Career: Carrey dropped out of high school at 16, but began appearing as a stand-up comedian in Toronto clubs. After moving to Los Angeles, he made a name for himself at The Comedy Store before moving into films and TV. Small roles in Peggy Sue Got Married, Earth Girls Are Easy and The Dead Pool followed. The series In Living Color helped make his name in the US, while the success of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective turned him into a global star. Hit films since include The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Liar Liar, The Truman Show, Bruce Almighty, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. His recent work includes Mr Popper's Penguins, Kick-Ass 2 and Dumb and Dumber To.

Career: Deschanel appeared in a guest role on the TV series Veronica's Closet before making her film debut in Lawrence Kasdan's 1999 comedy Mumford. She received rave reviews for her supporting role in her second film, director Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical Almost Famous. Over the next few years she played supporting roles in a series of films that included Manic, Big Trouble, and The Good Girl. She turned down several supporting roles and played her first lead role in All the Real Girls, to great acclaim, before appearing in box office smashes Elf, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Jim Carrey Yes Man. She has appeared in Bones alongside her sister Emily, and currently plays the lead role in sitcom New Girl.

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: Flanagan's acting breakthrough in Ireland was in the Irish language play An Triail. She made her Broadway debut in 1968 in Brian Friel's Lovers. Flanagan is known for her interpretations of works by the author James Joyce, having played Gerty McDowell in the film version of Ulysses (1967), all six main female roles in the film adaptation of James Joyce's Women (1985) and theatrical productions of Ulysses in Nighttown and Women. Flanagan has appeared on many American TV shows and TV films, including The Ewok Adventure (1984), How the West Was Won, Murder, She Wrote and Rich Man, Poor Man. She has made a number of big screen appearances, including in The Others (2001), Four Brothers (2005), Transamerica (2005), Yes Man (2008) and The Invention of Lying (2009). Between 2006 and 2008, she played Rose Caffee in the American TV drama Brotherhood. More recently, she appeared in the spin-off of EastEnders, Redwater.

Career: Stamp and his flatmate Michael Caine struggled to make ends meet for years. Then, in 1962, Stamp landed the title role in the film Billy Budd, for which he gained an Oscar nomination. He became one of the faces of the 1960s thanks to his roles in the likes of The Collector, Poor Cow, and Far from the Madding Crowd. He rarely worked during the 1970s, preferring to spend time in India. He returned to form playing the villainous General Zod in Superman and its sequel. Since then, Stamp has appeared in such movies as The Hit, Wall Street, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace, Bowfinger and The Limey. More recent work includes Get Smart, Valkyrie, The Adjustment Bureau and Song for Marion.