The BBC medical drama Casualty, the world's longest-running show of its kind, is preparing for its 40th anniversary series. Explosive plans for the milestone episodes have been revealed, including a massive blast that will rock the fictional Holby City.
Since the show debuted in 1986, several actors who later became major stars made early appearances in Casualty. Here is a look at 15 notable cameos.
Stars Who Started on Casualty
Kate Winslet, now 50, appeared in a 1993 episode as Suzanne, a woman with an abusive boyfriend, before her breakthrough role in Titanic. She later said the role taught her to be “natural in front of the camera”.
Tom Hiddleston, now 45, played climber Chris Vaughan in a 2007 episode, a man who accidentally knocks a woman off her balcony while abseiling down a tower block. Orlando Bloom, now 49, made his professional acting debut in the show, starring in three episodes from 1994 to 1996 as builder Noel Harrison.
More Famous Faces in Holby
Minnie Driver, now 56, played Zena, an HIV positive woman with a bleeding forehead, in 1991. Christopher Eccleston, before his role as a Time Lord in Doctor Who, played Stephen Hills, a man with HIV, in a 1990 episode.
Martin Freeman, now 54, played robber Ricky Beck in 1998. He said: “It was the biggest thing I’d done on TV, so I took it very seriously.” Helen Baxendale, now 56, appeared as Emma, a member of a religious cult injured by a car.
From Casualty to Blockbusters
Hermione Norris played a ballet dancer with an eating disorder in 1991. Daisy Ridley made her debut in a 2013 episode as Fran Bedinfield, injured on a fairground ride. She said: “Casualty will always be my first "Oh my God" moment as an actor…I was over the moon.”
Jonny Lee Miller, known for Trainspotting, played Matt, a teenage bully, in 1992. Parminder Nagra, now 50, played Asha in 1996 episodes. Lucy Davis, now 53, played Sarah Jackson in 1995.
Nicholas Hoult, now 36, had his first TV role as a seven-year-old in a 1996 episode. Dervla Kirwan, now 54, played Anna in 1990. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, now 36, played teenage runaway Joey Byrne in 2006.
Casualty returns with a special double bill on September 5.
