BY ACTOR: M

His face might be more familiar than his name – is that not the very definition of a great character actor as opposed to a star? – but Eddie Marsan has had an illustrious career to date. Which other actor can claim to have appeared in films by Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Mike Leigh and Terrence Malick? Nuance is central to every performance, whether he is the villain in mainstream Hollywood blockbusters like 'Hancock', the wife-beating monster in Paddy Considine’s 'Tyrannosaur', or meek best friend in 'The World’s End'. He’s at his best as a council clerk attempting to find the relatives of a deceased man in the quiet, moving 'Still Life'.

For a career that began in 2013, Stacy Martin’s resume is impeccably impressive. Lars von Trier, Matteo Garrone and Ben Wheatley are just a few of the directors she has worked with. She debuted playing Young Joe in von Trier’s 'Nymphomaniac Vols I & II' (2013). Then came Garrone’s 'Tale of Tales', as a transformed witch. She is a future dictator’s French teacher in Brady Corbet’s acclaimed 'The Childhood of a Leader' and one of the privileged set in 'High-Rise' (all 2015).

Travis Mathews is an award-winning filmmaker whose films focus on gay men and intimacy. Informed with a Masters in Counselling Psychology and a background in documentary, Travis takes a thoughtful and naturalistic approach to filmmaking while maintaining his sense of humour. His first feature film was 'I Want Your Love' (2012).

Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas. He began his acting career in ‘Dazed and Confused’ (1993). He was later best known for his roles in romantic comedies such as ‘How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days’ (2003). Since 2010, McConaughey has reinvented his career, starring in films such as ‘Mud’ (2012) and ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ (2013) for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor. He also starred in the acclaimed HBO series ‘True Detective’ (2014).

Ewan McGregor was born in 1971 in Perthshire, Scotland. Brash, personable and charming, McGregor enjoyed a swift rise to stardom, quickly becoming an iconic actor with the charisma and range to carry both gritty independent films and Hollywood movies. He made his name in two contrasting roles for director Danny Boyle: a smug yuppie in 'Shallow Grave' (1994) and a heroin addict in 'Trainspotting' (1996).

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn broke out with his performance as an ill-fated juvenile delinquent in the acclaimed coming of age film ‘The Year My Voice Broke’. Mendelsohn went on to to become one of the most popular young adult stars in Australia cinema, often rivaling other emerging talents of his generation, including Russell Crowe and Guy Pierce. In 2009 he had his breakthrough in ‘Animal Kingdom’ as Pope, a role that saw him awarded several times for his performance.

Eva Mendes was born in Miami, Florida in 1974 to Cuban parents. She is an actress, model, musician and designer. Her breakthrough role came when she played Denzel Washington's wife in 'Training Day' (2001). Since then, she has starred in many critically-acclaimed high-budget and independent films such as Leos Carax's 'Holy Motors' (2012) and 'The Place Beyond the Pines' (2013).

Mads Mikkelsen was born in 1965 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He made his acting debut in Nicolas Winding Refn's 'Pusher' in 1996, and then grew to become one of Denmark's most celebrated film actors. In 2012, he won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his performance in Thomas Vinterberg's 'The Hunt'. He is best known to worldwide audiences for playing Bond villain LeChiffre in 'Casino Royale' (2006).

Born in New York in 1981, British actress and model Sienna Miller returned to London when she was 18 months old. Her first notable film role was in 2004 for her role in 'Layer Cake' (2004) opposite Daniel Craig. She has since appeared in succsesful high-budget productions, such as 'Factory Girl' (2006) as Edie Sedgwick, 'The Edge of Love' (2008), and 'Foxcatcher' (2014).

Alfred Molina was born in 1953 in London. His first American film was 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981), but his breakthrough came two years later when he played Kenneth Halliwell, the lover of playwright Joe Orton in Stephen Frears' 'Prick Up Your Ears' (1987). His other notable roles include the narrow-minded French mayor in 'Chocolat' (2000) opposite Juliette Binoche, and an overbearing father in 'An Education' (2009).

Nanni Moretti, born in 1953, is an Italian director, screenwriter and actor, best known for directing 'Dear Diary' (1993), which was followed in 1998 by a sequel 'Aprile'. His 2001 film 'The Son's Room' won the Palme d'Or at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. Moretti is also an avid water polo player, and an outspoken political leftist.

A highly distinctive actress with an intense, challenging presence, Samantha Morton represents the pinnacle of young British acting talent. She was born in 1977 in Nottingham, and started her in television before embarking on independent and high-profile film projects such as Harmony Korine's 'Mister Lonely' (2007) to Steven Spielberg's 'Minority Report' (2002).

Ulrich Mühe (1953-2007), was a German film, television and theatre actor, best known for his haunting portrayal of a Stasi agent in the 2006 Best Foreign Language Oscar winner 'The Lives of Others'. Mühe, who grew up in East Germany, saw his own career interrupted by Stasi informers, yet appeared in numerous theatre productions and in more than 30 domestic and foreign films.