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Widely regarded as one of the greatest stage and screen actors both in his native Great Britain and internationally, twice nominated for the Oscar and recipient of every major theatrical award in the UK and US, Ian Murray McKellen was born on May 25, 1939 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, to Margery Lois (Sutcliffe) and Denis Murray McKellen, a civil engineer and lay preacher. He is of Scottish, Northern Irish, and English descent. During his early childhood, his parents moved with Ian and his older sister, Jean, to the mill town of Wigan. It was in this small town that young Ian rode out World War II. He soon developed a fascination with acting and the theatre, which was encouraged by his parents. They would take him to plays, those by William Shakespeare, in particular. The amateur school productions fostered Ian's growing passion for theatre.

When Ian was of age to begin attending school, he made sure to get roles in all of the productions. At Bolton School in particular, he developed his skills early on. Indeed, his first role in a Shakespearian play was at Bolton, as Malvolio in "Twelfth Night". Ian soon began attending Stratford-upon-Avon theatre festivals, where he saw the greats perform: Laurence Olivier, Wendy Hiller, John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson and Paul Robeson. He continued his education in English Drama, but soon it fell by the wayside as he concentrated more and more on performing. He eventually obtained his Bachelor of Arts in 1961, and began his career in earnest.

McKellen began working in theatre over the next few years. Very few people knew of Ian's homosexuality; he saw no reason to go public, nor had he told his family. They did not seem interested in the subject and so he saw no reason to bring it up. In 1988, Ian publicly came out of the closet on the BBC Radio 4 program, while discussing Margaret Thatcher's "Section 28" legislation, which made the promotion of homosexuality as a family relationship by local authorities an offense. It was reason enough for McKellen to take a stand. He has been active in the gay rights movement ever since.

Ian resides in Limehouse, where he has also lived with his former long-time partner Sean Mathias. The two men have also worked together on the film Bent (1997) as well as in exquisite stage productions. To this day, McKellen works mostly in theatre, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990 for his efforts in the arts. However, he has managed to make several quite successful forays into film. He has appeared in several productions of Shakespeare's works including his well received Richard III (1995), and in a variety of other movies. However, it has only been recently that his star has finally begun to shine in the eyes of North American audiences. Roles in various films, Cold Comfort Farm (1995), Apt Pupil (1998) and Gods and Monsters (1998), riveted audiences. The latter, in particular, created a sensation in Hollywood, and McKellen's role garnered him several of awards and nominations, including a Golden Globe and an Oscar nod. McKellen, as he continues to work extensively on stage, he always keeps in 'solidifying' his 'role' as Laurence Olivier's worthy 'successor' in the best sense too, such as King Lear (2008) / King Lear (2008) directed by Trevor Nunn and in a range of other staggering performances full of generously euphoric delight that have included "Peter Pan" and Noël Coward's "Present Laughter", as well as Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" and Harold Pinter's "No Man's Land" (National Theatre Live: No Man's Land (2016)), both in acclaimed productions brilliantly directed by Sean Mathias.

McKellen found mainstream success with his performance as Magneto in X-Men (2000) and its sequels. His largest mark on the big screen may be as Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" film trilogy directed by Peter Jackson, which he reprised in "The Hobbit" trilogy. He also reprised the role of 'King Lear' with new artistic perspectives in National Theatre Live: King Lear (2018) offering an invaluable mesmerizing experience as a natural force of stage - and screen - of infinite generosity through his unsurpassable interpretation of the titanically vulnerable king.

Lee Ingleby was born on 28 January 1976 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998) and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003).

Natalie Gumede was born on 20 March 1984 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Titans (2018), C.B. Strike (2017) and Doctor Who (2005).

Quirky, uncensored, and idiosyncratic, actor Muzz Khan is quickly becoming known in the entertainment industry for the characters he has brought to life on screen. From television, film, theater, and music, Khan proves time and time again that he can do it all. In 2016, he can be seen co-starring on ABC's musical comedy "Galavant." Khan is a scene-stealer as Barry, the belligerent and bewildered assistant to Wormwood [played by Robert Lindsay] who could be described as the Pakistani lovechild of Kramer from "Seinfeld" and Daphne from "Frasier." Season two of "Galavant" premiered in January 2016.

On the film front, Khan will make his US feature debut in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's [MGM's] and New Line Cinema's "Me Before You" as Syed, set to be released on June 3, 2016. Based off the 2012 bestselling novel by Jojo Moyes, the film follows Louisa Clark [Emilia Clarke] who forms an unlikely bond with the recently paralyzed William Traynor [Sam Claflin] after she is hired [by Syed] as his caretaker.

Television credits for Khan include: "24: Live Another Day," "Black Mirror: White Christmas," "Catastrophe," "The Suspicions of Mr Whicher," "Bradford Riots," and "No Angels." His film credits include: "Happy Toys," "The Hatching," "Four Lions," and "East is East." Khan has also spent time working in theater, and has performed with Kim Cattrall in "Antony and Cleopatra," in the Scott Rudin produced "Behind The Beautiful Forevers" at the National Theatre in England, as well as at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In addition to acting, Khan has been a successful DJ in London since 2007. He made his debut at the internationally renowned Pacha nightclub and became a resident there for two years. He has performed across Europe at venues including: Ministry of Sound, O2 Academy, Proud Camden, numerous festivals, and at Spanish clubs including Space and Es Paradis in Ibiza. Khan has shared the stage with artists such as: 2ManyDJs, Erick Morillo, Fedde Le Grand, MK, Armin Van Buuren, Eric Prydz, Basement Jaxx, Chris Lake as well as countless others.

Born in Burnley and raised in Nelson, Lancashire, Khan always had a passion for the arts. By the age of eight he loved house music, and his passion for acting developed in high school when the BBC came to film an episode of the popular drama "Hetty Wainthropp Investigates" at his school. Khan volunteered to be one of the background students and ended up filming a small scene as an extra. With no acting experience and being from a small town, he found the whole experience incredibly seductive. He even landed his first paid acting gig before starting drama school in Miramax's "East is East" which featured Archie Panjabi from the series "The Good Wife."

Khan trained at the illustrious Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in South Kensington, London, alongside his peers, Natalie Dormer, Rupert Friend, Elyes Gabel and Tom Mison, graduating in 2004.

Khan currently lives in the UK with his wife and his son.

Jody Latham was born on 9 January 1983 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for The Silence (2010), EastEnders (1985) and Showground.

Elliot Warren is a British actor and writer. In 2019 his debut play 'Flesh and Bone' won an Olivier Award for 'Outstanding Achievement In An Affiliate Theatre' in which he wrote, co-directed and starred in.

Elliot can be seen in Apple TV Plus series Masters Of The Air and will be starring in Disney's A Thousand Blows. He is also known for The Batman (2022) and Hard Times (2023)

Elliot wrote on the final season of Topboy (2023)

Paul Abbott was born on 22 February 1960 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for Shameless (2011), Shameless (2004) and State of Play (2003). He has been married to Saskia Abbott since 1993. They have two children. He was previously married to Sheila Culf.

Hannah Hobley was born on 9 October 1988 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Benidorm (2007), Cranford (2007) and Benidorm: 10 Years on Holiday (2018).

Lamissah La-Shontae is an actress, known for Kin (2016), Deadline (2018) and Case Files (2018). Lamissah La-Shontae is the only daughter of Anthony and Zohra Bhatti and their second youngest child. She was born on September 11th, 2007 in Lancashire, England. Lamissah La-Shontae had been scouted as a baby for modelling after a shoot for worldwide baby brand Mother Care. At the age of four she was put on the gifted and talented register, and at the age of six she was signed to a very successful Model and Casting agency and is still with them to date. Her first Acting role was at eight years old on the movie Kin (2016) as Ella Fortuna, and at the present moment she's filming for Deadline (2018) as Sapphire Hierarchies Apprentice and Case Files (2018) as young Shannon Walker.

Alice was born the eldest of four children. She grew up in Burnley, attending St Mary Magdalene's school and came to acting late in life, after her son had grown up and left home. After working as an extra she was spotted by a director who encouraged her to go for larger parts, leading to roles in 'Coronation Street'. Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights' and most famously as the owner of the best little whore house on the Chatsworth estate in 'Shameless'. Alice's sense of humour has been evidenced in her appearances for BBC's Comic Relief appeals when she spoofed the knickerless tennis player in the famous Athena poster and also parodied Mena Suvari's scene in 'American Beauty',Alice being covered in plastic red noses as opposed to the rose petals of the original film.

Julia Haworth was born on 27 July 1979 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. She is an actress and writer, known for Coronation Street (1960), Three Seven Eleven (1993) and Blink (2010). She has been married to Jon Wormald since 6 May 2006. They have two children.

Peter Salmon was born on 15 May 1956 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for 999 (1992), Crimewatch UK (1984) and Third Eye (1982). He has been married to Sarah Lancashire since 22 August 2001. He was previously married to Penny Watt.

John Nightingale was born in 1942 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for When the Boat Comes In (1976), Looking for Clancy (1975) and The Stars Look Down (1974). He died in 1980 in Greenwich, London, England, UK.

Richard Moore was born in 1934 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Robin Hood (1991), McCallum (1995) and C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud (1989).

After training at LAMDA, Irene traveled widely with the Bristol Old Vic Company, including Europe, America and the Middle East. She worked in rep at Liverpool, Leatherhead, Worthing and Wolverhampton and did seasons at Stratford-on-Avon and Chichester and toured with a Shakespearean Company. She worked with Laurence Olivier's company and appeared in Olivier's film version of "Richard the Third". In addition, she worked extensively on the West End stage, including a year in "The Mousetrap", and acted in numerous radio and television plays before joining Coronation Street (1960) in 1968.

Ian Barritt was born in 1944 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Life on Mars (2006), Doctor Who (2005) and Foyle's War (2002).

Herbert Lomas was born on 17 January 1887 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Sign of Four: Sherlock Holmes' Greatest Case (1932), Knight Without Armor (1937) and Lorna Doone (1934). He died on 11 April 1961 in Bovey Tracey, Devon, England, UK.

Albert Wilkinson was born in 1938 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Labyrinth (1986), Countess Dracula (1971) and A Little in Tents (2017).

Nicola Wheeler was born on 4 April 1974 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Emmerdale Farm (1972), Band of Gold (1995) and Emmerdale: The Dingles - For Richer for Poorer (2010).

Kathy Jamieson was born in 1957 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Butterfly Kiss (1995), Merseybeat (2001) and Coronation Street (1960). She is married to John McArdle.

Philip Brack was born on 27 February 1927 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for A Man for All Seasons (1966), Look and Read (1967) and The Silver Sword (1971). He was married to Paddy Frost. He died on 29 July 1979 in Sherborne, Dorset, England, UK.

Thomas Morrison was born on 1 January 1983 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Blackpool (2004), Brideshead Revisited (2008) and The Theory of Everything (2014).

James Buller was born on 4 April 1970 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Doctor Who (2005), EastEnders (1985) and Sunburn (1999).

Sean Farrow was born on 17 September 1970 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He is known for Batman Begins (2005), 1408 (2007) and Hunter Killer (2018).

Zoe Williams was born on 3 April 1980 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for What does it mean? (2024), Easy Ways to Live Well (2020) and Gladiators (2008).