Higgins was born May 9, 1947 in East Northamptonshire, England to parents who had emigrated from Ireland just before World War II in search of economic opportunity. His parents lived in London during the Blitz. Eventually, they left London for Northamptonshire so that his father could obtain work as a builder for American army bases. Young Anthony completed his studies at a state school and then intended to be a journalist. He worked as a butcher in Bedford and then as a "navvy," a builder's helper, in the small town of Grendon, near Northampton. At the age of 16, he obtained a job on a local paper but, by law, he had to be over 17 before he could work so he spent the time learning shorthand and typing.
朱丽·沃特斯是英国最有名的老牌女演员之一，25年来她参与了许多舞台剧最重要的戏码演出，优异的表现让她保持了永久一姐的宝座。 朱丽·沃特斯出生于爱尔兰天主教家庭，从小的志愿就是当演员，但在母亲严厉要求下她只得选择当个护士，但朱丽·沃特斯仍不忘情的在课暇之余选修戏剧的课程。之后，朱丽·沃特斯到英国利物浦的剧院参与演出，当时她的母亲虽然对她非常失望，但朱丽·沃特斯感动地表示，她发现了母亲去世后所留下的一个盒子，里面装的竟是这么多年来母亲为她作的剪报记录。 朱丽·沃特斯最为人所知的作品，除了持续在《哈利波特》中演出外，早在1984年她在《教导丽塔》里优异的表现就曾为她赢得英国奥斯卡（BAFTA）及金球奖最佳女演员，也荣获奥斯卡与金球奖最佳女配角的提名。2001年朱丽·沃特斯因《舞动人生》赢得英国奥斯卡最佳女配角奖，也荣获奥斯卡、欧洲电影奖、金球奖与卫星奖最佳女配角的提名。事隔5年，朱丽·沃特斯又因《人生驾驶课》里精湛的演技而勇夺莫斯科国际影展最佳女主角及荣获美国卫星奖最佳女主角奖的提名。
