Famous People Born In Bristol

Considered one of the greatest actors ever, Cary Grant’s good looks, popular appeal and a knack for romantic comedy made him an enduring Hollywood star from the 1930s to the 1960s. Penny Serenade, An Affair to Remember, To Catch a Thief, North by Northwest and Charade are some of his classic films. He was bestowed an honorary Oscar in 1970.

English actress Maisie Williams shot to international fame with her debut role as Arya Stark in HBO’s medieval fantasy epic series Game of Thrones. She continued to entertain audience in the successive seasons of the series. Simultaneously, she has appeared in other projects like the movies, The Falling, The New Mutants , and the TV series, Doctor Who.

Speaking to world through his spray paints and stencils, Banksy is a popular, though anonymous, graffiti artist. He has a unique style that includes stenciling technique and is known for delivering satirical political and social messages. With fans all over the world, this mysterious artist’s works are worth millions of pounds.

Known for co-writing The Office, British comedian Stephen Merchant was born to a nurse mother and a plumber father. He began his career with the radio and then stepped into stand-up comedy. Over the years, he has used his 6’7” frame to the best in his performances.

James May is an English journalist and television presenter. May is known for co-presenting the popular factual television show Top Gear alongside Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson. James May is credited with co-founding the independent TV production company W. Chump and Sons.

English theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate Paul Dirac OM FRS, counted among leading physicists of the 20th century, made fundamental contributions in the early development of quantum electrodynamics and quantum mechanics. He derived the Dirac equation while the modern theory of antimatter began with one of his papers. His book The Principles of Quantum Mechanics remains an influential monograph on the subject.

English comedian, TV presenter, radio presenter, and actor Russell Howard is best known for hosting the TV show Russell Howard's Good News. Though he studied economics at the University of the West of England, Bristol, he had no interest in pursuing a career in the field and shifted to performing comedy and hosting TV shows instead.  

Known for her supporting roles, the American actress has appeared in numerous films and television series in her six-decade-long career since her debut as a child artist in 1961. Born in England, Veronica Cartwright is particularly known for her role in the Philip Kaufman-directed sci-fi Invasion of the Body Snatchers. She is the elder sister of noted actress Angela Cartwright.

Kevin McNally is best known for playing Joshamee Gibbs in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise. He also voiced Robert Faulkner in the video game Assassin's Creed III. He has played Shakespearean characters such as King Lear on stage and has appeared as Bernard Ingham in The Crown.

William Penn was a writer and one of the earliest members of the Quakers. He is credited with founding the Province of Pennsylvania. He also oversaw the planning and development of the city of Philadelphia. Penn has several universities and schools named in his honor, including the William Penn University in Iowa. 

Artist Damien Hirst first gained fame in the 1980s. A master of conceptual art, he creates everything from paintings and installations to sculptures and drawings, with topics ranging from mortality and beauty to rebirth and technology. One of his creations featured dead animals preserved in formaldehyde, while another featured rows of multicolored spots.

Tom Hollander is an English actor best known for his roles in the films Pirates of the Caribbean and In the Loop. He grew up in a family with an academic and musical background and developed an early interest in dramatics. He began his career as a stage actor and then entered TV and films as well. 

Chris Morris is an English actor and filmmaker. He is known for his deadpan dark humor and surrealism and often dabbles in controversial subjects in his works. Along with radio producer Armando Iannucci, he created the TV show The Day Today, which went on to be hailed as one of the most important satirical shows of the 1990s. 

Known for his hit Roadrunner tour, English comedian Lee Evans has also appeared in movies such as The Fifth Element and There's Something About Mary. After gaining immense fame for his slapstick and physical humor, he retired in 2014. In 2021, he was spotted in public, riding a bicycle, after years.

Apart from 4 Commonwealth gold medals, British artistic gymnast Claudia Fragapane has also earned 3 European Championship silver medals and two World Championship bronze medals. She also reached the semi-finals of the reality show Strictly Come Dancing at 18, the second-youngest public figure on the show ever.

British snowboarder Jenny Jones, especially known for winning Great Britain's first Olympic medal on the snow, rather than on ice, learned to ski before switching to snowboarding. Eventually she started representing her country in various international competitions, winning medals, making history by finishing third at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, earning a bronze medal in the women's slopestyle event.

British racing-driver Ben Collins has competed in several categories including Formula Three and has won the 2003 ASCAR Championship. He has worked as precision-driver in many films including driving James Bond's car in Casino Royale and appeared in shows like Top Gear. He was revealed to be Stig from the Top Gear show during a court-battle over his impending autobiography.  

Once ranked world number five, British tennis player Jo Durie has two Grand Slam titles in her kitty. She is a seven-time British National Singles winner and a nine-time British National Doubles winner. Post-retirement, she has been working as a coach and a BBC and Eurosport commentator.

Singer and lyricist of the English band Portishead, Beth Gibbons was at her family’s farm in Exeter and grew up shunning modern lifestyle or education. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with many artists. She has also been a judge at the Independent Music Award.