Biography

Michelle Yeoh – Biography Early Life and Background Michelle Yeoh was born on August 6, 1962, in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, to a prominent Malaysian Chinese family. Her father was a successful lawyer and politician. From an early age, Yeoh showed a passion for dance, particularly ballet. She moved to the United Kingdom in her teens … Read more

Henry Golding – Biography Early Life and Background Henry Golding was born on February 5, 1987, in Betong, Sarawak, Malaysia, to a Malaysian mother of indigenous Iban ancestry and an English father. When he was eight, his family moved to Surrey, England, where he spent most of his formative years. Growing up in a multicultural … Read more

Gemma Chan – Biography Early Life and Background Gemma Chan was born on November 29, 1982, in London, England, to immigrant parents of Chinese descent. Her father was an engineer originally from Hong Kong, and her mother was a pharmacist raised in Scotland. Chan grew up in Kent and attended Newstead Wood School for Girls, … Read more

Richard Madden – Biography Early Life and Background Richard Madden was born on June 18, 1986, in Elderslie, Renfrewshire, Scotland. His father was a firefighter, and his mother worked as a primary school teacher. He grew up in a supportive, working-class household alongside two sisters. As a shy child, Madden joined a youth theatre program … Read more

Vanessa Kirby – Biography Early Life and Background Vanessa Kirby was born on April 18, 1988, in Wimbledon, London, England. Her father is a urologist, and her mother is a former magazine editor. Raised in a supportive, well-educated household, Vanessa attended Lady Eleanor Holles School before studying English at the University of Exeter. From an … Read more

Claire Foy – Biography Early Life and Background Claire Foy was born on April 16, 1984, in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. She grew up in Buckinghamshire after her parents separated when she was eight years old. Raised mainly by her mother, Claire attended Aylesbury High School, where she first became interested in drama. Her early … Read more

Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Biography Early Life and Background Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw, known professionally as Gugu Mbatha-Raw, was born on April 21, 1983, in Oxford, England. Her father, Patrick Mbatha, is a South African doctor, and her mother, Anne Raw, is an English nurse. Raised primarily by her mother in Witney, Oxfordshire, Gugu developed a strong … Read more

Tom Ellis – Biography Early Life and Background Tom Ellis was born on November 17, 1978, in Cardiff, Wales, and was raised in Sheffield, England. His father was a Baptist minister, and his mother also came from a religious background, instilling strong faith-based values in the household. Tom grew up with three sisters, making for … Read more

Brett Goldstein – Biography Early Life and Background Brett Goldstein was born on July 17, 1980, in Sutton, South London, into a creative and tight-knit family. His parents encouraged his love for performing, which became clear early on. He studied at Reigate Grammar School before gaining a scholarship to the University of Warwick, where he … Read more

Phil Dunster – Biography Early Life and Education Phil Dunster was born on March 31, 1992, in Northampton, England. Raised in a supportive and creative household, he showed an early interest in the performing arts. Although he initially aspired to be a professional athlete—particularly in rugby—his passion gradually shifted toward acting during his teenage years. … Read more

Hannah Waddingham – Biography Early Life and Background Hannah Waddingham was born on July 28, 1974, in Wandsworth, London, England. Raised in a family deeply connected to music—her mother, Melodie Kelly, was an opera singer—Waddingham was exposed to the arts from an early age. She studied at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, where … Read more

Luke Newton – Biography Early Life and Background Luke Newton was born on February 5, 1993, in Brighton, East Sussex, England. Growing up with a passion for the performing arts, he was involved in music and drama from a young age. He attended the London School of Musical Theatre, where he honed his acting and … Read more

Nicola Coughlan – Biography Early Life and Background Nicola Coughlan was born on January 9, 1987, in Galway, Ireland. Growing up in a close-knit Irish family, she developed an early passion for performance and storytelling. She attended Scoil Mhuire for her primary education and later studied at the National University of Ireland, Galway, where she … Read more

Simone Ashley – Biography Early Life and Background Simone Ashley was born on March 30, 1995, in Camberley, Surrey, England, to Indian Tamil parents. Growing up in a multicultural household, she developed a deep appreciation for both her South Asian heritage and British upbringing. Simone was always drawn to the arts, often more interested in … Read more

Asa Butterfield – Biography Early Life and Background Asa Butterfield was born on April 1, 1997, in Islington, London. Growing up in a creative and supportive household—his mom a psychologist and his dad a writer—Asa was surrounded by ideas and imagination from the start. He got into acting when he was just seven, joining a … Read more

Emma Mackey – Biography Early Life and Background Emma Mackey was born on January 4, 1994, in Le Mans, France. Her father is French and her mother is English, giving her a bicultural upbringing. She spent most of her early life in the French countryside before moving to the United Kingdom for her education. Mackey … Read more

Ncuti Gatwa – Biography Early Life and Background Ncuti Gatwa was born on October 15, 1992, in Kigali, Rwanda, during a time of great unrest. His family fled the Rwandan genocide when he was still a baby, eventually finding refuge in Scotland. Growing up in Edinburgh and later Dunfermline, he experienced a mix of cultures … Read more

Ziwe Fumudoh – Biography Early Life and Background Ziwe Fumudoh, known mononymously as Ziwe, was born on February 27, 1992, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, to Nigerian immigrant parents. Raised in a Nigerian-Catholic household, she grew up navigating dual cultural identities. Ziwe showed a strong interest in literature, humor, and performance early on. She attended Phillips Academy, … Read more

Hasan Minhaj – Biography Early Life and Background Hasan Minhaj was born on September 23, 1985, in Davis, California, to Indian Muslim parents from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. His father, a chemist, moved to the U.S. for work, while his mother, a medical student, remained in India for several years. Minhaj grew up in a mostly … Read more

Mo Amer – Biography Early Life and Background Mo Amer, born Mohammed Amer on July 24, 1981, in Kuwait, comes from a Palestinian family. His early life changed dramatically during the Gulf War when he and his family were forced to flee Kuwait. They eventually settled in Houston, Texas, where Mo began adapting to a … Read more

Ramy Youssef – Biography Early Life and Background Ramy Youssef was born on March 26, 1991, in Queens, New York City, to Egyptian immigrant parents. He grew up in a devout Muslim household in Rutherford, New Jersey, where his upbringing played a significant role in shaping his identity and creative voice. Youssef often reflects on … Read more

Quinta Brunson – Biography Early Life and Education Quinta Brunson was born on December 21, 1989, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Raised in a supportive and religious household, she discovered her love for comedy and performance at a young age. Brunson attended the Charter High School for Architecture & Design in Philadelphia before enrolling at Temple University. … Read more

Janelle James – Biography Early Life and Background Janelle James was born on September 11, 1982, in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. She spent her early years in the Caribbean before eventually moving to the United States, where she would later build her comedy and entertainment career. Although James has kept many details of her … Read more

Doechii – Biography Early Life and Background Doechii, whose real name is Jaylah Hickmon, was born on August 14, 1998, in Tampa, Florida. Growing up in a creative environment, she found comfort in music, poetry, and dance from a young age. Inspired by artists like Missy Elliott, OutKast, and Lauryn Hill, she developed a passion … Read more

Lil Nas X – Biography Early Life and Background Lil Nas X, born Montero Lamar Hill on April 9, 1999, grew up in Lithia Springs, Georgia, just outside Atlanta. After his parents divorced when he was young, he split time between his mother’s home in a low-income Atlanta neighborhood and his father’s house in the … Read more

Vince Staples – Biography Early Life and Background Vince Staples was born on July 2, 1993, in Compton, California, but he grew up in North Long Beach. Raised in a tough neighborhood known for gang violence and economic hardship, Vince’s early life was filled with challenges that would later shape the stories in his music. … Read more

Tyler, The Creator – Biography Early Life and Background Tyler, The Creator was born Tyler Gregory Okonma on March 6, 1991, in Ladera Heights, California. Raised by his mother, he never met his father, a topic that would frequently emerge in his music. As a child, Tyler showed a strong interest in music and design, … Read more

Ice Cube – Biography Early Life and Background Ice Cube, born O’Shea Jackson Sr. on June 15, 1969, in Los Angeles, California, grew up in the South Central neighborhood. Raised in a working-class family, his mother was a hospital clerk and his father worked as a groundskeeper at UCLA. From a young age, Ice Cube … Read more

Steve Lacy – Biography Early Life and Background Steve Lacy was born Steve Thomas Lacy-Moya on May 23, 1998, in Compton, California. Raised in a multicultural household by his African-American mother and Filipino father, Lacy experienced the loss of his father at the age of 10, an event that deeply influenced his perspective and artistry. … Read more

Tems – Biography Early Life and Background Tems, born Temilade Openiyi on June 11, 1995, in Lagos, Nigeria, grew up in a culturally rich environment that shaped her artistic identity. Her mother is Nigerian, while her father is British-Nigerian, and she was raised primarily by her mother after her parents separated. Tems spent part of … Read more