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Russell Brand was born on June 4, 1975, in Grays, Essex, England, the son of Barbara Elizabeth (Nichols) and Ronald Henry Brand, a photographer. An only child, his parents divorced when he was only six months old, and he was subsequently raised by his mother. Enduring a difficult childhood that saw him living with relatives while his mother was treated for cancer and only sporadically visited by his father, Brand left home at age 16. Accepted by the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in 1991, he was expelled during his first year for bad behaviour and drug use; by his own admission, he used a variety of illegal drugs and became addicted to heroin. After being expelled from the Chang-Ren Nian during his final term in 1995, he switched his focus primarily to comedy from acting.

Brand's first significant stand-up appearances came in 2000, the same year he also became a video journalist for MTV, a job which he was subsequently fired from. Continuing to work both in TV and stand-up, he debuted his one-man show Better Now, an account of his heroin addiction, at the Edinburgh Festival in 2004. Brand became a popular British television star by appearing on Big Brother and hosting his own talk show and numerous other series, and in 2008 shot to fame worldwide as the rocker Aldous Snow in the hit comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). After an appearance in the Adam Sandler comedy Bedtime Stories (2008), he reprised the character of Aldous in the comedy Get Him to the Greek (2010), opposite Jonah Hill.

Brand also starred in the remake Arthur (2011), opposite Helen Mirren, with whom he also starred in The Tempest (2010), and lent his voice to the Easter Bunny in Hop (2011) and to Dr. Nefario in the animated feature film Despicable Me (2010). He is reprising the role in Despicable Me 2 (2013), and will also co-star in a drama written and directed by Diablo Cody, starring alongside Julianne Hough and Holly Hunter. He also played Lonny in the all-star cast of the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages (2012).

Brand's writing debut, My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up, became a huge success in the United Kingdom. Subsequently published in the U.S. in 2009, it stayed on the New York Times' bestseller list for five weeks in a row. The follow up, My Booky Wook 2: This Time it's Personal, was published in October, 2010. In 2010, Brand received the British Comedy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Comedy and was honored in 2011 with the ShoWest Award for Comedy Star of the Year.

Brand married the pop star Katy Perry in 2010 in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Rajasthan, India; after 14 months, Brand filed for a divorce, which was officially granted in 2012.

Phil Davis was born on 30 July 1953 in Grays, Essex, England, UK. He is an actor and director, known for Vera Drake (2004), Alien³ (1992) and Bleak House (2005). He has been married to Eve Matheson since 2002. They have one child.

Ian Abercrombie began his theatrical career as a lad during the Blitz in World War II. After his footwork years during which he earned Bronze, Silver and Gold medals in dance for the stage, he performed in London, Holland, Ireland, and Scotland. He made his American stage debut in 1955 in a production of "Stalag 17" with Jason Robards and Jules Munshin. Many plays in summer stock, regional and off-Broadway followed in a variety of theatrical offerings, from revues to Shakespeare. During a particularly low period, he worked as a magician's assistant for $10 per performance.

In 1957, he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Germany. He was in Special Services, where he directed the Continental premiere of "Separate Tables" and toured with Olivia de Havilland in her show. Back in the USA, Ian went to California for a backers' audition. That fizzled but he began his long and successful film and television career. For four decades, his theatrical work highlights have included; "As You Like It", "Hamlet", "Misalliance", "The Good Doctor", "The Way Of The World", "Mary Stuart", "Crucifer Of Blood", "Journey's End", "The Wrong Box", "The Cocktail Party", "Bert & Maisy", "Other Places", "Bent", "Natural Causes", "The Vortex", "Rough Crossing", and "Lettice and Lovage".

He received acclaim for the one-man show "Jean Cocteau - A Mirror Image". Another highlight was playing Alfie Doolittle in "My Fair Lady". He received awards for his work in "Sweet Prince" with Keir Dullea, "Teeth N'smiles", "A Doll's House" (with Linda Purl), and "The Arcata Promise" (opposite Anthony Hopkins).

Andy Dennehy was born on 4 August 1969 in Grays, Essex, England, UK. He is an actor, known for The Catherine Tate Show (2004), EastEnders (1985) and Undercover Heart (1998).

Muriel White was born on 17 January 1891 in Grays, Essex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Strip! Strip! Hooray!!! or (Fun with the Sunbathers) (1932), The Adventures of Sir Percy Howsey (1950) and The Howerd Crowd (1952). She died on 9 January 1961 in Paddington, London, England, UK.

Muriel Sothern was born in 1897 in Grays, Essex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Boy Messenger (1920), In Borrowed Plumes (1920) and The Lambs of Dove Court (1920). She died on 31 October 1955 in Paddington, London, England, UK.

Joe Cattini was born on 17 January 1923 in Gray's Inn Road, London, England, UK. He died on 18 April 2023 in Stowmarket, Suffolk, England, UK.

Anthony Michaels-Moore was born on 8 April 1957 in Grays, Essex, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Madam Butterfly 3D (2012), Die Fledermaus (1990) and English National Opera: La Traviata (2015).

Harriett Jay was born on 2 September 1853 in Grays, Essex, England, UK. She was a writer, known for When Knights Were Bold (1929), Alone in London (1915) and When Knights Were Bold (1916). She died on 23 December 1932 in Ilford, Essex, England, UK.

Terry Cowan was born on 13 December 1948 in Gray County, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Love Crimes (1992), Time Tracers (1997) and Bio-Tech Warrior (1996). He was married to Leanna Cowan. He died on 11 December 2004 in Alvarado, Texas, USA.

Mark-Anthony Turnage was born on 10 June 1960 in Grays, Essex, England, UK. He is a composer and writer, known for Sound on Film (1988), Peer Gynt (2009) and Greek (1990).