Jodie Foster – Biography Early Life and Education Jodie Foster was born on November 19, 1962, in Los Angeles, California. Raised by her mother, Evelyn “Brandy” Foster, she began acting at just three years old in television commercials. Her early life was steeped in show
Emma Thompson – Biography Early Life and Family Emma Thompson was born on April 15, 1959, in London, England. Her father, Eric Thompson, was a writer and actor, best known for narrating the children’s series “The Magic Roundabout.” Her mother, Phyllida Law, was a successful
Eddie Redmayne – Biography Early Life and Education Eddie Redmayne was born on January 6, 1982, in London, England. He grew up in a well-off family; his father was a businessman and his mother ran a relocation service. From a young age, Redmayne showed an
David Oyelowo – Biography Early Life and Background David Oyelowo was born on April 1, 1976, in Oxford, England, to Nigerian parents. His family moved back to Nigeria when he was six, where he spent several years before returning to the UK. Growing up between
Emily Watson – Biography Early Life and Background Emily Watson was born on January 14, 1967, in Islington, London. She was raised in a middle-class family; her father worked as an architect, and her mother was an English teacher. Growing up, Emily developed a strong
Mahershala Ali – Biography Early Life Mahershala Ali was born on February 16, 1974, in Oakland, California. Raised in Hayward, he grew up in a Christian household with his mother, Willicia, a Baptist minister. His father, Phillip Gilmore, was a performer in musical theater but
Ralph Fiennes – Biography Early Life and Education Ralph Fiennes was born on December 22, 1962, in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. He is the eldest of six children in a creative family—his father was a photographer and his mother was a writer. The family moved often,
Tilda Swinton – Biography Early Life and Education Tilda Swinton was born on November 5, 1960, in London, England, into an aristocratic Scottish family. Her father was a major general in the British Army, and her family lineage includes a long line of military and
Christoph Waltz – Biography Early Life and Family Christoph Waltz was born on October 4, 1956, in Vienna, Austria. He came from a family deeply rooted in the arts—both of his parents were costume designers, and several relatives worked in theater and film. Growing up
Edward Norton – Biography Early Life and Education Edward Norton was born on August 18, 1969, in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Columbia, Maryland. His father, Edward Mower Norton Jr., was a former federal prosecutor and environmental lawyer. His grandfather, James Rouse, was a well-known
Taika Waititi – Biography Early Life Taika Waititi was born on August 16, 1975, in Wellington, New Zealand. His father was Māori and his mother of Russian-Jewish heritage, giving him a rich cultural background. He grew up in a small coastal town, Raukokore, surrounded by
Alfonso Cuarón – Biography Early Years Alfonso Cuarón was born on November 28, 1961, in Mexico City, Mexico. Raised in a middle-class family, he grew up surrounded by science and creativity. His father was a nuclear physicist, while young Alfonso gravitated toward storytelling and visual
Bong Joon-ho – Biography Early Life Bong Joon-ho was born on September 14, 1969, in Daegu, South Korea. He grew up in a highly educated and artistic family—his father was a graphic designer and professor, and his grandfather was a noted author. From a young
Denis Villeneuve – Biography Early Life Denis Villeneuve was born on October 3, 1967, in the small town of Gentilly, Quebec, Canada. Raised in a French-speaking family, Villeneuve was deeply influenced by art, science, and storytelling from a young age. His early years were marked
Jordan Peele – Biography Early Life Jordan Peele was born on February 21, 1979, in New York City. He was raised by his single mother in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. His upbringing in a multiracial household—his mother is white, and his father was Black—shaped much
Sofia Coppola – Biography Early Life Sofia Coppola was born on May 14, 1971, in New York City. She is the daughter of acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola and grew up surrounded by filmmaking. Her family legacy exposed her to the creative world from a
Tim Burton – Biography Early Life Tim Burton was born on August 25, 1958, in Burbank, California. He grew up near Hollywood but was more drawn to horror movies and quiet creativity than the sunny California lifestyle. As a child, Burton loved classic monster films
Lin-Manuel Miranda – Biography Early Life Lin-Manuel Miranda was born on January 16, 1980, in New York City. He grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, raised by Puerto Rican parents. His mother was a clinical psychologist, and his father worked in politics.
Ava DuVernay – Biography Early Life Ava DuVernay was born on August 24, 1972, in Long Beach, California. She was raised in Lynwood and Compton by her mother, a schoolteacher, and her stepfather, who worked as a businessman. Ava spent summers with her father’s family
Anne-Sophie Pic – Biography Early Life Anne-Sophie Pic was born on July 12, 1969, in Valence, France. She grew up in a legendary culinary family—her grandfather André Pic and father Jacques Pic were both celebrated chefs. Their family restaurant, Maison Pic, had earned Michelin stars