With the likes of Idris Elba, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Lincoln and Martin Freeman taking the US by storm, British actors seem to be taking over Hollywood.
These aren’t the only British actors of note, with a number of great actors having played roles in Hollywood…
Born in 1973 to quintessential English actor Nigel Davenport and Maria Aitken. This actor is perhaps best known to international audiences his role as James Norrington in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003). Davenport has performed voice-overs for the British versions of the MasterCard ‘Priceless’ TV adverts. He recently he starred in the US musical drama series Smash and science fiction drama Flash Forward.
Interesting fact: Despite coming from a family of actors, Davenport actually became an actor by mistake. Having written to John Cleese to gain work as a runner on Fierce Creatures (1997), Cleese actually put his name forward to the casting department and the rest is story.
Peter Serafinowicz was born on July 10, 1972 in Liverpool, England. He is known for his roles in Shaun of the Dead (2004), Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) and Couples Retreat (2009).
Born in Liverpool in 1972, Peter Serafinowicz’s most famous character is probably Darth Maul from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). Although you wouldn’t know it to look at him as he only voiced the character. Most recently he has done the voice over for the Motors.co.uk adverts and has a role in the forthcoming Muppets Most Wanted with Ricky Gervais and Salma Hayek.
Interesting fact: Serafinowicz has actually performed three Darths, including Darth Maul. The other two are Darth Chef in South Park and a parody of Darth Vader on his sketch show.
Born in 1977 in Forest Gate in London, Ejiofor has starred in Hollywood films since gaining the attention of Steven Spielberg, who cast Ejiofor in Amistad (1997). Since then he has had roles in Dirty Pretty Things (2002), Kinky Boots (2006) and Children of Men (2006).
Despite recent attentionsurrounding his universally-applauded performance in 12 Years a Slave, Ejiofor gets a mention in this list for not being as famous as he should be.
Interesting fact: Born to Nigerian parents, Ejiofor went to the same school (Dulwich College) as UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
Born in 1969 in Annan, near Dumfries in Scotland, Ashley Jensen will perhaps be best-known for her role as Christina McKinney in the sitcom Ugly Betty. As well as Maggie in Extras with Ricky Gervais and the film Nativity (2009) as Martin Freeman’s love-interest. Most recently she starred in the British TV mini-series, The Escape Artist (2013) with David Tennant.
Interesting fact: Having found a level of fame, Jensen moved to Los Angeles with her family, but remains down-to-earth.
