From Newton to Shakespeare: A Quiz All About Famous Brits
Written by Jessica Holom
Last updated · 8 min play time
From scientists to comedians to royals, this quiz is the who's who of famous Brits. Can you name all these famous faces in our Famous Brits Quiz?
"The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them." – Queen Victoria
While that may sound a bit pompous, the British are actually known for their self-deprecation. This is detected in the works of its authors, comedians, actors, and other famous Brits who have made it big on the international stage. Whether pop artists or physicists, Britain has put out some of the best of class in every field.
Do you know them all? Show us your knowledge about UK leaders, athletes, scientists, musicians, politicians, and other famous celebrities with our Famous Brits Quiz!
Test your Entertainment Knowledge
"I'm not from around these parts. I'm from a little place called England. We used to run the world before you." – Ricky Gervais
While they may not "run the world" anymore, famous Brits are still being churned out every generation. Take our Famous Brits Quiz and name them all!
What group produced the song, "Hey Jude"? Who led Great Britain through WWII? Which famous Brit created The Lord of the Rings? How about Hamlet? What scientist came up with the Theory of Everything? Do you have all the answers? Then you'll ace this Famous Brits Quiz.
Now, pretend like you're from around these parts and put this Famous Brits Quiz to bed.
Try all of our Entertainment Quizzes
Do you enjoy a good quiz about your favorite TV series, your favorite celebrities, and your favorite films? Then our collection of entertainment quizzes was built just for you.
After bagging this Famous Brits Quiz, name all your favorite nationals in this series of country quizzes. Try our Famous Indians Quiz, Famous Japanese Quiz, Famous Chinese Quiz, Famous Mexicans Quiz, and Famous Canadians Quiz. Is fame getting you down? Then here are some tickets to your favorite Broadway Quiz. Who said trivia knowledge had to be boring?
Quiz written by
Jessica HolomJessica Holom is a freelance writer and digital nomad with a background in literature, art, and writing. She believes curiosity never killed a single cat and enjoys learning, world-exploring, and writing about both.
Famous Brits Quiz Questions
25 Questions · 168 Plays · No comments
Question 1
What great orator led Britain through WWII, saying "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be"?
-
AWinston Churchill
-
BTony Blair
-
CHugh Grant
-
DClement Attlee
Winston Churchill
"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds..." Winston Churchill is considered one of Britain's greatest prime ministers, not only for his heart-soaring speeches but for his powerful political career. He is one of Britain's longest-serving politicians.
Question 2
Fronted by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, what rock band struck up an international "mania" with such hits as "Come Together" and "Eleanor Rigby"?
-
AThe Rolling Stones
-
BThe Who
-
CQueen
-
DThe Beatles
The Beatles
There is perhaps no more popular group out of England than The Beatles. With such hits as "Love Me Do," "A Hard Day's Night," and "Hey Jude," the Fabulous Four headed the British Invasion, smashing a number of sales records. Needless to say, the "Beatlemania" that surrounded the group was warranted.
Question 3
Known as the "Iron Lady," what first female prime minister said, "If you want something done, ask a woman"?
-
ATheresa May
-
BAngela Merkel
-
CMargaret Thatcher
-
DYulia Tymoshenko
Margaret Thatcher
A somewhat controversial figure, Margaret Thatcher earned her nickname the "Iron Lady" from a Soviet journalist referencing her uncompromising stances in politics and leadership. Her policies were known as Thatcherism, which put the squeeze on privatization, labor movement, and money supply in order to boost free markets and low inflation. She was the first woman to hold the office of prime minister and, to date, is the longest-serving prime minister, holding the office for over a decade.
Question 4
With 13 nominations and 4 wins, who is the most Oscar-nominated British actor with roles such as Hamlet and Henry IV?
-
ALaurence Olivier
-
BKenneth Branagh
-
CGary Oldman
-
DDaniel Day-Lewis
Laurence Olivier
"To be or not to be..." Laurence Olivier answered that question across many a Shakespearian performance. The actor is best known for his stage and film productions of Shakespeare, such as <i>Hamlet</i>, for which he acted and directed and won Best Actor and Best Picture – the first non-American film to do so at the Oscars.
Question 5
Quoted as saying "I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married," which "virgin" queen led England to war with Spain?
-
AElizabeth I
-
BElizabeth II
-
CFreddie Mercury
-
DVictoria
Elizabeth I
The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I ended the reign of the House of Tudor. Being the "Virgin Queen," she had no descendants. She is considered one of England's greatest monarchs, leading the country in the defeat of the Spanish Armada and creating a strong, independent nation.
Question 6
What Oscar-winning Welsh actor brought the creepy Hannibal Lecter to life in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs?
-
ATom Hiddleston
-
BSean Connery
-
CAnthony Hopkins
-
DPatrick Stewart
Anthony Hopkins
Directors have called Anthony Hopkins the "greatest actor of his generation." Appearing in <i>The Lion in Winter</i> as Richard the Lionheart, Hopkins' career only took off from there, with one of his most notable roles being the cannibal Hannibal Lecter, in <i>The Silence of the Lambs</i>.
Question 7
Name this naturalist and scientist who spent years on the Galapagos Islands developing the groundbreaking Theory of Evolution.
-
ANikola Tesla
-
BAlexander Fleming
-
CCharles Darwin
-
DMichael Faraday
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin as a biologist and naturalist, who used his theories of natural selection and evolution to explain how species of today are descended from common ancestors. The theory is now considered fundamental in science.
Question 8
What unfortunate British royal and queen consort of France was beheaded for treason due to her alleged role in plotting to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I?
-
AMary, Queen of Scots
-
BCleopatra
-
CIsabella MacDuff
-
DLady Agnes Campbell
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots, spent most of her life in France and was married to the Dauphin of France, making her the queen consort. After his death, she returned to Scotland and her presence threatened Elizabeth I's claim to the throne. Mary was confined for nearly two decades before she was beheaded for conspiring to overthrow her cousin.
Question 9
She is currently (and has been for 69 years, as of 2021) the Queen of England. Name the UK's main monarch.
-
ACatherine the Great
-
BVictoria
-
CElizabeth I
-
DElizabeth II
Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II is the current monarch of the United Kingdom and is currently the longest-reigning monarch alive. Reigning for 69 years, she is also the longest-serving female head of state in world history.
Question 10
Creating hits like The Office and Extras, what British comedy writer, director, actor, and producer once said "Proper stupidity is fascinating"?
-
ASteve Carell
-
BEddie Izzard
-
CRicky Gervais
-
DJimmy Carr
Ricky Gervais
The co-creator of <i>The Office</i> has taken home armfuls of awards, from Emmys to BAFTAs to Golden Globes, the latter of which he's also hosted on numerous occasions. Gervais has made lists of Britain's greatest stand-up comedians and <i>Time</i>'s list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Question 11
Blasting onto the scene with "Rolling in the Deep," what multi-grammy winner has become one of the world's best-selling music artists?
-
AAdele
-
BLily Allen
-
CDua Lipa
-
DAmy Winehouse
Adele
Adele launched to fame in the early 2000s with "Rolling in the Deep" and "Rumor Has It," and rumor has it that she will continue to put out hit after hit, as her career goes from strength to strength. Her album <i>21</i> became the world's best-selling album of the 21st century with 31 million copies sold.
Question 12
Known as "the Lady with the Lamp," what social reformer and founder of modern nursing said her success was that she "never gave or took any excuse"?
-
AFlorence Nightingale
-
BMary Breckinridge
-
CClara Barton
-
DSandra Dee
Florence Nightingale
"The Lady with the Lamp" tended to many British soldiers during the Crimean War, as she managed and trained nurses in Constantinople. She brought new procedures of sanitation to the field and created numerous books and pamphlets developing better ways to care for the wounded. The noted statistician also created one of the earliest versions of the pie chart.
Question 13
The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree with which physicist, who came up with the theory of gravity?
-
AAlexander Fleming
-
BAlan Turing
-
CCharles Darwin
-
DIsaac Newton
Isaac Newton
"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." As the story goes, Isaac Newton was sitting under a tree when an apple fell, giving him insight into the law of gravity. The famous physicist developed the three laws of motion and also made headway in optics and calculus.
Question 14
Name the British billionaire author who wrote the highly popular Harry Potter series sitting in a cafe looking up at Edinburgh Castle.
-
AVirginia Woolf
-
BAgatha Christie
-
CStephanie Meyer
-
DJ.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling
"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." J.K. Rowling didn't forget. <i>Harry Potter</i> is one of the best-selling series of all time, and British author, J.K. Rowling is the mind behind the magical school and its famous wizard. The beloved book series also launched a popular film series, making Rowling a billionaire in a "rags to riches" story of her own.
Question 15
Although he was memorably played by Mel Gibson in Braveheart, his story is even wilder than depicted on the big screen. Name this Scottish knight.
-
AGerard Butler
-
BWilliam Wallace
-
CRobert the Bruce
-
DAdam Smith
William Wallace
"They may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!" Scottish knight William Wallace led the army in the First War of Scottish Independence, making headway in battles against the English army. In the end, however, the Scots were defeated, and Wallace was hanged for high treason.
Question 16
As one of soccer's best midfielders, what Manchester United footballer is the first English player to win league titles in four countries?
-
ACristiano Ronaldo
-
BMichael Owen
-
CDavid Beckham
-
DGareth Bale
David Beckham
David Beckham is one of the most recognizable British athletes. The former footballer launched his two-decade career at the age of 17 with Manchester United and remains the only Englishman to score at three different World Cups and to win league titles in England, the U.S., France, and Spain.
Question 17
What A Brief History of Time author and cosmologist came up with a theory about black holes?
-
ARichard Dawkins
-
BSteven Hawking
-
CAlbert Einstein
-
DMaurice Wilkins
Steven Hawking
Having written best-selling books <i>A Brief History of Time</i> and <i>The Theory of Everything</i>, Stephen Hawking was a brilliant theoretical physicist working out of the University of Cambridge. He said, "Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change," and he should know, as he suffered from paralysis caused by a progressive motor neuron disease. Hawking didn't let the disease stop him from proposing a theory of cosmology that united quantum mechanics with the theory of relativity.
Question 18
As one of Britain's most famous monarchs, what "coppernose" went through six wives and piddled his country's wealth away on flashy festivals and food?
-
AWilliam the Conquerer
-
BRichard III
-
CHenry V
-
DHenry VIII
Henry VIII
The 16th-century king is known as "the father of the Royal Navy," but he is perhaps most known for his multiple marriages and his spendthrift appetite. Henry VIII pushed the English Reformation, which cut out papal authority from the Church of England – all so he could annul his first marriage from Catherine of Aragon and produce a male heir. Although he did eventually do so after six marriages, several mistresses, and two wives beheaded, his son Edward VI died of tuberculosis at the young age of 15. Elizabeth I's subsequent reign demonstrated that a male heir wasn't necessary after all.
Question 19
Writing "Courage is found in unlikely places," who found courage in Middle Earth, bringing to life the beloved The Lord of the Rings trilogy?
-
ARoald Dahl
-
BJ. R. R. Tolkien
-
CDaniel DeFoe
-
DGeoffrey Chaucer
J. R. R. Tolkien
<i>The Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy came to life through the pen of brilliant linguist J.R.R. Tolkien. Fluent in 35 real-world and ancient languages, Tolkien spliced together everything from High Elvish to Qenya to Sindarin from existing languages.
Question 20
Saying "My definition of success is control," who is this North Irish actor, famous for his Shakespearean roles?
-
AKenneth Branaugh
-
BRobert Pattinson
-
CLaurence Olivier
-
DJeremy Irons
Kenneth Branaugh
Yet another actor to make a name in Shakespearean theatre, Kenneth Branagh is known for his roles in <i>Henry V</i>, <i>Othello</i>, <i>Hamlet</i>, and many more as both actor and director. He also starred as fellow Shakespearean actor Laurence Olivier in <i>My Week with Marilyn</i>, and has taken on countless roles in both television and film.
Question 21
James Bond did as his author quoth and "never said 'no' to adventure." Who first introduced the James Bond character to the world in his 1953 thriller Casino Royale?
-
AIan McKellan
-
BIan Fleming
-
CCharles Dickens
-
DGeorge Orwell
Ian Fleming
The suave and sophisticated spy James Bond, wouldn't exist without Ian Fleming. The 20th-century author created the suspense thrillers, detailing the trials and tribulations of the troubled agent, 007, as he regularly saved the world from its many evil-doers.
Question 22
With one of his most famous lines being but four words – "You shall not pass!" – what British actor was knighted for his body of work, which includes Shakespearean theatre and his role in The Lord of the Rings?
-
AGary Oldman
-
BMichael Caine
-
CIan McKellan
-
DJohn Wayne
Ian McKellan
Whether as Gandalf in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> or as Magneto in <i>X-Men</i>, Sir Ian McKellen brings a certain air of authority and credibility to every role he plays. This may be partially due to his history of Shakespearean performances, having won seven Laurence Olivier Awards, among others. The <i>BBC</i> wrote that McKellan's "performances have guaranteed him a place in the canon of English stage and film actors."
Question 23
Known as "the Bard," Shakespeare was one of the world's greatest poets and playwrights, known for works like Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet. Where was he from?
-
ASouth Lanarkshire
-
BSheffield
-
CStratford-Upon-Avon
-
DNewcastle-upon-Tyne
Stratford-Upon-Avon
The best-known playwright in history, William Shakespeare authored some 38 plays and over a hundred poems and sonnets. "The Bard" even invented some 1,700 words, including arch-villain, cold-blooded, distasteful, engagement, fashionmonger, and the list goes on.
Question 24
Writing "You see, but you do not observe," Sherlock Holmes and James Watson are his famous creations, as is the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. Name the author.
-
AE.M. Forster
-
BArthur Conan Doyle
-
CThomas Hardy
-
DMark Twain
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle produced perhaps one of literature's most beloved characters, the highly observant and intelligent Sherlock Holmes. The "consulting detective" uses his skills of deduction in investigating various cases, including <i>A Study in Scarlet</i> and <i>The Sign of Four</i>. Sherlock is one of the world's most portrayed literary characters in television and film, according to Guinness World Records.
Question 25
The Spice Girls knew "what you want, what you really, really want." Which of the following is NOT a Spice Girls hit from the 1990s?
-
A"Waterfalls"
-
B"Say You'll Be There"
-
C"2 Become 1"
-
D"Wannabe"
"Waterfalls"
If you wanted to "spice up your life" in the '90s, the Spice Girls were all the rage. The girl group consisted of Scary Spice, Sporty Spice, Baby Spice, Posh Spice, and Ginger Spice. Together, they helped launch the Second British Invasion. Their biggest hit was "Wannabe" soared to the top of the music charts in 1996.
Comments (0)
We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.