Career: After several TV roles, Hanks made the transition to movies and became one of the biggest stars of the past three decades. His breakthrough came in 1984's Splash, and was followed by hit after hit, including Bachelor Party and Dragnet. When he took the lead in Oscar-nominated Big in 1988, he transformed a simple comedy into something much more powerful, before truly proving his acting credentials with an Oscar-winning turn as an Aids-afflicted laweyer in Philadeplhia. He gave terrific turns in romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle, then another Oscar followed for Forrest Gump. Many expected him to garner a third for Saving Private Ryan. He has been a successful director of several projects and helped bring iconic TV projects like Band of Brothers to the screen. Recent hits include The Da Vinci Code and its follow-up, and the Toy Story films.

Career: Newman began his career on stage, although he will always be best known for his movies. He won acclaim in the late 1950s for the films Somebody up There Likes Me, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Young Philadelphians. The 1960s proved to be a hugely successful time for the actor, with movies such as The Hustler, Hud and Cool Hand Luke sealing his popularity. His partnership with Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid also cemented his reputation as a Hollywood legend. Other box office hits include The Towering Inferno, The Sting, The Color of Money and Road to Perdition. He retired from acting in 2007 and died a year later at the age of 83. He was also the founder of food company Newman's Own, the after-tax profits of which go to charity.

Career: Law made his TV debut in 1989's The Tailor of Gloucester, and a year later left school to take a role in daytime soap Families. During his early twenties, he spent much of his time on stage, where he gained numerous plaudits. His first film, Shopping, wasn't a success, but he made a name for himself in Wilde. Appearances in Gattaca, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, eXistenZ and AI: Artificial Intelligence cemented his reputation. He gained an Oscar nomination for The Talented Mr Ripley in 1999, and another for Cold Mountain four years later. Other projects include Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, The Aviator and The Holiday. His more recent roles include a part in Guy Ritchie's takes on Sherlock Holmes, playing Dr Watson. He also occasionally appears in stage productions.

Career: Craig started out on stage, eventually making his film debut in 1992's The Power of One. TV series Our Friends in the North and TV movie The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders made him a star in 1996. The movies Elizabeth (1998), Love is the Devil (1998), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Road to Perdition (2002), The Mother (2003), Sylvia (2003), Enduring Love (2004), Layer Cake (2004) and Munich (2005) followed. He was controversially cast in a five-film deal as James Bond, but proved doubters wrong with an outstanding performance in Casino Royale (2006). He's since followed it up with Quantum of Solace (2008) and Skyfall (2012). He's also appeared in Cowboys & Aliens (2011), and the US remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011).

Career: After landing a role in Disney TV movie The Young Runaways (1978), several TV movies followed before she made her big-screen debut in the slasher film Eyes of a Stranger (1981). Her big break came in high school comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). She went on to star in The Hitcher (1986), Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989), Backdraft (1991), Single White Female (1992), Dolores Claiborne (1995), Georgia (1995), Mrs Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994), and eXistenZ (1999). More recently, Leigh has starred in Road to Perdition (2002), In the Cut (2003), The Machinist (2004), and Synecdoche, New York (2008). On the small screen, she has played roles in Weeds, and Revenge. On the stage she has appeared in Cabaret, Proof, and Abigail's Party.

Career: Tucci is much in demand as an actor and has had roles in a number of films, including Beethoven (1992), The Pelican Brief (1993), Kiss of Death (1995), Big Night (1996), Road to Perdition (2002), The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Julie & Julia (2009), The Lovely Bones (2009), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), The Hunger Games (2012) and its sequel The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), and Jack the Giant Slayer (2013). He has also turned up on the small screen in Monk, ER, 3lbs and 30 Rock.

Career: In 1990, Mendes became the artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse studio space in London's Covent Garden. He went on to stage productions of Assassins, Cabaret, Oliver!, The Glass Menagerie, Company, Habeas Corpus, Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night. In 2003, he directed a revival of the musical Gypsy on Broadway. In 1999, he made his feature film directorial debut with American Beauty, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Director. He went on to direct the movies Road to Perdition (2002), Jarhead (2005), Revolutionary Road (2008), Away We Go (2009) and James Bond film Skyfall (2012). He returned to the stage in 2013 as the director of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He has signed up to direct the 24th James Bond film, which is due to be released in cinemas in 2015.