Middlesex University

Helen Mirren is one of the most respected and decorated actresses from England. She has won several prestigious awards, including the Triple Crown of Acting. Before achieving greatness, Mirren fought drug addiction during her 20s. She has also said that she is a naturist at heart and was named by British Naturism as Naturist of the Year in 2004.

British fashion designer, Dame Vivienne Westwood, is credited for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream. She attended a course on jewelry at the University of Westminster but left before graduating. She worked as a teacher for a while before turning to fashion designing. She eventually opened four boutiques in London.

The daughter of Antony Armstrong-Jones and Princess Margaret, Lady Sarah Chatto is a member of the British royal family. She is currently 24th in the line of succession to the throne. A prolific painter, Lady Sarah's works are often exhibited at the Redfern Gallery. She also serves as the vice-president of the popular classical ballet company, The Royal Ballet.

Born in India, sculptor Anish Kapoor initially studied engineering in Israel but soon quit his studies to study art in Britain. The Turner Prize-winning artist was the first living artist to earn a solo show at London’s Royal Academy of Arts. The Cloud Gate in Chicago remain his best-loved work.

Johnny Vegas is an English actor and comedian. Characterized by his Lancashire accent, husky voice, surreal humor, and portly figure, Vegas has appeared in several TV series, such as Happiness, Ideal, and Benidorm. A multi-talented personality, Johnny Vegas has also received praise for his ceramic art and his work is showcased at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Mike Figgis is an English film director, composer, and screenwriter. He achieved popularity after the release of the 1995 American drama film Leaving Las Vegas, for which he received two nominations at the Academy Awards. Mike Figgis is credited with founding an independent filmmakers’ online community called Shooting People.

Scottish journalist Carrie Gracie, who gained fame as the BBC News China editor, made headlines when she quit BBC after 33 years over gender-based pay inequalities. Though she returned to BBC in 2020, she quit again shortly. She was married to Chinese musician Cheng Jin and is a mother of two.