Bri
tish Actor Trivia: 10 Facts You Didn't Know The world of British actors is filled with some of the most talented and enigmatic performers in the world. From Dame Judi Dench to Benedict Cumberbatch, there is never a shortage of incredible performances on the stage or the big screen. However, there are many fascinating facts about these actors that the general public may not be aware of. Here are ten of the most interesting: 1. The Beatles were almost cast in Lord of the Rings. In the 1960s, Beatles manager Brian Epstein tried to convince producer Al Broccoli to get the band to star in a Lord of the Rings movie adaptation. Unfortunately, the project never got off the ground due to the high budget and technological limitations of the time. 2. Emma Watson turned down the role of Cinderella. The actress best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise was offered the opportunity to star in the 2015 live-action Cinderella film, but turned it down. Emma reportedly thought that Belle in Beauty and the Beast was a more interesting character. 3. Daniel Day-Lewis is a skilled cobbler. The actor famously takes long breaks between films to pursue other interests, one of which is cobbling. In fact, Day-Lewis apprenticed as a cobbler in Italy to prepare for his role in the 1989 film The Last of the Mohicans. 4. Dame Mirren's real name is Ilyena Vasilievna Mironov. The acclaimed actress, who has won Oscar, Tony, and Emmy awards, was actually born in London to a Russian father and English mother. 5. Tom Hardy is a fan of My Little Pony. The actor has said in interviews that he watches the show with his young son and thinks it has valuable lessons about friendship and loyalty. 6. Keira Knightley has a phobia of birds. The Pirates of the Caribbean star admits that birds make her "nervous" and "itchy," and has even had panic attacks on set when birds were present. 7. Olivia Colman is allergic to cats. The actress who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Anne in The Favourite is unfortunately allergic to cats, which may put a damper on future roles where feline co-stars are involved. 8. Benedict Cumberbatch is related to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The actor, who played Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series Sherlock, is actually a distant relative of the author who created the character. 9. Hugh Grant turned down the role of Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter. While Grant has played memorable roles in films like Love Actually and Bridget Jones's Diary, he passed on the opportunity to play the vain and charismatic Hogwarts professor in the Harry Potter franchise. 10 Helena Bonham Carter is a distant cousin of Princess Margaret. The actress, who played Princess Margaret's mother in the Netflix series The Crown, is actually a third cousin on her father's side. These ten facts are just a small glimpse into the fascinating and often surprising world of British actors. From hobbies to phobias to superhero roles turned down, there is always more to learn about these talented performers.
