Hollywood's biggest British actors and directors – Where are they now?

The UK has given cinema some of its finest actors and directors over the years. And many of those stars saw their careers take off after getting big breaks in films funded by The National Lottery.

Did you know The National Lottery has been at the heart of the UK film industry for 25 years. Working closely with the British Film Institute (BFI), they’ve helped fund a whopping 500 films, winning 15 Oscars, 100 BAFTAs and an impressive 29 awards at Cannes Film Festival.

So to celebrate, we’ve taken a look at some of the biggest names in the business to reveal how The National Lottery helped them – and reveal what they’re up to today…

Cillian Murphy

Irish star Murphy is best-known to many for his lead role as Tommy Shelby in hit TV series Peaky Blinders – but his break out role on the big screen was in The National Lottery funded zombie film 28 Days Later (below), which was directed by Danny Boyle.

The film catapulted him to stardom and the big offers soon came, with juicy roles following including Inception (2010) and as The Scarecrow baddie across the Batman Dark Knight Trilogy – Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

Now married with two sons, Murphy’s Peaky Blinders has just gone into its fifth season and his next movie A Quiet Place 2 should be out later this year.

Keira Knightley

Knightley burst onto the scene co-starring in 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham as the best friend of Jess (played by Parminder Nagra) – an Asian girl who defies her family to play football.

A year later she starred in both Love Actually and Pitares of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – and her career has gone from strength to strength since, picking up two Oscar nominations and an OBE along the way.

Now 34, Knightley is married to former Klaxons frontman James Righton. The couple have one child and another due soon – but she is still fitting in plenty of new big screen roles.

She recently returned to the UK independent film scene to star in The National Lottery-backed film Colette. And she can next be seen in Official Secrets alongside Matt Smith, and Misbehaviour, about a group of women disrupting the 1970 Miss World beauty competition.

Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha hailed Knightley’s success since the 2002 film and added: “It’s very important not to underestimate the power of buying a National Lottery ticket. Money from each ticket goes to fund incredibly good causes, including the BFI which gives much needed opportunities to people with creative talent across the UK film industry.

“I couldn’t have made Bend It like Beckham without BFI funding and as The National Lottery turns 25, I look forward to seeing young directors flourish with the same support. Thank-you to all National Lottery players!”

Emily Blunt

Blunt’s career really took off after her feature film debut in the 2004 National Lottery funded film My Summer of Love, alongside Natalie Press (Suffragette) and Paddy Considine (Dead Man’s Shoes).

She went on to land in a string of huge roles, starring alongside Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow (2014), picking up gongs including a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award. She most recently wowed audiences as Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins Returns (2018).

Back in 2010 she married John Krasinski – famous for playing Jim in the US version of The Office – and the couple have two kids.

Krasinski starred alongside his wife as he made his directorial debut in the 2018 horror A Quiet Place – and the pair recently announced they are to link up again in a sequel, due out next year.

Ken Loach

It isn’t just in front of the camera that National Lottery funding is making a difference.

Director Ken Loach has long been a heavyweight on the UK film scene since the 1960s but showed his unique take is as relevant as ever with the 2016 film I’Daniel Blake.

The realistic depiction of life on benefits – which was backed by The National Lottery – received countless plaudits, including the coveted Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Fans of his cutting work can look forward to November and the release of Sorry We Missed You which focuses on the life of a hard-working delivery driver.

Riz Ahmed

Ahmed is one of the most talented Brits in Hollywood right now.

Not only has he cemented himself a fantastic actor – with credits including Four Lions (2010), Nightcrawler (2014) and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) under his belt – he’s also directing too.

Ahmed began his career in the 2008 crime drama Shifty (above), which was a National Lottery-funded film.

But he’s moved behind the camera too, recently writing and directing his first short film called Daytimer which was an official selection at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

Fans can look forward to him being back on the screen this year in an exciting modern take on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” for Netflix.

John Boyega 

Boyega made an impact as Moses in the 2011 sci-fi comedy Attack The Block – another film which received vital funding from The National Lottery.

The role was the springboard to a string of great projects for both the small and big screen, including the 24: Live Another Day TV series.

But by far his biggest role to-date has been as Finn in the rebooted Star Wars films The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017).

Up next for the talented Brit is the release of a third film from a galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in Decemeber.

Stephen Daldry

Daldry received an Academy Award nomination for directing The National Lottery backed film Billy Elliot (2000) and hasn’t looked back since.

He went on to take the reins of The Hours (2002) and The Reader (2008) before moving to the small screen to produce and direct The Crown for Netflix (2016-2019).

But his next gig could be his toughest challenge yet – taking hit West End show Wicked to the big screen in 2021!

Jack O’Connell 

This Is England started many careers in 2006 – and O’Connell is one of those who got their big break in The National Lottery backed film.

From there he starred in another film supported by National Lottery funding called 71, before going on to work with Angelina Jolie in Unbroken (2014) and George Clooney in Money Monster (2016).

Fans can look forward to seeing him back on the big screen next year in an eagerly-awaiting new take of the 1967 classic Bonnie and Clyde called Love Is A Gun.

Here’s to another 25 years of fantastic film!

All this incredible film and acting success couldn’t have been done without you.

Because every time you play a National Lottery game you’re contributing to £30 million each week towards Good Causes – including UK film.

So here’s to another 25 years of fantastic film, and here’s to you, for making it all happen!