Brendan Fraser

Born: 3 December 1968
Where: Indianapolis, USA

The versatile star first made his name with knockabout comedy roles such as George of the Jungle and The Mummy series.

However, he is increasingly impressing in serious roles such as The Quiet American and the ensemble drama Crash.

The son of a Canadian travel executive who frequently moved his family, he grew up in Detroit, Rome and London, where he acquired a love of the theatre.

After graduating from the Actors Conservatory in Seattle, Fraser worked in theatres and in 1991 made his feature debut with a bit part one-liner in Nancy Savoca's Dogfight, which starred River Phoenix.

However, the surprise box office hit of 1997 - George Of the Jungle - catapulted the loin-cloth clad actor into the limelight.

He also earned critical praise for his dramatic performance in Still Breathing, directed by James F Robinson.

In 1989, he played a 35-year old who was raised in an underground bunker in the comedy Blast From the Past and delivered a sterling performance in Gods & Monsters.

The part of the Indiana Jones-like archeologist in The Mummy series made Fraser a household name and he reprised the role in 2001.

He also starred alongside Liz Hurley in the remake of the Peter Cook and Dudley Moore classic Bedazzled in 2000.

In 2002, he concentrated on meatier roles - opposite Michael Caine in The Quiet American and a smug district attorney in 2005's Crash.