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Oscars: The actors18/02/2008
Golden Globe and Bafta-winner Daniel Day-Lewis takes on Johnny Depp and Tommy Lee Jones for the best actor Oscar. We check out the competition.
:: George Clooney (Michael Clayton)
Real Name: George Timothy Clooney
Image: Silver-haired film fox
Birth Date: May 6, 1961
Best Known For: His serious - and seriously smooth - movie star persona
Early Life: Born in Kentucky, George was a jobbing actor struggling to make a living in LA.
His breakthrough role on US drama series ER in 1994 propelled him to fame.
Career Highs: He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2005 for Syriana.
Don't Mention: George recently lost a close friend - pot-bellied pig Max.
Words Of Wisdom: "You have only a short period of time in your life to make your mark, and I'm there now."
:: Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Real Name: Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis
Birth Date: April 29, 1957
Image: Tousle-haired rugged British actor
Best Known For: Starring in a string of hit films in the Nineties including Last Of The Mohicans
Early Life: London-born Daniel's film debut came at 14 in Sunday Bloody Sunday.
He won a small role in 1982 classic Gandhi.
Career High: Winning the Golden Globe and a Bafta so far this year for There Will Be Blood.
Don't Mention: The theatre. Daniel has not appeared on stage since he collapsed while playing Hamlet in the Eighties.
Words Of Wisdom: "If I weren't allowed this outlet, there wouldn't be a place for me in society."
:: Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)
Real Name: John Christopher Depp II
Birth Date: June 9, 1963
Image: Hollywood A-lister with offbeat good looks
Best Known For: A string of blockbuster movies, including the Pirates Of The Caribbean flicks
Early Life: Johnny was born in Kentucky to parents who moved a lot.
As a teenager he wanted to be a rock star, and played with local band The Kids.
Johnny pursued music until he was introduced to actor Nicolas Cage, who advised him to try acting.
In 1984 he got his big break in horror film A Nightmare On Elm Street. He then won the lead in TV series 21 Jump Street, which made him a star.
Career High: Bagging his third Oscar nomination for his role as the demon barber
Don't Mention: Paparazzi. The star apparently hates photographers taking snaps of his children.
Words Of Wisdom: "I don't pretend to be captain weird. I just do what I do."
:: Tommy Lee Jones (In The Valley Of Elah)
Real Name: Tommy Lee Jones
Birth Date: September 15, 1946
Image: Veteran Hollywood actor
Best Known For: Playing Will Smith's alien busting sidekick in the Men In Black movies
Early Life: Tommy Lee was born in Texas and went to Harvard to study English in the late 60s.
After graduating, he moved to New York to try his hand at acting and won roles in Broadway. He made his movie debut in 1970's Love Story.
Career High: Winning the best supporting actor Oscar for his role in 1993's The Fugitive.
Don't Mention: Baldnesss. He had a shaved head for a movie role when he had to collect his Oscar. In his acceptance speech, he said: "All a man can say at a time like this is 'I am not really bald.'"
Words Of Wisdom: "You just look for good parts and good stories and a good company to work with. Characters with no integrity are just as interesting as characters with lots of integrity."
:: Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises)
Real Name: Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr
Birth Date: October 20, 1958
Image: Chiselled Danish-American actor
Best Known For: His role in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy
Early Life: Viggo attended St Lawrence University made his film debut in Witness in 1985.
Career High: Landing the role of Aragorn in Lord Of The Rings at the age of 45.
Don't Mention: That his scenes were left on the cutting room floor in Swing Shift and The Purple Rose Of Cairo.
Words Of Wisdom: "There is no star in Lord Of The Rings. The Fellowship is a union."
© 2008 The Press Association Limited
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