Early Life

Sandra Annette Bullock, an American actress and producer, was born on July 26, 1964 in Arlington, Virginia. Her father, John W.Bullock is an Army employee and part time voice coach and her mother, Helga D. Meyer is a German opera singer and voice teacher. As a child Bullock frequently accompanied her mother on her opera tours throughout Europe. She spent a lot of time in Salzburg and Nuremberg, where she became fluent in German. While there she also studied ballet and vocal arts, taking small parts in her mother’s productions. Back in America, she attended Washington-Lee High School, where she performed in several high school theatre productions. After graduating in 1982, she attended East Carolina University, however she dropped out in her fourth year to pursue an acting career, despite being just three credits short of graduating. She moved to Manhattan, supporting herself by taking on bartending and waitressing jobs. Later she completed her coursework and graduated from University.

Career

While living in New York, Bullock appeared in many student films and later in an off-broadway play called No Time Flat. The director, Alan J. Levi was so impressed by Bullock’s performance that he offered her a part in the TV film Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman in 1989. From there she was cast in a few independent films, and also as the lead in the short-lived NBC version of the film Working girl in 1990. Over the next few years she appeared in Love Potion No.9, The Thing called Love and Fire on the Amazon. One of the most prominent supporting roles she took was in the movie Demolition Man, which led to her breakthrough performance in Speed in 1994.

In the late 1990’s, Bullock was in a string of successes, including While you were Sleeping, Speed 2: Cruise Control, Miss Congeniality and Miss Congeniality 2: and Armed and Fabulous, for which she received $17.5 million. In 1996 and 1999, she was selected as one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in the World and was also ranked number 58 in Empire magazine’s Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time list. In 2002, she starred in the global hit Two Weeks Notice and in 2004; she had a supporting role in the film Crash. Later on she appear in The Lake House, Infamous, and Premonition, which was released in 2007.

2009 proved to be an especially good year for Bullock. Early in the year she starred in the box office success The Proposal, and later in the year she starred in The Blind Side, for which she won awards at the Oscars, Golden Globes, Academy awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Originally she turned down the role three times due to the discomfort of playing a devout Christian.

By 2009, it is estimated that Bullock’s films have grossed over $3.1 billion and according to The Numbers, her total domestic gross stands at around $1.7 billion, placing her among the Top 100 Stars at the Box Office.

Personal Life

Bullock was once engaged to actor Tate Donovon, whom she met while filming Love Potion No. 9. She has also dated Troy Aikman, Bob Schneider, Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Cosling.

In July 2005, Bullock married Jesse James, who she met after arranging for her godson to meet him as a Christmas present. In November 2009, Bullock and James won full legal custody for his five-year daughter from his previous marriage.

In March 2010, she had to cancel her European promotional appearances for The Blind Side as several women claimed to have had affairs with James during their marriage. James publicly apologized to Bullock and it was reported that he checked into rehab in order to ‘deal with personal issues’ and ‘save his marriage.’ However in April 2010, Bullock filed for divorce, with it been finalized in June 2010.

Despite the divorce Bullock decided to proceed with plans to adopt a baby boy who the couple had began to adopt four years earlier. The child began living with them in January 2010 although it wasn’t announced until March.

Away from work, Bullock has been a great supporter of the American Red Cross and has donated at least $4 million to the organization. She is also a supporter of the Texas non-profit organization, The Kindred Life Foundation, Inc.

Become a “Six Million Dollar” actor – Enroll in a course at London Academy

Share on Facebook

British rock band Feeder

FORMATION

British rock band Feeder were formed in London in 1995, with the personnel Grant Nicholas (singer/guitarist), Jon Lee (drummer) and Taka Hirose (bassist). Prior to Feeder’s formation, Grant and Jon had been playing in bands together in and around their home town of Newport, Wales, performing under such names as Temper Temper and Reel before moving to London in 1994. Whilst they were living in London they recruited Taka, responding to an advertisement in free newspaper Loot. After Taka joined the band, they changed their name into Feeder.

RECORD DEAL

After honing their sound through a series of live performances, Feeder submitted a demo tape to an independent label Echo and were soon offered a record deal in 1995. Their limited edition debut were released shortly afterwards in the shape of two-track EP Two Colours before released a mini-album titled Swim in 1996. Swim got some critical acclaim and spawned Feeder’s first single, Stereo World. Swim also gave them their first opportunity to perform at Reading Festival.

DEBUT

1997 the band released their debut full-length album, Polythene. The album was a critical success; earning plaudits such as from Kerrang and Metal Hammer magazine, with many are comparing their sound to popular American grunge band Smashing Pumpkins. Five singles were released from the album with the band eventually entering the top 40 charts with their fourth release, High charting at number 24. High’s popularity saw the band perform on the main stage at that year’s Reading Festival and, thanks to its use in teen comedy Can’t Hardly Wait (1998), provided them their first chart success in the United States. From there Feeder went from strength-to-strength with their more acoustic driven second album Yesterday Went Too Soon charting at number 8 in 1999 and providing them with a further three top 40 singles. However, their mainstream breakthrough came in 2001 with the release of single Buck Rogers.

CHART SUCCESS

Charting at number 5, Buck Rogers gave Feeder their biggest hit to date and quickly became one of the year’s most popular anthems. The accompanying album, Echo Park, shared a similar success entering the album charts at number 5 and featured another top 20 single. With a sell-out tour across Britain, festival appearances at Glastonbury and T in the Park, and supporting slots with Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics, Feeder established themselves as one of Britain’s most popular rock bands. They ended 2001 with another smash single, Just A Day, which charted at number 12 and saw the band thank their fanbase with a video consisting of fans singing along to the track.

TRAGEDY

After a hugely successful year, tragedy struck the band in early 2002 when Jon committed suicide on January 7th, casting the band’s future in doubt. Grant and Taka resolved to continue the band but spent much of the year out of the public eye until they released their fourth album, the critically acclaimed Comfort in Sound in October with Skunk Anansie’s Mark Richardson on drums. The album was lauded in the music press and would go on to become the band’s first certified platinum album. Grant dedicated the release to his late bandmate, the death of whom inspired many of the songs on it, and saw the group’s music take a more mellow, sombre tone.

Grant Nicholas during a live performance

COMEBACK

2003 saw the band undertake their first UK arena tour and another hit single with Just the Way I’m Feeling entering the charts at number 10. They earned plaudits from their contemporaries, including Coldplay’s Chris Martin, and countless awards and nominations from the music press including a win for Best British Band at the Kerrang awards, and their first BRIT Awards nomination for Best British Rock. Grant would later appear on Band Aid’s number one charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas in 2004, before releasing their fifth album, Pushing the Senses, the following year. That album gave them their highest chart entry, debuting at number 2 and featured another three top 30 hit singles.

GREATEST HITS AND BEYOND

Feeder capped their journey from little-known indie band to renowned Brit-rock favorites in 2006 with the release of their Singles collection. The release gave the group another certified platinum album and surpassed Comfort in Sound to become their best-selling release to date. Feeder have since struggled to replicate their earlier success with a further two albums; 2008s Silent Cry – their last on the now defunct Echo label, and 2010s Renegades (which the band performed to live audiences under a different name prior to its release) on their own label Big Tooth Records. Though both albums charted in the UK top 20, they have not matched the sales or seen the same amount of exposure as their earlier work. Mark Richardson left the band following the release of 2008s Silent Cry with the band enlisting the use of several different session drummers for their recordings since. Feeder’s eight studio album, Generation Freakshow, is currently scheduled for release in April 2012.

London Academy is happy to help you to go from nothing into something

Share on Facebook

EARLY LIFE

American actor Vin Diesel

Born Mark Sinclair Vincent on 18th July 1967 in New York City, New York, actor Vin Diesel was raised by his mother Delora, a psychologist, and his step-father Irving, a theatre director. He grew up in a Greenwich Village housing project with his younger siblings Tim and Samantha and non-identical twin brother Paul. Vin’s interest in acting came about by chance when he and his friends were caught breaking into a local theatre, the Theatre for the New City, when he was only 7 years old. However instead of being prosecuted for their trespassing, Vin and his friends were offered the chance to appear on stage if they attended the theatre every day after school, with Vin eventually acting in a production of Dinosaur Door. He remained associated with the theatre during his teens where he appeared in further stage productions, and briefly worked as a bouncer at several high profile New York night clubs where he was given the nickname Diesel by his friends because of his boundless energy. Vin went on to study English at Hunter College in New York, but left before graduating to kickstart his career in acting.

ACTING DEBUT

Vin’s acting debut came in 1995 when he wrote, directed and starred in acclaimed short film Multi-Facial. The film was well received by critics and was screened at the Cannes Film Festival where Vin’s performance caught the attention of Hollywood director Steven Spielberg. Vin’s feature length debut came in 1997 when he again wrote, directed and starred in ensemble drama Strays which premiered at the Sundance festival and won the Grand Jury prize. Vin’s career started heating up soon afterwards with Spielberg casting the actor in a small role in Saving Private Ryan in 1998 before lending his distinctive voice to acclaimed animation The Iron Giant a year later. Vin’s ascension to Hollywood star gained some huge momentum in 2000 when the actor earned a supporting role in ensemble drama Boiler Room, appearing alongside Ben Affleck, and landed the lead role in David Twohy’s cult sci-fi smash Pitch Black. Starring as escaped convict Riddick, Pitch Black heralded his emergence as an action hero with the star combining his impressive physique and distinctive voice to memorable effect. He would go on to seal his star status the following year with box office smash The Fast and the Furious.

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS

The Fast and the Furious went on to gross nearly $100 million at the US box office, kick started what would become a very successful franchise and introduced the actor to a  worldwide audience. Vin was quick to take advantage of his new star status with big budget action thriller xXx in 2002 wherein he starred as an extreme sports athlete recruited as a government agent. xXx was Vin’s second box office smash in as many years but he would soon find his fortunes take a turn thanks to a string of disappointments and the star’s seeming reluctance to return to the franchises he helped create. The likes of Knockaround Guys (2002), A Man Apart (2003) and his return as Riddick in big-budget sequel The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) all flopped at the box office, whilst The Fast and the Furious franchise flourished in the star’s absence.

Vin Diesel and Paul Walker in Fast & Furious 5

DOWNTURN & COMEBACK

Vin’s box office success has been inconsistent since with 2005s family comedy The Pacifier being his only hit in the 6 years after the release of xXx in 2002. With sci-fi actioner Babylon A.D (2008) and an acclaimed performance in Sidney Lumet’s Find Me Guilty (2006) misfiring at the box office, Vin finally returned to the series that made him a star in 2009, taking leading man duties for the fourth entry of the Fast & Furious franchise. Though he had a cameo role in the third entry, Fast & Furious heavily advertised the return of Vin’s character and went on to become a huge hit and renewed interest in the star and the franchise with both going on to even greater success with a fifth instalment in 2011 that went on to gross over $600 million worldwide. Vin has since announced that he will appear in another Fast and Furious film, and his intentions to bring Riddick back to the big screen with a second sequel to Pitch Black, both of which are due for release in 2013.

PERSONAL LIFE

Vin has kept his personal life out of the public eye and often refuses to talk about his relationships to the media. He has previously been linked to his Fast and the Furious co-star Michelle Rodriguez, and a string of models including Summer Altice. He is currently in a relationship with model Paloma Jimenez whom he has dated since 2007 and has a daughter, Hania Riley born in 2008.

Break into the acting industry now!

Share on Facebook

EARLY LIFE

Chris Evans

Born Christopher Robert Evans on June 13th 1981 in Sudbury, Massachusetts, Chris is the second of three children to Lisa, a theatre company manager, and Robert Evans, a dentist. He studied at Lincoln-Sudbury High School, where he first discovered his talent for acting; appearing in school plays, including a performance of The Winter’s Tale, before landing parts in local theatre productions. He graduated in 1999 and moved to New York to pursue an acting career, where he attended the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theater Institute. Whilst honing his craft, Chris began an internship at a casting office where he befriended several agents and soon landed his debut film role.

ACTING DEBUT

With a performance in independent drama The Newcomers, a guest appearance on The Fugitive, and a role on short-lived television drama Opposite Sex, 2000 marked a significant year in Chris’ acting career and quickly earned him the attentions of Hollywood producers. His first lead performance came a year later when he was cast in teen comedy spoof Not Another Teen Movie (2001). The film was a modest success but highlighted Chris’ talent for comedy and was an early indicator of his future status as a teen heartthrob. He unsuccessfully attempted a return to television in the following years with roles in pilots for Eastwick (2002) and Skin (2003) – though neither of which were commissioned for a full series, before returning to cinema screens with the more high profile likes of The Perfect Score (2004) with Scarlett Johansson, Cellular (2004) with Kim Basinger and Jason Statham, and Fierce People (2005) with Donald Sutherland.

BREAKTHROUGH

Chris’ breakthrough was not far behind with the actor being cast as one of the titular Fantastic Four in the big-budget adaptation of Marvel’s comic series. Starring as Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch, Chris’ performance was widely regarded as the film’s best asset with the young actor sealing his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most sought after rising talents. The film went on to gross over $330 million worldwide, with Chris reprising his role for the 2007 sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Since Fantastic Four’s success, Chris has strayed between high profile Hollywood productions and more personal independent fare; with the actor reuniting with Cellular co-star Jason Statham for drug drama London (2005), before appearing in Danny Boyle’s acclaimed sci-fi Sunshine (2007), and starring opposite Keanu Reeves in David Ayer’s crime thriller Street Kings (2008).

Chris Evans as Captain America

SUPER-HERO

Chris however, has had most success with comic book adaptations and films appealing to comic book fans. Aside from his breakthrough role in the Fantastic Four films, Chris has further appeared in Paul McGuigan’s super-powered action film Push (2009), and comic book adaptations The Losers (2010), and Scott Pilgrim vs The World (2010). He will next be seen in his most high-profile lead role to date as another comic book character, Captain America, in Marvel’s highly anticipated Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Chris will reprise the role in Marvel’s forthcoming ensemble The Avengers (2012) and will be seen later this year in romantic comedy What’s Your Number? (2011).

PERSONAL LIFE

Chris has previously had a high-profile long-term relationship with actress Jessica Biel whom he met in 2002. The couple went on to star together in Cellular and London before separating in 2006. He has since been linked with actresses Minka Kelly, Emmy Rossum and Dianna Agron. He is currently represented by Creative Artists Agency.

Pursue your success starting now

Share on Facebook

EARLY LIFE

Michael Bay

Born Michael Benjamin Bay on 17th February 1965 in Los Angeles, California, Michael is the adopted child of bookstore owner Harriet and accountant Jim Bay. Michael discovered a passion for filmmaking at a young age, spending much of his youth creating his own amateur short films on his parents’ Super 8mm camera. His interest in filmmaking soon lead him to an internship at Lucasfilm where the 15 year old boy was tasked with archiving production design materials and storyboards for the likes of Star Wars (1977), and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Michael studied at Crossroads High School in Santa Monica before enrolling at Wesleyan University to study filmmaking where he directed acclaimed short Benjamin’s Birthday. He graduated in 1986 and undertook postgraduate studies at the Art College Center of Design in California.

MUSIC VIDEOS AND ADVERTISING

Soon after completing his studies, Michael found fame as a music video and commercials director with his professional debut coming in the shape of a video for Donny Osmond’s comeback single “Soldier of Love” in 1989. The video was an instant success and Michael quickly found himself as one of the industry’s most sought after directors; filming videos for such artists as Vanilla Ice (I Love You, 1991), Tina Turner (Love Thing, 1992) Lionel Ritchie (Do It To Me, 1992), and Meat Loaf (I’d Do Anything For Love, 1993). Michael won a CLIO award in 1994 for his efforts on the first “Got Milk?” commercial, and was honored by the Director’s Guild of America for his ‘Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials”. He also directed advertisements for Nike, Reebok, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser. His early career marked him as a rising directorial talent, a reputation he was keen to take advantage of with his debut feature film, Bad Boys in 1995.

BLOCKBUSTER CAREER

Bad Boys was a box office hit and was the beginning of a very lucrative partnership between Michael and blockbuster producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Jerry would go on to produce Michael’s next 4 films; with The Rock (1996) starring Nicolas Cage, Armageddon (1998) with Bruce Willis, Pearl Harbor (2001), and Bad Boys II (2003) each earning over $100 million at the US box office – firmly establishing him as one of Hollywood’s most successful action directors. Michael’s next venture however, his first produced without Jerry Bruckheimer, the sci-fi blockbuster The Island (2005), flopped at the box office; grossing a disappointing $35 million domestically from a $126 million budget. Michael’s following release would see the director return to the A-list and at his blockbuster best with the Steven Spielberg produced Transformers (2007). The film was a box office smash; becoming one of the year’s highest grossing films and spawned one of modern cinema’s most successful franchises, with Michael returning to helm hit sequel Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen in 2009, and the highly anticipated third entry, Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). He has infrequently returned to directing commercials outside of his film commitments, including advertisements for Lexus and Victoria’s Secret.

Michael Bay on the set of Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen

PRODUCING CAREER

Michael’s also had some success as a producer; earning credits on some of his own directorial efforts including Armageddon, The Island, and the Transformers trilogy. He also co-owns Platinum Dunes with Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form which has largely specialized in high profile horror remakes including The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (2003), The Amityville Horror (2005), Friday the 13th (2009), and A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010). He has most recently produced teen sci-fi I Am Number Four (2011).

CRITICAL RECEPTION

Michael’s films have often been criticized for their bombastic blockbuster style that seemingly favour spectacle over characterization. He has often been nominated for Razzie awards; earning 3 nominations and the dishonor of a win for his direction on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in 2010, yet he is a proven success with audiences, with his total domestic gross to date standing at nearly $1.5 billion. He is currently represented by William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.

The combination of passion, training and networking is a good formula, find them all at London Academy

Share on Facebook

EARLY LIFE

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Born on 22nd April1966, in Seattle, Washington, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is the only son to Sandy Thomas and Richard Dean Morgan. He grew up in the town of Kirkland, studying at Ben Franklin Elementary School, and Rose Hill Junior High, before enrolling at Lake Washington High School where he developed a passion for basketball, aspiring to play the sport at a professional level. He graduated in 1984, however, his dreams of a career in sport were soon ended when he suffered a knee injury during his studies at Skagit Valley Community College. He would briefly work as a graphic designer before discovering a new passion; acting.

ACTING DEBUT

Jeffrey discovered his talent for acting through a local theatre company, appearing in productions of Grease and West Side Story, in 1991 before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the arts. His film debut was not far behind when he was cast in the low-budget crime thriller Uncaged in the same year, yet the debutant actor would often struggle to land parts for much of his early career. His next role didn’t come until 1995, when the struggling actor made some minor film appearances in the likes of Undercover Heat, and Roger Corman’s Dillinger and Capone with Martin Sheen. Jeffrey was to be much more successful with his television work, making guest appearances in JAG (1995), and Sliders (1996), and becoming a series regular on short-lived sci-fi series The Burning Zone (1996-1997). Jeffrey’s breakthrough wouldn’t come until the turn of the century though when the actor finally became a frequent television presence thanks to a slew of guest appearances in numerous popular television series.

A CAREER IN TELEVISION

With a return to JAG (2002), and appearances in the likes of ER (2001), The Practice (2002), Angel (2002), CSI (2003), The O.C (2005), and Weeds (2005), Jeffrey became one of American television’s most frequently cast actors, yet it was his recurring appearances on teen sci-fi Supernatural (2005-2008), and medical drama Grey’s Anatomy (2006-2009) that would earn the actor the attentions of Hollywood’s top producers. His performance on Grey’s Anatomy particularly endeared Jeffrey to television audiences, with the actor memorably appearing in over 20 episodes despite his character’s rather premature demise.

BIG SCREEN SUCCESS

More high-profile film roles quickly followed with Jeffrey appearing in the romantic-comedy P.S. I Love You (2007) alongside Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank, and The Accidental Husband (2008) with Uma Thurman and Colin Firth. In 2009, Jeffrey took his first tentative steps towards big-screen stardom with acclaimed performances in Zack Snyder’s graphic novel adaptation Watchmen (2009) as sadistic vigilante The Comedian, and Ang Lee’s ensemble drama Taking Woodstock, before leading a cast of rising stars (including Chris Evans, Zoe Saldana, and Idris Elba) for his second comic-book adaptation, The Losers in 2010. He has most recently reunited with Hilary Swank for Hammer horror release The Resident (2011), and will next be seen in a slew of films due for release later this year including a remake of John Milius’ Red Dawn (2011), action thriller The Courier (2011) with Mickey Rourke, and crime drama The Fields (2011) with Sam Worthington.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian in Watchmen

PERSONAL LIFE

Jeffrey has had high profile relationships with Weeds co-star Mary-Louise Parker, and actresses Sherrie Rose and Sarah Lancaster. He had an on-off relationship with Parker; to whom he was briefly engaged, and discovered he was the father of Rose’s 4 year old son in 2009. He is currently in a relationship with actress Hilarie Burton with whom he has a second son, born in 2010. Jeffrey is currently represented by United Talent Agency.

Actors are needed at every age – try acting today at London Academy

Share on Facebook

London Academy of Media Film TV

EARLY LIFE

Angelina Jolie

Born Angelina Jolie Voight on the 4th of June, 1975, in Los Angeles, California; Angelina is the youngest of two children to actors Marcheline Bertrand and Jon Voight. Her parents separated a year after she was born and she was primarily raised in New York by her mother. With the soon-to-be actress having a somewhat tempestuous relationship with her father, Angelina has credited her interest in acting to her childhood experiences with her mother, though she made her debut film appearance in her father’s poorly received comedy Lookin’ to Get Out released in 1982. Angelina pursued her interest in the profession in her early teenage years when she began studying at the Lee Strasbourg Theatre Institute in 1986, making several stage appearances during her studies. She also briefly considered a career as a funeral director during her more troubled years; with the young actress collecting knives and experimenting with self-harm when she was 16 years old, before achieving some success as a professional model.

MODELING CAREER

Angelina found success as a model across the globe; working in London, Los Angeles, and New York, earning the attentions of the music industry with the teenage model appearing in numerous music videos for the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Meatloaf, and the Rolling Stones. With her passion for acting reignited, Angelina enrolled at the MET theater company in Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actress. After appearing in a couple of shorts by Secretary director Steven Shainberg in 1993, Angelina quickly made her film debut as an adult in the low-budget sci-fi thriller, Cyborg 2 (1993).

COMMERCIAL BREAKTHROUGH

After making numerous appearances in low-profile genre films, including Hackers (1995) with Johnny Lee Miller, and Playing God (1997) with David Duchovny, Angelina earned her first taste of critical acclaim with television biopic Gia (1998) portraying doomed model Gia Carangi. She was nominated for an Emmy for her performance and won a Golden Globe award, planting her firmly on the Hollywood map. More high profile roles soon followed with Angelina starring opposite Billy Bob Thornton in romantic drama Pushing Tin (1999), and Denzel Washington in crime thriller The Bone Collector (1999), before making her breakthrough performance in Girl, Interrupted (1999). She won an Oscar for her performance and quickly established herself as one of Hollywood’s highest earning stars with a string of blockbuster hits.

BOX OFFICE QUEEN

With Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) opposite Nicolas Cage, highly anticipated video-game adaptation Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), action comedy Mr and Mrs Smith (2005), and roles in animated hits Shark Tale (2004), and Kung Fu Panda (2008) grossing over $100 million each in America alone, Angelina became a certified box office star. Though she has starred in her fair share of box office flops, including Original Sin (2001) with Antonio Banderas and Thomas Jane, and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) with Jude Law, Angelina has remained one of cinema’s biggest draws, and has endeavoured to balance more challenging dramatic work with box office blockbusters. She earned a second Oscar nomination for her performances in Clint Eastwood’s Changeling (2008), and has recently lit up the box office with blockbusters Wanted (2008), Salt (2010), and The Tourist (2011) with Johnny Depp. She will next be seen in the animated sequel Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011).

HUMANITARIAN WORK

However, Angelina’s most fulfilling work has been away from the big screen with the actress using her celebrity status to raise awareness for humanitarian causes across the world. She has visited many third world countries and conflict zones including Sierra Leone, Namibia, Darfur, and Haiti, and has made numerous donations from her own fortune. She has made public speeches at fundraising events including World Refugee Day, and in 2001 was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN. She has been awarded the Citizen of the World award, and a Global Humanitarian award for her prolific charity work.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

PERSONAL LIFE

Aside from her highly-publicized estrangement from her father, Angelina has been the subject of controversy with her love life too, earning a reputation as a wild child. At her first wedding, to actor Johnny Lee Miller (1996-1999), Angelina had written the groom’s name on her shirt in her own blood, and the star has professed that she wore a vial of her spouse’s blood during her marriage to second husband Billy Bob Thornton (2000-2003). Her current relationship to actor Brad Pitt has also been the subject of obsessive media speculation with Angelina rumored to have been the cause for the dissolution of Brad’s marriage to actress Jennifer Aniston. Angelina has 3 adopted children; Maddox (adopted 2002) from Cambodia, Zahara Marley (adopted 2005) from Ethiopia, and Pax Thien (adopted 2007) from Vietnam. She also has three biological children with Brad; Shiloh Nouvel (born 2006), and twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon (born 2008). Angelina is currently represented by United Talent Agency.

Acting is empowering – try acting today at London Academy

Share on Facebook

London Academy of Media Film TV

EARLY LIFE

Brad Pitt

Born William Bradley Pitt on 18th December, 1963 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Brad is the eldest of three children to counselor Jane, and truck company owner William Alvin Pitt. Having moved to Missouri shortly after his birth, Brad studied at Kickapoo High School in Springfield, where he first discovered a passion for acting; performing in numerous school productions. He went on to study journalism at the University of Missouri, but soon realized his true calling was in the arts with the teenager acting with the Sigma Chi fraternity. Brad abandoned his studies shortly before he was due to graduate and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career in 1986.

ACTING DEBUT

Brad soon found work as an extra, making minor appearances in numerous films and television series’. His debut came in 1987 with the burgeoning actor appearing in the likes of Hunk, No Way Out, and Less Than Zero with Robert Downey Jr. That same year he landed a recurring role on television soap Dallas (1987-1988), and proceeded to guest star in popular television fare including 21 Jump Street (1988), and Wes Craven’s Freddy’s Nightmares (1989). Brad continued to land small roles in film and television, until he found his breakthrough role in Ridley Scott’s acclaimed crime drama Thelma & Louise (1991). The film was a box office smash and Brad’s supporting performance as a hitchhiker soon earned him the attentions of Hollywood’s top producers, and the affections of female audiences around the world who quickly became enamored with his chiseled looks.

BIG SCREEN BREAKTHROUGH

Following Thelma & Louise’ success, Brad found himself in consideration for lead roles; earning his leading man status as the titular Johnny Suede in the 1991 musical comedy. However, Brad was keen to avoid being typecast and strived to establish himself as a talented actor, with his acclaimed performance as a serial killer in Kalifornia (1993) being an indicator of the diverse roles that would define his career. Brad sealed his A-list status in 1994 with Interview with the Vampire, sharing leading man duties with Tom Cruise, and Edward Zwick’s Legends of the Fall for which he earned his first Golden Globe nomination. Brad’s career went from strength to strength, with the actor collaborating with director David Fincher in acclaimed thriller Se7en (1995), and earning his first Oscar nomination and Golden Globe win for his performance in Twelve Monkeys (1995) opposite Bruce Willis. A couple of misfires soon followed with the underwhelming The Devil’s Own, and Seven Years in Tibet in 1997, but Brad would soon be back on the path to superstardom with the release of dark fantasy Meet Joe Black (1998) reaffirming his heartthrob status, and a reunion with Fincher for Fight Club in 1999.

FIGHT CLUB AND BEYOND

Though it disappointed at the box office, Fight Club became a cult smash and revived Brad’s career. More high profile genre films followed with The Mexican (2001), Spy Game (2001), and a guest appearance on Friends (2001), before Brad appeared in Steven Soderbergh’s ensemble blockbuster Ocean’s Eleven (2001) that saw the actor begin a long-standing friendship with actor George Clooney. Between appearances in 2 Ocean’s sequels; Twelve (2004), and Thirteen (2007), Brad’s screen profile skyrocketed with lead roles in blockbusters Troy (2004), and action comedy Mr & Mrs Smith (2005) becoming box office hits. He has since reunited with Clooney once more for the Coen’s Burn After Reading (2008), and earned rave reviews for his performances in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2008), David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) which earned the actor his second Oscar nomination, and Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds (2009). He will next be seen in The Tree of Life (2011).

PRODUCING CAREER

Brad has also had success as a producer, with his company Plan B Entertainment producing the likes of The Departed (2006), A Mighty Heart (2007), The Time Traveller’s Wife (2009), Kick-Ass (2010), and Eat. Pray. Love (2010) amongst others.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr & Mrs Smith

PERSONAL LIFE

Brad has had several high profile relationships with actresses Juliette Lewis, and Gwyneth Paltrow, and was previously married to actress Jennifer Aniston (2000-2005). His marriage to Jennifer became the cause of immense media speculation amid rumours that Brad became close to co-star Angelina Jolie whom he met whilst filming Mr & Mrs Smith in 2005, and the couple divorced shortly after. Brad’s relationship with Angelina has become one of the most talked about in Hollywood, the couple have 3 children; Shiloh Nouvel (born 2006), and twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon (born 2008), and in 2006 Brad legally adopted Angelina’s 3 adopted children Maddox Chivan, Zahara Marley, and Pax Thien. He has also accompanied Angelina on some of her humanitarian visits, and co-established the Jolie-Pitt Foundation to raise funds and awareness for humanitarian causes. Brad was also active in relief efforts during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, funding housing projects and encouraging film production in the area. He is currently represented by Creative Artists Agency.

Acting is a showcase for many talents – try acting today at London Academy

Share on Facebook

London Academy of Media Film TV

EARLY LIFE

George Clooney

Born George Timothy Clooney on 6th May, 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky, George is the youngest of two children to former pageant queen Nina, and television newscaster Nick Clooney. George’s family had many showbiz connections; his aunt Rosemary was a singer, and George’s cousin, actor Miguel Ferrer, is her son with actor Jose Ferrer. George would soon follow suit with the youngster spending much of his youth on his father’s sets where he proved popular with studio audiences. However, George’s early passion was for baseball with the young man excelling at the sport during his studies at Augusta High School in Kentucky, unsuccessfully trying out for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977.

ACTING DEBUT

He went on to study broadcast journalism at Northern Kentucky University, but discovered a love for acting when his cousin Miguel landed him a small role in unreleased drama And They’re Off. Another minor role followed in 1978 mini-series Centennial, yet George would have to wait nearly 6 years to be cast again, doing odd jobs in construction whilst auditioning for roles. His first break would come in 1984 when he was cast in short-lived medical comedy E/R (1984-85). George quickly became a television regular; appearing in the likes of The Facts of Life (1985-87), Murder She Wrote (1987), and Roseanne (1988-1991), as well as low-profile features Return to Horror High (1987) and Return of the Killer Tomatoes (1988), yet his star-making turn would come in another ER, when he was cast as Dr Doug Ross in Michael Crichton’s acclaimed medical series ER.

ER AND MAINSTREAM BREAKTHROUGH

ER proved to be instantly popular with George quickly becoming a firm favorite with female viewers, even guest-starring as a doctor in an episode of hit sitcom Friends in 1995 with co-star Noah Wyle. He earned 2 Emmy and 3 Golden Globe nominations for his performance as Doug Ross, and was soon landing lead parts in increasingly high-profile films including From Dusk Til Dawn (1996), and romantic drama One Fine Day (1996). However, George’s big screen breakthrough would have to wait when his star-making turn as Batman in Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin (1997) debuted to universally negative reviews, derailing the franchise and George’s big-screen prospects. His big-screen desires were not to be contained though and the star made a critical comeback a year later in Steven Soderbergh’s independent crime thriller Out of Sight (1998). He left ER as a series regular a year later to focus on his burgeoning film career; appearing in the likes of Three Kings (1999) and The Perfect Storm (2000) – both with Mark Wahlberg, and the Coen brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), before reuniting with Soderbergh for the star-studded remake Ocean’s Eleven (2001).

OCEAN’S ELEVEN AND BEYOND

Ocean’s was a critical and commercial success, sealing George’s reputation as an A-list star. He would reunite with Soderbergh on numerous occasions; starring in Solaris (2002), and The Good German (2006), as well as reprising the role of Danny Ocean for sequels Twelve, and Thirteen in 2004 and 2007 respectively. He has also frequently collaborated with the Coen brothers, starring in Intolerable Cruelty (2003), and Burn After Reading (2008), and has earned rave reviews and 3 Oscar nominations for his performances in Syriana (2005) for which he won Best Supporting Actor, Michael Clayton (2007), and Up in the Air (2009). He has most recently starred in Anton Corbijn’s hitman thriller The American (2011) and will next be seen in The Descendants (2011). George has also proven his talent behind the camera as well as in front of it; directing and starring in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Good Night and Good Luck (2005), Leatherheads (2008), and the forthcoming drama The Ides of March (2011).

George Clooney with Matt Damon in Ocean's Eleven

POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND HUMANITARIAN WORK

George has publicly opposed America’s involvement in Iraq, and campaigned in support of Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election. In 2007 George and fellow actor Don Cheadle were awarded the Summit Peace Award at the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to raise awareness for the civil war in Darfur. George has made public speeches at rallies and in front of the UN regarding the conflict, and has frequently visited the region to produce several documentaries highlighting the atrocities the conflict has caused. In 2008 George was named as a Messenger of Peace by the UN.

PERSONAL LIFE

George has famously had several high profile relationships, but has publicly stated he will not marry again after the breakdown of his marriage to Talia Balsam (1989-1993). He has previously dated models Lisa Snowden and Sarah Larson, and is currently in a relationship with actress Elisabetta Canalis. George is currently represented by Creative Artists Agency.

Acting is a showcase for many talents – try acting today at London Academy

Share on Facebook

London Academy of Media Film TV

EARLY LIFE

Tom Cruise

Born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July 3rd, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, Tom is the third of four children to teacher Mary Lee and electrical engineer Thomas Cruise Mapother III. Raised as a Catholic, Tom had a difficult childhood; he suffered from dyslexia and had a difficult relationship with his father whom Tom has publicly criticized for his strict, abusive parenting. Tom and his family moved regularly when he was a child, living in places like New York and Ontario. Whilst living in Ontario, Tom studied at Henry Munro Middle School where he developed a passion for hockey and had his first taste of acting, appearing in a school production of IT that was filmed for Canadian television. His parents separated when he was 12 years old and he moved to New Jersey with his mother. He later briefly attended a Franciscan seminary to pursue a life as a Catholic priest, before attending New Jersey High School to develop his burgeoning acting talent.

ACTING DEBUT

In his late teens, Tom moved to New York City and soon earned his first acting part with a small role in Endless Love (1981). Bigger parts were on the horizon though and Tom quickly earned more substantial roles in the military drama Taps (1981), and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders (1983) before he found his breakthrough role in 1983’s Risky Business. That film was a breakout hit with Tom earning a Golden Globe nomination for his star-making performance. His first bona-fide blockbuster was yet to come though with Tom sealing his A-list status in Tony Scott’s hugely popular action thriller Top Gun (1986). The film was a worldwide success, grossing over $350 million and transforming Tom into one of Hollywood’s most popular actors. He hasn’t looked back since playing on his screen charisma and demonstrating his natural acting talent in both big budget blockbuster fare and high profile dramas.

TOM CRUISE – SUPERSTAR

With acclaimed performances in The Colour of Money (1986), and Rain Man (1988), it was only a matter of time before Tom would earn the attentions of Hollywood’s major awards; with his performance as a paraplegic Vietnam veteran in Oliver Stone’s acclaimed drama Born on the Fourth of July (1989) he earned his first Golden Globe award and his first Oscar nomination. The star reunited with Tony Scott for the Nascar thriller Days of Thunder (1989) before demonstrating consistent success in the varied likes of A Few Good Men (1992), The Firm (1993), and Interview with the Vampire (1994). However, Tom was destined for bigger, more crowd-pleasing things with the release of TV adaptation Mission Impossible (1996) setting the actor on course to being Hollywood’s most bankable star. With further Oscar nominations and Golden Globe wins for his turns in Jerry Maguire (1997), and Magnolia (1999), and box office smashes Mission Impossible 2 (2000), Minority Report (2002), The Last Samurai (2003), Collateral (2004), and War of the Worlds (2005), Tom became known as Hollywood’s proven sure thing at the box office.

CONTROVERSY

However, he fell out of favour with the public thanks to some highly-publicized bizarre behavior on The Oprah Winfrey Show and his often outspoken remarks regarding his Scientologist beliefs culminating with Paramount studios refusing to renew their partnership with the actor in 2006. Tom has publicly apologized for some of his more controversial comments and has still proven to be a box office draw with Mission Impossible III (2006) grossing almost $400 million worldwide, but his latest non-franchise releases have underwhelmed with both Valkyrie (2008), and Knight and Day (2010) underperforming at the box office. He will next be seen in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011).

Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible III

PRODUCING CAREER

Tom has also had success as a producer with many of his blockbuster releases being produced by his own company, Wagner/Cruise Productions, including the Mission Impossible franchise and The Last Samurai as well as the more independent-minded releases Narc (2002) and Shattered Glass (2003).

PERSONAL LIFE

Tom previously had high profile relationships with co-stars Rebecca De Mornay (Risky Business), and Penelope Cruz (Vanilla Sky, 2001), and has been married 3 times; to Mimi Rogers (1987-1990), Nicole Kidman (1990-2001), and Katie Holmes (2006-present). He shares two adopted children with Kidman; Isabella Jane (born 1992), and Connor Cruise (born 1995), and has a biological daughter, Suri (born 2006) with current wife Katie Holmes. Tom has been nominated for 3 Oscars and 7 Golden Globes, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is currently represented by Creative Artists Agency.

Acting is a showcase for many talents – try acting today at London Academy

Share on Facebook