actors

Meera Syal

A writer and actress born in 1963 and lives in Leyton stone. She co-wrote my sister wife a 3part BBC Television Drama, and co-writes and stars in hit BBC television comedy 'Goodness Gracious Me' and 'Kumars at No. 42'. Her first Novel was 'Anita and Me' based on her childhood experience of growing up in a small minority community. She was awarded an MBE in 1997 and won the 'Media Personality of the Year' award at the Commission for Racial Equality's annual 'Race in the Media' awards (2000), as well as the EMMA (BT Ethnic and Multicultural Media Award) for Media Personality of the Year in 2001.

Sir Derek Jacobi

An English actor and director born on the 22nd October 1938 in Leytonstone. He was knighted in 1994 for his services to Theatre and is the second actor to hold 2 knighthoods, Danish and British. (Sir Laurence Olivier was the first). He is mainly know for his work on stage, but has directed a lot of films and TV audiences know him best for his portrayal Roman emperor in I, Claudius.

Alfred Hitchcock

A highly influential film director and producer who was born 13th August 1899 and raised in Leytonstone. His career spanned 6 decades from the silent film, to the colour era, and directed more than 50 feature films. He is one of the best known and popular directors of all time, because he established many of the techniques used in the suspense and thriller genre.