Linda Bassett

Though born in Pluckley, a small village in Kent, England, Linda Bassett moved early on to the Pimlico region of London. It was there the youngster developed a passion for drama, as she and her family often watched classic plays at the Old Vic Theatre (where Bassett eventually found work as an usher).

Her passion for acting blossomed during her Old Vic tenure, and after one year at Leeds University (as an English student), Bassett dropped out of school to work with a community drama group. These years working in small, local productions were vastly important for the budding actress, who had never received "proper" training.

In 1982, at age 32, Bassett finally broke through on Broadway, and she spent the rest of that decade building a solid stage and screen reputation. Transitioning to film came easily--her first big-screen role was a starring spot in the 1987 drama "Waiting for the Moon."

Her work throughout the '90s, however, was typically of the TV variety, including one-off and multi-episode stints on popular programs like police procedural "The Bill" and detective drama "A Touch of Frost." Though well-respected by both her peers and critics, Bassett was never a household name during this period--but in 1999, she delivered her break-out film performance, earning a Best Actress BAFTA nomination for her role as Ella Khan.

Throughout the '00s, Bassett continued to find quality character work in films like the 2008 drama "The Reader" and shows like the BBC sitcom "Grandma's House."