Age: 55
Occupation: Director, writer, producer
"Those who are mad enough or obsessed enough tend to make it." Boyle shared that tip for success with kids in East London, site of this summer's Olympic Games. If success is a measure of madness, then Boyle is quite mad. He followed up cult hits such as Shallow Grave and Trainspotting with Slumdog Millionaire, winning the Academy Award for Best Director. And he's taken on the crazy challenge of instilling Britishness into the Olympic opening ceremony, which he is conceiving and directing.