The Rose: Dench probably has so many acting awards in her house she’s probably had to build a whole wing for them. Adored the world over, the York native is considered the crowning jewel in England’s filmic crown.

The Awesome: Despite being a trained thesp and all that, Dench likes a bit of action as much as the rest of us – hence her turns in Bond and (ahem) The Chronicles Of Riddick. Which is why we love her. Also – have you seen her performance in Nine?!

American Equivalent: Anne Bancroft enjoyed a comparable decade-spanning career that began with early success (The Graduate), and continued with both light-hearted capers (Heartbreakers) and more austere productions (Great Expectations).