As part of celebrating 150 years of the Edinburgh Evening News, we’ve taken a look of the 150 most famous faces from our fair city. In alphabetical order, we are talking through these big names who have made an impact on Edinburgh and the world. We’ve already mentioned the likes of Greyfriars Bobby and David Tennant – so let’s have a look at the most influential Edinburgh names, from I to J.
. Iain Glen
Iain Glen is one of Edinburgh's greatest acting exports. Born in the Capital, he went to Edinburgh Academy before studying acting in London. An accomplished theatre actor, Glen is best known for playing Jorah Mormont in Game of Thrones, Dr Alexander Isaacs in the Resident Evil franchise, and recently as Magnus MacMillan in The Rig. Photo: HBO/BSkyB/Kobal/Shutterstock
. Iain Stirling
Comedian Iain Stirling has been the unrecognisable voiceover of Love Island since 2015. Stirling also hosts CelebAbility and created ITV2 sitcom Buffering alongside Steve Bugeja. He is married to former Love Island host Laura Whitmore, and the pair have a child together. Photo: Contributed
. Ian Blackford
Ian Blackford is one of the most recognisable Scottish politicians. Born in Edinburgh, Mr Blackford was educated at Royal High School and started his career in banking for NatWest. He was elected as SNP MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber in 2015 and served as SNP Westminster leader from 2017-2022. Photo: UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor
. Ian Charleson
Before he became an internationally-recognised actor, Ian Charleson won a scholarship to and attended Edinburgh's Royal High School. He even sang as a boy soprano in the school's choir. Charleson was best known for his starring role as Olympic athlete and missionary Eric Liddell in Chariots Of Fire. He died at the age of 40 in 1990. Photo: na
. Ian Rankin
Ian Rankin is a bestselling crime writer whose Inspector Rebus novels are mostly set in Edinburgh. Though born in Cardenden, Fife, Rankin has lived in Edinburgh for many years with his family and often posts pictures from around the city on his social media pages. Photo: Third Party
. Ian Richardson
Ian Richardson was a classical stage actor best known for playing Machiavellian antihero Francis Urquhart in House of Cards. Born in Edinburgh, Richardson went to Tynecastle High School and George Heriot's School. He died at his home after a heart attack in his sleep in 2007, aged 72. Photo: BBC
1. Famous Edinburgh faces
We are listing the 150 most influential and famous faces from Edinburgh, in pictures. Photo: c
2. Nina Nesbitt
Nina Nesbitt is a singer songwriter best known for pop/indie hits like Love Me a Little, The Best You Had, and Is It Really Me You're Missing, which have millions of streams on Spotify. Born in Livingston, Nina later moved to Balerno and attended Balerno Community High School. Photo: Wolf James
3. Norman MacCaig
Known as the 'grand old man' of Scottish poetry, Norman MacCaig was one of the major poets of the 20th Century. Born in Edinburgh in 1910, MacCaig studied at Royal High School and then at University of Edinburgh. He worked as a teacher before being appointed as a fellow of creative writing at Edinburgh university. Though he lived most of his life in the Capital, his poetry drew on Highland landscapes and Gaelic culture. He is pictured here beside a portrait of himself at the National Portrait Gallery, Queen Street, Edinburgh. September 1981. Photo: Joe Steele
4. Norrie Rowan
Lifelong Edinburgh resident Norrie Rowan is a former rugby union player for Scotland, who received 13 caps as a prop forward for the national team. He helped excavate the Edinburgh Vaults, and helped a Romanian rugby player escape the secret police through a tunnel he found beneath his pub The Tron. Photo: JPI