Fall TV: The British Invasion

Have you noticed that there seem to be a lot of British actors popping up on the tube lately? No? Maybe that's because so many of them have perfected their American accents, but trust us, they're there ...

-- By Kimberly Potts

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Hugh Laurie

'House'

He's a Golden Globe winner playing a crabby American doctor, but Laurie was born in Oxford, attended Cambridge and was a national rowing champ. He then turned to acting, where he became half of the famous British comedy team Fry and Laurie.

Michelle Ryan

'Bionic Woman'

As the modern-day Jamie Sommers, Ryan is a supercharged American girl. But she's a native of Middlesex, and starred for five years on the British soap 'EastEnders.' She also auditioned to replace Billie Piper as 'Doctor Who's' sidekick.

Marianne Jean-Baptiste

'Without a Trace'

Oscar-nominated for her breakout role in 1996's 'Secrets & Lies,' Jean-Baptiste is also a music composer who wrote the score for the movie 'Career Girls' before signing on to play 'Trace's' heart disease-plagued FBI agent Vivian Johnson.

Ed Westwick

'Gossip Girl'

Born in Stevenage, north of London, Westwick's big break came with a part in the 2006 Jude Law drama 'Breaking and Entering.' He followed that with a move to Los Angeles, where he landed the role of 'Gossip Girl's' preppy NYC bad boy Chuck.

'Kevin McKidd'

'Journeyman'

The 'Rome' star, born in Scotland, began his career in the British TV series 'Father Ted,' had roles in British flicks 'Trainspotting' and 'Hideous Kinky' and then doffed his accent to play 'Journeyman's' time-leaping life fixer Dan Vassar.

Saffron Burrows

'Boston Legal'

Burrows became a model in her native London at age 15, which led to an acting career and her most memorable role as Minnie Driver's rival in 'Circle of Friends.' Now she's playing Alan Shore's once and again sex partner on 'Boston Legal.'

Lloyd Owen

'Viva Laughlin'

London native Owen is best known by TV audiences for playing Indy's dad in the series 'The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles,' but he says his real acting love is the theater. Which explains his dancing, singing casino owner role in 'Viva.'

Matthew Rhys

'Brothers & Sisters'

Rhys played American icon Elvis in a school musical, which led to entry into the famed Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in his native London. And after eight years of trekking to L.A. for pilot season, he won the role of lawyer Kevin Walker.

Anna Friel

'Pushing Daisies'

Her back-from-the-dead Chuck is quirky, but Lancashire-born Friel's British TV roles were downright buzz-stirring: on the soap 'Brookside,' she shared a lesbian kiss, and in the TV flick 'The Tribe' she was involved in a menage-a-trois.

Damian Lewis

'Life'

A former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, London-born Lewis was best known for his Golden Globe-nominated performance as an American soldier in 'Band of Brothers' before being cast as wrongly-imprisoned LAPD detective Charlie Crews.

Sophia Myles

'Moonlight'

London-born and Notting Hill-bred, Myles was the titular female in 'Tristan & Isolde,' and played Johnny Depp's wife in 'From Hell' and the Doctor's 18th century love on 'Doctor Who' before being cast as 'Moonlight's' vampire love interest.

Mark Sheppard

'Bionic Woman'

The London-born former touring musician already had much cred in the sci-fi universe, with roles on 'Battlestar Galactica,' 'Firefly' and 'Medium,' as well as being a season five baddie on '24,' before becoming 'Bionic's' Anthony Anthros.