How the best became the best

High performance is never an accident. We film the world's most inspiring and iconic people to uncover what it really takes to succeed - and to demonstrate that greatness isn't born. It's learned.

If you knew what they knew,
who could you become?

Portrait of Courteney Cox, Friends TV star and actress. Courteney Cox text overlaid.
Becoming Courteney Cox
Became one of the most recognised TV stars in the world.
Portrait of Channing Tatum, Hollywood film star smiling and looking into camera. Channing Tatum text overlaid.
Becoming Channing Tatum
Became one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Portrait of Bear Grylls, adventurer, TV presenter and BecomingX co-founder. Bear Grylls text overlaid.
Becoming Bear Grylls
Became the world’s most recognisable face of adventure.
Portrait of Natalie Portman, film star and Academy Award winner. Natalie Portman text overlaid. Portrait of Natalie Portman, film star and Academy Award winner. Natalie Portman text overlaid.
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Portrait of Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Bangladeshi leader. Professor Muhammad Yunus text overlaid.
Becoming Muhammad Yunus
Became the founder of microfinance and a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Portrait of Danica Patrick, IndyCar champion and world's most famous female racing driver. Danica Patrick text overlaid.
Becoming Danica Patrick
Became the most successful female racing car driver in history.
Portrait of Helen Glover, double Olympic gold medallist rower. Helen Glover text overlaid.
Becoming Helen Glover
Became the world number one female rower.
Portrait of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the worlds greatest living explorer, in polar gear. Sir Ranulph Fiennes text overlaid.
Becoming Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Became the world's greatest living explorer.
Portrait of Ellie Simmonds, Paralympic swimming champion, looking into camera over water. Ellie Simmonds text overlaid.
Becoming Ellie Simmonds
Became one of the world’s most celebrated Paralympic athletes.
Portrait of Andriy Shevchenko, Ukrainian footballer and UNITED24 ambassador. Shevchenko and number 7 text overlaid.
Becoming Andriy Shevchenko
Became one of the world's most celebrated footballers.
Portrait of Steve Backshall, TV presenter, wildlife expert and explorer. Steve Backshall text overlaid. Portrait of Steve Backshall, TV presenter, wildlife expert and explorer. Steve Backshall text overlaid.
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Portrait of Mark Ormrod, veteran and Invictus Games gold medallist, showing his prosthetics. Mark Ormrod text overlaid.
Becoming Mark Ormrod
Became a four times Invictus Games gold medallist after losing three limbs in Afghanistan.
Portrait of Dr Waheed Arian, former refugee, doctor and telemedicine innovator. Dr Waheed Arian text overlaid.
Becoming Waheed Arian
Became an emergency medical doctor after escaping Afghanistan as a refugee.
Portrait of Wladimir Klitschko, boxing heavyweight champion. Wladimir Klitschko text overlaid.
Becoming Wladimir Klitschko
Became the longest reigning combined world heavyweight boxing champion of all time.
Portrait of Dame Kelly Holmes, double Olympic gold medal-winning runner. Kelly Holmes text overlaid.
Becoming Dame Kelly Holmes
Became one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time.
Portrait of Tim Peake, the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station. Tim Peake text overlaid.
Becoming Tim Peake
Became the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station.
Portrait of Ursula Burns, former Xerox CEO, Obama STEM adviser and Uber board member. Ursula Burns text overlaid.
Becoming Ursula Burns
Became the first African American woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.
Portrait of Julia Roberts, film star and Oscar winner. Julia Roberts text overlaid. Portrait of Julia Roberts, film star and Oscar winner. Julia Roberts text overlaid.
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Portrait of James Brett, Plant for Peace founder, with three images of him. James Brett text overlaid.
Becoming James Brett
Became CEO of a social enterprise helping to secure peace in conflict zones.
Portrait of Frances Arnold, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry. Frances Arnold text overlaid.
Becoming Frances Arnold
Became a globally recognised chemical engineer and a recipient of the Nobel Prize for chemistry.
Portrait of Bob Langer, award winning engineer and business founder. Robert Langer text overlaid.
Becoming Robert Langer
Became the most cited engineer in history and one of the world's most celebrated Professors.
Portrait of Maddie Hinch, Olympic hockey goalkeeper and gold medallist, with hockey stick. Maddie Hinch text overlaid.
Becoming Maddie Hinch
Became the best hockey goalkeeper in the world.
Portrait of Kenny Imafidon, award-winning student and entrepreneur. Kenny Imafidon text overlaid.
Becoming Kenny Imafidon
Became an award-winning student and entrepreneur after going to jail for a murder he did not commit.
Portrait of Victoria Pendleton, double Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist. Victoria Pendleton text overlaid.
Becoming Victoria Pendleton
Became one of the most successful track cyclists of all time.
Portrait of Roger Federer, 20 time Grand Slam winner and former world number 1 tennis star. Roger Federer text overlaid. Portrait of Roger Federer, 20 time Grand Slam winner and former world number 1 tennis star. Roger Federer text overlaid.
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Portrait of prominent political scientist and CEO Ian Bremmer. Ian Bremmer text overlaid.
Becoming Ian Bremmer
Became the world's most prominent political scientist.
Portrait of Sue Black, award-winning computer science and technology Professor. Professor Sue Black text overlaid.
Becoming Sue Black
Became an award-winning Professor of computer science and technology.
Portrait of Lt. Col. Chris Keeble, celebrated military leader. Lt. Col. Chris Keeble text overlaid.
Becoming Chris Keeble
Became a celebrated military leader who played an instrumental role in the Falklands War.
Portrait of Andria Zafirakou, winner of the Global Teacher Prize. Andria Zafirakou text overlaid.
Becoming Andria Zafirakou
Became the world’s best teacher.
Portrait of F.W. de Klerk, former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner. F.W. de Klerk text overlaid.
Becoming FW de Klerk
Became the President of South Africa and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Portrait of Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, formerly homeless Chief Fire Officer, in uniform. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton text overlaid.
Becoming Sabrina Cohen-Hatton
Became a Chief Fire Officer after spending two years living on the street.
Portrait of Steven Frayne, also known as Dynamo, world famous magician. Steven Frayne and Dynamo text overlaid. Portrait of Steven Frayne, also known as Dynamo, world famous magician. Steven Frayne and Dynamo text overlaid.
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Portrait of Gareth Southgate, former England football player and manager. Gareth Southgate text overlaid.
Becoming Gareth Southgate
Became one of the most successful England football managers of all time.
Portrait of Kate Richardson-Walsh, Olympic gold medal-winning hockey player. Kate Richardson-Walsh text overlaid.
Becoming Kate Richardson-Walsh
Became the most capped female England hockey player in history and an Olympic gold medallist.
Three portraits of Joshua Coombes, hairdresser to the homeless and social activist. Joshua Coombes text overlaid.
Becoming Joshua Coombes
Became the founder of #DoSomethingForNothing.
Portrait of Nigel Vardy also known as Mr Frostbite, adventurer and explorer wearing polar gear. Nigel Vardy text overlaid.
Becoming Nigel Vardy
Became a record-breaking British mountaineer and frostbite survivor.
Portrait of Stephanie Shirley, refugee, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist. Dame Stephanie Shirley CH text overlaid.
Becoming Dame Stephanie Shirley
Became a groundbreaking technology entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Portrait of Valerie Amos, the most senior black female in the British Government. Baroness Valerie Amos text overlaid.
Becoming Valerie Amos
Became the most senior black female in the British government.
Portrait of Lottie Pollak, gunshot survivor and scars ambassador. Lottie Pollak text overlaid. Portrait of Lottie Pollak, gunshot survivor and scars ambassador. Lottie Pollak text overlaid.
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