Imelda Staunton

After years of toiling in supporting roles, often taking whatever came her way, actress Imelda Staunton finally received the chance to display her considerable talents when she starred as the titular character in director Mike Leigh's period drama, "Vera Drake" (2004), a role that earned the British thespian a nomination for Best Actress at the Academy Awards. Prior to her critical success on both sides of the pond, Staunton worked hard to …