Biography

A popular actress largely known for her mix of sexy and often critically acclaimed performances, Scarlett Johansson is also a vocalist. Born November 22, 1984, Johansson became interested in performing around age three and eventually studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute for Young People. After making her stage debut opposite Ethan Hawke in the off-Broadway production of Sophistry, Johansson went on to appear in such films as The Horse Whisperer (1998), Ghost World (2001), and Eight-Legged Freaks (2002).

A household name in both the U.K. and U.S. thanks to his long-standing 30-year comedy career and more recent starring role in medical drama House, multi-talented Hugh Laurie is also lesser-known as a versatile and accomplished self-taught musician. Born James Hugh Calum Laurie, in Oxford, 1959, he was raised in the Scottish Presbyterian Church before attending prestigious Eton College and later Cambridge University, where he graduated with a degree in archaeology and social anthropology.

Famed musician and actress Queen Latifah was born on March 18, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey. Her debut album All Hail to the Queen sold more than 1 million copies, and the single "U.N.I.T.Y." earned Latifah her first Grammy Award. Latifah has also garnered acclaim for acting, earning her first Oscar nomination (best supporting actress) for her performance in the 2002 blockbuster musical Chicago.

Born in Louisiana in 1976, Reese Witherspoon began seriously pursuing her acting career after first enrolling at Stanford University. Her early critical successes included roles in films such as Pleasantville and Election, but it was her portrayal of Elle Woods in the box-office hit Legally Blonde that marked a turning point in her career. Witherspoon went on to win an Academy Award in 2005 for her role in Walk the Line. Recent films include Water for Elephants, This Means War and Wild.

Cate Blanchett is one of Hollywood's most respected actresses.

Born on October 28, 1967, in Smyrna, Georgia, Julia Roberts made her debut on the television series Crime Story (1986-88). She starred in Steel Magnolias in 1989, earning an Academy Award nomination for her performance. One of her most iconic roles was in Pretty Woman (1990), with actor Richard Gere. Roberts eventually went on to win an Oscar for her lead role in Erin Brockovich (2001). She is known for being one of the highest-paid actors and biggest box-office earners in Hollywood.

John Belushi was an actor and comedian, one of the first performers on "Saturday Night Live" and one half of the Blues Brothers.

Danny DeVito was born in New Jersey in 1944. Bullied as a child for his small stature, he had his big break when he starred in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). He rose to fame on the sitcom Taxi (1978-83), for which he won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy. He later produced and directed many films, including Matilda (1996), along with his wife of more than 30 years, actress Rhea Perlman. DeVito and Perlman announced that they were splitting in October 2012.

Kevin James was born on April 26, 1965, in Mineola, New York. In 1996, his performance at the Montreal Comedy Festival earned him a network development deal. He made several appearances on Everybody Loves Raymond, which helped to establish his career as a comedian and actor. In 1998, he got a lead role on the sitcom The King of Queens, which premiered on CBS and starred James as Doug Heffernan.

From ancient history to modern day, this special profile explores the myths and truths about witches. The program travels back 2000 years before Christianity when witches were considered great healers who prayed to the forces of nature and spans the centuries from the Inquisitions, to the Salem Witch Trials, to the modern day Wicca movement.