Career: While modelling, he met then-unknown film-maker Guy Ritchie, who cast him in his first film, 1998's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, which put them both on the showbiz map. Statham went on to star in Ritchie's follow-up movie Snatch, and then started forging a career in Hollywood. Although John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars was a flop, he soon proved to be one of Britain's most reliable action stars, thanks to hits such as The One, The Transporter and its sequel; The Italian Job; Cellular; Chaos; Crank; War, and The Bank Job. He was among the action star dream line-up in The Expendables and its sequels, and has several more films in production.

Career: In 2004, Gillen received a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway performance in Harold Pinter's The Caretaker. This led to a role in acclaimed HBO drama The Wire. In 2011, he began playing Petyr `Littlefinger" Baelish in HBO drama Game of Thrones. His film credits include The Dark Knight Rises (2012), The Good Man (2012), Mister John (2013) and Calvary (2014). In 2011, he began presenting RTE music series Other Voices. Since then, he has appeared in BBC drama Mayday and RTE dramas Love/Hate and Charlie. He also voiced Paul Serene in the video game Quantum Break and its accompanying TV series.

Career: Considine went on to make an impact in the United States thanks to the movies 24 Hour Party People, and In America. In 2004, he co-wrote Meadows' film Dead Man's Shoes, and Ron Howard cast him opposite Russell Crowe in period boxing epic Cinderella Man. In the years since Considine has starred in a mix of critically acclaimed projects, including The Bourne Ultimatum, Hot Fuzz, The World's End, Submarine, and The Double. He's also an accomplished director, with the BAFTA-winning short film Dog Altogether paving the way for critically acclaimed feature Tyrannosaur. That picked up a string of awards around the world, including the BAFTA for Outstanding debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.

Career: Morrissey's big break came at the age of 18 when he landed the lead role of Billy Rizley in Channel 4's first drama series, One Summer. After that he trained at Rada. A steady stream of small-screen and theatre roles followed. At the 2004 Bafta awards, Morrissey was nominated for Best TV Actor for his performance in the drama serial, State of Play. In the same year, The Deal, in which he co-starred as Gordon Brown to Michael Sheen's Tony Blair, won the award for Best Single Drama. Projects since include Blackpool, Cape Wrath, Red Riding, Basic Instinct 2, Nowhere Boy, Mrs Mandela, Doctor Who and a starring role in adaptations of Mark Billingham's Tom Thorne books for Sky1. In 2012, he joined the cast of The Walking Dead, and continues to work on stage whenever his busy schedule allows.

Career: Between 2000 and 2008, Evans starred in various West End productions, including Taboo, Rent, La Cava, Avenue Q and Miss Saigon. His first film role was in Clash of the Titans (2010). Since then, he has appeared in such films as Blitz (2011), Dracula Untold (2014), The Girl on the Train (2016) and Beauty and the Beast (2017).

Career: During the early part of Ashton's TV career, she made guest appearances in The Demon Headmaster, In Deep, NCS Manhunt, Holby City and The Bill. She made her film debut in St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold (2009). More recently, she has had recurring roles in Case Histories, Fresh Meat and Not Safe for Work. Her other film credits include Blitz (2011) and Weekender (2011). In 2006, she was the Young Writer in Residence at the Contact Theatre in Manchester. Her first play, Harm's Way, was shortlisted for the Verity Bargate Award in 2007.

Career: Known predominately for his stage career, Rylance has starred in a number of Shakespearean productions, including Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Henry V, As You Like It and Macbeth. He became the first Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in 1995 and continued this role until 2005. While he was there, he directed and starred in a number of productions. He has won Olivier Awards for Much Ado About Nothing, and Jerusalem, and Tony Awards for Boeing Boeing, Jerusalem, and Twelfth Night. His film credits include Prospero's Books (1991), Angels and Insects (1995), Intimacy (2001), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), Blitz (2011) and Anonymous (2011). More recently, he starred in the BBC drama Wolf Hall.