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An imposing figure (standing at 6'3") with intense, penetrating eyes and possessed of a larger-than-life personality, the actor George Raymond Stevenson began life as one of three sons, born in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, to a British pilot in the Royal Air Force. Raised near Newcastle in England after the family relocated, he initially studied art and worked for some time as an interior designer. However, after seeing a play with John Malkovich at the West End, Stevenson became inspired to study drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. By the time of his graduation in 1993, he had already made his debut on the stage at the Barbican Theatre in London in the plays Temptation and Revenger's Tragedy.

He made his first recurring screen appearances in the TV crime drama Band of Gold (1995) (acting alongside his future wife Ruth Gemmell) and as DI Tony Baynham in the BBC procedural police series City Central (1998), which was briefly touted as a rival to The Bill (1984). Though Stevenson first attracted international attention as a dependable Knight of the Round Table in the motion picture King Arthur (2004), it was his charismatic performance as the rascally, hedonistic soldier Titus Pullo in HBO's historical series Rome (2005) which truly put him on the map.

More vigorous or pugnacious warrior roles soon came his way, beginning with a starring turn as the titular anti-hero vigilante Frank Castle in the ultra-violent Punisher: War Zone (2008), for which Stevenson put himself through strenuous martial arts and weapons training under the direction of U.S. Force Reconnaissance (FORECON) Marines. Among his subsequent gallery of colourful characters were the powerful Asgardian warrior Volstagg in Marvel's Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), and Thor: Ragnarok (2017); the relentless enforcer Redridge in The Book of Eli (2010); an Irish mobster challenging the Cleveland Mafia for control of the city's criminal underworld in Kill the Irishman (2011); Porthos, one of the The Three Musketeers (2011); the much feared Blackbeard in Starz's excellent swashbuckling Black Sails (2014), and the enigmatic Anglo-Saxon missionary and explorer Othere in Vikings (2013).

Stevenson reserved one of the most compelling performances for the strangely sympathetic Russian gangster Isaak Sirko, chief antagonist in season seven of Dexter (2006), overshadowing even that of the star Michael C. Hall (definitely no mean feat!). Add to that another acting standout as the obsessed, revenge-driven Commander Jack Swinburne in the German-produced World War II drama series Das Boot (2018).

Having first joined the Star Wars universe as a voice actor (the Mandalorian Gar Saxon in Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)), Stevenson was later cast in the villainous role of dark Force user Baylan Skoll doing battle with the indomitable Ahsoka (2023) Tano (Rosario Dawson), complete with orange/red lightsaber. Stevenson said in a 2020 interview that he had drawn much of his inspiration from veteran tough guys like Lee Marvin and Gene Hackman: "Never a bad performance, and brave and fearless within that caliber. It was never the young, hot leading man; it was men who I could identify with."

Tragically, this supremely accomplished and charismatic actor died in Italy on 21 May 2023 while filming Cassino in Ischia (2024), in which he was cast as a fading movie action hero attempting to revive his career. At the time of his passing he was just 58.

Kristian Nairn is a Northern Irish Actor and Musician. He is a successful DJ, having performed alongside acts such as the Scissor Sisters. He has worked Worldwide. Game of Thrones (2011) marks Nairn's first major acting role. He plays the role of the enigmatic fan favorite character, Hodor. He also appeared as a guest on episode 37 of the comedy podcast YoGPoD (2009), discussing his role in 'Game Of Thrones' with the hosts Simon Lane and Lewis Brindley.

Talented and diverse Northern Ireland born character actor whose career has embraced British institutions from Raffles to Dr Who.

After apprenticing in provincial theatre this commanding, actor appeared in two contrasting war films in 1968 - The Charge of the Light Brigade and Carry On up the Khyber. His next two roles were equally diverse - appearing in the unusual John Huston directed A Walk with Love and Death, then with cheeky Cockney Tommy Steele in Where's Jack? By this stage his career had gathered some momentum and in 1971 he worked with several luminaries - Peter O'Toole in Murphy's War, Michael Caine and Omar Sharif in The Last Valley and Richard Burton in Villain. In 1973 it was the hard-bitten crime drama The Offence with Sean Connery and he also worked with Joss Ackland and James Cossins in Hitler: The Last Ten Days. That year he also featured in bona fide classic The Wicker Man.

If film work wasn't hugely successful in the next few year, he kept himself working with a variety of roles in television in a diverse range of shows - Emmerdale Farm, Raffles, Return of the Saint. 1980 and 1981 saw roles in a couple of fantasy-spectaculars, Flash Gordon and special-effects bonanza Dragonslayer. It was 1991 before he returned to cinemas in any significant way, though, in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, then in 1997 in another fantasy adventure Kull the Conqueror. Meanwhile he appeared in popular soap opera Eastenders as 'Barnsey' Barnes for 2 years between 1988-90.

Often portrayed as a hardman or heavy onscreen, offscreen Hallam likes gardening!

BJ Hogg, a true Ulsterman, was born in Lisburn, Co. Antrim. His father William was a plater in Harland and Woolfe shipyard in Belfast, and his mother May ran a general store in their home town. BJ travelled the world as an actor, writer and now director. He was a true all-rounder, a classically trained musician who started his career whilst in his teens, touring with the Big Bands, all over his native Ireland.

His acting career took him from theatre roles in Belfast Art's and Lyric Theatres to London's Royal Court, including the Moscow Arts Theatre and the National Theatre of Belarus in Minsk. In Russia, BJ was the only European actor to be invited to play with an all Russian cast in the Russian stage play, Threshold, in Moscow Arts Theatre and The National ByloRussian State Theatre (Yanka Kupala) Minsk. Directed by Shivaun O'Casey, he played Corporal Brennan in major US and Irish tours of her father Sean's play "The Plough and the Stars." Starring in numerous television series, he became a household name and face in the comic role of "Big Mervyn" in the long-running BBC NI comedy series "Give My Head Peace," aired across the UK and Ireland.

BJ, passionate about his native Northern Ireland, successfully based his career from his home territory, playing in movies internationally and indeed closer to home. BJ co-starred with Tim Robbins and Bill Murray in City Of Ember, and appeared in Richard Attenborough's Closing The Ring and Steve McQueen's acclaimed Cannes 2008 award winning Hunger. He worked extensively when he can in the theatre, and had the principle role, Robert, in the inaugural tour of the huge new musical On Eagles Wing, which had major European and US tours and then Broadway in 2010. BJ worked extensively with acclaimed directors including Richard Attenborough, Jim Sheridan, Thaddeus O'Sullivan, Mike Leigh and Alan Pakula. Turning to directing himself, he helmed the UK documentary Richard Attenborough: Master At Work. As a writer, BJ's second screenplay Promises, Promises, which he also directed, was filmed in the UK, with Ed Burns, Claire Forlani and Rosemary Harris.

Integrally involved in the production of 'Dance Lexi Dance', he also played the eponymous 'Lexi Hamilton' in the Oscar-nominated short film 'Dance Lexi Dance,' which won several awards, including Special Jury award at the Aspen film festival.

Brian Philip Davis is a film editor known for his work in genre cinema having had films premiered at Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, TIFF, SXSW, Frightfest and Fantastic Fest. Based in Northern Ireland and working on productions worldwide, he is a member of British Film Editors, Irish Screen Editors, BAFTA and is represented by WPA.

Alannah Stephenson was born on 4 December 1996 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, UK.

Robert McNeill Alexander was born on 7 July 1934 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, UK. He is known for Walking with Prehistoric Beasts (2001), Horizon (1964) and Extraterrestrial (2005). He was married to Ann Coulton. He died on 21 March 2016 in England, UK.

Tony Macaulay was born on 23 July 1963 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, UK. He is a writer, known for Paperboy and Robin Elliott Tonight (2022).

Randal Kinkead was born on 20 July 1929 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, UK. He was an actor, known for Danger Man (1960), The Divided Heart (1954) and Spy-Catcher (1959). He died on 29 January 2014 in the UK.

Rachel Bethel was born on 29 March 2000 in Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK.

Tony Stephenson was born on 10 February 1991 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, UK.

Michael Craig was born on 21 April 1996 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, UK.

Paul Marshall was born on 24 May 1964 in Lisburn County, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK. He is a composer, known for Johnny Baxter's Head (2000).