Penguins of Madagascar

Benedict Cumberbatch (Actor) .. Classified

Born: July 19, 1976 in London

Best Known For: Playing the modern-day Sherlock.

Early-life: Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was born on July 19, 1976, in London. His parents are actors Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham. He was educated at the public schools Brambletye and Harrow (his grandmother paid his fees); he first started acting at the latter. After spending a year teaching English in a Tibetan monastary, Benedict studied drama at Manchester University, and later continued his studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Career: Cumberbatch has divided his professional time between stage, film and TV. He's performed in various London venues, including the Royal Court and National Theatre, and in 2011 he shared the Olivier Award for Best Actor with his Frankenstein co-star Jonny Lee Miller. His first film was 2003's To Kill a King; projects since include Starter for 10, Amazing Grace, The Other Boleyn Girl, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and War Horse. His biggest successes, however, have come on TV in Hawking, The Last Enemy, Parade's End and, of course, Sherlock. He's also worked on The Hobbit movies and Star Trek Into Darkness.

Quote: "Cumberbatch - it sounds like a fart in a bath, doesn't it? What a fluffy old name. I can never say it on a Monday morning. When I became an actor, Mum wasn't keen on me keeping it."

Trivia: In 2014, Time magazine included him in their list of the most influential people in the world.

John Malkovich (Actor) .. Dave

Best Known For: His intense stare.

Early-life: John Gavin Malkovich was born on December 9, 1953, in Illinois. His father, Daniel, was a conservation director and publisher of Outdoor Illinois magazine; his mother, Joe Anne, owned local newspaper the Benton Evening News. He has four siblings. Malkovich became hooked on acting at school, and after majoring in theatre at university, joined Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company, which had recently been formed by his friend, Gary Sinise.

Career: In 1980 Malkovich moved to New York to further his career, and won great acclaim in 1984 for his performance opposite Dustin Hoffman in Death of a Salesman. Early films include Places in the Heart, The Killing Fields and Empire of the Sun, but it was 1988's Dangerous Liaisons that made him a star. Further plaudits came for Of Mice and Men and In the Line of Fire. He played a version of himself in Being John Malkovich. He continues to appear on both stage and screen in a variety of projects, including blockbuster hits RED and its sequel, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

Quote: "I still don't know if I made the right decision when I went into acting. I have driven school buses, sold egg rolls and painted houses, and I have often wondered what my life would have been like if I hadn't gone into acting. Mind you, it's a great life."

Trivia: In June, an elderly man tripped on a Toronto street and slashed his neck on some scaffolding. Malkovich saved his life by applying pressue to the wound until he could receive medical help.

Tom McGrath (Actor) .. Skipper

Chris Miller (Actor) .. Kowalski

Christopher Knights (Actor) .. Private

Conrad Vernon (Actor) .. Rico

Ken Jeong (Actor) .. Short Fuse

Annet Mahendru (Actor) .. Eva

Eric Darnell (Director)

Simon J Smith (Director)

10:50 am - 12:25 pm, Today on Sky Cinema Animation HD (514)

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