Miranda Hart

Although actress/comedian Miranda Hart studied politics at university and could have established herself in a more stable profession, it was the unpredictable field of professional comedy where Hart wanted to test her mettle. Unlike most aspiring comedy performers, though, Hart did not want to dive into the stand-up scene, instead opting to work with troupes that were more sketch oriented. She performed at the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe and with "The Sitcom Trials," a production that presents character-based skits and live material that could possibly be developed into television sitcoms. These kinds of formats were perfect for Hart, who wanted to avoid the normal trajectory of a comedic performer structuring a show around fast punchlines. Hart would go on to work on her own one-woman shows, including "Miranda Hart-Throbs!," "Miranda Hart: It's All About Me," and "Miranda Hart's House Party."

In 2001, Hart started popping up on television, performing on the late night ensemble comedy show "Smack the Pony." A few years later, after unsuccessfully pitching her own show to BBC executives, she ended up landing a guest spots on "Absolutely Fabulous" and "French & Saunders," among other shows. Her big break on television was just around the corner, however, and she quickly ratcheted up major roles on "Hyperdrive" and "Not Going Out." "Miranda," her own sitcom, first aired in 2009 and quickly thrust Hart into the mainstream.