Career: At 19, Penn began studying acting, and made early TV appearances in Barnaby Jones and Little House on the Prairie. His first film was Taps in 1981. He stole the show in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and At Close Range. Since then, he's starred in Casualties of War, Carlito's Way, Dead Man Walking, I Am Sam, Mystic River, 21 Grams, The Assassination of Richard Nixon, Milk, Fair Game and Gangster Squad. He won Best Actor Oscars for Mystic River and Milk. He has also written, directed, and produced several movies, including Into the Wild. Penn also actively supports a number of political and social causes. He called for George W Bush to be impeached after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Career: Lopez had small roles in films My Little Girl and Lambada before her big break came with a two-year stint in TV comedy series In Living Color. She toured as a dancer with Janet Jackson and appeared in several other TV shows. She then starred on the big screen in My Family, Money Train, Jack, and Blood and Wine. Playing the title role in 1997's Selena proved Lopez was more than just a pretty face, while Out of Sight and The Wedding Planner turned her into box-office gold. Movies since include Maid in Manhattan, Monster-in-Law and the much-maligned Gigli. After a three-year break from movies, she returned in 2010 romantic comedy The Back-Up Plan. She has been a judge on several American Idol series and is a hugely successful recording artist with numerous hit albums, singles and tours to her name.

Career: Nolte's movie breakthrough was in 1982 action comedy 48 Hours. He followed this up with critically-acclaimed vehicles like Down and Out in Beverly Hills and Three Fugitives. He gave more serious performances in the The Prince of Tides and Cape Fear. He has been Oscar-nominated three times, and performances in dark dramas like Affliction have been critically-acclaimed. He gave a superb turn in short-lived HBO racing drama Luck.

Career: At the age of 11, Danes appeared in the short film Dreams of Love. Two years later she made her TV debut in an episode of Law & Order. 1994 became a big year for her - she had a leading role in an acclaimed adaptation of Little Women, alongside Susan Sarandon, and launched her own drama series, My So-Called Life. However, it was her appearance in Romeo + Juliet on the big screen alongside Leonardo DiCaprio that made her an international star. Notable films since include The Hours, Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines, Stardust, and Me and Orson Welles. She returned to TV for Temple Grandin (for which she won an Emmy and a Golden Globe) in 2010. She has also won numerous awards for her work on Homeland.

Career: The Phoenix children began landing acting roles at a young age. Leaf's first role was on TV in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in 1982. His film debut was in 1986's Space Camp. He also appeared in Parenthood in 1989 before changing his name back to Joaquin and dropping out of acting to travel in South America with his father. To Die For thrust him back into the spotlight in 1995. He's worked constantly since then, in such projects as 8MM, The Yards, Quills, Buffalo Soldiers, Signs, The Village, Ladder 49, and Her. He has received Oscar nominations for The Master, Walk the Line, and Gladiator.

Career: After years of trying to interest studios in their script, Thornton and Epperson sold their screenplay for One False Move, which was turned into a movie in 1992. Thornton co-starred, and by 1996 he had written, directed and starred in the critically acclaimed Sling Blade for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Thornton was then snapped up for projects including U Turn, Armageddon, A Simple Plan, Pushing Tin, The Man Who Wasn't There, Monster's Ball, Bad Santa and Bandits. More recent projects have included School for Scoundrels, Mr Woodcock, Eagle Eye and Manure, and the TV miniseries Fargo.

Career: Voight's professional career began on stage with a role in a Broadway production of The Sound of Music. He made his TV debut in a 1963 episode of Naked City and four years later appeared in Fearless Frank, his first film. He became a star in 1969 thanks to an Oscar-nominated performance in Midnight Cowboy. A series of well-received movies followed, such as Catch-22, Deliverance and The Odessa File. He won a Best Actor Academy Award for 1978's Coming Home. Major films since include Table for Five, The Champ, Heat, Mission: Impossible, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Ali and The Manchurian Candidate. He played Jonas Hodges, the main antagonist of Jack Bauer, in the seventh season of American drama 24. More recently, he has starred in Ray Donovan.