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Bella Block

1993

Bella Block is a long-running German detective television series starring Hannelore Hoger, first broadcast in 1994 on ZDF. In 2010 the 30th series was produced.

Thorsten Merten

Cast · Known for Babylon Berlin

Thorsten Merten (born December 4, 1963, in Ruhla) is a German actor. Thorsten Merten originally intended to become a journalist and initially worked as a trainee at the newspaper *Das Volk*. After completing his military service, he underwent acting training from 1986 to 1990 at the "Ernst Busch" Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin, where he attended the newly established cabaret department and graduated with a diploma in cabaret performance. This was followed by engagements at various theaters both at home and abroad, including the Théâtre Vidy in Lausanne, the Staatstheater Schwerin, the Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin, the Volksbühne Berlin, and the Deutsches Theater Berlin. For his stage work, he was awarded the Conrad Ekhof Prize in 1999. His notable stage roles include McMurphy in *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest*, the Ghost in *Hamlet*, as well as roles in *Ivanov*, *Prometheus*, and *Sonnenallee*. In 2024, he played the role of operations manager Kuckuck in the operetta *Messeschlager Gisela* at the Komische Oper Berlin. Merten gained his first experience in front of the camera in 1992 in Andreas Dresen's film *Stilles Land*. He achieved his breakthrough in 2001 with the tragicomedy *Halbe Treppe* (Grill Point), also directed by Dresen. Since then, he has appeared regularly in both feature films and television productions. Merten also gained recognition through roles in *Wilsberg*, *Afrika, mon amour*, *Bella Block*, *Helen Dorn*, *Donna Leon*, and numerous episodes of *Tatort*. From 2013 to 2021, he played the role of precinct chief Stich in the Weimar-based *Tatort* series. Since 2009, he has portrayed Chief Inspector—later Police Commissioner—Martin Fichte in the ZDF series *Spreewaldkrimi*. He has also played lead roles in other productions, including *Silvi* and *Fremdkörper*. In 2021, he received the German Film Award for his supporting role in *Curveball – Wir machen die Wahrheit*. Furthermore, Merten came up with the idea for the Netflix series *Das letzte Wort*, in which he appeared alongside Anke Engelke.

Angélica Aragón

Cast · Known for Desnudos

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Angélica Aragón (born July 11, 1953) is a Mexican actress of telenovelas and such films as Dune, A Walk in the Clouds, Bella, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, Mirada de mujer, Novia que te vea, and the blockbuster film Sexo, pudor y lágrimas. Description above from the Wikipedia article Angélica Aragón, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Paul Eckstein

Producer · Known for Narcos

Paul Eckstein worked on a variety of projects during his entertainment career. Eckstein's career began with roles in "Law & Order" (1990-2010), "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1992-99) and "Star Trek: Voyager" (UPN, 1995-2001). He also appeared in the TV movie "Suspect Device" (Showtime, 1994-1995). Eckstein started in the industry by acting in films like the Morgan Freeman blockbuster crime picture "Seven" (1995). He continued to work steadily in television throughout the nineties and the early 2000s, appearing on "413 Hope Street" (Fox, 1997-98) and "First Wave" (Syfy, 1998-2001). He also landed a role in the miniseries "Bella Mafia" (1998). Eckstein continued to exercise his talent in the early 2000s through the 2010s, taking on a mix of projects like "Street Time" (Showtime, 2002-03), "The Dead Zone" (USA, 2002-07) and "Rollergirls" (A&E Network, 2005-06). His credits also expanded to "Narcos" (2014-). Eckstein most recently produced "Of Kings and Prophets" (ABC, 2016). Paul Eckstein died June 6, 2023 at the age of 59.

Stephanie J. Block

Stephanie Janette Block (born September 19, 1972) is an American actress and singer, known for her work in Broadway musicals. A three-time Tony Award nominee, she was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 2013, for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Falsettos in 2017, and finally winning as Best Actress in a Musical for The Cher Show in 2019. She is also a six-time Drama Desk Award nominee (and one-time winner) and has appeared on numerous cast recordings. In 2009, she released a solo album, This Place I Know. Block began her professional musical career in regional theater and by playing Belle in the Disneyland production of Beauty and the Beast in 1992. She made her Broadway debut in the 2003 original production of The Boy from Oz, playing Liza Minnelli. Having read the part of Elphaba in the first reading of Wicked in 2000, she was the first actress to play the role in the US touring production from 2005–06, winning the Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress in a Non-Resident production. She later reprised the role on Broadway from 2007–08. She received Drama Desk nominations for the Off-Broadway productions of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (2011) and Little Miss Sunshine (2013), and for the Broadway productions of 9 to 5 (2009), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012), Falsettos (2016) and The Cher Show (2019).

Bella Maclean

Cast · Known for Rivals

Bella Maclean (born 1997 or 1998) is a British actress. On television, she appeared in the fourth season of the Netflix series Sex Education (2023) and the Disney+ series Rivals (2024). She is also known for portraying Martha in the 2021 London revival of Spring Awakening. Maclean was born in New York City to British parents. She spent her early childhood in New York for her parents' work, before they returned to England and settled in East Sussex when she was 10. In 2020, Maclean graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting. Maclean made her professional stage debut as Martha in the 2021 London revival of Spring Awakening at the Almeida Theatre. Her performance was described as "an eye-catching turn as Martha" by theatre critic Fiona Mountford. She returned to the stage in 2024 as Bella Wilfer in the National Theatre's London Tide, a musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel Our Mutual Friend. The production was directed by Ian Rickson, adapted by Ben Power, and music by Powers and PJ Harvey. While the play and score received mixed reviews, Maclean's performance was positively reviewed. The official cast recording was released in October. In 2023, Maclean made her television debut in two episodes of the BBC One police procedural Silent Witness. She joined the cast of the Netflix comedy-drama Sex Education for its fourth and final season as Jem. She has also appeared in the short films Dragged Up and La La Means I Love You. In 2024, Maclean had her breakout role in the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper's Rivals. She portrayed Agatha 'Taggie' O'Hara, the overlooked daughter of Declan (Aidan Turner) and Maud (Victoria Smurfit) who struggles with dyslexia while trying to pursue culinary dreams. The show was met with widespread critical acclaim, while Maclean's scenes with love interest Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) were described as "engagingly complex".

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

2009

Forks, Washington resident Bella Swan is reeling from the departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen, and finds comfort in her friendship with Jacob Black, a werewolf. But before she knows it, she's thrust into a centuries-old conflict, and her desire to be with Edward at any cost leads her to take greater and greater risks.

Ally Pankiw

Director · Known for Black Mirror

Ally Pankiw is a Canadian writer/director known for directing the full first season of Netflix's "Feel Good," and blocks on TV shows like Hulu's "Shrill" and "The Great." She has also written on "Schitt's Creek" and is developing a new, original series with its star and creator, Dan Levy, for Hulu and 20th Century Fox Animation. Pankiw is also the writer and director of the indie feature film, "I Used To Be Funny," a dramedy starring Rachel Sennott and Jason Jones, which was produced with Telefilm, Ontario Creates, and WME Independent and premiered at SXSW film festival in 2023. In 2021, she directed the pilot for the NBC comedy, "Someone Out There." Pankiw has directed and produced music videos for artists such as Ariana Grande, Janelle Monae, Phoebe Bridgers, MUNA, The Vamps, and Lil Jon. She has also directed commercials and branded content for top brands like Pepsi, Amazon, adidas, Nylon, WestJet, and Chanel. Bravo has funded two of her short films, "Stake" and "The Inherent Traits of Connor James," and her short films have screened at noted festivals like TIFF's Inside Out, Outfest, The LA Comedy Fest and Frameline. She has directed two CBC Comedy digital series, "An Awkward Girl Dates" and "Terrific Women," which was nominated for a 2018 Canadian Screen Award for best series. She was selected as one of Film Independent's 2018 Directing Lab fellows for her feature film, "The Hiding House," and her career has been supported by organizations such as TIFF, the Harold Greenberg Fund, Bell Media and the O

Park Hae-il

Cast · Known for Decision to Leave, Memories of Murder

Park Hae-il (박해일) is a South Korean actor. Born on January 26, 1977, he is known for his work in some of South Korea's biggest blockbusters including Memories of Murder (2003), The Host (2006), The Last Princess (2016), Moss (2010), War of the Arrows (2011), and The Fortress (2017). Most of these did north of 5 million admissions domestically, with The Host being the biggest Korean blockbuster in history at the time of release with 13 million admissions. He has also received a variety of awards, including the Grand Bell & Blue Dragon Best Actor awards for War of the Arrows.

Kim Hye-soo

Kim Hye-soo (김혜수) is a veteran South Korean actress. She was born on September 5, 1970 in Busan. She has worked regularly since the 1980s and as starred in some of the biggest Korean blockbusters including The Thieves (2012), Tazza: The High Rollers (2006), The Face Reader (2013), and Kick the Moon (2001). She is also the recipient of numerous awards including the Blue Dragon Best Actress award for First Love (1993), Dr. Bong (1995), and Tazza: The High Rollers (2006), and the Grand Bell Best Actress award for Hypnotized (2004).

Keira Knightley

Cast · Known for Black Doves, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Keira Christina Knightley (born 26 March 1985) is an English actress. She has starred in both independent films and big-budget blockbusters and is particularly noted for her roles in period dramas. Her accolades include two Empire Awards and nominations for two Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, one Screen Actors Guild Award and one Laurence Olivier Award. Knightley was appointed an OBE in the 2018 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity. Born in London to actors Will Knightley and Sharman Macdonald, Knightley obtained an agent at age six and initially worked commercials and television films. She appeared as Sabé, Padmé Amidala's handmaiden, in the science fiction blockbuster Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). Knightley had a break-through role portraying a tomboy footballer in the sports film Bend It Like Beckham (2002). She achieved global stardom with her portrayal of Elizabeth Swann in the fantasy swashbuckler series Pirates of the Caribbean. In the same year, she appeared in the Christmas romantic comedy Love Actually (2003) and was labelled a promising teen star. For her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in the period romance Pride & Prejudice (2005), Knightley was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. At age 20, she became the third-youngest Best Actress nominee at the time. Knightley starred in a series of further period pieces, portraying a complex love interest in Atonement (2007), tastemaker Georgiana Cavendish in The Duchess (2008), and the titular socialite in Anna Karenina (2012). She then forayed into contemporary dramas, appearing as an aspiring musician in Begin Again (2013) and a medical student in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014). Knightley returned to historical films by playing cryptoanalyst Joan Clarke in The Imitation Game (2014), earning her a second round of Academy Award and BAFTA nominations, and starred as the eponymous belle époque writer in Colette (2018) to critical acclaim. On stage, Knightley has appeared in two West End productions: The Misanthrope in 2009, which earned her an Olivier Award nomination, and The Children's Hour in 2011. She also starred as the eponymous heroine in the 2015 Broadway production of Thérèse Raquin. Knightley is known for her outspoken stance on social issues, and has worked extensively with Amnesty International, Oxfam, and Comic Relief. She is married to musician James Righton, with whom she has two daughters.

Emma Watson

Cast · Known for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson (born 15 April 1990) is an English actress and activist. She has gained recognition for her roles in both blockbusters and independent films, as well as her women's rights work. Watson has been ranked among the world's highest-paid actresses by Forbes and Vanity Fair, and was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2015. Watson attended the Dragon School and trained in acting at the Oxford branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts. As a child, she rose to stardom after landing her first professional acting role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, having acted only in school plays previously. Watson also starred in the 2007 television adaptation of the novel Ballet Shoes and lent her voice to The Tale of Despereaux (2008). After the final Harry Potter film, she took on a supporting role in My Week with Marilyn (2011), before starring as Sam, a flirtatious, free-spirited student in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) to critical success. Further acclaim came from portraying Alexis Neiers in Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring (2013) and the titular character's adoptive daughter in the biblical epic Noah. That same year, Watson was honoured by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, winning British Artist of the Year. She also starred as Belle in the musical romantic fantasy Beauty and the Beast (2017), which ranks among the highest-grossing films of all time, and Meg March in the coming-of-age drama Little Women (2019). From 2011 to 2014, Watson split her time between working on films and continuing her education, graduating from Brown University with a bachelor's degree in English literature in May 2014. That year, she was appointed a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and helped launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe, which advocates for gender equality. In 2018, she helped launch Time's Up UK as a founding member. Watson was appointed to a G7 advisory body for women's rights in 2019, consulting with leaders on foreign policy. Her modelling work has included campaigns for Burberry and Lancôme. She also lent her name to a clothing line for the sustainable brand People Tree. In 2020, she joined the board of directors of Kering, a luxury brand group, in her capacity as an advocate for sustainable fashion.

Nirav Shah

Cinematographer · Known for Ranabaali

Nirav Shah is an acclaimed Indian cinematographer. He has worked on a number of major box office hits in Hindi and Tamil since his debut with the 2004 Hindi film Paisa Vasool. It was, however, the Hindi blockbuster film Dhoom (2004) that made people take notice of Shah, winning him accolades and gaining him fame and popularity. Subsequently Shah got offers from the Tamil film industry as well and moved southwards, debuting in Kollywood with the 2005 Linguswamy-directed action film Sandakozhi, following which he was called up by director Vishnuvardhan. In July 2009, it was announced that Shah would soon turn film director, directing a film under actor Arya's production, starring Arya's brother Sathya in the lead role. Three of his films have been nominated at the National Award for the Best Cinematographer: Banaras (Hindi), Pattiyal (Tamil) and Dhoom 2 (Hindi). He won the Tamil Nadu Government's State Award for Best Cinematographer for Billa (Tamil).

Joseph H. Lewis

Director · Known for The Rifleman

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Joseph H. Lewis  (April 6, 1907–August 30, 2000), was an American B-movie film director. Although he worked with both Béla Lugosi (The Invisible Ghost) and Lionel Atwill in early 1940s horror, he is best known for his work in film noir from the late 40s and the 1950s. His most acclaimed feature, Gun Crazy (1949), is a dark romance about gun-obsession, and notable for its use of location photography. At the dawn of his career (1937–1940), when Lewis was directing inexpensive westerns, he earned the derogatory nickname "Wagon-Wheel Joe" from the studio editors, because of his tendency to use wagon-wheels for constructing interesting visual compositions within the frame. Lewis's offbeat and eye-catching compositions added style and value to inexpensive productions. His 1944 musical Minstrel Man, starring singer Benny Fields, is quite possibly the finest film ever made by low-budget PRC Pictures. Industry insiders noticed, prompting Columbia Pictures to hire Lewis to film the musical sequences for its blockbuster musical The Jolson Story. Toward the end of Lewis's career, he worked in television, directing mostly westerns: The Rifleman, Bonanza, The Big Valley, Gunsmoke, and the pilot for Branded. Description above from the Wikipedia article Joseph H. Lewis, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Marion Cotillard

Cast · Known for The Dark Knight Rises, Inception

Marion Cotillard (born September 30, 1975) is a French actress, film producer, singer, songwriter, and environmentalist. Known for her roles in independent films and blockbusters, she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, a European Film Award, a Lumières Award, and two César Awards. She became a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in France in 2010, and was promoted to Officer in 2016. She has served as a spokeswoman for Greenpeace since 2001. Cotillard was the face of the Lady Dior handbag for nine years. Since 2020, she is the face of Chanel's fragrance Chanel No. 5. Cotillard had her first English-language role in the television series Highlander (1993), and made her film debut in The Story of a Boy Who Wanted to Be Kissed (1994). Her breakthrough came in the successful French film Taxi (1998), which earned her a César Award nomination for Most Promising Actress. She made the transition into Hollywood in Tim Burton's Big Fish (2003), and won her first César Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Tina Lombardi in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's A Very Long Engagement (2004). For her portrayal of French singer Édith Piaf in La Vie en Rose (2007), Cotillard won her second César Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Lumières Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first and (as of 2022) only actor to win an Academy Award for a French-language performance, and also the second actress to have won this award for a foreign language performance. Her performances in Nine (2009), Rust and Bone (2012), and Annette (2021) earned Cotillard three more Golden Globe nominations. For Two Days, One Night (2014), she received a second Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, which was also her second nomination for a French-language film. Cotillard is one of only seven actors to receive multiple Academy Award nominations for foreign language performances. Cotillard has played Joan of Arc on stage in several countries between 2005 and 2022 in the oratorio Joan of Arc at the Stake. Her English-language films include Public Enemies (2009), Inception (2010), Contagion (2011), Midnight in Paris (2011), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), The Immigrant (2013), Macbeth (2015), and Allied (2016). She provided voice acting for the animated films The Little Prince (2015), April and the Extraordinary World (2015) and the French version of Minions (2015). Her other notable French, Belgian and Canadian films include La Belle Verte (1996), Pretty Things (2001), Love Me If You Dare (2003), Dikkenek (2006), Little White Lies (2010), and It's Only the End of the World (2016). Description above from the Wikipedia article Marion Cotillard, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Terry Serpico

Cast · Known for The Purge: Election Year

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Terry Serpico is a film and television supporting actor. Although he studied acting in college, graduating from SUNY-Purchase in 1989, Serpico began his career as a stunt performer. Pretty soon, his chances expanded as directors realized he also could act. In 1997, he appeared in Donnie Brasco, where he played his first major acting role. Since then, his credits have included appearances in ambitious vehicles such as The Peacemaker, Random Hearts, Bringing Out the Dead, Hannibal, Righteous Kill, The Interpreter, and two of the biggest blockbuster films of the past few years: the Academy Award winner The Departed and the Academy Award–nominated Michael Clayton. In television, Serpico has guest-starred on such shows as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Bronx is Burning, and has enjoyed a recurring role in Rescue Me. On the Lifetime series Army Wives, Serpico portrays Lieutenant Colonel Frank Sherwood, a tough officer married to Denise Sherwood (Catherine Bell) with a son, Jeremy (Richard Bryant), who has recently enlisted. A featured character on the show, Serpico appeared in 12 episodes of the first two seasons, and became a series regular in season 3. An Army brat himself who lived on five different bases as a child, Serpico says of the Frank Sherwood role: "I didn’t really have to work so hard to prepare for [this role] because it is a part of me; it’s in my blood."

Lee Jung-jae

Cast · Known for Squid Game

Lee Jung-jae (이정재) is a South Korean actor. Born on December 15, 1972, he began modelling in 1993 before getting his first acting roles the film The Young Man (1994) and the TV series Feelings (1994) and Sandglass (1995), which is one of the highest rated Korean dramas of all time with a peak rating of 64.5%. But his real breakthrough was with leading roles in award-winning films The Affair (1998) and City of the Rising Sun (1999). The latter of which earned him the Best Actor award at the prestigious Blue Dragon film awards. This was followed by a series of critical hits like Il Mare (2000) and commercial successes including Last Present (2001), The Last Witness (2001), Oh Brothers (2003), and the blockbuster Typhoon (2005). After a brief career slump of flop movies and tv shows, he returned with the critical and commercial hit The Housemaid (2010), which is a remake of the 1960 film of the same name. Since then, he went on to cement himself as one of Korea's biggest movie stars with a string of some of the biggest blockbusters in Korean history including The Thieves (2012), New World (2013), The Face Reader (2013), Assassination (2015), Operation Chromite (2016), and the Along with the Gods films (2017-2018). Most of these films did north of 12 million admissions at the domestic box-office, with The Thieves (2012) and Along with the Gods (2017) becoming the #2 biggest Korean hit in history at their respective time of release. He received a number of awards and nominations for these works including a Popularity Award at the prestigious Grand Bell awards. Also staring in Karate Kid Legend the same year along side childhood friend Tyler Mackay. His most recent blockbuster is Deliver Us From Evil (2020) in which he reunited with his New World (2013) co-star Hwang Jung-min. It crossed 4 million admissions domestically and was the second biggest hit of the year in Korea.

Eaddy Mays

Eaddy Mays, an American actress and producer, was born in New York and raised by her mother. At eight years old, Mays transformed the basement of their home into the "Magic Theater," where her mother and dozens of stuffed animals were subjected to countless recreations of blockbuster films and Broadway plays with Mays starring in every role. By the age of ten, Mays was strongly encouraged by her mother to pursue this passion outside the home; she was cast in a community theatre production of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen." In the years that followed, Mays put her passion into the newly formed family business by hosting video presentations for the production company owned by her step-father, Bob Haymes, singer, actor and songwriter, who is known best for his song "That's All," an oft recorded tune now part of the Great American Songbook. This hosting work brought the teenage Mays to China in 1984 and later to Hong Kong and Japan. After graduating college and dabbling in commercial radio and television for several years, Mays began her acting career in earnest in 2009 when she was cast as Elaine in the Academy Award winning film "The Blind Side" in which she appeared opposite Sandra Bullock, in the infamous 'ladies who lunch' scenes. Before the film was released, Mays was cast as a cancer patient for a medical center commercial, in which she agreed to shave her head completely bald. Mays surprised producers by eagerly insisting that she be allowed to do the actual shearing herself and excitedly requested that the event be captured on video and posted on YouTube. This radical change in appearance prompted a shift in her career and shortly thereafter she was cast in MTV's supernatural thriller TV series,"Teen Wolf". She appeared occasionally in season one. But, throughout seasons two and three, she was featured as a chilling, memorable villain, garnering attention and praise from critics for her performance and gathering hate mail from more radical fans for her part as the evil nemesis of their beloved werewolves. Throughout the years, the same passion that led the eight-year-old Mays to create "Magic Theater" in her basement sent her to diving into the murky waters of film and television producing. Mays co-wrote, produced and starred in the full-length independent feature film, "Highland Fling," a romantic comedy about a fun-loving Scotsman and a straight-laced southern belle shooting a reality TV show at a Scottish Highland Festival in small town America. Simultaneously, Mays and her angelically patient, sleep-deprived crew shot the actual series pilot for the television show featured in the film. Mays has a long history of volunteer work with kids, beginning first in college where she was a "big sister" in Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Later, she served as the Custodian and Legal Guardian for two displaced young girls in the custody of the State's Foster Care program. These experiences compelled Mays to help create and manage The Highland House, a homeless shelter for at-risk youth displaced from their home. Mays still volunteers with youth today, works in Los Angeles; she has three children (with a basement theater of their own!); Cali, a Percheron mare; Kidiot, a barn cat ....and almost enough hours in the day.

Nicola Piovani

Composer · Known for Life Is Beautiful

Nicola Piovani (born 26 May 1946) is an Italian light-classical musician, theater and film score composer. In 1998, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic Score for Roberto Benigni's film Life Is Beautiful (1997). After high school, Piovani enrolled at the Sapienza University of Rome, receiving his degree in piano from the Verdi Conservatory in Milan in 1967, and later studied orchestration under the Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis. In 1971 and 1973 collaborated for the music of two albums of the songwriter Fabrizio De André: Storia di un impiegato and Non al denaro non all'amore né al cielo. In 2008, after De André departure, Piovani wrote the music for the film Amore che vieni, amore che vai, inspired by a novel of De André himself, Un destino ridicolo. Among his more popular works is the score for the Federico Fellini film Intervista, his second of three collaborations with the famous director, the others being Ginger e Fred (Ginger and Fred in English) and La voce della luna (The Voice of the Moon). Years later, he composed a ballet titled Balletto Fellini. In 2000, his Academy Award-winning score for Life Is Beautiful (La Vita è bella) was further nominated for a Grammy Award in the "Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media" category, losing to Randy Newman. In 2005, he was a member of the jury at the 27th Moscow International Film Festival. In light of his recent work with French directors, notably Danièle Thompson, Philippe Lioret, and Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, the French Minister of Culture gave him the title of Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on 21 May 2008 at the Cannes Film Festival. To date, Piovani has over 130 film scores to his credit, including films such as Slap the Monster on Page One (1972), The Perfume of the Lady in Black (1974), Flavia the Heretic (1974), Le Orme (1975), A Leap in the Dark (1980) The Night of the Shooting Stars (1982), and Kaos (1984). The music for the latter is considered by many as one of the best film scores ever done. However, he is reported to believe that "Too many film scores make a composer a hack, but in the theatre music is above all craftsmanship". Accordingly, he continues to work in musical theatre, and also composes concert and chamber music. Piovani also composed the first opera Amorosa presenza on a libretto by Aisha Cerami and Nicola Piovani, based on the novel by Vincenzo Cerami and is performed at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste in January 2022. In 2023, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Soundtrack Academy. In 2024, Piovani composed the score for Loris Lai's debut feature film, How Kids Roll. Source: Article "Nicola Piovani" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Nikki Renée Daniels

Nikki Renée Daniels is an acclaimed Broadway actress and concert soloist. She recently finished a run as Lady Larken in the Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress. You may have seen Nikki featured in the PBS concert specials: Broadway’s Brightest Lights and Black Broadway: A Proud History, a Limitless Future. She played Eve/Mama Noah in Children of Eden at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, Angelica Schuyler in the Chicago company of Hamilton, and Jenny in the Tony-Award winning Broadway revival of Company. She has done 12 Broadway shows, including The Book of Mormon (Nabulungi), The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess (Clara) Les Misérables (Fantine), Anything Goes, Promises Promises and Lestat. Nikki played Martha Jefferson in 1776 at Encores, and Rose Lennox in The Secret Garden at David Geffen Hall. She made her New York City Opera debut as Clara in Porgy and Bess. Nikki’s regional credits include Emmie in Caroline or Change at the Guthrie; Sarah in Ragtime at North Shore Music Theater; Belle in Beauty and the Beast at Sacramento Music Circus and Hope in Anything Goes at Williamstown Theater Festival. She has been seen on TV in “Billions,” “The Equalizer,” “Madam Secretary” and “The Sound of Music: Live.” She was also a part of the Vocal Ensemble in the blockbuster film Wicked. Nikki has performed as a soloist with symphony orchestras across the country, around the world, and at Carnegie Hall.

Harry Connick Jr.

Cast · Known for The Iron Giant, Will & Grace, Independence Day

Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. (born September 11, 1967) is an American singer, actor, composer and pianist. Connick has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. He is ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with 16 million certified albums. He has seven top-20 U.S. albums, and ten number-one U.S. jazz albums, earning more number-one albums than any other artist in the US jazz chart history. Connick's best selling album in the United States is his 1993 Christmas album When My Heart Finds Christmas, which also is one of the best selling Christmas albums in the United States. His highest charting album, is his 2004 release Only You which reached #5 in the U.S. and #6 in Britain. He has won three Grammy awards and one Emmy Award. He played Grace's husband Dr. Leo Markus on the TV sitcom Will & Grace from 2002 to 2006. Connick began his acting career as a tail gunner in the World War II film Memphis Belle in 1990. He played a serial killer in Copycat in 1995, before being cast as jet fighter pilot in the 1996 blockbuster Independence Day. Connick's first role as a leading man was in 1998's Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock. His first thriller film since Copycat came in 2007, when he played the violent ex-husband in Bug, before two romantic comedies, 2007's P.S. I Love You, and the leading man in New in Town with Renée Zellweger in 2009. Description above from the Wikipedia article Harry Connick Jr., licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Byun Yo-han

Cast · Known for Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub

Byun Yo-han (born April 29, 1986) is a South Korean actor celebrated for his depth, expressive eyes, and mastery across film, television, and even musical theater. Unlike many stars who debut in mainstream projects, he meticulously built his career on the foundation of the independent film scene. Byun Yo-han is an alumnus of the prestigious Korea National University of Arts (KNUA), a training ground for many of Korea’s top actors. During his student years, he dedicated himself to the craft, appearing in over 30 short and independent films starting in 2011. This period gave him the experience to tackle nuanced, unconventional roles early in his career, such as his lead performance in the independent hit film Socialphobia (2015). His professional breakthrough came in 2014 with the cable television series, Misaeng: Incomplete Life. Playing Han Seok-yool, the overly talkative, slightly eccentric, but ultimately deeply empathetic intern with long, messy hair, Byun captured the imagination of the public. He won the Best New Actor award at the APAN Star Awards, launching him from an unknown indie darling into a recognized television star. Following Misaeng, Byun quickly cemented his status as a talented lead actor in historical dramas, a genre that demands powerful presence and technical skill. Six Flying Dragons (2015–2016): He took on the epic role of Ddang-sae / Lee Bang-ji, a tragic figure who becomes the legendary master swordsman. The demanding physical and emotional scope of the 50-episode sageuk earned him critical praise and an Excellence Award at the SBS Drama Awards. Mr. Sunshine (2018): In one of the highest-rated dramas in cable history, Byun starred as Kim Hee-sung, the wealthy, sensitive fiancé to the female lead. His portrayal of a man trapped by his family's dark history and the era's changing politics showcased a lighter, yet profoundly melancholic, side to his acting. While maintaining a strong television presence, Byun Yo-han consistently returned to film to challenge himself with diverse characters. In 2021, he starred in the black-and-white historical drama The Book of Fish, delivering a standout performance as Chang-dae, a zealous Confucian scholar. This role earned him multiple nominations for Best Actor. His film career reached a new peak with the 2022 naval blockbuster, Hansan: Rising Dragon, where he played the pivotal antagonist, Wakizaka Yasuharu, a cunning Japanese commander and rival to Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Byun's portrayal was widely praised for its intensity, leading him to win the Best Supporting Actor prize at prestigious ceremonies including the Baeksang Arts Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards, and Grand Bell Awards. Most recently, Byun Yo-han has starred in the Disney+ political drama Uncle Samsik (2024) and the dark thriller series Black Out (2024), continuing to demonstrate his preference for complex, character-driven narratives. Byun Yo-han’s career is defined by his versatility and his deep commitment to the emotional truth of every role, making him one of South Korea's most trusted and acclaimed contemporary actors.

Eleonora Giorgi

Eleonora Giorgi (born 21 October 1953) is an Italian actress. Giorgi was born in Rome, Italy. Her father was of Italian and English origin. Her mother was of Italian and Hungarian origin. She made her film debut in a minor role in Paolo Cavara's horror film Black Belly of the Tarantula (1970) and subsequently appeared in nearly fifty films, mostly in prominent roles. Domenico Paolella's Story of a Cloistered Nun (1973), an important nunsploitation, marked her film debut, at age eighteen. She then took part in Il bacio (The kiss), a fantasy drama directed by Mario Lanfranchi, and in erotic comedies such as Salvatore Samperi's La sbandata (1974), in which she plays near Domenico Modugno and Luciana Paluzzi, Luciano Salce's Alla mia cara mamma nel giorno del suo compleanno (1974), Pasquale Festa Campanile's The Sex Machine (U.S. title: Love and Energy) (1975) and Gianluigi Calderone's Appassionata, that definitively gaine her the public acclaim. Roles in movies like Franco Brusati's To Forget Venice (1979), Dario Argento's Inferno (1980), Nino Manfredi's Nudo di donna (1981), and Liliana Cavani's Beyond Obsession (1982) are some of her most known and remarkable dramatic performances but in the beginning of the eighties, Giorgi decides to rejoin comedy. She's near Adriano Celentano in Mani di velluto and Grand hotel excelsior; for her performance in Carlo Verdone's Borotalco (1982), she won the Nastro d'Argento award and David di Donatello award for Best Actress. In 2003, Giorgi wrote and directed her first film Uomini & donne, amori & bugie (U.S. title: Love, Lies, Kids... & Dogs), with Ornella Muti.

Barbara Bach

Barbara Ann Goldbach (born August 27, 1947) is an American actress and model. She was born to Howard and Marjorie Goldbach in Queens, New York. Her father was a policeman. Barbara is the oldest of five children. She met her first husband Augusto Gregorini in New York while she worked as a model and he was visiting from Italy for a business trip in 1966. Barbara followed him to Italy to be with him. In 1968, they married. They had two children, Francesca (b. 1969) and Gian Andrea (b. 1972). During Gianni's birth, he had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, nearly choking him, and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, although a later operation improved his condition. While in Italy, Barbara began her acting career, starting with the TV mini-series Odissea in 1968, where she was billed as Barbara Gregorini. Other roles followed in the giallo / horror films Black Belly of the Tarantula and Short Night of the Glass Dolls in 1971, the crime-thrillers Stateline Motel (1973) and Street Law (1974) and other films. In 1975, Barbara and Augusto Gregorini separated when she moved to Los Angeles, California to further her career. The couple would divorce in 1978 and share custody of their two children. As that was going on, Barbara received her most famous role as Russian secret agent Major Anya Amasova / Agent XXX in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). She returned to Italian cinema in the late 70s for a supporting role in the sci-fi film The Humanoid (1979), starring roles in the horror films The Great Alligator and Screamers (1979) and more, which earned her the "Queen of the B Movies" label by some in the press. In 1979, Barbara was in consideration for the Tiffany Welles role, a replacement for Kate Jackson's character, in Charlie's Angels but ultimately lost out to Shelley Hack due to being deemed too attractive for the role. She then appeared in the comedy Up the Academy (1980), produced by her then-boyfriend Danton Rissner, and played a menaced TV reporter in the sleazy horror film The Unseen (1980). The following year, Barbara met Ringo Starr on the set of Caveman (1981) in 1980, and they became a couple during the filming. Ringo and Barbara were on a holiday in December 1980 when her daughter called to inform them that John Lennon had been shot. Ringo and Barbara went to New York to console Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon. Ringo and Barbara married on April 27, 1981. By their own admission, the couple pretty much partied the 80s away and both entered a rehab clinic in Tucson, Arizona to straighten their lives out in 1988. By then, Barbara's show business career was over. She has since received her Master's degree in psychology from UCLA and focuses on charity work. (Biography By: Jeannette, Pedro and Justin)