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RunPee British Biography Hub

A collage of British actors featured in RunPee's Best of British biographiesBest of British logo

With a lot of encouragement and advice from RunPee C.O.O. Jill I've been doing occasional biographical articles about British talent and what they bring to the big -- nay -- huge blockbuster franchises.

It's one of those mysteries lost in the depths of time…how did this actually start? My recollection is that I saw somewhere that Sir Patrick Stewart's 80th birthday was imminent and just decided to have a go at writing a mini-biography. Then there was the sad passing of Sir Ian Holm, so I did a similar piece for him. Then things started to snowball and I began doing mini-biographies quite regularly; I've even got a few requests! Leave me a comment below if you have anyone else in mind.

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It's a work in progress, with new Brit Bios added as they're written, so feel free to check back. This post will keep every bio handy before I write it all up into my first book.

Just to make things a bit easier to find, here we have a mini index of every bio article. Enjoy!

British Actors:

Roger Allam

A warm resonant voice and a career that covers all genres

Christian Bale

The master of accents and appearances

Robbie Coltrane

Not just the keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts

Sir Sean Connery

A legend. The first cinematic James Bond and much more too.

Benedict Cumberbatch

The latest scion of an acting dynasty.

Dame Judi Dench

Our most treasured of national treasures.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Much more than Mordo

Martin Freeman

Hobbits, Holmes, Hitchhiker, and more!

Sir Michael Gambon

Planned as a mini biography, sadly published as an obituary.

Karen Gillan

The Doctor will see you now…

Sir Alec Guinness

So much more than Obi-Wan Kenobi

Tom Hiddleston

Let's keep things low key…

Bernard Hill

From John Lennon on the Liverpool stage to King Théoden of Rohan.

Sir Ian Holm

Hobbits again! But with a range from Besson to the Bard.

Sir Anthony Hopkins

I wanted to say the Maesteg Maestro but he comes from Port Talbot!

Sir John Hurt

Supremely talented and deeply missed.

Rhys Ifans

Once more unto the bwlch…

Toby Jones OBE

One of the most ubiquitous character actors working today.

Dame Angela Lansbury

The scene-stealing grande dame of stage and screen for 75 years.

Miriam Margolyes OBE

A national treasure. A very rude one but a national treasure all the same.

Ewan McGregor OBE

One of the most capable and versatile actors working today.

Sir Ian McKellen

A franchise straddling behemoth of stage and screen; see Patrick Stewart.

Liam Neeson OBE

When most of us are thinking of retirement he reinvents himself as an action hero!

Bill Nighy

Laconic, louche, languid, lanky…Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman

Just goes to show that RADA doesn't know everything!

Leslie Phillips

Not such a naughty boy after all.

Alan Rickman

Sadly missed and so much more than Severus Snape.

Dame Maggie Smith

One of the four grand dames of British acting.

Timothy Spall OBE

Because you're allowed to pick your favourites when you're writing the pieces!

Sir Patrick Stewart

A franchise-straddling behemoth of stage and screen; see Ian McKellen.

Tilda Swinton

Androgynous, ethereal, amazing!

Dame Emma Thompson

More than just a stand up!

Dame Julie Walters

Fortunately, there's no limit on the number of national treasures there can be.

David Warner

The finest Hamlet of his generation and in so many films!

Rachel WeiszRachel Weisz

So much more than a pretty face and being Mrs Bond!

Ruth WilsonRuth Wilson

Psychopath or housewife? I don't care!

British Directors

Christopher Nolan CBE

One of the most visionary directors ever.

Danny Boyle

Fingers in so many genres.

On The Wish List

No guarantees! These are some of the people who I'm thinking of writing about. If you have a particular favourite, or someone I haven't mentioned, please add them in the comments.

Helena Bonham-Carter CBE

Sir Kenneth Branagh

Jim Broadbent

Brian Cox CBE

Idris Elba

Denholm Elliott CBE

Stephen Fry

Jane Goldman

Stephen Graham OBE

Sir Alfred Hitchcock

Sir Ben Kingsley

Adrian Lester CBE

Anna Maxwell Martin

Dame Helen Mirren

Guy Ritchie

Sir Ridley Scott

Andy Serkis

Matthew Vaughn

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Every RunPee post tagged Best of British →

More hubs

Plenty of these faces turn up in the Love Actually Hub, the Middle Earth Hub and the James Bond Hub.

All RunPee hubs →

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