Why were there so many young British and Irish actors in ‘Band of Brothers’?

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg’s 2001 series *Band of Brothers* featured many young British and Irish actors, several of whom later became prominent in film and television. The high-profile, expensive production gave emerging performers valuable exposure, helping some establish or advance their careers.

The series was filmed at Hatfield Aerodrome in Hertfordshire, so hiring local actors was a practical way to keep costs down instead of bringing in and housing a large number of Americans. Its cast included Stephen Graham, James McAvoy, Simon Pegg, Andrew Scott and Tom Hardy in smaller roles, alongside larger parts for Michael Fassbender, Damian Lewis and Philip Barantini; each episode cost about $12.5 million.