Heartbreakers

Sigourney Weaver (Actor) .. Angela Nardino/Max Conners/Ulga Yevanova

Born: October 08, 1949 in New York

Best Known For: The Alien films.

Early-life: Born Susan Alexandra Weaver on October 8, 1949, in New York. Her mother was English actress Elizabeth Inglis, her father, Sylvester 'Pat' Weaver, was a former NBC TV president. She has an older brother called Trajan. Weaver often had an uncomfortable time at school because of her height, but became the class clown to prevent being teased. In 1963, she changed her name to Sigourney after a character in The Great Gatsby. She attended Stanford University and Yale School of Drama, but became frustrated when classmate Meryl Streep was given all the top roles.

Career: Weaver's professional career began with several theatre roles. She had blink-and-you'll-miss-them roles in Serpico and Annie Hall, but it was 1979's Alien that made her a star. A string of acclaimed films, such as The Janitor and The Year of Living Dangerously, followed. Since then, she's received Oscar nominations for the sequel Aliens (a scene featuring her mother was eventually cut from the finished film), Working Girl and Gorillas in the Mist. Other notable projects include more Alien movies, the Ghostbusters films, Copycat, Galaxy Quest, The Ice Storm and Heartbreakers. More recent big-screen offerings include Avatar, Paul, Abduction and Vamps.

Quote: "I've always regretted having such a serious career because I'm really more of an idiot."

Trivia: She provided the voice of a computer in WALL-E.

Jennifer Love Hewitt (Actor) .. Wendy/Page Conners/Jane Helstrom

Born: February 21, 1979 in Waco, Texas

Best Known For: Ghost Whisperer.

Early-life: Jennifer was born in Waco, Texas, on February 21, 1979 to Herbert and Patricia. She has a brother, Todd. Jennifer's first experience of performing was singing at a livestock show when she was three. By the age of nine she was touring Russia as part of a dance troupe called the Texas Show Team. After relocating with her mother to Los Angeles, she appeared in a number of TV commercials before landing a role on Disney Channel variety show Kids Incorporated.

Career: Her big break came in 1995 when she began playing Sarah Reeves Merrin on popular teen drama Party of Five. In 2002, she shifted her focus to music by releasing the album BareNaked. She returned to the small screen in 2005 to play the lead role in supernatural drama Ghost Whisperer, which ran for five seasons. More recently, she starred in two seasons of The Client List.

Quote: "I would just love once to be called sexy. Just because it would make me something other than cute."

Trivia: Hewitt detailed her experiences of love and dating in the 2010 book The Day I Shot Cupid.

Gene Hackman (Actor) .. William B Tensy

Born: January 30, 1930 in California

Best Known For: The French Connection, The Mexican, Enemy of the State... too many to mention.

Early-life: Born Eugene Allen Hackman on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California, after which his family moved around frequently before finally settling in Danville, Illinois. He has a brother called Richard. After his parents divorced, Hackman left home aged 16 to join the US Marine Corps where he served as a field radio operator. His mother died in 1962, as a result of a house fire she accidently started while smoking.

Career: After making the decision to get into acting in 1956, Hackman joined the Pasadena Playhouse in California (where incidentally, he struck up a friendship with Dustin Hoffman). After performances in several off-Broadway plays, Hackman's first movie was Lilith alongside Warren Beatty, who then cast him in his breakthrough film, Bonnie and Clyde. Hackman was soon in demand, showcasing his talents in everything from comedy (in Young Frankenstein) to villainy (as Lex Luthor in Superman). He's also won two Oscars - Best Actor for The French Connection, and Best Supporting Actor for Unforgiven. He retired from acting in 2004 to concentrate on writing novels.

Quote: "It really costs me a lot emotionally to watch myself on-screen. I think of myself, and feel like I'm quite young, and then I look at this old man with the baggy chins and the tired eyes and the receding hairline and all that."

Trivia: Hackman has written a number of historical novels with undersea archaeologist Daniel Lenihan.

Nora Dunn (Actor) .. Miss Madress

Ray Liotta (Actor) .. Dean Cumanno/Vinny Staggliano

Born: December 18, 1954 in Newark, New Jersey

Best Known For: His starring role in Goodfellas.

Early-life: Raymond Allen Liotta was born on December 18, 1954, in Newark, New Jersey, and adopted six months later. Years later, he tracked his mother down and they remained in contact. His adoptive parents led a comfortable life and he had a happy childhood, excelling at football and basketball at school. He earned extra money by working in his father's chain of shops before enrolling at the University of Miami. He became interested in acting when an attractive female student persuaded him to audition for a play.

Career: After graduating, Liotta moved to New York and began appearing in commercials. Six months later he became a star thanks to a recurring role in soap Another World. He quit after four years in 1981, but struggled to get a break in movies, appearing instead in numerous TV dramas and low-budget productions. In 1986, his friend Melanie Griffith got him a role in her movie Something Wild, which was the lucky break he needed. He hasn't looked back. Projects since include Field of Dreams, Goodfellas, Turbulence, Cop Land, Hannibal, Blow and Narc. As busy as ever, his recent work includes Revolver, Wild Hogs, Crossing Over, Observe and Report, Youth in Revolt, Date Night, and Charlie St Cloud.

Quote: "I've only been in one fight in my whole life, in seventh grade, yet everyone thinks I'm a maniac."

Trivia: He gained 20lbs for his role in Narc (2002).

Jason Lee (Actor) .. Jack Withrowe

Born: April 25, 1970 in Huntington Beach, California

Best Known For: My Name Is Earl.

Early-life: Jason Michael Lee was born April 25, 1970, in Huntington Beach, California. At 13 he began skateboarding, and five years later began competing on the professional circuit. His rising popularity prompted him to capitalise on the sport's commercial side, so he and friend Chris Pastras set up the companies Stereo Skateboards and Stereo Sounds Clothing. He's still regarded by fans as one of the most influential and innovative skateboarders of his era.

Career: Lee's first taste of performing in front of a camera came when he began appearing in music videos. He made his acting debut with a small role in 1993 movie Mi Vida Loca, but his career didn't take off until his performance in Kevin Smith's cult hit Mallrats in 1995. He's since been reunited with the director for Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jersey Girl, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Other memorable roles have come in Almost Famous, Heartbreakers, Dreamcatcher and, of course, smash-hit sitcom My Name is Earl. Is very popular with kids worldwide for his role as Dave in Alvin and the Chipmunks and its squeaquel.

Quote: "I wanted to be looked at for the skateboarder that I was. I didn't want to be the 36-year-old skateboarder who's still holding on while owning a company at the same time."

Trivia: Away from acting, he's a passionate photographer.

Anne Bancroft (Actor) .. Gloria Vogal/Barbara

Jeffrey Jones (Actor) .. Mr Appel

Julio Oscar Mechoso (Actor) .. Leo

David Mirkin (Director)

3:15 pm - 5:45 pm, Friday, December 26 on Together TV (83)

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