Trivia: When British actor Benedict Cumberbatch signed for his first cinematic roles in the early 2000s, he immediately unveiled a proclivity -- and a gift -- for essaying a diverse array of characterizations. Cumberbatch began with BBC television productions, notably a supporting part in the lesbian-themed period drama Tipping the Velvet (2002) and the lead role of the brilliant, physically disabled scientist Stephen Hawking in the BBC telemovie Hawking (2004). Cumberbatch landed one of his first significant international crossover roles (and his first major big-screen assignment) as one of the leads in Michael Apted's arthouse hit Amazing Grace (2006) -- portraying William Pitt, an 18th century British prime minister who crusaded against slavery. While appearing on the British stage and in British television shows, Cumberbatch slowly built up an impressive résumé of supporting film roles. He had a small (but significant) part in Joe Wright's period drama Atonement (2007), and played William Carey, Mary Boleyn's husband in The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).In 2010, Cumberbatch took on his breakout role, playing Sherlock Holmes in a BBC series reboot. His career exploded after the show took off. He played The Necromancer/Smaug in The Hobbit trilogy, Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness, a plantation owner in 12 Years a Slave and nabbed his first true starring role playing Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate. In 2014 Cumberbatch portrayed the pioneering British mathematician Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, and his work earned him a Best Actor nomination from the Academy, the first nod of his career.

Trivia: Used babysitting money to attend acting camp as a teenager. Was a member of her high school wrestling team for two seasons. Auditioned for her debut feature film acting role (The Unborn, 2009) while still in high school. Graduated college in only three and a half years. Made guest role appearances on several major network television series while still in college, including CBS's The Good Wife, and the CW series Gossip Girl. Missed her college graduation ceremony because she was shooting the film Beautiful Creatures (2013) in New Orleans.

Trivia: Joined the dramatic society at university where he made most of his friends, including his best friend to this day. Although he had trained as an architect, he watched a British Council screening of a film about the RSC and Stratford-upon-Avon in Nigeria where he was working as a trainee architect, and knew straightaway that he wanted to become an actor. While studying at RADA in 1977, he won the Bancroft Gold Medal for acting. Frequently performs with the Royal Shakespeare Company; played Bolingbroke in Richard II in 1990 and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew in 1992. Has been associated with reading novels by Charles Dickens for Naxos Audio Books since 2012, including Oliver Twist. Is a patron of the Lynx Animal Welfare Trust. In 2013, for two months played the part of Robin Carrow in Ambridge Extra, a BBC Radio 4 Extra spin-off from the BBC Radio 4 drama The Archers. Was announced a public supporter of Chapel Lane Theatre Company located in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK in 2015.

Trivia: Came in second on I'd Do Anything, a 2008 BBC-televised competition to find a new, unknown lead to play the role of Nancy in a West End revival of Oliver! Turned down an offer to understudy winner Jodie Prenger in order to appear in a revival of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, directed by Trevor Nunn. Completed a six-month residency at the world-famous Annabel's, singing jazz music. Performed opposite Jude Law in a West End production of Shakespeare's Henry V in 2014. Hand-picked to join Kenneth Branagh's theatre company in 2015.

Trivia: A member of Tom Mix's stock company as early as 1913, tall, heavyset Jack Walters had been a rancher prior to entering show business. A constant presence in Westerns all through the silent era, Walters' appearances in talkies went mostly unbilled.