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Sir Steve McQueen By Aprillamb -Wikimedia

Top 10 Famous British people

Britain has a rich past that was made possible by great English men and women. The British have continued to have great influence in the present world too.

In the present world, there are British nationals that have built a name for themselves and are a force to reckon with.

These people have made it in the film industry, music, sports, or politics. By just the mention of their names, one would quickly relate their names to their profession and their country, Great Britain.

Here are the top 10 famous British people that have influenced and shaped the lives of many.

1. Steve McQueen – Artist and filmmaker

Sir Steve McQueen By Aprillamb -Wikimedia

Steve McQueen is famously known for his 2013 Oscar-winning film 12 years a slave. He also won the BAFTA awards for best film, Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture and New York Film Critic Circle Award for Best Director.

McQueen was the first black filmmaker to win the Academy Award for best picture.

He was named among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2014. As an accomplished filmmaker, he was appointed the Commander of the order of the British Empire in 2011.

This super-producer has some of the best historical feature films like Hunger, Shame, and Widows.

He was knighted in the 2020 New year Honours for services to film.

2. David Attenborough – Historian and Television Personality

Photography – Nick Harrison

You may have heard his voice or recognize his voice from watching nature documentaries produced by the BBC.

The name to that voice is none other than David Attenborough. He has been described by his fans as an intelligent, articulate, experienced and interesting.

He is popularly known as a writer and presenter at BBC natural history unit. Attenborough led his team in producing the nine natural history documentary series that formed the life collection of animals and plant life on earth. More than 500 million people watched the series all over the world.

He is the only person to have won the BAFTA awards for programmes in black and white, colour, HD, 3D and 4K. For two consecutive years, he won the Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding narrator in 2018 and 2019.

3. Stephen Hawking – Theoretical physicist

Stephen Hawking is was honoured by the BBC as one of the greatest Brits to ever live. He did not let his paralysis deter him from pursuing his life goals of becoming one of the greatest physicist’s to ever live on earth.

Hawkins left a mark in the science world with incredible research on dark matter. He also did not shy from featuring in television shows. His famous television shows were the big bang theory and the theory of everything.

His legacy will definitely live on through his works in the science field. This brilliant scientist had a great sense of humour that he shared through his shows.

He featured in Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory.

He published his book, a brief history of time, in 1988 and has sold over 10 million copies. The book has been translated to more than 35 languages.

4. David Beckham – Footballer, Entrepreneur

By Regular Daddy – Wikimedia

David Beckham is one of the most recognized men on the planet. He was a successful football player who played for English teams and also L.A Galaxy in the US.

He won 19 major trophies during his two-decade career as a professional football player.

After retiring from football in 2013, he became an entrepreneur that focused on fashion, sports and philanthropy.

He is the current president and co-owner of inter-Miami CF and Salford city. He continues to influence many through his many endorsement deals.

5. Ed Sheeran – Singer, Songwriter

Ed Sheeran is a celebrated English singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has sold over 150 million records becoming one of the best-selling music artists.

His first album (+) that was released in 2011 was at the top of UK album charts. The following year he won the Brit Awards for the Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act.

His second album (x) that was released in 2014, was the second-best-selling album worldwide. Sheeran won the album of the year award that same year.

He was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for songwriter of the year from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.

6. J. K. Rowling – Author, Screenwriter

J.K. Rowling is an author and screenwriter best known for her seven-book Harry Potter book series. The series sold more than 500 million copies and was adapted into a blockbuster film. She also writes crime fiction under the pen name Robert Galbraith.

Before taking up literary work, J.K Rowling worked as a researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty international. It is while working there that she got the idea of the Harry Potter series.

Her other famous works include the casual vacancy, cuckoo’s calling, the silkworm, career of evil, lethal white among many others.

7. Princess Diana – Princess of Wales

By Russ Quinlan – Wikimedia

Princess Diana is the other famous Brit that was known for her humanitarian works. She is also one of the most adored members of the British royal family.

She got married to Prince Charles in 1981 and had two sons, Prince William and Harry, together before their divorce in 1996.

Princess Diana is remembered as the royal member that loved working with Children, sought to clear landmines in African countries that were colonized by the British and was an advocate for good mental well-being.

8. Amal Alamuddin Clooney – Lawyer, Activist

Amal Clooney came into the limelight when she married the famous Holly Wood actor George Clooney in 2014.

She is an accomplished lawyer and a human rights activist that has worked hard to fight for the rights of the minority groups.

Amal has had high profile defence cases and has been part of several United Nations commissions and tribunals. She has also held several vital positions in advisory boards, she worked with the late Kofi Anan on a Syrian inquiry.

Amal made major contributions to the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative. This initiative aimed at defending the rights of women in war zones.

9. Millie Bobby Brown – Actress

Millie Brown in a past comic fest By Gage Skidmore – Wikimedia

Millie Bobby Brown is a Spanish-born British actress. She is popularly known for her role in the sci-fi television series Stranger things.

The series tells the story of an Indiana town in the 1980s that faced a threat from paranormal activities. Her character is of a young girl with telekinetic powers.

Millie moved with her parents to Los Angeles at a young age and was spotted by a talent scout who encouraged her parents to sign her up.

A fourth season of the show is believed to be in production.

10. Florence Nightingale – Nurse

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Lastly, we have Florence Nightingale who is a well-known figure in nursing. She was popular in the 19^th century and greatly contributed to the policies on proper medical care.

During her time as a nurse, she was known as the lady with the lamp. She took care of wounded soldiers. She worked in a British base hospital and strived to improve the unsanitary conditions. This greatly reduced the death count of patients at the hospital.

She is credited with giving the nursing profession a great reputation. Nightingale laid the foundation of professional nursing after starting a nursing school at St. Thomas hospital in London.