Scottish actress Tilda Swinton began her career as a leading lady of European art cinema, working with directors like Derek Jarman, John Maybury and Sally Potter and earning acclaim as the gender-shifting lead in Potter’s Academy Award-nominated “Orlando” (1992). The edgy icon expanded into American filmmaking with a Golden Globe-nominated performance in “The Deep End” (2001) and experimental outings “Vanilla Sky” (2001) and “Adaptation” (2002). Swinton generally favored the more creative realm of independent filmmaking, but bigger productions were not immune to her captivating appeal and the actress’ unique essence was occasionally tapped for a blockbuster. Her alabaster glow and 5’11” stature gave an otherworldly quality to the high profile role of the icy White Witch in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe” (2005). With 2007’s intense legal thriller “Michael Clayton,” Swinton co-starred with George Clooney and received a second Golden Globe nod and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for portraying a morally compromised executive at a troubled corporation.