“Marie Curie is my hero. Few people have accomplished something so rare - changing science. And as hard as that is, she had to do it against the tide of the culture at the time - the prejudice against her as a foreigner, because she was born in Poland and worked in France. And the prejudice against her as a woman.”

American actor and filmmaker

Alan Alda is an American actor and filmmaker. Born Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo, he has had a career spanning seven decades on stage and screen. He is best known for playing Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce in the CBS wartime comedy drama M*A*S*H, and for writing and directing many episodes of the series. His work in M*A*S*H made him a familiar figure to television audiences, and his career has brought him major awards, including six Emmy Awards and six Golden Globe Awards. He has also been nominated for an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, a Grammy Award, and four Tony Awards.