Career: Smith rose to prominence on stage during the 1950s thanks to regular West End roles. Her first film, 1956's Child in the House, didn't set the box office alight, but she eventually gained international acclaim thanks to her role in Othello nine years later. She won an Oscar for 1969's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and has since appeared in such acclaimed productions as California Suite (for which she picked up another Academy Award), A Room with a View, and Gosford Park. She became a Dame of the British Empire in 1990. More recently, Smith gained a new fan base thanks to her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, appeared in the films Ladies in Lavender and Keeping Mum, and TV series Downton Abbey. She has also battled breast cancer.

Career: Caine worked on stage and appeared in small roles on TV, often struggling to make ends meet. He was good friends with Terence Stamp during the early 1960s, before either became famous, and they often shared digs. Caine decided if he wasn't successful by the age of 30 he'd quit acting. Days before this milestone he landed the role in Zulu which made his name. The Harry Palmer spy movies, The Italian Job and Alfie secured his star status. Since then, he's made many films, many forgettable and, by his own admission, done for the money. Highlights include Get Carter, Sleuth (plus a remake), The Man Who Would Be King, Educating Rita, Little Voice, Mona Lisa, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Harry Brown and Interstellar. He won Oscars for Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules. He claims he will retire from showbusiness when he's 90.

Career: Fonda's movie debut came in 1960's Tall Story. By the end of the decade she was a major star thanks to such films as Cat Ballou, Barefoot in the Park and Barbarella. She later won Oscars for Klute and Coming Home. Other memorable movies are On Golden Pond, Nine to Five, The Electric Horseman and California Suite. In 1982 she launched her first exercise video, and became a fitness guru to millions. Fonda announced her retirement from acting in 1990, but returned to the big screen in 2005 in Monster-in-Law. Her recent work has included roles in The Newsroom, The Butler and This is Where I Leave You.

Career: Alda was interested in performing from an early age, appearing in numerous plays and on TV in Amsterdam alongside his father. Movies and US series including The Phil Silvers Show, Route 66 and The Mephisto Waltz followed, but landing the role of Hawkeye Pierce in the TV version of MASH made him a household name. The programme ran from 1972 to 1983, and was a smash hit across the globe. He also directed and wrote several episodes, winning Emmys for his work. He has written and directed movies and continued to act in such projects as ER, The West Wing, Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), The Aviator (2004), 30 Rock, Law & Order: LA, The Big C and The Blacklist.