Emma Thompson

William Henry Davies, born on July 3, 1871, in Newport, Wales, was a renowned Welsh poet and writer known for his vagabond lifestyle and introspective works. After years of wandering as a tramp, he gained fame with his autobiography “The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp” in 1908, which captured his adventures and struggles. Davies’ poetry, often

W. Eugene Smith, born William Eugene Smith on December 30, 1918, in Wichita, Kansas, USA, was a legendary American photojournalist whose work redefined the genre. He rose to prominence through his powerful photo essays for Life magazine, including “Country Doctor” and “Minamata,” which exposed social injustices and human resilience. Smith’s career was marked by awards

Winfried Georg Sebald, born on May 18, 1944, in Wertach, Bavaria, Germany, was a renowned German writer and academic whose works masterfully intertwine fiction, memoir, and history. He served as a professor of European literature at the University of East Anglia and is celebrated for novels like “The Rings of Saturn” (1995), “Austerlitz” (2001), and

W. Edwards Deming, born on October 14, 1900, in Sioux City, Iowa, USA, was a pioneering statistician, engineer, and management consultant whose work transformed industries worldwide. He is best known for his role in Japan’s post-World War II economic revival, introducing principles of quality management that emphasized continuous improvement and systemic thinking. Deming authored influential

William Edmund Butterworth III, better known by his pen name W. E. B. Griffin, was born on February 28, 1929, in Newark, New Jersey, USA, and passed away on February 12, 2019. He was a prolific American author celebrated for his military and detective fiction, writing over 50 bestselling novels, including popular series like “The

W. Earl Brown, born William Earl Brown on September 7, 1963, in Murray, Kentucky, is a versatile figure in entertainment, excelling as an actor, writer, and musician. He gained fame for his role as Dan Dority in the acclaimed HBO series “Deadwood,” earning Emmy nominations, and has appeared in films like “Scream” and “There’s Something

William Daniel Hillis, born on February 25, 1956, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a pioneering computer scientist, inventor, and author. He co-founded Thinking Machines Corporation and designed the groundbreaking Connection Machine, a parallel supercomputer that advanced artificial intelligence and complexity theory. Hillis has held key roles at MIT and Disney Imagineering, where he blended technology with

W. E. B. Du Bois, born William Edward Burghardt Du Bois on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, was a trailblazing African American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist. He co-founded the NAACP, became the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University, and authored influential works like “The Souls of Black

W. Clement Stone, born William Clement Stone on May 4, 1902, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, was a pioneering American businessman, philanthropist, and author. He built a multimillion-dollar insurance empire, founding Combined Insurance Company of America, and co-authored influential self-help books like “Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude” with Napoleon Hill. Stone’s career was marked by

Walter Douglas Richter, born on December 7, 1945, in New Britain, Connecticut, is a celebrated screenwriter and director known for his innovative contributions to cinema. His career highlights include writing the screenplay for the 1978 remake of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” directing the cult classic “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension”

W. Bruce Cameron, born William Bruce Cameron on February 10, 1960, in Petoskey, Michigan, is a celebrated American author, columnist, and humorist. He rose to prominence with bestselling books like “A Dog’s Purpose,” which was adapted into a hit film, and “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter,” offering witty takes on family and

William Claude Dukenfield, better known as W. C. Fields, was born on January 29, 1880, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a pioneering American comedian, actor, juggler, and writer who gained fame in vaudeville and Hollywood during the early 20th century. Fields starred in iconic films like “The Bank Dick” (1940) and “My Little Chickadee” (1940),

William Averell Harriman, born on November 15, 1891, in New York City, was a prominent American statesman, businessman, and diplomat. His career spanned decades of significant global events, including serving as U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union during World War II, Ambassador to Great Britain, and Governor of New York from 1955 to 1958. Harriman

Vonda Shepard, born on July 7, 1963, in New York City, USA, is a talented singer, songwriter, and actress best known for her soulful contributions to the TV series “Ally McBeal,” where she performed the theme song and numerous tracks that topped charts. Throughout her career, she has released multiple albums, including “It’s Good, Eve”

Vusi Mahlasela, born on 1 February 1965 in Lady Selborne, Pretoria, South Africa, is a celebrated singer-songwriter and activist often called the “Voice of South Africa.” He gained prominence during the anti-apartheid struggle with his evocative music that blends African rhythms and heartfelt lyrics. Mahlasela’s career highlights include performing at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration, releasing acclaimed

François-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, was born on November 21, 1694, in Paris, France. A towering figure of the Enlightenment, he was a prolific writer, philosopher, and satirist whose career highlighted his fierce advocacy for civil liberties, freedom of speech, and religious tolerance. Voltaire’s notable achievements include authoring the satirical novel Candide (1759), essays in

Von Miller, born Vonnie B’VSean Miller on March 26, 1989, in DeSoto, Texas, USA, is a celebrated American football outside linebacker. Throughout his illustrious career with the Denver Broncos and later the Buffalo Bills, Miller has achieved remarkable feats, including being named Super Bowl 50 MVP, earning eight Pro Bowl selections, and recording over 120

Vogue Williams, born on January 2, 1985, in Dublin, Ireland, is a dynamic Irish media personality, model, DJ, and podcaster. She gained prominence through television appearances on shows like “Stepping Out” and won the Irish “Dancing with the Stars” in 2018. Vogue has authored books on wellness and co-hosts the hit podcast “My Therapist Ghosted

Volodymyr Zelensky, born on January 25, 1978, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, rose from a successful career in comedy and acting to become a global leader. As the star of the hit TV series “Servant of the People,” he entered politics and was elected President of Ukraine in 2019 with a landslide victory. His tenure has

Vladimir Prelog, a distinguished Croatian-Swiss chemist, was born on July 23, 1906, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was then part of Austria-Hungary. He rose to prominence in organic chemistry, particularly for his pioneering work on stereochemistry, earning him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975. Prelog’s career included key roles at ETH Zurich, where