Ed Speleers

British actor Ed Speleers jumped directly from obscurity into the spotlight when he was cast as the young lead in the big-budget 2006 adaptation of the fantasy novel "Eragon." With only stage experience under his belt, the fledgling thespian was thrust into star status with the movie, which featured an impressive supporting cast, including Jeremy Irons, Robert Carlyle, and John Malkovich. Unfortunately, the film was critically panned, dashing hopes of a sequel, despite its decent performance at the box office. Shifting gears, Speleers joined the cast of the English soap opera "Echo Beach," which was cancelled after one season, and portrayed himself on "Moving Wallpaper," a comedy series fictionally tied into the real-life production of "Echo Beach." In 2010, Speleers starred in the made-for-TV fantasy movie "Witchville" with fellow British actor Luke Goss, portraying a heroic young man out to vanquish an evil sorceress. Opting for more realistic fare, Speleers appeared in "A Lonely Place to Die," a thriller set in the Scottish Highlands. In the film, also featuring Melissa George and Karel Roden, Speleers' character and his group of hikers stumble across an imperiled young girl and must protect her from a band of dangerous criminals. Although major cinematic success continued to elude Speleers, he developed a devoted fan base, eager to watch his next project.