Attack the Block

Jodie Whittaker (Actor) .. Sam

Born: June 16, 1982 in Slekmanthorpe, West Yorkshire

Trivia: She auditioned for a 2007 production of The Seagull at the Royal Court, but lost out to Carey Mulligan. However, when Mulligan was struck down by appendicitis midway through the run, Whittaker filled in for her at just two hours' notice.

Best Known For: Being the first female Doctor Who

Early-life: Born in 1982 in Skelmanthorpe, West Yorkshire. She admits to being a bit of an attention-seeker as a child, and says it was lucky that urge was channelled into acting. After leaving school she completed a BTEC in performing arts before winning a place at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she studied alongside future Captain America star Hayley Atwell and Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery. Her future husband, American actor Christian Contreras, was in the year below.

Career: Whittaker's first professional acting job was in The Storm at Shakespeare's Globe in 2005, but her big break came the following year when she made her film debut alongside Peter O'Toole in Venus, a role which saw her nominated for the British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer. She went on to star in St Trinian's, One Day and the acclaimed British sci-fi movie Attack the Block. Whittaker also won plaudits for her TV work, most notably as bereaved mother Beth Latimer in Broadchurch and a nurse posing as a doctor in Trust Me. However, her profile received the biggest boost when it was announced she was taking over the Tardis as the 13th Doctor.

Quote: "You can never say I'm type cast - you don't get type cast as a Time Lord."

John Boyega (Actor) .. Moses

Born: March 17, 1992 in Peckham, London

Best Known For: Playing Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Early-life: John Adedayo Adegboyega was born on March 17, 1992 in Peckham, London to Abigail and Samson. He was noticed by the artistic director of Theatre Peckham, Teresa Early, while acting in a play at his primary school. After getting financial help from a hardship fund, John joined Theatre Peckham outside of school hours. He got a national diploma in performing arts from South Thames College and trained at the Identity School of Acting. He enrolled on a film studies and media writing degree course at the University of Greenwich but dropped out to focus on his acting career.

Career: Boyega performed in Six Parties at the National Theatre and Category B at the Tricycle Theatre before being offered a part in the film Attack the Block (2011). In the same year, he played Jamal in the film Junkhearts (2011). Next, Boyega was cast in the film adaptation Half of a Yellow Sun (2013). He got his biggest role to date when he joined the Star Wars franchise as ex-Stormtrooper Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). Since then, he has appeared in The Circle (2017) and has set up his own production company, Upperroom Entertainment Limited.

Quote: 'Film is just a great medium to express yourself and a great environment to work around.'

Trivia: He was chosen as one of the UK Stars of Tomorrow 2011 by Screen International.

Nick Frost (Actor) .. Ron

Born: March 28, 1972 in Romford

Best Known For: His work with old pal Simon Pegg.

Early-life: Nicholas John Frost was born in Romford on March 28th, 1972. He left school at the age of 15 and by his own admission 'kicked around for a couple of years', before moving to Israel. He returned to the UK 16 months later, and got a temporary job as a waiter. Five years later, he met Simon Pegg, who eventually moved in as his flatmate. Nick used to make his chum laugh in the pub with the character Mike, which Pegg asked his friend to do on the new show he was writing, Spaced.

Career: Frost's starring role in Spaced led to other roles, most notably a one-off episode of Acorn Antiques. In 2002, Frost presented the show Danger! 50,000 Volts! as well as co-writing and starring in the radio comedy Sofa of Time. Two years later, Frost and Pegg teamed up for the smash 'rom-zom-com' Shaun of the Dead (2004). Their next big-screen foray, Hot Fuzz (2007), went down equally well with audiences. The third film in their trilogy, The World's End, was released in 2013. Frost has also starred in TV comedies Hyperdrive and Mr Sloane, and the films Penelope (2006), Paul (2011), Attack the Block (2011) and Cuban Fury (2014).

Quote: 'I'm a completely different person today because of Simon Pegg. I like to think he introduced me to culture, and I taught him how to make a good bong and the best way to shotgun a can of Special Brew.'

Trivia: He voiced Thomson in The Adventures of Tintin (2011).

Luke Treadaway (Actor) .. Brewis

Terry Notary (Actor) .. Creature

Alex Esmail (Actor) .. Pest

Jumayn Hunter (Actor) .. Hi-Hatz

Leeon Jones (Actor) .. Jerome

Joe Cornish (Director)

12:50 am - 02:35 am, Monday, May 4 on Film4 +1 (47)

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