. Supports his local football team, Rotherham United.

Trivia: Of Indian descent with a Hindu background, but attended a Catholic secondary school. Began acting at age 12; took tap-dancing lessons unwillingly at first, but it was his tap instructor who recommended him to a children's talent agency in Manchester. Studied at Manchester's Laine-Johnson Theatre School. First TV role was a 1997 episode of the British children's series Out of Sight; appeared in the soap opera EastEnders in 2001. Won a Breakthrough On Screen Award from Britain's Royal Television Society for the 2006 docudrama The Bradford Riots. Extensive British theater credits include the National Theatre production of Alan Bennett's The History Boys in 2004; reprised his role on Broadway and on the Tony-winning drama's world tour, as well as in the 2006 film adaptation.