Famous Faces from Scotland Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Glasgow-born writer and director Bill Forsyth made his debut with the 1979 low-budget comedy 'That Sinking Feeling'. Made with young actors from Glasgow Youth Theatre, it was the first Scottish feature film to be funded entirely within Scotland, and established Forsyth as an important new Scottish filmmaker. He went on to write and direct 'Gregory's Girl' (1980), 'Local Hero' (1983), and 'Comfort and Joy' (1984), as well as an adaptation of Marilynne Robinson's novel 'Housekeeping' (1987).

Donovan Phillips Leitch was born on 10 May 1946 in Maryhill, Glasgow. He emerged from the British folk scene in 1965 and scored numerous international hit singles and albums during the late 1960s. His hits included 'Sunshine Superman', which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966, 'Mellow Yellow' and 'Hurdy Gurdy Man'. He was also among those invited by The Beatles on their 1968 trip to India, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

Ewan Gordon McGregor was born on 31 March 1971 in Perth, Scotland, and raised in nearby Crieff. At age 16 he left Morrison Academy to join the Perth Repertory Theatre, later studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama alongside Daniel Craig. He broke through with 'Trainspotting' (1996) and later played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. His accolades include a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.

Annie Lennox was born on 25 December 1954 in Aberdeen, Scotland. She won a scholarship to London's Royal Academy of Music, but left before completing her studies, spending several years working day jobs and singing at night. She gained prominence in the 1980s as one half of Eurythmics, alongside Dave Stewart, then launched a successful solo career with her debut album 'Diva' in 1992. Her album 'Medusa' (1995) was nominated for a Grammy, while her cover of 'No More 'I Love You's' won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1996.

David John Tennant (né McDonald) was born on 18 April 1971 in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. His father was a Presbyterian minister. He decided to become an actor at around age three or four, inspired by his love of 'Doctor Who', and later wrote a school essay predicting he would one day play the Doctor. He took the stage name Tennant from Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys after having to change his name on joining the actors' union Equity. He played the Tenth Doctor from 2005 to 2010.

Paolo Giovanni Nutini was born on 9 January 1987 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. His father Alfredo is of Italian descent from Barga in Tuscany, and the family have operated a fish and chip shop in Paisley for generations. His debut album 'These Streets' (2006) peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart, and his follow-up 'Sunny Side Up' (2009) debuted at number one.

Peter Dougan Capaldi was born on 14 April 1958 in Glasgow, Scotland. He is best known for playing Malcolm Tucker in 'The Thick of It' and the Twelfth Doctor in 'Doctor Who', and is a cousin of singer Lewis Capaldi. As a student at the Glasgow School of Art, he was lead singer and guitarist in a punk rock band called The Dreamboys, whose drummer was future comedian Craig Ferguson. As a director, he won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for 'Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life'.

Adam Richard Wiles, known professionally as Calvin Harris, was born on 17 January 1984 in Dumfries, Scotland, to English parents who had moved there from Oxford. His father worked as a biochemist. He was first attracted to electronic music in his teens and was recording bedroom demos by 1999. Before making it in music, he worked in a grocery store in Dumfries, stacking shelves. He topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid DJs for six consecutive years from 2013 to 2018.

James Clark was born on 4 March 1936 in Kilmany, Fife, Scotland, and raised in the Scottish Borders after his family moved to a farm near Duns when he was six. He became a Formula One World Drivers' Champion in 1963, winning seven of the ten races, and again in 1965, when he also won the Indianapolis 500. He was killed on 7 April 1968 while driving in a Formula Two race at the Hockenheimring in Germany, when his car left the track and hit a tree. He was 32 years old.

Sharleen Eugene Spiteri was born on 7 November 1967 in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland, to a guitar-playing merchant seaman father and a mother who enjoyed singing. She co-founded the rock band Texas in 1986 with Johnny McElhone, and their debut single 'I Don't Want a Lover' became a worldwide hit in 1989. Texas have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, with 'White on Blonde' (1996) their biggest-selling record.

Anthony Robin McMillan, known professionally as Robbie Coltrane, was born on 31 March 1950 in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire. His father was a GP and forensic police surgeon, and his mother was a teacher and pianist. He renamed himself in honour of jazz musician John Coltrane. He won three consecutive BAFTA Awards for Best Actor for his role as criminal psychologist Fitz in 'Cracker' (1993-96), and gained worldwide recognition as Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter film series (2001-2011). He died on 14 October 2022 aged 72.

Francis Martin Patrick Boyle was born on 16 August 1972 in Pollokshaws, Glasgow, to Irish Catholic parents from County Donegal. He first gained widespread recognition as a regular panelist on 'Mock the Week' from 2005 until 2009. He is known for his uncompromising dark humour and has since hosted 'Frankie Boyle's New World Order' on BBC Two.

Alan Cumming was born on 27 January 1965 in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland. He trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, four Emmy Awards, and two Tony Awards. His best-known stage role is as the Emcee in 'Cabaret', which he has performed on Broadway on more than one occasion. He is also widely known as host of the US version of 'The Traitors'.

Liz McColgan MBE (born Elizabeth Lynch) was born on 24 May 1964 in Dundee, Scotland. She grew up in the Whitfield area of Dundee and joined her local athletics club at age 12 on the advice of her PE teacher. She won silver in the 10,000 metres at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and gold over the same distance at the 1991 World Championships. She was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1991 and awarded an MBE in 1992 for services to athletics.

Lorraine Kelly was born on 30 November 1959 in Glasgow, Scotland. She lived in Glasgow until she was two, then moved to Bridgeton before her family moved to East Kilbride when she was 13. She turned down a university place in favour of a job on the East Kilbride News, then joined BBC Scotland as a researcher in 1983 before moving to TV-am the following year. She was appointed OBE in 2012 and promoted to CBE in 2020 for services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.

Those not born in Scotland are: Shirley Bassey (Welsh), Tom Jones (Welsh), Michael Sheen (Welsh), David Attenborough (English), Dua Lipa (English), Daniel Craig (English), Colin Farrell (Irish), Bono (Irish) and Brendan Gleeson.