Brit of the Week

Samantha Morton (May 13, 1977) was born in Nottingham, England as one of three children in the Morton family. At age seven, Samantha was made a ward of the state and was shuffled in and out of foster homes for several years after. Under the influence of drugs, she threatened a bully and had to serve time in a juvenile facility. After a troubled childhood, Morton decided to make a change in her life. She focused her efforts on drama. She landed parts in several British series, but it was her role in 1999's "Sweet and Lowdown" which garnered her the attention of Hollywood (and an Oscar nomination). Since then she has had starring roles in "Minority Report", "In America" (her 2nd Oscar nom), "The Libertine", and "Elizabeth: The Golden Age". Up next: "John Carter of Mars" (with Mark Strong and Willem Dafoe) and "Banking on Mr. Toad" (with Ioan Gruffudd).

Brit of the Week

Felicity Jones (Oct. 17, 1983) was born in Birmingham, England to a journalist father and a mother in advertising. She attended Kings Norton Girls School, followed by King Edward VI Handsworth School, and finally Wadham College, Oxford. She soon pursued acting, landing a recurring role on "The Worst Witch". She then appeared in "Weirdsister College", "The Archers", "Brideshead Revisited", and "Cemetery Junction", all before landed the role of 'Anna' in 2011's "Like Crazy". She garnered Best Breakthrough Awards from the the Sundance Film Festival, the Gotham Awards, and the National Board of Review. Next up: "Cheerful Weather for the Wedding (with Elizabeth McGovern and Luke Treadway) and "Hysteria" (with Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Rupert Everett).

Brit of the Week

Richard Ayoade (June 12, 1977) hails from Whipps Cross, England. He is the only child of a Norwegian mother and Nigerian father. He attended St. Joseph's College and then studied law at St. Catherine's College, Cambridge. He made a splash in series like, "Garth Marenghi's Darkplace" and "The Mighty Boosh", but has really made a name for himself playing the hilarious character 'Moss' in the long-running series "The IT Crowd". Next up: "Neighborhood Watch" (with Jonah Hill, Ben Stiller, and Vince Vaughn)

Brit of the Week

Lucy Punch (Dec. 30, 1977) was born in London. She started her career early when she decided to join the National Youth Theatre. After that she tried her hand at college, attending University College London, but dropped out to pursue acting full time. She made her debut in a 1998 episode of "The New Adventures of Robin Hood". Since then she has appeared in "Greenfingers", "Ella Enchanted", "Hot Fuzz", "Dinner for Schmucks", and "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger". Up next for the funny lady: "Bad Teacher" (with Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel), "A Little Bit of Heaven" (with Kate Hudson and Gael Garcia Bernal), and "Take Me Home Tonight" (with Anna Faris and Topher Grace).

Brit of the Week

Benedict Cumberbatch (July 19, 1976) was born in London to actors Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton. He attended Brambletye School and then Harrow School. Before studying drama at the University of Manchester, he took a year off to teach English in a Tibetan monastery. After graduating from U of M, he trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Benedict began his career on the stage, even being nominated for an Olivier Award. From there he did a lot of television ("Heartbeat", "Tipping the Velvet", and "The Ends of the Earth") and several films ("Amazing Grace", "Atonement", "The Other Boleyn Girl", and "Creation"). In 2010, it was his performance in the mini-series "Sherlock" that really put him on the map. Up next: Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" (with Emily Watson and David Thewlis), "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (with Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, and Mark Strong), and the highly anticipated "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (with Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, and his "Sherlock" costar Martin Freeman).

Brit of the Week

Billie Piper (Sept. 22, 1982) was born in Swindon, England as one of four children. She began her career as a pop singer, with hits in Europe. She decided to take a turn at acting and in 2004 she landed the coveted role, 'Rose', in the resurrected hit series, "Doctor Who". It was her next role that would make her a hit among American audiences as well. In 2007, Piper took on Belle de Jour/Hannah Baxter in the Showtime series, "Secret Diary of a Call Girl". The show, which is actually a product of an English production company, is a fact-based narrative about the life of a London call girl. Piper is fantastic as the working gal.

Brit of the Week

Hugh Dancy (June 19, 1975) was born in Staffordshire, England. His father is a philosopher and professor and his mother is a publisher. He was educated at Dragon School, Winchester College, and finally St. Peter's College. He got his start on the series "Cold Feet" and made his film debut in 2001's "Black Hawk Down". He has since had roles in "Adam", "Confessions of a Shopaholic", "King Arthur", and "Evening". Next up for him: "My Idiot Brother" (with Paul Rudd, Rashida Jones, and Elizabeth Banks), "Hysteria" (with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rupert Everett, and Gemma Jones), and "Dorothy of Oz" (with Lea Michele, Patrick Stewart, and Dan Aykroyd).

Brit of the Week

Emily Blunt (Feb. 23, 1983) was born in Roehampton, London to a teacher/actress and an attorney. At age sixteen, Blunt moved to Hurtwood House (college) and studied drama. She was discovered by an agent shortly after and made her theater debut. She made her screen debut in 2003, when she was cast in the series "Boudica". It was her edgy and manipulative role in 2004's "My Summer of Love" that garnered her major attention from Hollywood. She has since costarred in "Gideon's Daughter" (for which she won a Golden Globe), "The Devil Wears Prada", "Charlie Wilson's War", "The Wolfman", and "The Adjustment Bureau". Up next: "The Muppets" (with Jason Segel and Amy Adams), "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" (with Ewan McGregor and Kristin Scott Thomas), and "Looper" (with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis).

Brit of the Week

Charlotte Riley (Dec. 29, 1981) comes from Thorpe Thewles, England. She attended Teesside High, Durham University, and then London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She made her debut in an episode of "Grownups" in 2007. Since then she has appeared in series like, "Holby City", "Foyle's War", and "DCI Banks". She also starred with fiance Tom Hardy in 2009's "Wuthering Heights". Next up for her: "Entity" (with Rupert Hill), "Grand Street" (with Sam Robards), and "World Without End" (with Cynthia Nixon, Miranda Richardson, and Ben Chaplin).

Brit of the Week

Romola Garai (Aug. 6, 1982) was born in Singapore to a journalist mother and banker father. She moved with her family back to England at the age of eight and went on to attend Queen Mary, University of London. She grabbed the role of a younger Judi Dench in "Last of the Blonde Bombshells" after an agent spotted her. Her first major role was as 'Kate Nickleby' in 2002's "Nicholas Nickleby". After roles in "Vanity Fair", "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights", Garai got the part of older 'Briony' in 2007's Oscar-nominated film "Atonement". Next up for her are "One Day" (with Anne Hathaway and Patricia Clarkson) and "Virtuoso" (with Armin Mueller-Stahl).

Brit of the Week

Idris Elba (Sept. 6, 1972) hails from London, the son of a Ghanaian mother and father from Sierra Leone. He started out with a passion for DJing and even won a place in the National Youth Music Theatre. He landed his first role in 1995 on the series "Bramwell". He then got roles in shows like, "Degrees of Error", "The Bill", and "The Governor". He got his biggest break when he was cast as 'Stringer' in HBO's "The Wire". Since then he has become known for his work in films like "Obsessed", "Little Girls", "28 Weeks Later", and "American Gangster" and also for his recurring role on the NBC show "The Office". Next up: "Thor" (with Natalie Portman), "Ghost Rider 2" (with Nicolas Cage), and "Prometheus" (with Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron).

Brit of the Week

Bill Nighy (Dec. 12, 1949) was born in Surrey to a Scottish mother and English/Irish father. He trained at the Guildford School of Acting. He began his career in the theater, doing plays like 'Illuminatus'. He starred in many radio and television dramas, but really made his mark in 1991's "The Men's Room". He had some success in films like "Still Crazy" and "People Like Us", but it was 2003's "Underworld" which put him on the acting map. Since then he has starred in films like "Shawn of the Dead", "Love Actually" (for which he won the Best Supporting BAFTA award), "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest", and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1". Next up for him, "Wrath of the Titans" (with Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and "Ralph Fiennes) and "Jack the Giant Killer" (with Ewan McGregor and Stanley Tucci).

Brit of the Week

Naomie Harris (Sept. 6, 1976) was born and raised in London. Her single mother was a sitcom writer, who had immigrated from Jamaica. Harris attended Pembroke College, Cambridge for her undergraduate work and then trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She had been getting small parts on commercials and series since the age of nine, but it was her starring role in Danny Boyle's 2002 horror masterpiece, "28 Days Later". Since her big break, Harris has had roles in "After the Sunset", Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest", "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", "Miami Vice", and "Street Kings".

Brit of the Week

Jason Statham (Sept 12, 1967) hails from Derbyshire, England, the son of a homemaker and lounge singer. He moved to Norfolk, where he met his lifelong friend former footballer and actor Vinnie Jones. When he was young he pursued diving and was a member of Britain's National Diving Squad for 12 years. He soon began modeling and was later introduced to Guy Ritchie, who was casting for "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels". Statham's career was on a roll when he landed parts in "Snatch", "Ghosts of Mars", and "The One", but it was his decision to take the lead role in "The Transporter", that catapulted him into mainstream movie stardom. Up next: "The Mechanic (with Ben Foster) and "The Killer Elite" (with Clive Owen and Robert De Niro).

Brit of the Week

Anna Friel (July 12, 1976) was born in Greater Manchester and is the daughter of a special needs teacher and a French teacher-turned-website owner. She attended Crompton House Church of England High School and then made her way to Holy Cross College. She got her start at the age of 13 in various British series, including "Emmerdale". She made a jump to films in 1998's "The Land Girls. Since then she has appeared in "A Midsummer's Night Dream", "Me Without You", "Timeline", "Perfect Strangers", and "Land of the Lost". She made a splash in America when she landed the role of 'Chuck' in the short-lived (but brilliant) show "Pushing Daisies". Next up: "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" (with Freida Pinto, Naomi Watts, and Josh Brolin) and "Limitless" (with Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper).

Brit of the Week

Michael Sheen (Feb. 5, 1969) hails from Newport, Wales, the son of Irene and Meyrick Sheen. He attended Glan Afan Comprehensive School and played football at the Baglan Boy's Club. He was offered a trial at Arsenal FC (a professional English football league), but turned it down in order to pursue his dream of acting. Sheen trained at the National Youth Theatre of Wales and went on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. He got his big break on a television series called "Gallowglass" and moved right on to films with his roles in "Mary Reilly" and "Wilde". Sheen's major leap to star came when he was given the role of 'Lucien' in 2003's "Underworld". Since then he has appeared in "The Laws of Attraction", "The Queen", "Blood Diamond", "Frost/Nixon", and most recently "Alice in Wonderland" and "Tron: Legacy". Up next for the Brit: "Jesus Henry Christ" (with Toni Collette), "Midnight in Paris" (with Rachel McAdams, Adrien Brody, and Owen Wilson), and the last two films in the "Twilight" series.

Brit of the Week

Thandie Newton (Nov. 6, 1972) was born in London to a Zimbabwean mother and English father. She attended Downing College, Cambridge and did very well academically. Her feature film debut was 1991's Australian film "Flirting" (which costarred Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman). She then landed a small, but important role in 1994's "Interview with a Vampire". It was the part of 'Sally Hemings' in 1995's "Jefferson in Paris" that helped her gain recognition in Hollywood. She went on to star in "Beloved" and "Mission Impossible II" and in 2000, backed out of the role of 'Alex' (which was eventually played by Lucy Lui) in "Charlie's Angels" to do a smaller, indie film. She is most known for her work in "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "Crash" (which won her a Best Supporting Actress BAFTA). Up next "Vanishing on 7th Street (with Hayden Christiensen and John Leguizamo) and "Retreat" (with Jamie Bell and Cillian Murphy).

Brit of the Week

Simon Pegg (Feb 14, 1970), originally Simon Beckingham, hails from Gloucestershire, England. His parents divorced when he was seven and he took on the surname of Pegg after his mother remarried. He studied theater at the University of Bristol and penned an undergraduate thesis entitled, "A Marxist overview of popular 1970s cinema and hegemonic discourses". In the early 90s, he did the comedy circuit as a stand-up, even taking his one-man show on tour to Australia and New Zealand. He garnered bit parts in several television series. He got his big break after writing a series called "Spaced", which followed a group of people living in a small apartment building. He (along with pals Jessica Stevenson and Nick Frost) starred in it. In 2004, his fame went international when he wrote and starred in the hilarious horror film "Shaun of the Dead". Since then he has had roles in "Star Trek", "Mission Impossible III", "Hot Fuzz", and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader". Up next for Pegg, the sequels to "Mission Impossible" and "Star Trek" and a lead role in the Steven Spielberg film "The Adventures of Tintin".

Brit of the Week

Tom Hardy (Sept. 15, 1977) was born in London as Edward Thomas Hardy. He is an only child born to Anne, an artist, and Edward Sr, a writer. Hardy began his studies at Reeds School, followed by Tower House School and Richmond Drama School, and finished at Drama Centre London. He started his career in HBO's mini-series "Band of Brothers" and in Ridley Scott's 2001 "Black Hawk Down". He continued on with roles in "Star Trek Nemesis", "dot the i", "Marie Antoinette", and "RocknRolla". It was, however, his turn as 'Eames' in 2010's "Inception" that got Hollywood a buzzin'. Up next, Hardy has just been cast as Batman-foe 'Bane' in Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated "The Dark Knight Rises".

Brit of the Week

Minnie Driver (Jan. 31, 1970) was born in London, the product of an affair. Driver was raised in Barbados, but moved back to England as a teen. She attended the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. She began her career with stage roles and bit television spots, but it was her role as 'Benny' in 1995's "Circle of Friends" (for which she gained 30 pounds) that made her recognizable. Driver went on to costar in "Grosse Pointe Blank", "Sleepers", and "GoldenEye". It was her performance as 'Skylar' in 1997's "Good Will Hunting" that earned her Oscar and SAG nominations for Best Supporting Actress. She has since had starring roles in "Beautiful", "The Governess", "Return to Me", and "The Phantom of the Opera". Next up for Driver, "Conviction" (with Sam Rockwell and Hilary Swank), and "Goats" (with David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga).