Career: Cooper's first acting role was a small part in an episode of Sex and the City in 1999. He made his film debut in Wet Hot American Summer (2001) and his first break came the same year when he was cast as Will Tippin in TV drama Alias, a role he would play over five seasons. He went on to work regularly in a number of TV shows and films until his biggest break came in 2009 when The Hangover was a huge box-office hit around the world. This opened the door to roles in higher-profile Hollywood films such as The A-Team (2010), two Hangover sequels, Limitless (2011), The Place Beyond the Pines (2012), Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and American Hustle (2013). Following the success of Guardians of the Galaxy, in which he voiced Rocket Raccoon, his most recent triumph is Clint Eastwood's blockbuster, American Sniper.

Career: Blanchett started out on the Sydney stage, in both straight dramas and musicals. She made her TV debut in Police Rescue in 1993. Other brief small-screen roles followed, until two miniseries, Heartland and Bordertown, got her noticed. The movies Oscar and Lucinda, and Thank God He Met Lizzie were well-received, but it was 1998's Elizabeth, for which she received an Academy Award nomination, that made her a star. She reprised the role in sequel Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Other notable projects include The Talented Mr Ripley, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Aviator (for which she won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Robin Hood. In 2013, she won an Oscar for Blue Jasmine in the Best Actress category.

Career: In 1994, Collette landed the lead role in Muriel's Wedding, gaining 40 lbs for the part. She made her Hollywood debut in hit-and-miss 1995 comedy The Pallbearer. However, her Oscar-nominated role in The Sixth Sense really put her on the map in Tinseltown. Toni has also appeared in Shaft, About a Boy and won critical acclaim for her work in 2006 comedy drama Little Miss Sunshine. Later projects include Tsunami: The Aftermath, The Black Balloon, and Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger. Between 2009 and 2011 she starred in the American comedy drama United States of Tara in a role that saw her win an Emmy and Golden Globe. Away from acting, she also plays in her band Toni Collette and the Finish.

Career: Willem toured with Theatre X for four years, before joining avant garde New York company The Performance Group. He made his first venture into film acting with a role in Heaven's Gate, but was cut from the finished movie. He went on to win parts in To Live and Die in LA and The Loveless, but his big break came with Platoon, which earned him an Oscar nomination. He also made headlines in 1988 when he took the lead role in the controversial The Last Temptation of Christ. Since then, his movies have included Mississippi Burning, Born on the Fourth of July, The English Patient, Shadow of the Vampire (for which he received another Oscar nod) and Spider-Man. His more recent films include Antichrist, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, Daybreakers and Miral.

Career: Jenkins has enjoyed a long career, mostly in supporting roles. His film credits include Silverado (1985), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), There's Something About Mary (1998), Me, Myself and Irene (2000), Step Brothers (2008) and The Three Stooges (2012). He had a rare lead role in the critically acclaimed The Vistor (2007). His recent films include The Cabin in the Woods (2012), Jack Reacher (2012) and White House Down (2013). On the small screen, he had a recurring role in Six Feet Under.

Career: Mara made her film debut in Dream Boy (2008). Her first high-profile role came in the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010). Since then, she has starred in The Social Network (2010), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), Side Effects (2013), Her (2013) and Carol (2015).

Career: Steenburgen got her big break when she was discovered by Jack Nicholson and cast in the female lead of Goin' South (1978). She had a leading role in her second film, Time After Time (1979), and for her third film, Melvin and Howard (1980), she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Steenburgen's children persuaded her to play the role of Clara Clayton in Back to the Future Part III (1990) and she reprised the role for Back to the Future: The Animated Series. Throughout the 90s, she appeared in the films What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) and Nixon (1995) as well as the TV series Ink. From the 2000s onwards, she got recurring roles in Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock and Orange is the New Black. Steenburgen also went on to appear in the films Elf (2003), Step Brothers (2008), The Proposal (2009) and The Help (2011). Since 2015, she has played Gail Klosterman in The Last Man on Earth. Her recent film roles include Dean (2016) and The Discovery (2017).

Career: In 1993 he made his first collaboration with director Guillermo del Toro in Cronos, and also became a favourite of director Jean-Pierre Jeunet after starring in The City of Lost Children. The French director also cast him in Alien Resurrection. Re-teamed with del Toro for Blade II, who also cast him as the heroic demon star of Hellboy in 2004. Also starred in a sequel to that hit, and voiced an animated spin-off. Has lent his familiar tones to assorted cartoons and video games over the years, including Batman and Halo 3. In recent years has won a new wave of fans thanks to hit TV series Sons of Anarchy, and the films Drive and Conan the Barbarian. He starred in del Toro's 2013 fantasy epic Pacific Rim.