Amma Asante

Born: Streatham, London, UK

The former child star and children's presenter attracted acclaim for her big screen debut A Way of Life.

After attending the Barbara Speake Stage School, where she studied dance and drama, Assante, a Briton of Ghanian descent, worked as an actress.

Roles included Cheryl Webb in the children's TV show Grange Hill and parts in the British TV comedy Birds of a Feather.

She also worked as a children's presenter before making the move to scriptwriting, debuting with New Year Jamdown for Channel 4.

Asante went on to write two series of the urban drama Brothers and Sisters and - at 28 - was the first black woman to both produce and write her own drama series.

In 2004, she wrote and directed A Way of Life, starring a cast of unkowns as well as Oscar-nominee Brenda Blethyn.