George Bernard Shaw was one of the greatest 20th Century dramatists. He wrote over 60 plays, including Arms and the Man (1894), Man and Superman (1903), Pygmalion (1912-13) and Saint Joan (1923). In addition, he also authored five novels and two collections of short stories. He is the only person to have been honoured with both a Nobel Prize for Literature (1925) and an Academy Award (1938, for Pygmalion). Shaw was offered a knighthood, but turned it down, as he refused most awards. He died in 1950, aged 94.
Juliet Stevenson is one of the most respected actors of her generation. Having studied at RADA, she has spent much of her stage career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. Her many films include Truly, Madly, Deeply (for which she won The Evening Standard Film award for Best Actress), Emma, Nicholas Nickleby, Mona Lisa Smile and Bend It Like Beckham.She was awarded the CBE in 1999.