Liam John Neeson, OBE (born 7 June 1952) is an Irish actor, who has been nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and a BAFTA.

He has starred in a number of notable roles including Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Alfred Kinsey in Kinsey, and the voice of Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia film series. He has also starred in several other notable films, including The Dead Pool, Darkman, Rob Roy, Nell, Love, Actually, Kingdom of Heaven, Batman Begins, Taken, Chloe and Clash of the Titans. He will play John “Hannibal” Smith in the upcoming 2010 A-Team movie.

He was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, and educated there and at Queen’s University Belfast. He moved to Dublin after university to further his acting career, joining the renowned Abbey Theatre. In the early 1990s, he moved again to America, where the wide acclaim for his performance in Schindler’s List led to more high-profile work. He is widowed and lives in New York with his two sons.

Trade Mark

In his career’s recent years, Neeson has very often taken roles in which he is a mentor/trainer/father figure to a younger man, as in, for example, Batman Begins (2005), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Gangs of New York (2002), and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). His character often must die early in the movie and/or the student’s life so that the young man can apply the Neeson character’s lessons to his own ongoing struggle.

Frequently portrays characters based on real people. (e.g. Rob Roy,Oskar Schindler, Michael Collins, Alfred Kinsey)

Trivia

On 11 July 2000 he fractured his right pelvis and chipped his left pelvis and sustained multiple abrasions to his legs after hitting a deer while riding his 1989 Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Connecticut. He was thrown off the motorcycle just before it smashed into a nearby tree. A passing motorist found him crawling along the roadside. Due to this accident he was unable to appear as a “Force Ghost” in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), and is only heard as a disembodied voice in the scene following Anakin’s slaughter of the Tusken Raider Camp.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#74). [1995]

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of British Empire) in the 2000 Queen’s Millennium Honors List for his services to drama.

Children, with Natasha Richardson: Michael Richard Antonio Neeson(born on June 22, 1995) and Daniel Jack Neeson (born on August 27, 1996).

Loves fly-fishing

Was a boxer as a teen-ager in Northern Ireland, which resulted in getting his nose broken at the age of 15. Nevertheless, he went on to win the Irish Youth Championship. A brief blackout after one of his fights, however, caused him to give up the ring for good.

Won a libel case against newspapers who claimed that his marriage was in trouble. [October 1998]

Ranked #69 in Empire (UK) magazine’s “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time” list. [October 1997]

Has dated actresses Helen Mirren, Julia Roberts, Brooke Shields, Barbra Streisand and singer Sinéad O’Connor.

First worked with future wife actress Natasha Richardson on the TV mini-series “Ellis Island” (1984).

Son-in-law of actress Vanessa Redgrave and Tony Richardson.

Was considered for the role of James Bond in GoldenEye (1995).

Attended Queen’s University of Belfast for a short while to study physics and computer science, but flunked out.

Nominated for Tony award for Best Leading Actor in a play for role in “The Crucible”, May 2002.

Was connected to David Lean’s production of “Nostromo”, but he withdrew before pre-production began and Lean’s subsequent death.

He was considered for the role of Van Helsing in Dracula (1992) (and reportedly he very much wanted the role), however, he was turned down when Anthony Hopkins showed an interest in the role and ultimately got it.

Brother-in-law of Joely Richardson.

Has worked together repeatedly with Laura Linney, including in Kinsey (2004), Love Actually (2003), and in a Broadway revival of “The Crucible”, having played husband and wife in Kinsey (2004) and “The Crucible”. The two have joked about feeling like “an old married couple”.

Wanted to be in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) so badly, he didn’t even bother reading the script.

Graduated from the Gaiety School of Drama in Dublin, Ireland.

A member of the Dublin Shakespeare Theatre Festival where his past credits include “Hamlet”, “King Richard II” and “All’s Well That Ends Well”.

He recalled his most embarrassing moment in acting as, relatively early in his career, he auditioned for the role of Fezzik, the giant, in The Princess Bride (1987). Director Rob Reiner had a look of disgust on his face when he realized that Neeson was “only” six-feet-four and André the Giant ended up getting the role.

Though he was eager to be a part of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) (the first of the Star Wars prequel trilogy), he reportedly hated working on the film, once shooting started, remarking that he “felt like a puppet”.

Was chosen for the role of Gawain in Excalibur (1981) primarily because director John Boorman wanted a large man in the role for the duel between Gawain and Lancelot (Nicholas Clay). It was on this film where he met Helen Mirren, who was playing Morgana.

Auditioned for, and was accepted by, the Bristol Old Vic Drama School in England, but decided to attend the Gaiety School of acting instead so he could stay active with the Dublin Shakespeare Festival while in school.

Is an honorary board member of the CDS (Conference of Drama Schools) in England, which also includes Sir Anthony Hopkins, Brian Cox, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole and Jeremy Irons (to name a few). The board oversees all drama schools in England.

Was very active with the Royal National Theatre in London during the nineties where he performed a wide range of Shakespeare’s works.

Was twice nominated for Broadway’s Tony Award as Best Actor (Play): in 1993 for a revival of Eugene O’Neill’s “Anna Christie,” and in 2002 for a revival of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”

It was his role in Shining Through (1992) as a high Nazi party official that got him noticed by Steven Spielberg, and that eventually led to him being cast as Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List (1993).

Is one of seven actors who played a character in both the “Star Wars” and “Batman” films: William Hootkins (X-Wing pilot/Lt. Eckhardt), ‘Garrick Hagon’ (Biggs/mugging victim), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian/Harvey Dent), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker/voice of The Joker, Clive Revill, (voice of the Emperor/voice of Alfred Pennyworth), Brock Peters, (radio voice of Darth Vader/voice of Lucuis Fox and Neeson (Qui-Gon Jinn/Ra’s Al Ghul).

Schindler’s List (1993) is ranked #3 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time.

Was Oliver Stone’s very first choice for the role of King Phillip of Macedonia in Alexander (2004).

Friend of actor Henry Herman.

Was considered for the part of Dracula in the cult classic The Monster Squad (1987).

In an interview with the BBC, he said that Northern Irish Protestant minister Ian Paisley influenced his decision to become an actor. He use to sneak into the church in his hometown of Ballymena and watch Mr. Paisley preach. “He had a magnificent presence and it was incredible to watch this six foot-plus man just bible-thumping away. It was acting but it was also great acting and stirring too.”.

On 16 March 2009, his wife Natasha Richardson suffered a brain injury in a skiing accident. On 18 March 2009, she died in hospital. Liam interrupted filming of his movie Chloe (2009) in order to be by her side in the hospital.

Received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Queen’s University of Belfast, at the British consulate on May 6, 2009 in New York.

Friends with Ralph Fiennes.

Angelina Jolie (born Angelina Jolie Voight; June 4, 1975) is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. Jolie promotes humanitarian causes, and is noted for her work with refugees as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She has been cited as one of the world’s most attractive people, as well as the world’s “most beautiful” woman, titles for which she has received substantial media attention.

Though she made her screen debut as a child alongside her father Jon Voight in the 1982 film Lookin’ to Get Out, Jolie’s acting career began in earnest a decade later with the low-budget production Cyborg 2 (1993). Her first leading role in a major film was in Hackers (1995). She starred in the critically acclaimed biographical films George Wallace (1997) and Gia (1998), and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Girl, Interrupted (1999). Jolie achieved wider fame after her portrayal of video game heroine Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), and since then has established herself as one of the best-known and highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. She has had her biggest commercial successes with the action-comedy Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) and the animated film Kung Fu Panda (2008).

Divorced from actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton, Jolie currently lives with actor Brad Pitt, in a relationship that has attracted worldwide media attention. Jolie and Pitt have three adopted children, Maddox, Pax, and Zahara, as well as three biological children, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne.

Trade Mark

Husky voice

Her full lips

Trivia

Niece of Chip Taylor.

One of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People.” [2000]

She is extremely close to and protective of her older brother, James Haven. He often accompanies her to awards shows, and she used his name, or at least his memory, as inspiration in the “Where’s Jamie?!” scene in Girl, Interrupted (1999).

Has the letter “H” tattooed on the inside of her left wrist, which is a reference to two people she is close to who have this letter in their names: her brother, James Haven, and Timothy Hutton. She got the tattoo when she was dating Timothy but since their break-up she now says it’s only for James.

Has a tattoo of the Tennessee Williams quote, “A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages.” on her left forearm.

Was married to Jonny Lee Miller in a black leather pants and a white shirt. On the white shirt she painted her husband’s name in her own blood (across the back).

Tattoos include the Japanese sign for death, two pointy black American Indian symbols, a dragon, and a large black cross.

Daughter of Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand.

Majored in film at New York University.

Collects knives and has an interest in mortuary science.

Angelina and her brother, to whom she is very close, publicly spoke out to deny false rumors that the two were having an incestuous love affair. [2000]

Had a childhood dream of becoming a funeral director.

Named the world’s sexiest woman in Swedish magazine Café.

“Jolie” means “pretty” in French.

Goddaughter of actress Jacqueline Bisset.

Has the Latin phrase “Quod me nutrit me destruit” (“What nourishes me also destroys me”) tattooed across her stomach.

Appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland after her visits to Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Pakistan. [27 August 2001]

Born at 9:09 AM PDT

“Introducing Angelina Jolie” in opening credits of Love Is All There Is (1996) suggests delayed release as Jolie already had at least two major screen roles by 1996.

She is of Czech and American descent on her father’s side and French-Canadian and Haudenosaunee (Iroquian Indian) heritage on her mother’s side.

She and Billy Bob Thornton adopted a Cambodian baby boy, named Maddox. Jolie took custody of the baby in Africa, where she was shooting Beyond Borders (2003). [10 March 2002]

Ranked #87 in Premiere’s 2002 annual “Power 100″ list.

In role as goodwill ambassador, visited Tham Hin refugee camp in Thailand, May 2002, to check on conditions of 9,000 refugees from bordering Myanmar.

July 2002 – confirms break-up with actor Billy Bob Thornton.

Measurements (before pregnancy): 36C-27-36.

Announced in late 2002 that she is “in talks” to portray the late porn star Linda Lovelace. Eventually, she lost the role to Courtney Love.

Voted the 3rd Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian Empire Magazine September 2002.

Her adopted son, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, was born on August 5th, 2001 in Cambodia. His original name was Rath Vibol.

Her favorite Disney character is Dumbo the flying elephant, she has said that she cried when he was able to fly.

She is the woman most American males would like to date on New Year’s Eve, according to a survey by movie rental chain Blockbuster Inc. Results of the survey showed her in the top spot with 35 percent of respondents saying she would be their number one pick for a hypothetical New Year’s Eve candle-lit dinner. Rival star Catherine Zeta-Jones gained second spot in the online survey conducted by Blockbuster November 11-24, 2003. The survey had 31,969 responses.

Started modelling at the age of 14.

Was named “The sexiest woman alive” by the Swedish evening newspaper “Aftonbladet.” [2003]

She was voted the ninth sexiest woman in FHM UK’s top 100 sexiest in 2004.

Is planning to give up her acting career to settle in England with her son Maddox and become a full-time mum. She says she wants to “Quit movies, be a great mum to Maddox and join the Parents and Teachers Association”.

Favorite music: Madonna, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, The Clash, Matchbox Twenty.

One of her favorite TV shows is “King of the Hill” (1997). She also enjoys the Game Show Network and Animal Planet.

She was voted #2 on VH1′s “100 Hottest Hotties.”

Graduated from Beverly Hills High School at age 16, the same school as Lenny Kravitz. She also went to school with Michael Klesic and Bahar Soomekh.

Ranked #6 in Stuff magazine’s “102 Sexiest Women in the World.” [2002]

Has said that she speaks “very little French”.

Voted #1 star most men would like to kiss under the mistletoe in a poll for Sky Movies.

Used to own several pet reptiles, including two snakes. Therefore she had no problem shooting the snake scene in Alexander (2004).

Went to elementary school at William O. Schaefer School in Tappan, New York. She graduated from El Rodeo elementary school in 1989.

Her father starred with her godmother Jacqueline Bisset in Der Richter und sein Henker (1975), which was directed by her godfather Maximilian Schell.

Voted Hollywood’s Sexiest Single Mother, in a poll for website Date.com.

Consulted with real-life FBI profiler Robert K. Ressler for her role in Taking Lives (2004).

In 2003 was first recipient of the Citizen of the World Award from the UN’s Correspondents’ Association for her work as a goodwill ambassador with the UNHCR.

July 6th 2005: adopted a baby girl (born on January 8th, 2005) from Ethiopia who was orphaned by AIDS.

She ranked #2 in 2000 on Mr. Blackwell (aka Richard Selzer)’s Worst Dressed List.

Named Esquire Magazine’s Sexiest Woman Alive in 2004.

Named Most Beautiful Woman in People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People 2005 issue. More than 500,000 readers were polled.

In August, 2005 was made an official citizen of Cambodia by the King for her ongoing efforts to help the environment there.

Was nominated for Worst Actress at the Razzie Awards for four straight years from 2002 to 2005, but each time was beaten by another of her fellow nominees. She has still yet to “win” an award.

Performed her own stunts in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and received cuts from the chandelier scene as a result. She also set fire to her silk pajamas on the chandelier while she was doing her “bungee jumps” in the house. She was taken to a hospital with minor burns but resumed filming the next day.

Named #7 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2005 list.

Ranked #1 in E! Television’s 2006 101 Sexiest Celebrity Bodies.

Gave her Oscar Statuette, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and Critic Choice Award to her mother. She felt she didn’t need to hang on to awards.

Her godfather Maximilian Schell always gave her a doll as a birthday present, from her first to sixteenth. Sometimes it was a modern doll, made of plastic, sometimes it was an old and precious one, made of wood or porcelain.

Gave her mother the nickname “Great Lady”.

One of the first actresses to win 3 consecutive Golden Globes in 3 different categories: “Best Supporting Actress in a Mini Series”: George Wallace (1997) (TV), “Best Actress in a TV Movie or Mini Series”: Gia (1998) (TV), “Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture”: Girl, Interrupted (1999). Coincidentally, all her roles were based on real people.

Ranked and Voted #3 by AskMen.com’s Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2006

Topped People magazine`s “100 most beautiful people” list in 2006 (28 April 2006).

Named #1 in FHM’s “100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005″ special supplement. (2005)

She and Brad Pitt welcomed daughter Shiloh Jolie-Pitt on May 27, 2006 in Namibia, Africa. The government in Namibia is offering citizenship to her new daughter.

Has tattoos of the coordinates representing the birth countries of each of her kids (she even has the coordinates of France tattooed on her arm twice, one each for Knox and Viv), which cover up the Billy Bob Thornton tattoo (June 2006).

Holds a Private Pilot Certificate with the Airplane, Single Engine, Land rating. This means that she is qualified to fly any single-engined aircraft based on land (i.e., no seaplanes) under visual flight rules only (i.e., no instrument qualifications yet so she cannot fly in conditions requiring instruments).

Has a fondness for Liverpool Football Club because her son Maddox “only wants to play for Liverpool”.

She donated many items to Rocky Stone to be given to less fortunate kids as part of the Toy Mountain Campaign.

Was the cover girl for the much anticipated issue of Forbes Magazine, in which appeared the infamous Celebrity 100 list. [June 2006]

Named #4 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2006 list.

Became the third actress to join the coveted $20 Million Club (after Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz), when she signed to do Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) for that amount.

Fan of author Ayn Rand.

Named #2 in FHM magazine’s “100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006″ supplement. (2006).

Is left-handed and therefore had to have guns specially made so that she could reload them easily for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).

Her mother Marcheline Bertrand died from ovarian cancer in Los Angeles after a 7 1/2 year battle (27 January 2007).

She and Brad Pitt adopted a three-year-old Vietnamese boy, Pax Thien Jolie (born November 29, 2003), who was initially named Pham Quang Sang (15 March 2007). Pax had lived in the Tam Binh orphanage because he was found abandoned outside a Ho Chi Minh City hospital shortly after his birth. Since the orphanage does not allow unmarried couples to adopt, Jolie adopted Pax as a single parent, with Pitt later adopting his son domestically.

Chosen the greatest sex symbol of all time in the British television show “The 100 Greatest Sex Symbols” (February 2007).

Was on the “Time 100″, a list of the world’s 100 most influential people in the world by “Time” magazine, in 2006.

Ranked #12 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.

Is an alumna of the Lee Strasberg Institute as are Frank Miranda, Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Sally Field.

2007 – Ranked #33 on EW’s The 50 Smartest People in Hollywood.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $20 million.

In 2007, moved to New Orleans with Brad Pitt and their four children.

In 2006, after the birth of her daughter Shiloh, she sold the first pictures of her newborn for $4,100,000. She later donated the profits to charity.

Ranked #3 in the 2008 Forbes The Celebrity 100 list.

The first-ever male to hold Jolie in his arms was Charley Boorman. He’d earlier served as a pageboy at the wedding of Jolie’s parents Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand during the Deliverance (1972) shoot, and later happened to be present during the delivery of Jolie. Boorman was just 8-years-old and Jolie was but an infant. Today (2008) Boorman quips that his epitaph should read: “I was the first man to get his hands on Angelina Jolie”.

Gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl on July 12, 2008 in Nice, France around 8 PM via c-section. Knox Léon Jolie-Pitt weighed 5lbs 3 oz. and Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt weighed 5 lbs.

Was considered for the role of Kelly Kapowski on “Saved by the Bell” (1989).

Since becoming a Goodwill Ambassador in 2001, she has visited over 20 countries.

In an interview about her movie Changeling (2008), Angie revealed that although her mom’s name was Marcheline, everyone called her “Marshmallow”, because she was such a softie.

Went to Beverly Hills High School with writer/actor Quincy Rose, son of Mickey Rose, and Antonia Bennett, daughter of Tony Bennett.

Did not return to work until eight months after giving birth to twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon in order to begin filming Salt (2010).

In July 2009, she was voted in first place in a poll to find the 100 Greatest Sex Symbols for Britain’s Channel 4. Elvis Presley was runner-up.

Returned to work four months after giving birth to her daughter Shiloh in order to begin filming A Mighty Heart (2007).

When Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton first married, the couple moved into the Beverly Hills home formerly owned by Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. [2000]

Her natural hair color is dark blonde.

Was considered to replace Emily Blunt in Iron Man 2, but the role went to Scarlett Johansson.

 

Ewan Gordon McGregor (born 31 March 1971) is a Scottish actor who had success in mainstream, indie and art house films. He is perhaps best known for his role as Mark Renton in the 1996 film Trainspotting, his portrayal of the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and his role as the romantic penniless writer Christian in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge!

In 2009, he appeared in the films I Love You Phillip Morris and Amelia, and portrayed the Camerlengo Patrick McKenna in the film adaption of Angels & Demons. Aside from his film work, McGregor has starred in theatre productions of Guys and Dolls. He also appeared in television series such as The Scarlet and the Black, Lipstick On Your Collar, Tales from the Crypt, and ER. He was ranked No. 36 in Empire magazine’s “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time” list

Trivia:

Former roommate of Jude Law. They are still close friends.

Ranked #36 in Empire (UK) magazine’s “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time” list (October 1997).

Nephew of Denis Lawson.

Father of Clara Mathilde (born in February 1996) and Esther Rose (born on 7 November 2001).

Born at 3:45pm-CET

He met his wife while filming for “Kavanagh QC” (1995).

Was originally up for the lead role in The Beach (2000/I), which would have reunited him with director Danny Boyle and screenwriter John Hodge who collaborated with McGregor on Shallow Grave (1994), Trainspotting (1996) and A Life Less Ordinary (1997). The role went to Leonardo DiCaprio. While McGregor blames studio influence for the casting decision he has not spoken to either Boyle nor Hodge since.

Originally auditioned for the role of Mercutio in the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet (1996). He later got his chance to work with “Romeo” director Baz Luhrmann when he was cast as Christian in Moulin Rouge! (2001).

In the film Moulin Rouge! (2001) McGregor sang alongside Nicole Kidman.

Was presented with an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster at a graduation ceremony in Belfast, Northern Ireland (5 July 2001).

His first name is pronounced “you-an”.

He says that he was inspired to get into show business by his uncle, actor Denis Lawson. Lawson played Wedge Antilles in Episodes 4-6 of Star Wars.

Resides in North London with his family.

Slated to start filming ‘Nautic’ in Jamaica with Heath Ledger in a couple of months. However Ted Demme, who was picked to direct the film died suddenly at the age of 38 from a heart attack while playing basketball.

Early career dedicated almost exclusively to indie, low-budget, and non-feature films. When cast as Obi-wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), an interviewer reminded him of his “aversion” to major films, and he replied “I know what I said, but, hey! This is Star Wars!”

Ranked #8 in the 2001 Orange Film Survey of greatest British actors.

Born on the same exact day as Isobel Thomas, the “assistant to producer” on Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), in which Ewan starred.

Born to James Charles Stuart McGregor, a physical education teacher, and his wife Carol McGregor, née Lawson, a teacher and school administrator, he grew up in Crieff, Scotland.

Studied Alec Guinness’ films in preparation for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) and to ensure accuracy in everything from his accent to the pacing of his words.

Has a nephew (born in 1999).

Studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London for three years, graduating in 1992.

Received the Film Actor Award for Moulin Rouge! (2001) at The Variety Club Showbusiness Awards 2002.

Was a student in the year-long theatre arts program at Kirkcaldy College of Technology in the fall of 1988.

In 1987, after leaving school at age 16, he worked as a stagehand at Perth Repertory Theatre and had small roles in their productions.

Good friends with Texas lead singer Sharleen Spiteri.

His brother Colin is part of the RAF’s Tornado display team who are based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

He and his uncle, Denis Lawson, have worked with two of the same directors. Both have been in Star Wars films, directed by George Lucas. His first film, Being Human (1993), was directed by Bill Forsyth, who also directed Lawson in Local Hero (1983).

Both he and Harrison Ford have worked for director Ridley Scott between Star Wars films. Ford made Blade Runner (1982) after Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980), but before Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983). McGregor made Black Hawk Down (2001) shortly after filming Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), and thus before Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005).

Embarked on a motorcycle trip around the World along with his friend and fellow actor Charley Boorman (2004).

Was voted #9 in the Greatest Movie Stars Of All Time (Channel 4).

Completed a trip from London to New York ‘The Long Way Round’ by riding a motorbike east, via Europe, Mongolia, Russia, Alaska and Canada to Manhattan over 115 days in 2004.

Was the original choice for the role of Jim in 28 Days Later… (2002), directed by Danny Boyle who has worked with Ewan three times previously (see above).

Ewan and his wife Eve have the same initials, even with her maiden name.

When filming in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), he kept imitating the noise of the light saber during his fights. George Lucas explained many times that this would be added in by the special effects people later on. Ewan said “I keep getting carried away.”.

Is a good friend of Naveen Andrews, star of the show “Lost” (2004), from drama school.

While he usually takes his family along with him during his movie shoots, he left them at home during the shoot of Young Adam (2003).

Was the best man at Dougray Scott’s wedding in 2000.

His Star Wars character, Obi-Wan Kenobi, goes by the call sign Red Leader in Revenge of the Sith. Wedge Antilles, who was played by his uncle, Denis Lawson, has the same call sign in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983).

Is very particular about his children being photographed or seen on television. He strongly believes that just because he is famous, that should not give anyone the right to invade their privacy.

According to Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard, he picked up the light saber sword fighting style very quickly. In an interview on the DVD to The Phantom Menace, Gillard commented that Ewan was probably faster than anyone else who was working on the film, including the stunt department.

Is a casual supporter of St Johnstone Football Club.

Refused to have his wife and kids visit him on the set of _Black Hawk Down (2001)_, because he felt the content was too violent and too bloody for them to see.

Has been involved in a campaign against the closure of the maternity wing of Perth Royal Infirmary, the hospital ward where he was born.

Distant cousin of The Sound of Music (1965) actress Heather Menzies.

Cousin of Lou Gish and Kay Curram.

Ewan, a UNICEF ambassador, adopted a 4-year-old girl from Mongolia, named Jamyan, whom he met while traveling around the world in 2004. (April 2006).

Is short sighted.

Before his trip around the world with Charley Boorman, he had a laser eye operation to improve his eyesight, so he didn’t have to wear glasses or contact lenses.

His best friend is actor Charley Boorman, whom he traveled around the world with on motorbikes (“Long Way Round” (2004) trip). They met on the set of the 1997 movie The Serpent’s Kiss (1997).

Considered for the role of Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).

His uncle Denis Lawson was considered for the role of “Captain Antilles” in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005).

September 2001: Attended the Royal Premiere of Moulin Rouge! (2001) alongside Kylie Minogue, Prince Charles and Nicole Kidman.

Was considered to play James Bond in Casino Royale (2006).

Although his motorcycles of choice include an MV Agusta F4S and a KTM Duke, McGregor and pal Charley Boorman each rode a BMW 1150GS Adventure for their marathon trip around the world in _”Long Way Round”_ (2004) (mini).

He actually dropped out of school because his mother wanted him to.

Befriended Colin Farrell during the shooting of Cassandra’s Dream (2007).

Good friends with Black Hawk Down (2001) co-star Hugh Dancy.

Had two moles, one just below his right eye and one on his forehead, removed after doctors advised him to do so, because the one near his eye was cancerous. [2008]

Older brother Colin is a pilot in the Royal Air Force.

 

 

Sir Roger Moore

 

 

 

Sir Roger George Moore KBE (born 14 October 1927) is a English actor and film producer. He is perhaps best known for portraying two British action heroes, Simon Templar in the television series The Saint from 1962 to 1969, and James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985.

Trivia:

During the early stages of his career Roger collected towels from the hotels he stayed in. However, he stopped when a British newspaper printed a story entitled ‘Roger Moore is a towel thief’. He revealed on “So Graham Norton” (1998) that he still has the collection in his Swiss home.

He succeeded Audrey Hepburn as goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.

Father of Geoffrey Moore, Christian Moore and Deborah Moore.

He was awarded the CBE (Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire) in 1999 and Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to the children’s charity, Unicef.

Was scheduled to make his musical theatre debut as “Sir George” in “Aspects of Love” in 1990. He left the production days before his escape clause expired due to his own concerns over his singing ability. He was replaced by Kevin Colson.

In May 2000 he received an International Humanitarian Award from the London Variety Club for his charity work.

His father was a Policeman.

Whilst doing National Service, Moore served with Military Intelligence.

In just few days after he had arrived in USA in 1952, he was in a television play World by the Tail (1953) (TV).

Good friend of Lois Maxwell, who played Miss Moneypenny in Bond movies. They first met in mid 1940s at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, where they were in the same class in 1944.

Roger and his then companion, ‘Christina ‘Kiki’ Tholstrup’ , escaped injury when another vehicle collided with the actor’s car. Airbags were attributed to preventing injury. They married the following year. [13 January 2001]

In 1990, he participated as a guest host in “33 Zecchino d’Oro”.

Received an honourary doctorate from Ryerson Polytechnic University in 1999.

His contract for the 007 films provided him with an unlimited supply of Montecristo cigars during filming. The bill for this typically ran to thousands of pounds.

2002 – lives in Switzerland and Monte Carlo with his wife ‘Christina ‘Kiki’ Tholstrup’ .

In 1954, he was offered contracts with the Royal Shakespeare Company or MGM. Noel Coward advised him to go for the money.

Despite playing James Bond in seven Bond films, he never ordered a vodka martini shaken not stirred.

Oldest person to debut as James Bond. He was 45 when Live and Let Die (1973) was filmed.

Was Air France’s 8,000,000th passenger. [21 May 1964]

Collapsed during a matinee performance of the Broadway comedy “The Play What I Wrote”, but finished the show after a 10-minute break. Roger was playing the part of the mystery guest star, which the cameo role is filled by celebrities, when he fainted toward the end of the second act. He was taken to the hospital after the show. The following day he was fitted with a pacemaker – something he had been previously told he would eventually have to get. [7 May 2003]

Was best man at friends Bryan Forbes and Nanette Newman’s wedding

Ironically for his first Razzie nomination (Worst Supporting Actor in Spice World (1997)) he went head to head with another former Bond, Sean Connery in The Avengers (1998), also receiving his first Razzie nomination. Neither man won, however.

Was older than any other actor to play James Bond when he portrayed him aged 57 in A View to a Kill (1985). Sean Connery was 52 when he last played Bond in Never Say Never Again (1983).

A close friend of the Danish Royal Family, especially the Prinsesse Alexandra, attended the Christening of Princess Alexandra and Prins Joachim’s youngest son, Felix. Attended the wedding of the Danish Kronprins Frederik and Kronprinsesse Mary on May 14th 2004.

He was born in the same Labour Ward in London as the actor Brian Weske, five years previously.

Attended the wedding of Joan Collins and Percy Gibson .

Underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 1993.

Speaks Italian perfectly, former wife Luisa Mattioli is an Italian citizen.

Was cast in two roles that were originally offered to Patrick McGoohan: Simon Templar in “The Saint” (1962) and James Bond in Live and Let Die (1973).

Often spends summers in Hornbæk, Denmark, where his wife ‘Christina ‘Kiki’ Tholstrup’ has a summer house.

Detests doing scenes that involve him shooting firearms – which caused him to ruin countless 007 takes.

Quit smoking cigarettes in 1971 following a stern lecture from Tony Curtis on the set of “The Persuaders!” (1971).

Both he and his daughter, Deborah Moore, have acted in the James Bond franchise. She played the air hostess in Die Another Day (2002).

Officially announced his retirement from playing James Bond on 3 December 1985, as it was agreed by all involved in the franchise that Moore had got too old for the role by that point. Moore himself was quoted as saying that he felt embarrassed to be seen performing love scenes with beautiful actresses who were young enough to be his daughters.

Took part in a special celebrity edition of Blind Date on The Prince’s Trust 30th Birthday: Live (2006) (TV). He and actor Richard E. Grant lost to “The X Factor” (2004)’s Chico Slimani, who got to date Dame Edna Everage (aka Barry Humphries).

Publicly supported the Conservative Party in the 2001 General Election.

Chose a Swedish conference on child abuse to announce to the world that he too was a victim. He said he was molested as a child, but not seriously. He waited until he was 16 to tell his mother because he said he was “ashamed.”

Rides in or drives a motor-powered boat in every James Bond movie he has appeared in.

Played James Bond in seven movies of the official EON series, the most of any actor to date (Sean Connery also played Bond in seven films, but one of them, Never Say Never Again (1983), was unofficial).

He never drove the most famous of all James Bond cars in a Bond film i.e. a 1964 silver birch Aston Martin DB5 or any other Aston Martin model. The DB5 was made famous by the Sean Connery James Bond movies Goldfinger (1964) and then Thunderball (1965) with later models appearing in some subsequent Bond pictures. However, Moore, who played James Bond seven times, has only ever been seen on screen with this make once and that was in The Cannonball Run (1981) where he self-parodies his James Bond persona. In this movie, the DB5′s license plate number was 6633PP.

Following the suggestion that fugitive train robber Ronald Biggs make a cameo appearance in the Brazil episode of Moonraker (1979), he replied in rather colorful terms that he didn’t want the escaped prisoner anywhere near the film, as his own father had been a London Policeman.

All the scenes in which showed Moore running in his seven Bond movies were performed by doubles, since the actor felt he looked awkward running.

When presenting the Best Actor Oscar awards at the The 45th Annual Academy Awards (1973) (TV), Moore ended up taking home the Oscar accidentally. The winner of the award, Marlon Brando, refused the award, and Sacheen Littlefeather, who Brando sent to make a speech to refuse the Oscar, also publicly refused to take the statuette from Moore.

Nearly died from double pneumonia when he was five.

Underwent three operations to remove kidney stones in his thirties.

Has named The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) as his favorite Bond movie of the seven he starred in, and A View to a Kill (1985) as his least favorite.

Attended the funeral of Sir John Mills in Denham, Buckinghamshire. (27 April 2005).

He was a close friend and neighbour of the late Sir Peter Ustinov.

Quit smoking cigars after undergoing major surgery for prostate cancer when he was 65.

Ironically, for an actor who has played a weapons-wielding James Bond in no fewer than 7 movies, Moore suffers from hoplophobia (fear of firearms).

Intended For Your Eyes Only (1981) to be his final Bond movie, since he was nearly 54.

He is a close friend and fan of Sir Elton John.

Although Moore claimed to have quit smoking cigarettes while filming “The Persuaders!” (1971), a filmed interview from on the set of For Your Eyes Only (1981) shows him smoking a cigarette.

Future “EastEnders” (1985) star Mike Reid worked as his underwater stunt double in “The Saint” (1962), but was fired after making fun of Moore’s thinning hair.

He was a close friend of Dudley Moore.

Hates being wet when acting. In Moonraker (1979), he had to do a whole scene wet, in the “Mayan pyramid”.

Although critics often accused him of not looking tough enough to play superspy James Bond, he once beat up legendary American hellraiser Lee Marvin while they were filming Shout at the Devil (1976). Marvin recalled, “The guy is built like granite. Nobody will ever underestimate him again.”.

Used to own a house in Eaton Square in London, but was only allowed to spend a maximum of ninety days a year there for tax reasons.

While filming the interrogation scene opposite Richard Burton and Richard Harris in The Wild Geese (1978), Moore made the unheard of request to have a cut in his lines. After another take he suggested all his lines should be cut. When the director Andrew V. McLaglen asked him why, he replied, “Do you seriously think I want to act against these guys? I’ll just sit here and puff on my cigar.”.

The Living Daylights (1987) was originally written for him, but was changed to suit Timothy Dalton after Moore announced his retirement from the role.

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 11, 2007.

In March 1996, when his former wife Dorothy Squires underwent surgery for bladder cancer at the BUPA Hospital in Cardiff, he picked up the £6,000 bill. He did not attend her funeral two years later, but instead sent a bouquet of purple tulips, lilies of the valley and orange flowers with a card saying: “I’ve said it with flowers. Roger.”.

Prior to the release of The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moore filed a lawsuit against his ex-wife Dorothy Squires to prevent her from publishing a book about their life together. She would eventually be declared bankrupt in 1986.

In 1964, eight years before he took over the movie role, Moore played James Bond in a hilarious sketch on the BBC comedy show, “Mainly Millicent.” In the sketch, Bond is on holiday at a resort, when he encounters a female Russian spy (played by Millicent Martin, the star of the show), who is also on holiday. Bond and the female spy spend the sketch trying to do each other in. The sketch is included in the “Live and Let Die” Ultimate Edition DVD.

While a struggling young actor in the early 1950s, he briefly worked as a truck driver. Many years later, he impressed the crew on the set of A View to a Kill (1985) with his truck driving skills.

He had intended to act in A Bridge Too Far (1977), but was forced to pull out after production on The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) was delayed by a year.

He has always been very honest about the fact that he did not perform any of his own stunts as Bond, unlike Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, and Daniel Craig.

His least favourite of his films is The Quest (1996).

He considered himself to be miscast in Escape to Athena (1979) and North Sea Hijack (1979).

He was a close friend and admirer of the right-wing writer William F. Buckley.

If Never Say Never Again (1983) can be included as an official 007 installment, then Moore ties with Sean Connery for the most portrayals of James Bond – a total of 7 each. Otherwise Moore holds the record.

Confessed in a TV interview that when he first traveled to the US in the 1950s, he landed a supporting role in the Broadway production of “A Pin to See the Peepshow,” a show that both began and ended on the same day (17 September 1953).

Has said he would like to play a villain in a Bond movie starring Daniel Craig, but accepts that can never happen.

Served in the Royal Army with Christopher Lee before appearing with him, years later, in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974).

His popularity as Bond led to him starring in several movies during the 1970s and early 1980s. However, although some were financially successful, most received poor reviews.

Confirmed in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph magazine in April 2009 that he is completely retired from acting.