A FEW BEST MEN

The Groom

XAVIER SAMUEL is DAVID

Over the past few years, Australian actor Xavier Samuel has generated international attention for his standout performances and is quickly becoming one of the most dynamic and versatile young actors of his generation.

Xavier was most recently seen in the third film in the blockbuster Twilight series, Eclipse in which he played Riley, a newborn vampire. Later this year he will be seen opposite Rhys Ifans and Vanessa Redgrave in Roland Emmerich's Anonymous, a historical drama which purports that William Shakespeare is not the true author of the literary work attributed to him.

Xavier's film credits also include Road Train, a supernatural thriller set in the Australian outback and directed by Dean Francis, and he has recently completed production on the Australian thriller Bait about a tsunami, which traps a group of people in a supermarket along with a pack of tiger sharks.

Additional film credits include the thriller The Loved Ones, directed by Sean Byrne, which premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival in July 2009. The Loved Ones also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2009 where it won the Midnight Madness audience prize. September opposite Mia Wasikowska, which premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival to rave reviews and was selected to screen in both the Berlin and Toronto Film Festivals. He has also appeared in the coming-of-age surf drama Newcastle, which premiered at the Tribeca International Film Festival.

Xavier made his screen debut in the highly acclaimed independent feature 2:37, which chronicles the lives of six students over the course of a day and ends in a devastating suicide. Directed by newcomer Murali K. Thalluri and featuring a relatively unknown cast, the film, which screened in competition at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival in "Un Certain Regard," received a standing ovation.

Xavier will shortly commence production on the film, Drift. Set in the 1970s, the film follows the journey of the Fisher brothers as they start a new life in a remote coastal town and revolutionize the surfing industry. The film will be shot on location in Perth and also stars Sam Worthington.

Xavier graduated from Adelaide's Flinders University Drama Centre in 2005.

The Worst Best Man

KRIS MARSHALL is TOM

With numerous credits to his name, Kris Marshall is one of Britain's leading actors.

A Few Best Men sees him reunited with director Stephan Elliott, who cast him in the role of Furber in the 2008 feature adaptation of Noel Coward's Easy Virtue. In 2007 Kris starred as Troy in Death At A Funeral written by A Few Best Men's Dean Craig and produced by Share Stallings and Laurence Malkin.

Kris's other feature credits include the role of Colin in the hit romantic comedy Love Actually, as well as the role of Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice, the lead role in Mexicano, the role of Starinski in Deathwatch and the Miramax feature The Four Feathers.

His most recent feature credits include Oka! Amerikee, playing the lead role of an American ethno-musicologist who travels into Central Africa to live with the Bayaka Pygmies, and the romantic comedy Meant To Be.

Well known for his role as Nick Harper in the BBC Television series My Family, Kris's other television credits include the role of Pasha in Granada's movie-made-for-television, Dr Zhivago.

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The Neurotic Best Man

KEVIN BISHOP is GRAHAM

Kevin Bishop is one of Britain's highly regarded actors and comedians. Commencing his theatrical career at the age of ten, Kevin was cast as 'Kurt' in The Sound of Music at London's renowned Sadlers Wells Theatre, before being cast in the musical Nine at the Royal Festival Hall with Jonathan Price. In 1992 he was cast as the cheeky 'Sam Spalding' in the hit children's drama Grange Hill. Leaving the show after two series, Kevin took on the role of 'Jim Hawkins' in Jim Henson's The Muppets: Treasure Island, starring alongside Tim Curry and Billy Connolly.

With other credits including Casualty, Pie in the Sky and Silent Witness, in 2000 Kevin was cast by French director Cedric Klapisch as 'William' in the critically acclaimed feature L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment). The film (also starring Romain Duris and Audrey Tatou) became a cult smash and a sequel later followed called Le Pupees Russes. Both films broke box office records in France.

In one of his most challenging role's to date, Kevin went on to star as 'Paul Porterfield', a young American page turner who develops an obsession for well known pianist Richard Kennington (Paul Rhys), in Ventura Pons' critically acclaimed feature Food of Love.

In a return to Britain in 2001 Kevin was immediately cast as 'Stupid Brian' in the hugely popular BBC sitcom My Family (also starring Kris Marshall). Soon after he joined the sketch ensemble Spoons for Channel 4, before accepting the role of 'Dan' in the comedy drama The Last Chancers. Soon after, and in a return to the theatre, Kevin took on the role of 'Dudley Moore' in the critically acclaimed Come Again in London's West End, whilst continuing to pursue his love of comedy through writing.

In 2006 Kevin co-wrote the comedy sketch series Dog Face for E4, whilst also working on hit comedy celebrity spoof Star Stories which earned him nominations for Best Newcomer at The British Comedy Awards, Best Actor at The Royal Television Society Awards in 2006 and Best Actor at The Comedy Awards in 2007. Star Stories also won Best New Comedy at the Comedy Awards in 2006 and is currently in production for its third series. In 2008 Kevin was given his own show on Britain's Channel 4 - entitled The Kevin Bishop Show which was re-commissioned for a second series in 2009.

The Best Man-ic Depressive

TIM DRAXL is LUKE

One of Australia's leading actors working across film, television, theatre and musical theatre, Tim has received numerous awards, nominations and accolades.

Tim's feature film credits include Undocumented, Red Canyon, In My Sleep, Ivory with Martin Landau, Matthew Newton's Right Here Right Now, Travelling Light, Swimming Upstream with Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis, and Dirty Deeds with Toni Collette and Sam Worthington.

His television credits include the SHOWTIME Australian drama Tangle 2, Supernova for the BBC, Dynasty-Behind the Scenes for ABC America, Seven Network's Headland, the CBS pilot Day One and The Shark Net for ABC TV Australia - for which he received a TV Week Logie Award nomination for Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series in 2004. He has most recently been seen in the new Screentime drama Crownies currently screening on ABC TV and in 2012 will appear in the ABC's new series, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, based on the novels by Australian author Kerry Greenwood.

On stage, Tim has appeared in Nailed for the Griffin Theatre Company and A Midsummer Night's Dream for Company B.

Tim was also nominated for a MO Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for The Sound of Music. In 2005 he received the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Cabaret Production, for Back For Seconds. In 2006, Tim received an ASTRA nomination for Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor for Supernova. He has released two solo albums, Ordinary Miracles and Insongniac for Sony Music Australia.

He was the youngest ever winner of the Manhattan Association of Cabaret & Clubs MAC Award at 17. Tim's sold out cabaret season of Under the Influence led to the release of his third album Tim Draxl Live at The Supper Club, and the follow-up cabaret show Still Under the Influence. He also co created the musical play Freeway: The Chet Baker Journey set to tour Australia and overseas later this year.

The Bride

LAURA BRENT is MIA

Graduating from NIDA in 2007, Laura Brent is one of Australia's rising young talents.

With film credits including Liliandil in Michael Apted's Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and the upcoming Burning Man directed by Jonathan Teplitzky, Laura has just completed filming a role in the new romantic comedy Not Suitable For Children starring Ryan Kwanten.

Laura's television credits include The Legend of The Seeker for Walt Disney/ABC, the HBO award winning mini-series The Pacific, the Australian comedy series Chandon Pictures, Rescue Special Ops for the Nine Network and Wild Boys for Seven.

In theatre her credits include the Victorian tour of Amadeus, the role of Ophelia in The Bell Shakespeare Australian national tour of Hamlet, Tartuffe for Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne and The Distance from Here at The Stables Theatre in Sydney.

The Mother of the Bride

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN is BARBARA

Born in Cambridge, England in 1948, the youngest child of Professor Brin Newton-John and Irene, daughter of Nobel Prize winning physicist, Max Born, Olivia moved to Melbourne, Australia with her family when she was five. By the age of fifteen, she had formed an all-girl group called Sol Four. Later that year she won a talent contest on the popular TV show, Sing, Sing, Sing, which earned her a trip to London. By 1963, Olivia was appearing on local daytime TV shows and weekly pop music programs in Australia. Olivia cut her first single for Decca Records in 1966, a version of Jackie DeShannon's Till You Say You'll Be Mine. In 1971, she recorded a cover of Bob Dylan's If Not For You, co-produced by John Farrar, who she continues to collaborate with today.

Olivia's US album debut, Let Me Be There, produced her first top ten single of the same name, with Olivia being honored by the Academy Of Country Music as Most Promising Female Vocalist and a Grammy Award as Best Country Vocalist. This proved to be only the beginning of a very exciting career. With more than 50 million albums sold, her successes include three more Grammys, numerous Country Music, American Music and Peoples Choice Awards, ten #1 hits including Physical, which topped the charts for ten consecutive weeks, and over 15 top 10 singles. (In September 2008, Billboard Magazine listed Physical at #6 on their Top 100 Songs Of All Time list.)

In 1978, her co-starring role with John Travolta in Grease catapulted Olivia into super-stardom. This film's best-selling soundtrack featured the duets You're The One That I Want and Summer Nights, with Travolta, as well as her mega-hit, Hopelessly Devoted To You. To date Grease remains the most successful movie musical in history and, in 2008, it celebrated its 30th Anniversary. Her other film credits include Xanadu, Two Of A Kind, It's My Party and Sordid Lives.

Olivia's appeal seems to be timeless. With a career spanning more than four decades she is still a vibrant, creative individual that is adored by fans across the world. Throughout her career, the much-loved star, who danced with Gene Kelly in Xanadu, hosted the popular internationally syndicated Wild Life television show, was bestowed an OBE (Order Of The British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth in 1979, has held many humanitarian causes close to her heart, particularly since the birth of her daughter Chloe in 1986. (Clearly following in her mother's footsteps, Chloe has recently completed her first solo recording.)

Olivia served as Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Programme and in 1991, the Colette Chuda Environmental Fund/CHEC (Children's Health Environmental Coalition) was founded after the tragic death of Chloe's best friend from a rare childhood cancer, with Olivia serving as National Spokesperson for ten years. Her devotion and shared commitment to CHEC's mission and goals enabled the organization to receive worldwide attention and support. (For more information visit www.HealthyChild.org).

Her charmed life has not been without its share of upset. In the 90s, Olivia successfully overcame her own battle with breast cancer, which inspired her self-penned and produced album, GAIA, her most personal album reflecting upon her experiences with cancer. She used these experiences to gain greater self-awareness and became a positive inspiration to millions of people battling cancer. As a breast cancer survivor, Olivia has become increasingly well known and respected for talking openly about her battle with breast cancer and for promoting public awareness of the importance of early detection. Her personal victory against cancer led her to announce her partnership with the Austin Health and the creation of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre and Wellness Centre (ONJCWC) on the Austin Campus in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. The ONJCWC will provide a comprehensive range of services and facilities for cancer treatment, education, training and research including a wellness center for the mind, body and spirit (www.oliviaappeal.com).

In April 2008, Olivia led a team of fellow cancer survivors, celebrities and Olympians on a trek along the Great Wall of China (www.GreatWalkToBeijing.com) and raised more than $2 million to find a new way to treat cancer and build the ONJCWC. A companion CD to benefit the ONJCWC as part of this global fundraising effort, Olivia Newton-John & Friends: A Celebration In Song, has been released internationally and features duets with Keith Urban, Delta Goodrem, Sir Cliff Richard, Richard Marx, Amy Sky, and Barry Gibb to name a few. In November 2009, Olivia was on hand for the ground-breaking of the ONJCWC. Olivia continues to give back to the community generously and has been acknowledged many times by charitable and environmental organizations for her ongoing efforts, among them: the American Red Cross, the Environmental Media Association, the Women's Guild of Cedar's Sinai Medical Center, the Rainforest Alliance and Concept Cure.

Continuing her efforts to find a cure for breast cancer, Olivia launched the Liv Aid ®, a breast self-examination aid that assists women to exercise breast self-exams correctly (www.Liv.com). Olivia credits her own breast self-exam as the first step to her eventual diagnosis of breast cancer. Now, 18 years later (and cancer free) she has become a passionate advocate in creating awareness for early detection and, encouraging women to take a more active role in their breast health.

In 1999, Olivia garnered an Emmy Award for her songwriting and returned to work as a performer touring extensively in the United States for the first time in seventeen years. In the new millennium, her international recognition has continued to grow. She was invited by the Vatican on behalf of Pope John Paul II to perform at the Jubilee Celebration for the

Sick and Healthcare Workers and, she was thrilled to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics to an estimated global viewing audience of four billion people. Adding to this Olympic experience is what Olivia feels is one of her most memorable moments - the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch during the Olympic Torch Relay.

In 2002, Olivia was inducted into the prestigious Australian Music Hall Of Fame at the 16th Annual Aria Awards. Then, in 2006 she received the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by friend John Travolta at the G'Day LA Ball. Her passion for Australia was proven once again when Olivia reunited with friend and business partner Pat Farrar to launch their distinctly Australian wines under the iconic homegrown brand Koala Blue, to proudly bring the "taste of Australia" to the rest of the world.

In February 2005, along with her business partners Gregg Cave, Warwick Evans and Ruth Kalnin, Olivia opened the Gaia Retreat & Spa in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia as an ideal place to renew, refresh and restore. The retreat was honored with the Conde Nast Traveller 2008 Readers' Spa Award Winner for the Favourite Overseas Hotel Spa: Australasia & South Pacific. In January 2010, TripAdvisor named Gaia #3 of the Top 10 Celebrity-Owned Hotels in the World, putting Olivia in the company of fellow hotel owners, Robert Redford, Bono and Robert De Niro among others.

Olivia's 2007 holiday recording, Christmas Wish features both new and classic holiday favorites and duets with such Grammy winners as Barry Manilow, Michael McDonald, David Foster and Jon Secada, to name a few and was called one of the Best Holiday CDs of 2007 by USA TODAY and, syndicated columnist Liz Smith named it her "favorite new holiday CD of 2007." In 2007, Olivia premiered her first concert special for Public Television - Olivia Newton-John: Live From Sydney! filmed at the historic Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony. A two-hour DVD release of this stunning performance, featuring additional concert footage and Olivia's personal tour of some of her favorite spots in Sydney, was released by Capitol / EMI in January 2008. In 2008, Olivia began co-hosting and co-producing the PBS series, Healing Quest and, she reprised her film role of Bitsy Mae Harling from Sordid Lives in the series of the same name for LOGO, to rave reviews.

In 2010 Olivia also appeared in two episodes of the hit series, Glee, adding another Top 100 hit to her credits with a new version of Physical sung with Glee star, Jane Lynch. In October 2010 Olivia starred in the breast cancer docudrama 1 A Minute and, the film Score: The Hockey Musical.

In 2008 Olivia married Amazon Herb Company owner and founder, John "Amazon John" Easterling (www.AmazonHerb.com). Together Olivia and John are spreading the word about the importance of preserving the Rainforest and, the health values found in the botanicals of the Amazon. They recently launched the organic Rainforest drink, Zamu, to rave reviews. In addition, they are working together with the ACEER Organization (www.ACEER.org) to help the indigenous people of the Amazon gain ownership and title to their land. In September 2009, they also joined forces with Prince Charles' The Prince's Rainforest Project (www.RainforestSOS.org) to further stress the global importance of Rainforest. With her current and ongoing projects and philanthropic endeavors, Olivia's worldwide popularity is as strong as ever! For additional information visit www.OliviaNewton-John.com.

The Sister of the Bride

REBEL WILSON is DAPHNE

One of Australia's finest comedic actresses, Rebel trained at the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) and the famed US comedy school Second City.

She began her professional career in the theatre writing, producing and performing in the hit plays The Westie Monologues, Spunks and the one-woman show Confessions Of An Exchange Student. Best known for her role as 'Toula' in five seasons of the TV Week Logie-nominated cult comedy Pizza she wrote and performed in 52 episodes of the sketch series The Wedge.

In 2008 Rebel created, wrote, produced and starred in the musical comedy television series Bogan Pride. Rebel's improvisation talents have been showcased on Thank God You're Here and Monster House and she has made memorable appearances on Talkin' Bout Your Generation, World Comedy Tour, The Breast Darn Show In Town, City Homicide, Comic Relief, The Tropfest Film Bargain, Rules Of Engagement, Workaholics and in the feature films Ghostrider and Fat Pizza.

In 2011 Rebel has been seen in the feature film Bridesmaids produced by Judd Apatow and will soon be seen in This Means War. She recently filmed Struck By Lightning co-starring opposite Chris Colfer, is currently filming Bachelorette in New York with Kirsten Dunst and Isla Fisher and will appear in the upcoming features Ice Age 4 and What to Expect When You're Expecting.

The Father of the Bride

JONATHAN BIGGINS is JIM

One of Australia's leading political satirists and actors, Jonathan Biggins is also a writer, director, and broadcaster. His film credits include Gettin' Square directed by Jonathan Teplitzky, Cherie Nowlan's Thank God He Met Lizzie, Ghosts CAN Do It (aka Those Dear Departed) and The Everlasting Secret Family.

His extensive television credits include the ABC TV's At Home with Julia and Rake, the comedy series The Jesters and City Homicide.

Jonathan has worked with all of Australia's leading theatre companies in productions ranging from David Williamson's Soulmates to West Side Story. He has also performed with Opera Australia in The Mikado and Orpheus in the Underworld - for which he co-wrote a new adaptation of the libretto. Director of The Wharf Revue for the Sydney Theatre Company, most recently Jonathan performed the role of Hetman in The White Guard, toured nationally as Peter Sellers in Ying Tong and performed the role of Henry Carr in Travesties.

In 2010 Jonathan was the recipient of the prestigious Helpmann Award for Best Director for his production of Avenue Q. Jonathan has hosted the afternoon radio shift for Sydney's 702, co-wrote and performed in Three Men and a Baby Grand for ABC TV and hosted Critical Mass, the ABC's weekly arts program. He has also hosted An Audience with Windon Sondheim for which he was nominated for a 2008 Helpmann Award for Best Special Event.

As an author, Jonathan writes for Fairfax's Good Weekend magazine, Australian Wine Selector and is the author of three books: As it Were, The 700 Habits of Highly Ineffective People and The 700 Habits of Highly Ineffective Parents. In 2012 Jonathan's new play Australia Day will have premier seasons in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Lonely Drug Dealer

STEVE LE MARQUAND is RAY

Steve has appeared on film as a WWI digger in Beneath Hill 60; a WWII digger in Kokoda; a closeted businessman in Men's Group; a fierce thug in Last Train To Freo (AFI & FCCA Best Lead Actor nominations); a clumsy bank robber in Two Hands; a larrikin Aussie climber in Vertical Limit and a nutbag beachcomber in Lost Things.

On stage, Steve has most recently been seen alongside Cate Blanchett in the Sydney Theatre Company's production of The War of The Roses. He has otherwise appeared in Paul, The Spook, Buried Child and Waiting For Godot for Company B Belvoir; Gallipoli, The Serpent's Teeth, Tales From the Vienna Woods, Don's Party (for MTC also) and Holy Day for STC and Songket and Borderlines - The Return for Griffin Theatre.

Steve co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in the hugely successful theatre production He Died With A Felafel In His Hand (not to be confused with the dodgy film of the same name) which ran for several years around Australia before heading to New York and Edinburgh.

On television he recently appeared in the title role in Small Time Gangster and Underbelly: Razor, and his other credits include Rake, Laid, All Saints, Farscape, Crash Palace, Young Lions, South Pacific, Backberner, Blue Heelers, Wildside, GP, Murder Call, Big Sky, Water Rats, Home and Away and Police Rescue.

Steve takes his cricket and rugby league very seriously.

The Ram Behind The Man

RAMSY as HIMSELF

After enduring a lengthy audition process Ramsy was announced as one of the leading characters in Stephan Elliott's latest comedy feature A FEW BEST MEN.

Although this is his feature film debut, Ramsy is a prize Merino, and as such has enjoyed a long career of award winning turns at various shows throughout Australia.

Heralded for his enduring patience on set - with the script requiring he be dressed in drag and dangled outside a window - Ramsy never lost his sense of humour.

With an air-conditioned trailer to keep him comfortable between takes, Ramsy indicated that he was extremely happy with the on set facilities - especially the catering. In a statement issued from his management, Ramsy conveyed his apologies for the untimely toilet breaks on set, which he believes will be seen in the DVD out-takes.