To many fans of comedy, the first thing that comes to mind when you mention Eddie Izzard is his cross-dressing. However, if you dig deeper you will find one of Britain's most intelligent comedians.

Born to British parents in the colony of Aden (now Yemen) in 1962, Izzard says he didn't start cross-dressing until he was in his teens. With a flair for the theatrical, he dropped out of university and became a street performer before moving into stand-up comedy. His special "Dress to Kill" (1998) won an Emmy award and exposed him to a new audience in North America.

Izzard, 55, is more than just a comedian, though. He has appeared in more than a few films, including "Valkyrie," "Ocean's Twelve" and "Ocean's Thirteen."