The Extras Cast and Characters

Ben Stiller

Episode 1 of Extras star features Ben Stiller, comedy actor and director who plays a twisted version of himself (much like all stars in the series). Bursting with arrogance and short-tempered, Ben Stiller plays the director of a film based on a dead man's wife and doesn't hold back in going out of this way to make things go the way he wants.

Acting from a young age and the son of two comedy veterans, Ben Stiller has appeared in films such as There's Something About Mary and Meet The Parents.

Ross Kemp

Most famous for playing hard-man Grant Mitchell in the British soap Eastenders and it seems the character has stuck with the star who makes no hesitation in stating just how tough he is to new mate Andy Millman. Claiming S.A.S stands for Super Army Soldiers and brushing off Vinnie Jones as far inferior, it isn't long before word gets around and he comes face to face with him.

Ross Kemp has played many other 'though guy' roles but is not afraid of parodying his image and showing a softer side, having recorded a Kellogg's advert in 1990 and making appearances on shows such as the Friday Night Project.

Kate Winslet

Star of Titantic and many other productions such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind alongside Jim Carey, Kate Winslet is one of Hollywood's most famous stars and in episode 3 she isn't afraid to let her hair down.

Claiming that playing the role of a person with cerebral palsy was guaranteed as Oscar and teaching Maggie how to perform phone sex, Winslet makes reference to having been nominated for Oscars but never won and has been said by Ricky Gervais to have been his favourite star of the series.

Les Dennis

Les Dennis has apparently had a miserable life, suffering from failed relationships, a fickle public leading to a loss of fame and popularity and having a depressed life with little hope or drive. Here he lives up to and plays on his critics by baring all (literally to Andy Millmans embarrassment) and opening up to new found friend Andy who perform together in a stage production of Aladdin.

In reality Les Dennis presented Family Fortunes, a popularly prime time game show throughout the 90's and has made many appearances in various productions. In this Episode Andy gets his first speaking role, albeit being cast as the Genie with requirements of being fat and with a tan, preferably.

Patrick Stewart

Having traveled through time in his career, from the heaths of 16th Century Shakespearean plays to the 24th Century Captains chair of the Enterprise in Star Trek, Patrick Steward has been acting for over 50 years.

The normally well-spoken gent performs hilariously here as a pervy version of himself, one such scene features Mr Stewart describing a film where he catches women naked who then try to cover themselves up. But it doesn't matter .... cause by then he has already seen everything.

Samuel L Jackson

In the words of Ricky Gervais 'Samuel L Jackson is officially the coolest man on the planet', and who am I to disagree?

Mr Jackson plays an exaggerated version of his movie character, a super slick, no-nonsense actor who soon enough finds himself face to face with Andy Millman who does his best to cover up Maggie's naive racial views by digging deeper and doing what he does best - ruining another opportunity to further his career.

Pulp Fiction, Star Wars and the more recent Snakes on a plane are just a few of the films Samuel L Jackson has starred in.