Career: A spell in musical theatre led to Crowe's first major big-screen role in 1990 film The Crossing, followed by Proof, for which he won an Australian Film Institute Award. A second gong came for the controversial Romper Stomper, prompting Sharon Stone to headhunt him for The Quick And The Dead in 1995. He followed that with major movies such as LA Confidential, The Insider, and Gladiator, for which he won the 2001 Best Actor award at the Oscars. Since then, he's starred in A Beautiful Mind and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Recent hits have included 3.10 to Yuma, American Gangster, State of Play, and Robin Hood. His recent credits include Les Miserables, Man of Steel, Winter's Tale and Noah.

Career: Affleck's acting career began as a child, with appearances in various TV productions. He first worked with Matt on School Ties in 1992. A year later he directed his project - a short film - and began a long association with indie film-maker Kevin Smith by appearing in Mallrats; he's since appeared in most of Smith's movies, in roles both large and small. But it was co-writing and starring alongside Matt in Good Will Hunting that made him famous - the duo also won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Films since include Shakespeare in Love, Pearl Harbor, Daredevil, State of Play and the Oscar-winning Argo, which he also directed.

Career: In 2001, McAdams shot an MTV pilot called Shotgun Love Dolls and in the same year, she made her film debut in My Name is Tanino. She received a Genie Award nomination in Canada for her role in Perfect Pie (2002). Her first Hollywood movie was The Hot Chick (2002), and her big break came in 2004 when she starred opposite Lindsay Lohan in teen comedy Mean Girls. Since then, McAdams has appeared in The Notebook (2004), Wedding Crashers (2005), State of Play (2009), Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), Morning Glory (2010), Midnight in Paris (2011) and About Time (2013).

Career: Mirren was snapped-up by the Royal Shakespeare Company and tackled numerous classical parts. She's continued to appear on stage throughout her career, alongside TV and film roles. Her most famous TV role is Jane Tennison in police drama Prime Suspect. Her first movie was Herostratus in 1967. More famous parts came in Caligula, The Long Good Friday, Excalibur, The Mosquito Coast, Calendar Girls and Elizabeth I. In 2003 she was made a Dame and three years later won an Oscar for The Queen. She's also been nominated for The Madness of King George, Gosford Park and Hitchcock. Other big-screen outings include State of Play, The Last Station, The Tempest, Brighton Rock, Red and the remake of Arthur.

Career: Wright first became famous on TV, playing Kelly Capwell on the soap opera Santa Barbara, and shot to stardom after her roles as Buttercup in The Princess Bride and Jenny Curran in Forrest Gump, the latter role garnering her a Golden Globe Award nomination for best supporting actress. She then put in an exceptional performance in Jack Nicholson flick, The Pledge. Her recent work includes roles in Whie Oleander, The Singing Detective, Nine Lives, Beowulf, New York, I Love You, State of Play, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, and House of Cards.

Career: During the 1990s, Bateman had roles in four TV series that never lasted beyond one season. He bounced back in 2003 when he was cast as Michael Bluth in the comedy series Arrested Development. It ended in 2006, only to be revived by Netflix in 2013. In recent years, Bateman has been involved in a number of popular Hollywood movies, including Juno (2007), Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), Hancock (2008), Up in the Air (2009), Paul (2011), Horrible Bosses (2011) and Identity Thief (2013).

Career: In 1991, Daniels founded Purple Rose Theatre Company, a non-profit stage company in his hometown, of which he remains Executive Director. The role for which he'll mostly be remembered for came in 1994 in Dumb and Dumber. He's also well-known for various other roles in major movies including Pleasantville, Speed, Arachnaphobia, 101 Dalmations. He recently played the lead role in HBO drama The Newsroom.