Michael Madsen

Age: 54

Occupation: Actor

Details: With a career that spans 25 years and over 170 films, award-winning Michael Madsen is entering the house straight from Hollywood.

Michael's career began when he served as an apprentice under screen icon John Malkovich, and since then he has gone on to work with the likes of Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Uma Thurman and Susan Sarandon.

As well as central roles in huge Hollywood blockbusters - including Free Willy, Donnie Brasco and Kill Bill - Michael has also appeared in a host of independent films.

His most memorable role as sadistic ex-con Mr Blonde in Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs was critically-acclaimed and saw his career and status rocket to superstardom.

He has since gone on to appear in the Bond film Die Another Day and Sin City. On his successful career, Michael says: "I like to diversify. And I am all about longevity. I want to be doing this for as long as I can."

Although he has huge film credits to his name, Michael always found time to succeed in his other passions, which include writing poetry, and his works have been published to international success.

He was tempted to go into the Celebrity Big Brother house by his co-star and ex-CBB housemate Vinnie Jones, who he became great friends with when filming Magic Boys in 2009.