Stephen Moyer

Though actor Stephen Moyer was recognizable to U.K. audiences thanks to 15 years of steady television work, it was not until Alan Ball of "Six Feet Under" (HBO, 2001-05) fame cast him as a 173-year-old Confederate vampire on his HBO drama "True Blood" (2008-14) that he was catapulted into the American spotlight. Thanks in part to the palpable chemistry shared with co-star Anna Paquin - whom Moyer would date and eventually marry in 2010 to the delight of fans - the show became the network's most watched series since "The Sopranos" (1999-2007). The role of the undead Bill Compton provided Moyer the chance to show his sculpted physique in some of the steamiest sex scenes on TV while playing the kind of courtly, haunted protector women loved to fantasize about. Thanks to his American success on "True Blood," the actor made the transition to features with supporting roles in "Priest" (2010) and "The Double" (2010). Armed with solid acting chops gained from years spent in the theater, Moyer had found the perfect vehicle to launch him onto the American pop culture radar.