After Dinner Speakers: Joely Richardson, Kiss, Neil Fox

This theatrical blueblood started her film acting career while still in drama school appearing in her father's "The Hotel New Hampshire" (1984) and as the young Jean Travers in David Hare's "Wetherby" (1985), with the mature Jean being played by Richardson's real-life mother, grande dame Vanessa Redgrave. The radiant and blithe blonde, a veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company, subsequently marched through such undistinguished endeavors as "King Ralph" (1991), "Shining Through" (1992) and the de-musicalized "I'll Do Anything" (1994). In the former two, she played chilly elegant Europeans, in the latter, a film executive. Perhaps her most demanding film role to date has been as the youngest of the three Cissie Colpitts in Peter Greenaway's riddle-ridden classic "Drowning by Numbers" (1988). Richardson won critical acclaim for her superb performance in "Sister, My Sister" (1995), the inspired by true events film about two sisters working as maids who ultimately kill their employer. She co-starred as the fashion designer owner of the puppies in the live-action remake of "101 Dalmatians" (1996).