Trivia: Tall, radiant, and sensual, British ingenue Emily Blunt caught the attention of the public and press when she starred (at age 20) opposite Natalie Press in Pawel Pawlikowski's gentle, finely told lesbian romance My Summer of Love (2004). In the eyes of many Americans, Blunt (who counted this as her first cinematic credit) seemed to arrive at the top instantaneously. In truth, Blunt -- a London native -- had established herself on British television (largely in BBC productions) several years prior. Summer, however, represented the actress' big global break. She plays a sexually experienced and playfully manipulative teen who seduces the younger and more impressionable Press into an impassioned love affair, while the latter's brother (Paddy Considine) becomes a born-again evangelical Christian and carries his faith to torturous, alienating extremes. The work garnered enthusiastic notices and performed well on the international festival circuit; it thus marked a fortuitous and brazenly intelligent cinematic bow for a young actress. Newsweek's David Ansen was not alone when he tagged Blunt (along with her co-star, Press) as a "major discovery." Variety's Derek Elley observed, "Blunt's perf as the mysterious, mixed-up Tamsin grows, adding a sense of menace which coincides with...Considine's loony Phil." After a supporting role in the U.S. miniseries Empire (about the Roman Empire), Blunt landed her second major break -- and culled even broader exposure -- with a supporting role in David Frankel's bittersweet drama The Devil Wears Prada. As Emily, the obnoxious (yet soft-hearted) assistant to fashion mogul Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), Blunt delivered a colorful and impressive performance. As a result, she received a 2007 Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Although she lost out to Jennifer Hudson at that ceremony, Blunt won the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television for her work opposite Bill Nighy in Gideon's Daughter.Blunt followed Prada up with planned supporting roles in such features as The Snow Goose (2006), The Girl in the Park (2007), Wind Chill (2007), The Great Buck Howard (2007), and The Jane Austen Book Club (2007).In 2009 Blunt scored her largest starring role to date as the title character in the costume drama The Young Victoria. In 2010 she married The Office star John Krasinski, and in that same year they co-starred together in Gulliver's Travels. The couple would also each appear in cameo roles in 2011's The Muppets, written and co-starring Jason Segel with whom Blunt would co-star in the 2012 romantic comedy The Five-Year Engagement and rounded out her 2012 with the Golden Globe nominated Salmon Fishing in Yemen, romantic dramedy Your Sister's Sister and the sci-fi action thriller Looper. In 2014, she starred opposite Tom Cruise in the action-thriller Edge of Tomorrow and showed off her singing skills as the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods. The following year, she appeared in the Oscar-nominated Sicario, and in 2016, tackled the Snow White sequel The Huntsman: Winter's War and starred in the highly-anticipated adaptation of The Girl on the Train.

Trivia: Father is Swedish; mother is British. Went to the famed Alfred Fredrik's Music School in Stockholm as a child. Started acting at age 15, when she was cast in the prime-time Swedish soap opera Nya Tider. Nominated for a Rising Star Award at the Stockholm International Film Festival in 2011. There are claims that Ferguson may be a very distant relative of Sarah, Duchess of York. Rebecca's mother, Rosemary, is British and moved to Sweden when she was 25.

Trivia: Naples, FL, native Haley Bennett entered show business in the mid- to late 2000s, juggling ambitions as a singer, songwriter, actress, and poet. The multihyphenate (who reportedly began authoring poetry and songs at the age of 14) moved with her mother to Southern California immediately after high school graduation to accommodate her dreams of becoming a Hollywood star and promptly landed both representation and a key role as a pop diva in the Hugh Grant/Drew Barrymore romantic comedy Music and Lyrics. The part, of course, suited Bennett perfectly, as it enabled her to demonstrate her abilities in multiple spheres; as a follow-up, the ingénue switched genres altogether to star in the title role of the psychological thriller The Haunting of Molly Hartley (2008); in that film, she played a high school student whose torturous past suddenly and shockingly catches up with her. The same year, Bennett starred in the teen-oriented sex farce College as co-ed Kendall. Meanwhile, at about the same time, Bennett began work on her first pop album.

Trivia: With his handsome looks and playful demeanor, Justin Theroux made a memorable feature debut as a determined revolutionary in the successful indie film I Shot Andy Warhol.A graduate of Bennington College who was born and raised in Washington, D.C., Theroux later relocated to New York to pursue a career in the visual arts before stumbling across acting and immersing himself in the stage. Gaining momentum in off-Broadway plays before making the leap to features, Theroux made appearances in such popular television shows as Sex and the City and Ally McBeal while gravitating toward the big screen in Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion (1997), American Psycho, and eccentric director David Lynch's Mullholland Drive. After appearing in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and the dud Duplex, Theroux appeared in a couple of episodes of the critically respected HBO series Six Feet Under. Over the next couple of years he combined little independent projects like The Baxter and Strangers with Candy with more high-profile films like Michael Mann's Miami Vice. He reteamed with David Lynch for Inland Empire alongside other former Lynch collaborators Laura Dern, and Hayy Dean Stanton. He played Jesus in the religious-themed comedy The Ten, and in 2008 he co-wrote Ben Stiller's Hollywood satire Tropic Thunder, which led to an assignment writing the hit sequel Iron Man 2. In 2012 he co-starred in Wanderlust opposite Jennifer Aniston who he ended up in a high-profile relationship with. That same year he had a screenwriting credit on the hair-metal musical Rock of Ages. Theroux next starred in the bleak HBO drama The Leftovers and wrote the screenplay for Zoolander 2.

Trivia: Welsh-born Luke Evans won a scholarship to The London Studio Centre in Kings Cross, London, in 1997 at age 18. He took the knowledge he gained there onto the stage, beginning his professional acting career with many prominent roles in productions on London's West End, like Rent and Miss Saigon. Evans took his time branching out into on-screen acting, landing his first film audition at age 30. He made his big-screen debut as the Greek god Apollo in 2010's Clash of the Titans. He then played Aramis in 2011's The Three Musketeers before taking on the role of another Greek god in 2011's Immortals, this time tackling the king of the pantheon, Zeus.

Trivia: One of the most talented -- and often underappreciated -- character actresses of the late 1990s, Allison Janney first began courting critical attention with roles in such acclaimed films as Big Night (1996) and American Beauty (1998). Able to play characters ranging from a name-dropping Manhattan socialite to a withdrawn, abused wife, the 6'0" Janney infuses all of her portrayals with equal parts poignancy and unforced gusto.A product of Dayton, Ohio, where she was born November 19, 1959, Janney was raised as the daughter of a homemaker and the president of a real estate firm. She aspired to be a champion figure skater from a young age, but any hopes of pursuing a skating career were halted by a freak accident that badly damaged Janney's leg when she was in her mid-teens. As a student at Kenyon College, she became interested in acting, and got her first break when she successfully auditioned for a play being directed by Kenyon alum Paul Newman. After impressing Newman, a racing enthusiast, with both her acting skills and her love of fast cars, Janney went on to impress his wife, Joanne Woodward, who directed her in a number of off-off-Broadway plays during the early 1980s.Although she enjoyed early stage success, Janney had difficulty starting her career, something that was hindered by her height: one disparaging casting agent went so far as to tell her that the only roles she was suitable for were lesbians and aliens. Thankfully, the actress pressed on in the face of such idiocy, waitressing and scooping ice cream to support herself during dry spells. Her luck began to change for the better in the late 1990s, when she started garnering luminous reviews for her work both on Broadway -- where she earned a Tony nomination for her role in 1998's A View from the Bridge -- and onscreen in such films as Big Night (1996) and Mike Nichols' Primary Colors (1998). In the former film, she appeared as the quiet, capable love interest of Tony Shalhoub's struggling Italian chef, while the latter featured the actress in the minor but poignant role of a painfully-awkward schoolteacher who is seduced by John Travolta's libidinous Presidential candidate. Janney, who had been appearing on television and in films since the early '90s, went on to do reliably excellent work in a variety of films that ranged from The Object of My Affection (1998), in which she played the supercilious, name-dropping wife of a high-powered literary agent (Alan Alda); to Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), which featured her as a beehived, chain-smoking trailer park resident; to American Beauty (1999), in which she gave a quietly powerful portrayal of the abused wife of a tyrannical ex-Marine (Chris Cooper). Janney's talents have also been put on ample display on the small screen: in 1999, she joined the cast of the acclaimed NBC White House drama The West Wing, originating the role of tough press secretary C.J. Cregg.In addition to continuing her work on The West Wing, Janney played a supporting role in the award winning psychological drama The Hours (2002), and voiced Peach the Starfish in Pixar's wildly successful Finding Nemo (2003). The actress' would play the neighbor of protagonist Jim Winters (Anthony LaPaglia) in 2004's drama Winter Solstice, and continued to play small, yet meaty roles throughout the coming years (among them include On Our Very Own and Hairspray), she earned mainstream attention and critical praise for her role as the parent of a pregnant teen (Ellen Page) in Juno. Ironically, in light of her Juno success, Janney was also critically recognized for her performance as an emotionally detached mother in Sam Mendes' bittersweet comedy Away We Go (2009).

Trivia: Actor Edgar Ramirez specialized in playing thuggish, brutal types onscreen -- an image he used to portray characters on both sides of the law with great effectiveness. Growing up in his native Venezuela, Ramirez originally planned to enter a career on the landscape of global politics, as an outlet for his fascination with the human condition. Instead, he caught the drama bug early on (when a university professor felt impressed by Ramirez's work in a student film and suggested that he continue acting), and in fact warmed to it for the same basic reason -- because it gave him an opportunity to explore different perspectives, scenarios, and ideas. In the mean time, Ramirez did in fact involve himself in Venezuelan politics, specifically in the organization Dale al Voto. The actor appeared onscreen in Spanish-language productions in the early 2000s, but signed for his first major international crossover role as a bounty hunter in Tony Scott's hell-raising actioner Domino (2005). Ramirez followed this up with a high-profile turn as a nasty hit man who marks Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) for death in Paul Greengrass' The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), and appeared in a small supporting role in the political thriller Vantage Point (2008), starring Dennis Quaid and Forest Whitaker.

Trivia: Lisa Kudrow first made her name playing Phoebe, the ditzy, New Age member of the titular close-knit pals on NBC's highly successful sitcom Friends. Since then, she has bridged the gap between television and film with undeniable success, winning particular acclaim for her role as an uptight school teacher in Don Roos' The Opposite of Sex (1998).Born in Encino, California on July 30, 1963, Kudrow earned a degree in biology from Vassar College before beginning her acting career. After college, she joined the Los Angeles improvisational group, The Groundlings, at the urging of family friend Jon Lovitz. Improv paved the way for more work, and Kudrow was soon appearing in bit roles in a number of films. Her first real break didn't come until 1993, when she began appearing on the TV sitcom Mad About You as Ursula, the waitress from hell. Real fame came in 1994, when the actress was cast as Phoebe on Friends; the enormous success of the show gave her both wide recognition and a steady day job. Kudrow's first leading role on the big screen was as one of the titular heroines (alongside Mira Sorvino) of the 1997 comedy Romy and Michele's High School Reunion; unfortunately, her character was little more than a film version of Phoebe. Fortunately, Kudrow got to widen her range a little further that same year with a starring role in the independent drama Clockwatchers, portraying a struggling actress alongside the likes of Toni Collette and Parker Posey. The following year, Kudrow won raves and critical respect for her turn in The Opposite of Sex, a scathing black comedy in which she gave a comic and poignant performance as an embittered woman coping with the death of her brother, the presence of her best friend's malicious little sister (Christina Ricci), and the romantic attentions of Lyle Lovett. The acclaim she received for her portrayal was complemented the same year with an Emmy Award for her work on Friends. In 1999, Kudrow shared the screen with Robert DeNiro in the comedy Analyze This, and later that year she starred with Diane Keaton and Meg Ryan as three sisters dealing with the imminent death of their irritating father (Walter Matthau) in the comedy Hanging Up, directed by Keaton and written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron.As the new millenium unfolded, Kudrow would prove to be a strong force on screen, appearing in a number of acclaimed films, like Wonderland, Happy Endings, The Other Woman, Easy A, and in the comedy series Web Therapy.

Trivia: With her laid-back but quick-witted personality and striking copper mane, spunky Laura Prepon quickly built a loyal television viewer fan base for her portrayal of easygoing Donna Pinciotti on the popular FOX sitcom That '70s Show. As with her portrayal of Donna, Prepon carries little pretension, and with her natural and tomboyish personality in close keeping with her small-screen persona (not to mention a fondness for vintage clothes), she seems on much the same wavelength as her prime-time alter ego. Born on March 7, 1980, in Watchung, NJ, Prepon is the youngest of five siblings (including three sisters and a brother), whose father passed away in 1994. Attending Watchung Regional High School and studying ballet, dance, and acting at New York City's Total Theater Lab from age 15, the aspiring actress convinced her mother to drive her into the city for frequent weekend auditions and soon began landing modeling jobs both stateside and abroad. With little acting experience under her belt before auditioning for her role on That '70s Show, it seemed unlikely that she would land the role, though the producers were quick to note that Prepon's natural disposition was in nearly pitch-perfect tune with the demands of the role. Frequently confused with both Alicia Witt and Claire Danes, Prepon was also cast in They Go On, the first series broadcast over the Internet. It wasn't long before Prepon decided to attempt a transition to features, and with roles in Pornographer: A Love Story (2000), Southlander (2001), and Slackers (2002), she seemed to be on her way.In 2004 Prepon added the role of producer to her resume with the low-budget horror drama Lightning Bug (which she also starred in), and the following year she found a way to work her passion for poker into the mix as producer of E! Television's Hollywood Hold 'Em. With the end of That 70's Show in 2006, Prepon branched out with a turn as notorious Canadian serial killer Karla Homolka in the controversial true crime drama Karla, though she was decidedly more in her element as a small town girl in the shortlived ABC drama October Road. Later, on the heels of guest appearances on such hit shows as House, Castle, and How I Met Yuor Mother, Prepon was cast in the lead of the NBC sitcom Are You There, Chelsea?, based loosely on the best-seller "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea" by Chelsea Handler. The show was quickly cancelled by the network, however, after it failed to find a loyal following.

Trivia: Since first being introduced to television audiences as the object of Claire Danes' angst-ridden lust in My So-Called Life, Jared Leto has enjoyed a growing popularity that has allowed him to make a name for himself in a steady stream of films. Born December 26, 1971, in Bossier City, LA, Leto led a peripatetic childhood under the care of his mother, who moved her family to places ranging from Haiti to a Colorado commune. Leto, who was interested in becoming a painter, enrolled in Philadelphia's University of the Arts, but then discovered acting and transferred to the School of Visual Arts in New York City. While he was a student there, he wrote and starred in his own film, Crying Joy.Leto moved to Los Angeles in 1992 to pursue his acting career. In 1994, he got his big break playing My So-Called Life's oblivious heartthrob, Jordan Catalano. Although the show didn't have a long run, it accumulated a loyal cult following from being ceaselessly re-run on MTV. Leto soon became daydream fodder for teenage girls, a status furthered by his selection as one of People's "50 Most Beautiful People" in both 1996 and 1997. After starring with a pre-Clueless Alicia Silverstone in the 1994 TV movie The Cool and the Crazy, Leto was cast in his first big screen role in How to Make an American Quilt (1995). More work followed in The Last of the High Kings (1996), in which he co-starred with Christina Ricci, and in Switchback (1997), opposite Danny Glover and Dennis Quaid. Leto then took on an athletic part in the Disney-produced Prefontaine (1997), the story of legendary runner Steve Prefontaine.1998 proved a good year for Leto, who appeared in Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line as part of a powerhouse cast including Nick Nolte, George Clooney, and Sean Penn. In addition, he had a major role in Urban Legend, one of the more successful exploitations of the teen horror genre. Leto did hit one stumbling block, however, with Basil, a straight-to-video period drama co-starring Christian Slater and Claire Forlani. This misstep didn't seem to hurt the actor, whose name was already attached to a number of high-profile projects that would no doubt further increase his star wattage.Two such projects were the edgy indie films American Psycho and Requiem for a Dream, both released in 2000. Though passed up for the lead in the former film, Leto made an impression in a supporting role as an arrogant yuppie doomed to be the first victim of vapid serial killer Patrick Bateman. Later that year, Leto landed the plum lead role in up-and-coming director Darren Aronofsky's sophomore effort, the addiction drama Requiem for a Dream. Playing a young Brooklyn man struggling with heroin and a severely unhinged mother, Leto had the opportunity to play against the legendary Ellen Burstyn as well as future Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly, and garnered the best reviews of his career.Though two other Leto-starring films -- a would-be Boogie Nights ensemble piece named Sunset Strip (2000) and a grungy, Tarantino-esque road film eventually titled Highway (2001) -- quickly went the way of the video store shelf, the performer would find himself better employed as a supporting actor in two of director David Fincher's more notable films. In the controversial Fight Club (1999), Leto had a small part as a masochistic anarchist wannabe; in 2002's Panic Room, he played the most verbose and bumbling of the three burglars tormenting Jodie Foster's character.In the coming years, Leto would divide his time between an acting career and his rock band, 30 Seconds to Mars. Some of the movies he would appear in over the ensuing decade would include Lord of War, Alexander, Lonely Hearts, and Chapter 27.