Ryan Reynolds

Born: 23 October 1976
Where: Vancouver, Canada

The failed drama student first attracted attention for the part of college fixer in the comedy Van Wilder: Party Liaison.

He has subsequently emerged an an in-demand star for a variety of roles ranging from a gun-toting FBI agent in Smokin' Aces to a divorced single dad in Definitely, Maybe.

The son of a Vancouver food wholesaler and a shop assistant, he is the youngest of four brothers.

After failing his high school drama class aged just 12, Reynolds persevered to land a role in the Florida-shot children's TV series Fifteen.

Small parts followed in TV movies, including Glenn Close's Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story and the children's feature Ordinary Magic.

He also appeared in the Sundance Film Festival favourite The Alarmist alongside Kate Capshaw.

Just when he was ready to quit acting, he was persuaded to head for Hollywood with fellow actor Chris Martin and landed a role in Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place.

After a makeover by Roseanne scriptwriter Kevin Abbott, the show went on to become a modest success.

Following this he appeared in the teen horror-comedy Big Monster On Campus, Dick and Finder's Fee.

After Van Wilder. he starred in the comedy Buying The Cow and went on to appear alongside Michael Douglas in the remake of The In Laws.

Subsequent appearances included the action thriller Foolproof and the role of a vampire slayer alongside Wesley Snipes in Blade: Trinity.

Off-screen, Reynolds was in a relationship with rock chick Alanis Morrisette and has been dating Scarlett Johnanssen.

In 2005, he starred in the Michael Bay remake of the 1979 chiller-thriller The Amityville Horror and the rom-com Just Friends with Amy Smart.

The following year he starred alongside Ray Liotta in the high-octane shoot-a-thon Smokin' Aces and followed that with the impressive indie outing The Nines.

Recent work includes the acclaimed romantic comedy Definitely, Maybe alongside Isla Fisher.