PS I Love You

Hilary Swank (Actor) .. Holly Kennedy

Born: July 30, 1974 in Lincoln, Nebraska

Best Known For: Landing two Academy Awards for her breathtaking movie performances.

Early-life: Swank was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on July 30, 1974, to an officer in the Air National Guard and his wife. She has a brother, Dan and the family lived in a trailer park. When she was nine-years-old, Swank made her first appearance on stage, starring as Mowgli in The Jungle Book. She became heavily involved in her school and community theatre programmes. She also swam in the Junior Olympics and the Washington State championships. Swank's parents separated when she was 13, and her mother moved the two of them to Los Angeles, where they lived out of their car until Swank's mother saved enough money to rent an apartment.

Career: In California, Swank enrolled in South Pasadena High School and started acting professionally. In 1997, she was cast as a single mother on Beverly Hills, 90210. After her part was cut, she auditioned for the role of Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry. Many critics hailed hers as the best female performance of 1999, and she won the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Actress. She won the same Oscar five years later, for playing a female boxer in 2004's Million Dollar Baby, a role for which she underwent extensive training and gained 19 pounds of muscle. Her recent work includes Conviction (2010), New Year's Eve (2011), Mary and Martha (2013) and The Homesman (2014).

Quote: "I don't know what I did in this life to deserve this. I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream."

Trivia: She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.

Gerard Butler (Actor) .. Gerry Kennedy

Born: November 13, 1969 in Glasgow

Best Known For: Taking the lead in sword and sandals epic, 300

Early-life: Born on November 13, 1969, in Glasgow, he's the youngest of three children. His parents divorced when he was young, and he had little contact with his father until he was 16, when they became close; Gerard was devastated when his dad died of cancer six years later. He attended the University of Glasgow, where he studied law, eventually becoming president of the school's Law Society. He also spent a year living in California. Gerard landed a trainee lawyer's position at an Edinburgh law firm, but was fired a week before gaining his qualifications.

Career: Butler's first role of note was in a stage production of Coriolanus directed by Steven Berkoff. After playing the character of Renton in the stage adaptation of Trainspotting, he made his big-screen debut in Mrs Brown. Small roles in James Bond outing Tomorrow Never Dies and Tale of the Mummy followed. His sensuous turn as Dracula in Wes Craven's horror caught the eye, and he's been busy ever since. Among his biggest projects since are the lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, 300, RocknRolla, PS I Love You and Law Abiding Citizen. Butler is clearly a man who likes to keep busy - he usually has lots of films in various stages of production.

Quote: "During some of the most miserable periods of my life, people thought I was very happy. And now that I'm actually happier, I don't have to show it. I'm more comfortable with myself."

Trivia: Butler is a big fan of Celtic FC and owns a stake in the Jamaica Tallawahs cricket team.

Lisa Kudrow (Actor) .. Denise Hennessey

Born: July 30, 1963 in Encino, California

Best Known For: Playing Phoebe in Friends.

Early-life: Lisa Marie Diane Kudrow was born on July 30, 1963, in Encino, California, to Lee, a doctor, and Nedra, a travel agent. At school she was a talented tennis player, but decided to concentrate on more academic studies, and originally intended to become a scientist. She attended the famous Vassar College and graduated with a biology degree. However, the acting bug bit after Kudrow was inspired to perform by her brother's friend, comedian Jon Lovitz.

Career: Started out with Los Angeles improvisational theatre group The Groundlings, and her first big TV break came in the sitcom Mad About You, playing feisty waitress Ursula. Since then, Friends has made her a familiar face to millions across the globe. She has also appeared in several movies, including Analyze This, and the sequel Analyze That, with Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro, and The Opposite of Sex, which won her a prestigious New York Film Critics Award. In 2005, she appeared in short-lived sitcom The Comeback.

Quote: ""I think I'm still Phoebe to people and it would be hard to convince them otherwise."

Trivia: Kudrow was originally cast as Roz Doyle on Frasier, but the producers and writers decided they were changing the character too much to fit Kudrow's personality.

Gina Gershon (Actor) .. Sharon McCarthy

James Marsters (Actor) .. John McCarthy

Born: August 20, 1962 in Greenville, California

Best Known For: Playing the role of peroxide blood-sucker Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Early-life: Born James Wesley Marsters on August 20, 1962 in Greenville, California. He grew up in Modesto and knew from the age of three he wanted to be an actor. Studied at Juilliard and did lots of theatre work. The scar on his left eyebrow is from an attempted mugging in New York. He confesses to be a night owl but doesn't drink, and isn't into partying. Enjoys playing the guitar, driving in the desert, singing, painting, and writing.

Career: Marsters spent the first ten years of his professional acting career in New York, Chicago and Seattle doing theatre work. He co-founded the New Mercury Theatre company, named after Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre, and he has produced over 70 plays. He found mainstream fame in the role of Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Angel spin-off series. Other work includes Winding Roads, House on Haunted Hill, 2001 TV series The Enforcers, comedy drama Chance and TV show Smallville. Most recently, he joined the cast of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood in a regular guest slot, and starred in US drama Without A Trace.

Quote: "Personally I find comedy more difficult. Drama needs sincerity most of all but comedy needs sincerity and rhythm and every script has it's own comedic rhythm. I've seen people go insane to try and find it."

Trivia: Away from acting, he is a successful singer-songwriter.

Kathy Bates (Actor) .. Patricia Rawley

Born: June 28, 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee

Best Known For: Breaking James Caan's ankles in Misery.

Early-life: Born Kathleen Doyle-Bates on June 28, 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee, the youngest of three sisters. Her father, Langdon, was a mechanical engineer, while her mother, Bertye, was a housewife. She became hooked on acting at an early age and, after graduating from White Station High School in Memphis, enrolled at Dallas's Southern Methodist University. She originally intended to study English, but opted for theatre instead. Her parents weren't supportive of her career choice at first, but changed their minds after seeing her on stage.

Career: During the 1970s, Bates concentrated on New York stage work. Her first film was 1971's Taking Off, and she continued to work steadily on TV and in movies until her big break in 1990's Misery. She won an Oscar for her portrayal of a psychotic nurse in the production. Bates disrobed for the films At Play in the Fields of the Lord and About Schmidt (which also landed her an Oscar nomination), and won acclaim for Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe and Primary Colors. She's also appeared in Titanic, Dolores Claiborne and The Waterboy. She had a lead role in David E Kelley's American TV legal comedy-drama Harry's Law.

Quote: "Every time an Oscar is given out, an agent gets his wings."

Trivia: Bates has fought ovarian cancer and breast cancer.

Harry Connick Jr (Actor) .. Daniel Connelly

Born: September 11, 1967 in New Orleans, Louisiana

Best Known For: His dulcet tones.

Early-life: Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jnr was born on September 11, 1967, in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father was a District Attorney, his mother was a judge who died of ovarian cancer when Connick was 13. Connick's parents also owned a music shop and encouraged their son to play piano. As a result, he joined a jazz band when he was 10. Connick won numerous piano competitions and went on to study at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.

Career: Following further study in New York, 19-year-old Connick released his first album and began an extended run at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room. A second album followed a year later. In 1989, he contributed to the soundtrack of When Harry Met Sally, which went double-platinum. He made his acting debut in movie Memphis Belle in 1990. Other films include Little Man Tate, Copycat, Independence Day, South Pacific, Life Without Dick and Basic. Connick also continues to perform live and record albums.

Quote: "If your record doesn't sell that well, man, who cares? All the satisfaction I need comes when I step out onstage and see the people. That's awesome. I love that."

Trivia: Connick was part of the judging panel for season 13 of American Idol.

Nellie McKay (Actor) .. Ciara

Richard LaGravenese (Director)

5:50 pm - 8:00 pm, Today on Sky Cinema Drama HD (524)

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